Papers of the Winthrop Family, Volume 1
1623-12-15
I muste not omite to lete you knove that I have resaived your letter, and with all to giue you thancks that you wer so mindfull of me. I pray God of his mersy stile to put of all thinges that may be hinderanse to his triue worshipe; for the other bisinases, they wilbe acseptable (and no doute profitable) to the common welthe but I beleve it is not that which moveth but sum suplye of muny from thes thinges lete me intrete you to siee if 293you coulde plase my Cosin Choppinse sunne with sum ofiser that you knove, or in sum other plase he doth a litell vnderstand the latine tongue and was by his father imployed in keping the hundred cortes and bisinese of that natiure, he shall expeckt nothing for his servise but his dyete only I woulde have him in a way to doe him selfe good (which is not with living with me) Thus am I boulde with you as with a frind that shall at all times find me redy to performe anye thinge that lyeth in the pover of Your trive frend
I pray make haste home for we miss you
Sir Robert Crane, of Chilton, co. Suffolk (c. 1585–1643), was son of Robert Crane (d. 1591) and Bridget, daughter of Sir Thomas Jermyn of Rushbrooke in that county. He was knighted in 1605 and created a baronet May 11, 1627. He served in Parliament for Sudbury and Suffolk and was sheriff of Suffolk in 1631–32. In January, 1607, he married Dorothy, daughter of Sir Henry Hobart, Lord Chief Justice of the Common Pleas, who died April, 1624. He married for a second wife Susan, daughter of Sir Giles Alington of Horseheath, co. Cambridge, and Dorothy, daughter of Thomas Cecil, Earl of Exeter. Sir Robert died in London, February 17, 1642–43, and his widow married Isaac Appleton, of Waldingfield Parva, co. Suffolk. She died in 1681. Cokayne, Complete Baronetage, II. 15; cf. p. 99, supra.
W. Au. 8; 5
Collections
, I. 176.
1623-12-19
I receiued thy second most kind Lettre whereby I see the faithfullnesse of thy Loue towards me and thy readinesse to any thinge that might be pleasinge to me, with that tender care thou hast of my welfare, how wellcome and delightfull this good affection of thine is to me I cannot expresse, but I knowe thou art well perswaded of it, so as I can quietly repose my minde in the constantie of thy Loue, which of all earthly thinges is most preatious to me: I am sorye for my longe absence from thee, but I trust it shall not be to our Losse, but greater comfort when it shall please God we shall meet, and for the better triall and confirmation of our mutuall Loue. I blesse our good God for the welfare of thee (my deare spouse) and of all our family, and for his blessinge vpon vs heer, my brother Fones is in good forwardnesse of recouerye, my sister holds out, and lookes hir not this 3 weekes, yet we feare euery day least hir exceedinge paines watchinge and mourninge for hir husband should hasten her trauaile, but God doth wonderfully support hir: I feare it wilbe towardes the ende of next weeke before I shall returne; yet I praye thee let prouision be made; and all our poore feasted, though I be from home, so I shalbe the lesse missed: such as are of the middle sort let alone till I come home. remember my humble duty to my good mother, and desire hir to haue still patience with hir trouble. Vpon further consideration I haue altered my course, and will staye heere yet this fortnight, because I would not come 294vp againe. I haue sent downe a Cloke cloth for Robert, let him be heer with my horses vpon thursdaye come senight; now the good Lord blesse thee my sweet wife and all thy babes with the rest of ours. Commende me to brother Gostlin and sister and to all our Freindes at Castleins and elswhere, and praye for me as I doe for thee. so embracinge thee in my truest affection, I rest Thy Faithfull husbande
the brasse locke opens with this word ICHA, set right vnder the harpe.
All heere commende them kindly to thee, and loue and duty to my mother.