Papers of the Winthrop Family, Volume 1
1627-01-09
I wrote the last weeke so farre as my paper would reache. I hope you received my letters, which I desire to vnderstand from you, for Jarvice his man had them. I blesse God for your healthe and wellfare but we now thinke longe to have you at home, for your brother is to returne to Cambridge2 and then we shalbe alone, but if there be any good occasion to staye you still, I will not vrge your hastye returne. Touchinge the matter of mr. Pettuall, (though I can give no directe answere where nothinge is propounded, yet) thus muche in general, where I may have more monye I can depart with the more lande. I praye God give you wisdome and grace to discerne of meet giftes and a disposition that may promise hope of a comfortable life, in the feare of God, otherwise (if you can so content your owne minde) you were better liue as you are, but I 339comitt this and all other our affaires to the onely wise providence of our heavenly father.
we have had muche adoe for a minister since mr. Simondes refused it, Groton Churche did not afforde suche variety of giftes in diverse yeares before, we have many suitors that would take it at a meane rate, but for suche as are worthy all the difficulty is to gett maintenance enough, we are now (by Gods providence) like to fasten vpon a godly man one mr. Lea3 a curate at Denston4 in Suffolk a man of verye good partes but of a melancolicke constitution, yet as sociable, and full of good discourse as I have knowne; all the parishe are verye earnest with me to take him but I have taken a litle respite, because he is but a stranger to me, but well knowne to diverse in the towne. he was mr. Simondes pupill. I purpose to send up 10 li. for my A: B:5 if I can heare of any fitt partye, if not, you should receive some monye of your vncle Downinge for mr. John Brande, laye out 10 li. of that, and I will restore it, for I have the monye by me. Be not knowne to any bodye of any monye you receive for mr. Brande, but faile not to write me worde this week of the receipt of it, you may speake to your vncle about it, least he should forgett it. mr. Rogers hathe sett forthe a litle book of faithe:6 buye it. I want a paire of plaine ordinarye knives, and some leafe tobacko and pipes. you may buye these thinges at 340your leysure: as likewise some packthread and lines, hempe ones if you will. your grandmother and mother salute and blesse you, the good Lorde blesse you ever, farewell. your lovinge father
I should have sent vp some fowles this weeke if they had been fatt.
W. 7A. 16; Savage (1825), I. 346–347; (1853), I. 414–416;
L. and L.
, I. 212–213.
Forth, admitted pensioner at Emmanuel, April 18, 1626, and matriculated July 4. Venn, A. C.
, IV. 440;
L. and L.
, I. 212, note.
William Leigh, a graduate of Cambridge, matriculated sizar from St. John’s, Easter, 1616; B.A., 1619–20; M.A., 1623. He was rector of Groton in 1640, when he was assessed 7 s. ship money, and in October, 1645, when his son John was admitted at St. John’s. In September, 1645, he appears as ‘minister’ of Groton in the Eleventh Suffolk Presbyterian Classis. Venn, A. C.
, III. 66; J. Peile, Biographical Register of Christ’s College, I. 330. Joseph Hunter (3
Collections
, X. 156), summarizing from Rev. Matthias Candler’s genealogical collections in Harleian MS. 6071, says that he “was the son of Ralph Leigh, a Cheshire man, who had been a soldier under the Earl of Essex at Cadiz, by Dorothy his wife, a daughter of William Kemp of Finchingfield, Esquire, and the authoress of a book called The Mother’s Blessing.” This book, published in 1616, had reached a fifteenth edition by 1630. Pollard and Redgrave, Short-Title Catalogue, 347. Leigh has been confused with others of the same name, particularly William Leigh of Gorton in Lancashire, one of the clergymen ejected in 1662, and William Leigh of Christ’s College, M.A. 1626.
Denston, or Denerdiston, is a parish in the hundred of Risbridge, co. Suffolk.
“An ‘A.B.,’ on our side of the ocean, would stand for a degree of Bachelor of Arts. Ten pounds would have been a large price to pay for one, however; and Winthrop would have been a little old at this period to purchase one. In England, too, the letters indicating such a degree are always reversed. But after having repeatedly puzzled my brain over this paragraph, in the notion that it might be a confirmation of the idea, that Winthrop had, in some way or other, entitled himself to a place on the University roll, it was an amusing relief to find, among the old family papers recently discovered, several little quarterly receipts, indorsed ‘Aunt Branch, £10’ ! The receipts are all signed ‘Reynold Branch’; and are given in behalf of his wife Elizabeth, for whom Winthrop held an annuity of forty pounds.”
L. and L.
, I. 213, note.
The Doctrine of Faith, by John Rogers of Dedham, entered February 19, 1626. Pollard and Redgrave, Short-Title Catalogue, 489.
1627-01-15
my duty remembred to your selfe my mother and Grandmother with my love to my brothers and the rest of our freindes. The occation of my sending thus hastily is this, that wheras Mr. Lattimer one of the Atturnies of the Court of Wardes is yesterday dead so as now that place is void my vncle Downing willed me to give you speedy notice of it and desire you to come vp with all speed you can to London for the m
The Bearer hath promised to be with you by tomorrow at night. I agreed with him for 5 s. for the whole iournie whereof I have given him 2 already but if he performeth his promise I pray give him 5 or 6 more for it wilbe cheaper then I could have had any other
Since the writing of my letter my vncle Downing himselfe hath writte
we are all well save little George3 who hath hadd one sore fitt of an ague
I think there is noe great hast of sending vp my Cozen Jeames4 so he be from Ipswich therfore I thinke it would be good to keepe him at Groton still this cold wether.
W. 1. 19;
L. and L.
, I. 214–215; 5
Collections
, VIII. 3–4.
Haste was particularly important, because the next term, Hilary, began on January 22.
Afterwards Sir George Downing. See John Beresford, The Godfather of Downing Street (London, 1925).
James Downing, the son of Emmanuel Downing by his first wife, Anne Ware, and named after his grandfather, Sir James Ware of Dublin. He came to New England in 1640. Muskett, 99.