A website from the Massachusetts Historical Society; founded 1791.

Papers of the Winthrop Family, Volume 1

Margaret Winthrop to John Winthrop1
Winthrop, Margaret Winthrop, John

1627-11-22

My most Sweet Husband,

how dearely welcome thy kinde letters was to me I am not able to expresse, the sweetnesse of it did much refreshe me, what can be more pleasinge to a wife, then to heare of the welfayre of hir best beloued, and how he is pleassed with hir pore endeuours, I blush to heare my selfe commended, knowinge my owne wants, but it is your loue that conceaues the best and makes all thinges seme better then thay are. I wish that I may be allwayes pleasinge to thee, and that those comforts we haue in each other may be dayly increaced as far as thay be pleasing to god. I will vse that speach to thee that Abygal did to Dauid I will be a seruant to wash the feete of my lord, I will doe any seruice whearein I may please my good Husband I confes I cannot doe ynought for thee, but thou art pleased to axcept the will for the deede and rest contented.

I haue many resons to make me loue thee wheareof I will name to. first because thou louest god, and secondly because that thou louest me. If these to ware wantinge all the rest would be eclipsed, but I must leaue this discorce and goe about my houshold affayres I am a bad huswife to be so longe from them, but I must needs borowe a little time to talke with thee my sweet hart the terme is more then halfe done I hope thy businesse drawes to an end it will be but 2 or 3 weekes before I see thee, though thay be longe ones. god wil bringe vs together in his good time for which time I shall pray, I thank the lord we are all in health wee are very glad to heare so good Nuse of our sonne Henry the lord make vs thankefull for al his mercyes to ous and ours, and thus with my mothers and my owne best loue to your selfe and all the rest I shal leaue criblinge the wether being colde makes me make haste farewel my good Husband the lord kepe thee. Your obedyent wife

Margaret Winthrope November 22 1627 Groton. 370

I haue not yet receued the box but I will send for it I send vp a turkey and some chese, I pray send my sonne Foorth such a knife as mine is mrs. Hugen would pray you to by a cake for the boyes.

I did dyne at Grotton hall yesterday thay are in helth and remember thear loue wee did wish you theare but that would not bringe you and I coulde not be mery without thee, mr. Lee and his wife ware there they remember theare loue, our neyghbor Cole and goodman Newton haue bin sick but somwhat amended againe I feare thy chese wil not proue so good as thou didest expect I haue sent it all for we could not cut it.

1.

W. 7A. 19; Savage (1825), I. 353; (1853), I. 421–422; L. and L. , I. 246–248; Twichell, 74–76.

Sir Robert Naunton to the Countess of Nottingham1
Naunton, Robert Howard, Margaret Countess of Nottingham

1627-11-24

To the right honorable Margarett Countesse of Nottingham.2

After my very harty commendacons to your good Ladyshipp, whereas there is a Bill of Complaint exhibited before mee into his Majesties Courte of Wards and Liveries, against your Ladyshipp on the behalfe of the right honorable Charles Earle of Nottingham, unto which Bill by course of his Majesties Lawes awnsweere is to be made, to the intent the matter may receyve noe prejudice by anie delay, I have therefore thought good to desire your Ladyshipp to send your Sollicitor or Servant or some of your Ladyshipps Councell unto the said Court the Seaven and Twentith of this instant November to peruse or take a copie of the said Bill, and that your Ladyshipp would thereupon make some awnsweare thereunto, To the end the Cause may receive Tryall as to Justice apperteineth, And soe I doe bidd your Ladyshipp most hartily farewell. From my howse nere Charing Crosse this Foure and Twentith day of November 1627. Your Ladyships very loving freind

Robert Naunton
1.

L. and L. , I. 218; from an original now lost.

2.

Margaret, daughter of James Stuart, Earl of Murray. She married Charles Howard (1536–1624), Earl of Nottingham, in 1604. D. N. B. , XXVIII. 6.

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