Papers of the Winthrop Family, Volume 1
1628-10-18
— My duty remembered to your selfe, my mother and grandmother, with my love to my brothers and sister, my uncles and aunts and all our good freinds—may it please you to understand that we arrived at Con409stantinople2 the 13th day of September all in good health (God be thanked,) hoping the same of yourselfe and all our freinds. When I came to this place I found the gentleman3to whome my letter of credit was directed to be absent, beinge gone down to Smyrna, his returne expected now every day, but have been furnished with monyes from his Assignee;—the bill of exchange I shall not send till his returne. I shalbe forced to take up more then willingly I would, by reason of our going to Venice, where we are likely to stay a good parte of the winter, and our long stay heere, and some places we touch at in the way: What I shall pay a dollar I know not yet, but the dollar goeth very high heere by exchange, being worth 5 s. 4 d. English: By the next vessell I shall God willing write againe, and at Venice shall hope to heare from you. If you write thither, it be best to direct it to Capt: Maplesden. The newes heere is of the Taking in of Esrom4 by the Grand Seignior which was kept by a rebell; the grand Seignior’s forces are now in seige of Bagdat, alias Babilon, which the Persian holdeth. Heere have been lately many fires in Constantinople. One burnt downe twelve thousand houses.5 Thus with my duty againe remembered, desiring your prayers and blessing, I rest Your Obedient son
We shall, God willing, depart hence about a fourtnight or 3 weekes hence.
L. and L.
, I. 266–267; 5
Collections
, VIII. II. The original is lost.
George Sandys’ account of a journey from Venice to Constantinople in 1610 is in Purchas his Pilgrimes (ed. of 1905), VIII. 88–248.
John Freeman.
Erzerum, in Armenia.
Sandys notes that the city is subject to “horrible combustions” and gives the reason. Loc. cit., 119.
1628-10-28
I haue seene a note from you fassened vnto your award betwixt Symones and Turner that if the sayd award did not giue satisfaction to all 410parties that then you would vndertake that Symondes should enter in new band, if the rest would doe the like. Now for asmuch as Sir William Soame nor my selfe had any notice of your meeteinge accordinge to promise vpon the bandes entring and that you are by your noate pleased soe frely to offer a new entringe of bandes and to waife your former award my desire vnto you is that new bandes may be entred, and that accordingly I shalbe very reddy vpon notice to giue you a meetinge at Wenham where the place was first appointed. And thus presumeinge on your lawful fauore therein with my best loue and respect vnto you I byd you hartelye farewell and rest Your very louing Friend
Indorsed by Governor Winthrop, “Sir Joh: Wentworthes L’re. Rec: at Westm. Nou: 4: 1628”
Son of John Wentworth, of Gosfield, co. Essex, and Cecily, daughter of Sir Edward Unton, or Umpton, of Wadley, co. Berks. He was born about 1584, knighted April 22, 1603, made a baronet June 29, 1611, and died in October, 1631. He married Catharine, daughter of Sir Moyle Finch of Eastwell, Kent, and Elizabeth (Heneage) Finch, and was accordingly brother-in-law of Sir Heneage Finch, Speaker of the House of Commons. “Being extravagant, he wasted his estates,” which were placed in the hands of trustees in 1623. The baronetcy became extinct on his death. Morant, Essex, II. 235, 382; Cokayne, Complete Baronetage, I. 43; John Wentworth, The Wentworth Genealogy (Boston, 1878), I. xxvi, 38–39; D. N. B., s. vv. “Finch” and “Unton.”
W. 4. 66; 5
Collections
, I. 187–188.
In Suffolk, near Lowestoft.