Papers of the Winthrop Family, Volume 2

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John Winthrop, Jr., to John Freeman

13 March 1629

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John Winthrop, Jr., to John Freeman

28 March 1629

Emmanuel Downing to John Winthrop1

Downing, Emmanuel Winthrop, John

1629-03-06

To his louinge Frind John Winthrop esq. at Groton these dlr. Suff.

My good brother,

I am glad you retorned home soe well, and founde them soe there;

the newes yeasterday vpon thexchange was, that the Dutch haue taken the second parte of the Spaynishe plate Fleete

One Monday morning the Parliament mett,2 and presently soe soone as they were sett there came a messenger mr. Maxwell3 of the bedchamber from the king to dissolve the howse, mr. Litleton4 tendred a Demonstrance to the Speaker5 to be read, he refused, the howse comaunded him, he weepes and offers to goe out of the chayre, he was by force kept in, manie cryed out with him to the barr and choose an other in his place, they comaunded the Serieant to lock the dore, ere the Messenger entred, he 75durst not, vp riseth a Burgesse6 and offers his service, they all willed him lock the dore and bring away the key, they comaunded the Clarke to reade yt, he answeared that he was to reade nothing but what was past and entred in the booke, then mr. Litleton goes into the next roome and burnes the Demonstrance, vp riseth Hollace7 one of the lord of Clares sonns, and declares to the howse the somme and heades of the Demonstrance, to this effect; that all those are enemyes to this Church and Common wealth that seekes to bring in these new opynions, And that those merchantes shalbe reputed enemyes to this state that shall yeald tonnadge and poundadge before yt be graunted in Parliament. And the Conclusion was most sharpe and cruell against the Lord Treasurer 8 and the Bishop of Wynchester;9

One Tuseday mr. Seldon,10 mr. Litleton,11 and 3 more were sent to the Tower, Sir Peter Heymond12 and 2 others to the gatehowse, 8 more sent for, all are close prisoners that are comitted, mr. Seldons study is sealed vp, this morning I was told that there be 2 barges attending at Whytehall to carry some noblemen to the tower, and that the Customhowse dores are shutt vp for that the officers dare not sett to demaund Custome, I heard yeasterday at Charing Crosse that the Customers of Lynn were beaten out of the Customhowse, the good lord torne all to a good yssue, soe with myne and my wives dewty to my mother with our love to your selfe and my good sister etc. I rest your verie loving brother

Em: Downinge. London, 6to Martij 1628–29 1.

W. 2. 16; 4 Collections , VI. 35–36.

The proceedings of this eventful day, the last session of Parliament for eleven years, are analyzed by Gardiner, History of England, VII. 67–76, on the basis of the accounts in print and manuscript.

James Maxwell, groom of the bedchamber and usher of the Black Rod.

Edward Littleton (1589–1645), member for Leominster, later chief justice of the common pleas. It was really, however, Sir John Eliot who offered the resolutions or “Demonstrance” to the speaker.

Sir John Finch (1584–1660).

Sir Miles Hobart (d. 1632), member for Marlow, co. Bucks.

Denzil Holies (1599–1680).

Richard Weston (1577–1635), later Earl of Portland.

Richard Neile (1562–1640), later archbishop of York, 1631–40, in his own words “a great adversary of the Puritan faction.”

10.

John Selden (1584–1654), member for Ludgershell co. Wilts, famous jurist, antiquary, and Orientalist.

11.

Again an error for Sir John Eliot.

12.

Sir Peter Heyman (1580–1641), member for Hythe, co. Kent.