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Papers of the Winthrop Family, Volume 2

John Bradinge to John Winthrop1
Bradinge, John Winthrop, John

1630-11-26

Sir,

I haue now at last with the best advice I can get, perfected the deed of revocation and settling of your estate, as is herein mencioned. I desire you would presently write and seale duplicate thereof, whether you come ouer or no: as I trust you will. But if you doe, there is danger in it. For the sealeing of a duplicate, you must seale both parts togither, and lay them one vpon another, and deliuer them both as your deed togither. 319And if you bring one of them in your pocket, it will do well. The reasons of this kinde of conveyance are to provide in these cases. 1. If you liue (which God graunt in mercy), then may your trustees secure by your estate more moneyes then you write you shall need. 2. If you dye, liueing my lady, there wilbe provision out of all but her joynture. 3. If you dye without issue, then it wilbe serued before Mr. Samuells2 estate, and ingage him to pay the debts. 4. If you dye haueing issue, then is there no possible provision to be made, but by the woods, which now you haue power to settle thus, being Fee simple lands. And lastly, if you revoke on any occasion the lease for 99 yeares, then this lease for 21 yeares begins. And the reason why there is a restraynt of power of revocation is that else no man will venture any money vpon torn that is in a therd mans power to revoke. And I hope you will trust no man of whome you are not fully assured he will ioyne with you to alter any thing at your pleasure. These things I write in regard I know not how God may inclyne your hart, to come ouer or not. Its now the last day of the tearme but two, and I am posting to the hall, therfore excuse the hast of Your faithfull affectionate friend,

Jo. bradinge. Temp. 26 Nov. 1630.
1.

Original lost; 4 Collections , VI. 577–578. Bradinge was “evidently a lawyer of the Temple, to whom Gov. Winthrop had intrusted his legal business.” 4 Collections , VI. 577, note. Another letter of his is printed ibid., 578–579.

2.

Samuel Fones.