Papers of the Winthrop Family, Volume 2
1630-12-06
I receaued your kind letter, bearing date xijth of August, for which I hartily thancke you, that in the midst of your great trobles (the which I assure my self are verie many,) you will let your penn loose to declare to your Freinds that they are not forgotten. But since the arrival of your letter I haue herd of your heavienes,2 for which with you I bare my share, but I trust that that wilbe an occasion of our seeing you heere in old England the sooner. Sir, ther is litle or nothing that is worthie of newes, but that all things are as you left them, and rather worser then any whit amended. the Gent:3 are still in prison, and tossed from the Kings Bench to the gate howse in Westminster, and from thence to the K. Bench againe: all this since Midsomer last. Vppon Sabboth day last the Articles of Peace with Spaine weare sworne to in great state (as I am informed of) in the Chappell at Whitle-Hall li., but instead of cupbords of plate, which it was vsuallie to be set forth at such tymes, ther weare cupbords of glasses for them, etc.
Yesterday, the Earle of Castle-Haven5 was committed to the gatehowse, close prisoner, (whoe is Jesuitted,) for fowle offences, as I am informed; for noe lesse then buggerie, and for comanding his owne dafter and his ladie for to prostrate themselues to his owne favorite, (one Mr.
I pray present my service to Sir Rich: Saltonstall, with my prayers for him and his; and if ther be one Mr. Ludlowe neare you, I pray remember me to him, and let him knowe his brother is in helth.
Original lost; 4
Collections
, VI. 32a–32b. “This letter seems to be signed B: G:; but we know not for what those initials stood. Possibly the letters were intended for B: P: The arms on the seal are those of the Burrell Family, of Brome Park, in Northumberland, and also of Dowsby, Lincolnshire, and Ryhall, in the county of Rutland. Richard, the fourth son of William, Lord Say and Sele, and brother to the Countess of Lincoln, married Margaret, the daughter of Abraham Burrell of Wisbech, in the Isle of Ely; and it is probable that the writer of the letter was thus connected with the family of the Earl of Lincoln, into which Isaac Johnson had married.... It may be well to add, that the handwriting is not that of Brampton Gurdon, with the initials of whose name the signature would seem to correspond.” 4
Collections
, VI. 32b, note.
The death of Johnson's wife, the Lady Arbella. Johnson himself died on September 30, but news of his death, it seems, had not yet reached his friends in England.
Those condemned by the court of King's Bench early in 1630 for words and actions in Parliament on March 2, 1629. See supra, page 74; Gardiner, History of England, VIII. 77–122, 224–227. Holles had escaped; Selden was liberated in May, 1631; Eliot was imprisoned in the Tower until his death, November 27, 1632; Benjamin Valentine and William Strode were not released until January, 1640. Only two days before the date of this letter, Dr. John Moseley wrote to Viscount Dorchester, secretary of state, advising him “how it would redound to the advancing of his Majesty's honour, and the promoting of peace with his people, to release those gentlemen who are restrained without the expected submission. There is now a very fair opportunity offered in the solemnity of the peace with Spain.” Calendar of State Papers, Domestic, 1629–1631, 400.
The treaty was signed at Madrid, November 5/15. “Sunday the 5. of December, 1630. a ioyfull Proclamation of peace, was made betweene England and Spaine, and was first Proclaimed neere Pauls Crosse, then at Cheap-side, then at the Royall Exchange, and at the bridge foote, neerc fishstreete, at which were present, the Lord Maior and Aldermen, and the Kings and Herauldes at Armes in their rich Coates, and brauely mounted, and that night the people expressed their gladnesse, by making Bone-fires and ringing of Bells.” Stow, Annales (1631), 1046.
The second Earl. He was found guilty, attainted of felony, and beheaded on Tower Hill, May 14, 1631. State Trials, III. 401–421.