Papers of the Winthrop Family, Volume 2Note: you've followed an index reference to a note that, due to changes between the print and digital editions, may no longer be on page 105. Please look at all notes at the end of the document or documents on page 105.

Lucy Downing to John Winthrop, Jr.1

Downing, Lucy Winthrop, John, Jr.

1629-08-08

To her Loveinge Neiphe Mr. John Winthrope att Flushing this dllr. Holland. Leave this at the house of Mr. Henrie Kerker in Flushinge to be sent as abovsaid.2

August 8: 1629: my sweet nephew

I receiued your Letters from amsterdam: dated Juli 28: and am moste hartily and vnexspresabli glad to hear of your wellfare: as I am sure the rest of your friends will be; but so it is that your father and vncle are bothe in Linkornshire and haue bine this fortnight and I am vncertaine of ther return: but in there absence I haue taken the best care I can to get you a bill of exchange, wich I hope you shall receiue with this: 105and nowe good nephew you haue bine such a stranger to vs as I knowe not what is newes to you or what is not: sume ill newes I can impart to you, wich I am sory to be the messinger of: but the will of our god must be effected: your granmother and vncle fones are in heauen. there deaths were bothe in one weeke in the month of aprill: and in the same monthe your brother henrie was maried to my neece bes fones: the maner of this would be too tedious to relate in this: I hope the Lord will send vs a hapy meetinge till when I refer all circumstances: yeur father ernestlie desiers to see you: your brother hary is yet att groton but they saye he intends the barbethes this next monthe: and forde Forth for newe ingland in the springe: the rest of vs I praise god for it are in good health: and you haue a cosen robert downinge:3 and your godsonne I hope will be ready to goe to sea with you next yeare: so wishinge you hear and much hapines whereuer: I rest Your louing ant

Lucie downinge. 1.

W. 4. 2; 5 Collections , I. 7. The writer was John Winthrop's sister. See letters and many references in Vol. I. The grandmother referred to was Anne (Browne) Winthrop; see supra, page 83.

The address is in the hand of Emmanuel Downing.

The writer's son, baptized at St. Brides, Fleet Street, March 24, 1628–29. Muskett, 99.

Robert Ryece to John Winthrop1

Ryece, Robert Winthrop, John

1629-08-12

To the Woorshipfull his moche respected good friende Mr. Wynthrop at Bury geve these

Sir

were I able to ryde so farre I woolde wyllingly haue attended you this daye, not for the leaste abyllytie of any service which I can performe, but to shewe the beste of my affection to so deservinge a good friende. For the subiecte you wrytte of, breefely and playnelye to shewe you my mynde, what so ever other saye, I pray you geve mee leave in one woorde to shewe you. The church and common welthe heere at home, hathe more neede of your beste abyllytie in these dangerous tymes, then any remote plantation, which may be performed by persons of lesser woorthe and apprehension, which I coolde shewe yf I had tyme to thinke vpon dyversities of reasons which mighte be produced. Agayne your owne estate wylbe more secured in the myddest of all accidents heere at home, then in this forreine expedition, which discovereth a 1000 shipwrackes which may betyde. All your kynsfolkes and moste vnderstandinge friendes wyll more reioyce at your stayenge at home, with any condition which God shall sende, then to throwe your selfe vpon vayne hopes with many difficulties and vncer106taynties. Agayne you shalbe more acceptable in the service of the hieste and more vnder his protection whiles you walke charely in your vocation heere at home, then to goe owte of your vocation comyttinge your selfe to a woorlde of dangers abroade. The pype goeth sweete, tyll the Byrde be in the nett, many bewtifull hopes ar sett before your eyes to allewer you to danger. Plantations ar for yonge men, that can enduer all paynes and hunger. Yf in your yewthe you had byn acquaynted with navigation, you mighte haue promised your selfe more hope in this longe vyadge, but for one of your yeeres to vndertake so large a taske is seldome seene but to miscarry. To adventure your wholle famylly vpon so many manifeste vncerteynties standeth not with your wysdome and longe experience. Lett yonger yeeres take this charge vpon them, with the advyse of that which elder yeeres shall directe them vnto, the losse shalbe the lesse yf thay myscarry; but there honor shalbe the more if thay prosper. So longe as you sytt at the helme, your famylie prospereth, but yf you shoold happen to fayle, your flocke woolde be at the leaste in hazarde, if not totally to myscarrye. Yonge mens directions thowghe sometymes with some successe, do not all wayes succeede. These remote partes wyll not well agree with your yeeres, whiles you are heere you wyll be ever fytter by your vnderstandinge and wysdome to supplye there necessities. But if it shoolde happen that you shoolde gett safely thither you shall soone fynde, how necessitie wyll calle for supplie from these partes. I pray you pardon my boldnes, that had rather erre in what I thinke, then to be sylente in that I shoolde speake. How harde wyll it bee for one browghte vp amonge boockes and learned men to lyve in a barbarous place where is no learnynge and lesse cyvillytie. I beseeche the lorde to directe you and to keepe you in all your wayes. Thus in haste with the beste remembrance of my true affection vnto you I leave you to the protection of the Allmightye and do reste Yours ever in all true affection

Robt. Ryece. Preston this 12 of Auguste 1629 1.

W. 2. 152; 4 Collections , VI. 392–393; L. and L. , I. 330–331. For the writer, the well-known Suffolk antiquary, see Vol. I. 357, note 35 358, note 1 .