Papers of the Winthrop Family, Volume 2
1629-11-05
I knowe not how to expresse my love to thee or my desyres of thy wished welfayre, but my hart is well knowne to thee, which will make relation of my affections though they be smalle in apperance: my thoughts are nowe on our great change and alteration of our corce heare, which I beseech the Lord to blesse us in, and my good Husband cheare up thy hart in the expectacion of Gods goodnesse to us, and let nothinge dismay or discorage thee; if the Lord be with us who can be against us: my grefe is the feare of stayinge behinde thee, but I must leave all to the good providence of God. I thank the Lord wee are all heare in reasonable good health, I receved a letter since you went from my sonne John, which brout good Nuse from Nue E: I pray thanke him for it, I wil rite to him if I have 166time, and thus with my best respect to thy selfe, brother and sister D: I commit you to God and rest Your faythfull wife
Your servante2 remembers hir service to you, our sonnes and daughters remember there duty. You shall receive by Smith the caryer a rundelet of syder, the carage is payed, if you like it send for more.
Original in the possession of Frederic Winthrop, Esq.;
L. and L.
, I. 356–357; Twichell, Puritan Love-Letters
, 123–124.
Priscilla Fones, who in the family speech of the Winthrops is semi-jocosely called John Winthrop's “servant” or “good servant.”
1629-11-10
After my returne home from yow, I fell into disquiett with my selfe; thinkinge that I came short, in giueinge yow satisfacion concerninge that poynt, propounded by yow of so maine importance, (vizt) whether I had absolutelie resolued to master my desires, and conuersacion, and to liue vnder the Hierarchie of your church and ciuill gouerment, purposed and concluded among your selues. Which consideracion hath principallie vrged these troblesome lines; to giue, vnder my owne hand, a testimonie of my selfe; That from the verie first birth of my resolucion, to serve in this busines, I firmelie and vnmoueablie determined, and still and euer, (the grace of god assistinge me) shall determine, to giue vp all my faculties, and powers both of soule, and bodie, instruments, weapons and ministers to serue yow in that vnitie bond, and waie of pietie, and deuocion, which your selues shall imbrace, and insue: And so farr I besiche yow let me be, from beinge suspected of obstinacie or non conformitie, that yow would be pleased to vnderstand, that I much comfort my selfe, in the grace of him, that is master and giuer of all grace and power, that I shall be an example, and true light to continue manie refractaries in flexibilitie, and obedience, oh, if I obtaine the happines, to laye but one stone in the foundacion of this new Syon, I shalbe rauished with high content. And for the sinceritie of my heart, in these conclucions, I appeale, not onlie to earth, but to him that made both heauen and earth. Sir we haue been much startled with 167the vncertaine report of the restraint, of diuers most honorable personages, the cause not know