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 74. Please look at all notes at the end of the document or documents on page 74.

John Winthrop, Jr., to John Freeman1

Winthrop, John, Jr. Freeman, John

1629-03-13

Good Sir,

I am now arrived in Christendome: the ninth of feb: stil: nov: was the day that we came into the Harbour of Malamoco neere Venice, from whence you had heard from me sooner had we not beene deteyned in the Purgatory of the Lazaretto a whole month, (the continuall expectation to be at liberty every day after the first weeke, confidently hoped for, making me defer lettres, knowing no man in Venice by whose meanes I might have them sent on to you,) before I could have liberty to enter the Citty. Mr. Throgmorton2 and the Dutch Gentleman being also partakers in the same penalty. To write you of the particulars of our Voyage, it would be frivolous, remembring nothing that passed worthy your Intelligence, only in generall you shall understand that from the Castles to Zant we were in 5 daies, where we staied about a weeke; there I delivered your letter to Mr. Hobson:3 we found the Hector4 there bound for England, in which Mr. Throgmorton had gone but for feare of long detention etc.

The second parte of our voiage was very longe and tedious with continuall tempests and foule weather, being a month in the way betwixt Zant and Venice. I have sent your letters for Legorne. I understand since that Mr. Harvy is gone for England. Mr. Hide5 at the receipt of your letters hath kindly offered to furnish me with monies where I shall have occasion, which I thankfully acknowledge as a fruite of your love for which I confesse myself deeply indebted to you, having found such extraordinary kindnesses at your hands whilst I was with you that to proportion my thanks with your deserts would be too difficult for my pen to endeavor, only I pray beleeve that I am ever your true friend to doe you any service which may lye in compasse of my best endeavours.

John Winthrop. March 13, n. s., 1629 1.

Original now lost; L. and L. , I. 273–274; 5 Collections , VIII. 17–18.

See page 80, infra, and Vol. I. 406.

John Hobson, one of “the principle merchants residing at Zant.” Sir Thomas Roe, Negotiations, 825; see Calendar of State Papers, Venetian, for 1626–29.

On May 22, 1628, a letter of marque was issued to Ralph Freeman and others, owners of the Hector of London, 400 tons, William Wilde master. Calendar of State Papers, Domestic, 1628–1629, 119, 144, 306. Her career ended in the summer of 1633, when, with her consort, the William and Ralph, she was attacked in the Archipelago by a fleet of sixty Turkish galleys. The English ships were fired and sunk, but not until they had sunk five Turkish galleys, including the flagship, and slain the commander of the Turks and at least 2,000 of his men. Ibid., 1633–1634, 189–191.

Laurence Hide, an English merchant with a house in Venice and “very well known” there. Calendar of State Papers, Venetian, 1626–1628, 591, 592, 594; 1628–1629, 37, 563.

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.