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Papers of the Winthrop Family, Volume 3

Edward Howes to John Winthrop, Jr.1
Howes, Edward Winthrop, John, Jr.

1633-08-13

To his very good frind Mr. John Winthrope the yonger at Boston present these in New England
Sir,

Not to enlarge your title with an Epitaph, for all the deseruinge adiuncts that possiblie I could devise were little enough to expresse your deserts and to manifest my loue. Although I haue by this shipp sent you a lettre dated a weeke since, wherein I made mention of the instrument that Sir H: Platt writes of, to brue with all, whose words were that by the helpe of it one myght brue in wodden vessells and alsoe as you may remember, if the element of water had not more power ouer the vessell of wood, then the fyre, one vessell might last 100 yeares; which Instrument my master caused to be (whose right name is a furnace) and sent to your father: but being the first the workeman could not hitt right, wherefore another was since made and being brought home Sir R: Saltonstall would needs buye it. I conceiue tis farr stronger and better wrought then the first; but what benifitt will these furnaces be to the Plantation seing you haue aboundance of wood, we conceiue and hope the best, and leaue it to your tryall.

The dogg in a wheele that my master writt off to turne another wheele and soe to cause the bellowes to blowe I cannot well fancie; because the fire needs not a constant blowinge, but a blowinge by fitts, as in black smyths and gold smyth workes; sometymes faster sometymes slower, which a dogg will not, nor can not doe; nowe my master calls me to write to you for him about the same matter.

138

Yet I haue one thinge more to write to you of, and that is you wilbe pleased to expresse your approued loue to me soe much as to husband for me ten or 20li in the layeing out vpon cow calues of a yeare old or older, and putt them out to some honest man whome you thinke fitt to keepe to halues or otherwise as you thinke best. if you please to advise yourselfe to laye out more for my benifitt, vpon notice thereof from you I shall very thankefully repaye it, either in monie, goods or seruants or what you will; for I see I shall be driuen to come to you sooner then I made account of; and I desire to haue some stock there, though it be but a small one, tis better then none at all.

Mr. Robert Saltonstall hath giuen me one of his breeding Rabitts a black one with a white streake downe the nose, which he with others nowe sends ouer. he made me paye for store of foode for the Rabitt in her passage if it dye I am to haue another, and he hath promised to write to his brother Samuell to sett the breede of that or one other apparte for me; I refused this kindnes vntill his importance forced it on me; he hath alsoe vpon some considerations promised me a sowe pigge, and the keepinge of her and her increase from hence for 3 yeares by which tyme I hope to come ouer; if I can gett of Sir Richard a kidd or a Calfe, I shall thinke my selfe reasonablie well rewarded of him for my paines.

As for a house for me I hope I shall with you or Mr. Sandford find a wadd of strawe to lye on vntill I may buye or buyld a howse; I heare from you noe comendations of a tent which I conceiue to be a necessary thinge with you. A man may buye one here for about ten pounds, and the fraight to you wilbe but small; I hope you haue longe since heard that I paid Mr. Kirbie the 4li 12s I had of Mr. Gurdon for your law bookes.

Thus desiringe you to thinke vpon your poore frinde in what maye be for his good whoe prayes daylie for your health and prosperitie, and desires to present his seruice to your good wife and your selfe, and sister Feakes and sister Dudley with theire husbands, and to remaine Yours euer to commande

Edward Howes Peterborough Courte in Fleetestreete the 13 of August 1633

Nowe I thinke we shall not remoue from hence vntill it be to you which God speede.

1.

W. 2. 167; 4 Collections , VI. 493–495.