A website from the Massachusetts Historical Society; founded 1791.

Papers of the Winthrop Family, Volume 3

212
Henry Lawrence to John Winthrop, Jr.1
Lawrence, Henry Winthrop, John, Jr.

1635-09-22

To my Worthy Freinde Mr. John Winthrop the Yonger att Agawam or elsewhere in New-England
Sir,

My fayth makes mee willinge to outrunne my intelligence in congratulatinge your safe arriuall in New-England, for God hath alreddy shewed himsealfe so gratious in the conductinge of those who haue gone your way, as we may at laste venture to truste him without any farther tryall. Yet I shall be glad vpon the first occasyon to haue the certayne knowledge of it from your sealfe that my thankefulnes may haue both a greater bottom and buildinge then now it can. The greate busines God hath cast vpon you, the great truste that is reposed in you, and the expectation that is iustly raysed of you, ar weights I assure mysealfe sufficient to carry you on in all faythfulnes and diligence to the prosecution of that seruice. But that we may not bee wantinge either to you or oursealues we take it to bee our parte to putt you in minde of that which we ar assurd you forgett not, our owne serious desires and your answerable ingagement in this worke, of which we ar sure this att least may come, that by aduising you to do what you do alreddy we shall both prayse you for so doinge, and testify our owne acknowledgment and approbation of it. I shall remember you now butt of torn thinges. One is the place of our pitchinge wherein (if in any thinge) we ar peremptory for Connecticutt, it beeinge as you know and so continuinge, the ioynte resolution of vs all that nothinge but a playne impossibility could diuerte vs from that place which in many respects we conceiud moste aduantagious both for the securinge of our freindes att the bay and our owne personall accommodations. Another is the time of your goinge vp, which wee assuredly expect shall bee this winter, for which reson we haue sent a farther supply of such men and prouisions as we could, and thought fitt for the present, of which you shall receiue intelligence from Mr. Hopkins; A thirde which will inforce this 2d is that fortifications and some conuenient buildinges for the receipt of Gentlemen may go hande in hande, for there ar like to come more ouer next Summer both to be wittnes of what you haue done, and to thanke you for it, then you ar yett aware of. Other thinges I shall leaue to your owne wisedome and the directions giuen you, earnestly beseechinge God that he would farther suggest such thinges to vs all as may be most for the glory of his greate name, and (which in this designe we espetially ayme att) the good of his churches. 213I desire to haue my loue and seruice presented to Mr. Winthrop your father, to whom thoughe I haue not seene his face, his owne worth hath causd that I am no stranger. Next your sealfe I desire to bee affectionately remembered to Mr. Peter. I rest Your assured Friende

He: Lawrence Septemb: 22th 1635
1.

W. 4. 78, 5 Collections , I. 214–215. For Henry Lawrence, one of the signers of Winthrop’s commission as Governor of the Saybrook settlement, see D.N.B.