A website from the Massachusetts Historical Society; founded 1791.

Papers of the Winthrop Family, Volume 3

Roger Williams to John Winthrop1
Williams, Roger Winthrop, John

1637-11-20

20th of the 9th 1637 Sir,

I rest thanckfully satisfied in your propounding of my Motion to the Court, and the Answere. (The earth is Jehovahs, and the Plenitude of it.) I am not a little glad that the Lot is fallen vpon a Branch of that Roote, in whose good (present and asternall both of Roote and Branches) I reioice. For his sake I wish it Ground and Grasse, and Trees, yet what vse so euer he please to make of it I desire he would not spare to make vse of me in any Service toward the Natiues on it or about it.

Miantunnomu in his Relations of passages in the Bay with you, thanckfully acknowledges to my selfe and others your loving Cariage to him and promiseth to send forth word to all Natiues to cease from Prudence Trees2 etc. Since your letter I travelled vp to Nayantaquit by Land where I heard Repriue was: There the Sachim (to whome he adheres Wepiteammock) and the people related that he was gone to his wife to Monhiggin: Allso that he Wepiteammock had sent to Onkas advising and vrging their Returne but he could not prevaile, and that if Repriue come within his Reach he will send him (though alone without his wife) howeuer.

I travelled to Monhiggin and vnderstood that they were all at Pequt Nayantaquit, but Onkas not being at home (but at Newhaven) I could not doe ought.

Sir I haue often called vpon your debtour Joshua, but his ill advisednes of refusing my service and spending of his time vpon a howse and ground hath disabled him. Vpon this occasion of your louing proffer of the halfe of the debt (8li) to my selfe, I shall be vrgent with him to seeke some course of payment of the whole to your selfe from whome in recompence of any paines etc. I desire no other Satisfaction but your louing and wonted acceptation, yea, although the busines had bene effected: Sir I had almost bene bold to say my Thoughts what I would doe in this case were the Runnawayes mine, but I 512will not more at present. If you shall please to require account of what my observacion hath taught me I shall readily yeald it in my next, euer begging Mercy and Truth to you and yours and my loving friends with you: The Lord Jesus returne vs all (poore Runnawayes) with weeping and supplications to seeke him that was nailed to the Gallowes, in him I desire to be (and mourne I am not) more Your Worships vnfaigned

Roger Williams

Sir I receaued 6 fathom of beades from Mr. Throcmorton, which though I will not returne, yet I account them yours in my keeping.

Sir I pray my respectiue remembrance to Mrs. Wintrop.

1.

W. 2. 103; 4 Collections , vi. 220–221; N.C. , vi. 82–83.

2.

I.e., trees on Prudence Island, recently purchased from the Narragansetts by Williams and Winthrop.