Papers of the Winthrop Family, Volume 3

Priscilla Paynter to John Winthrop, Jr.1

Paynter, Priscilla Winthrop, John, Jr.

1635-03

To my beloved Sonne Mr. John Winthrop at Mr. Downings neere the Lion taverne in Lincolnes Inne fields by Princes street end deliver in London

My Dere Sone,

your letter cam to my hands whin I was full of sorowe so as I could not then wright for it plased god that uery weeke to take from me my dere daughter mary fones to my husbands and my grat grife and to the grife of all those that knewe her swete and louely disspossion: conserning the paymant of those monys you wright of I doe not well understand: you demand of my husban one hundered pound for which you say you haue his band: you desier to know wether he hath payed vrsula thirtie pound: we layed out aboue 190fiftie pounds and out of her portion but why we should paye her thirtie for that I see no reson: it is true ther was on hundered pound due to your dere wife which was to be payed her out of those depts which wear due to mr. fones as will apere by the deede of gift to your wife the monys that shuld haue payed this, we haue receiued but fiftie pounds of it as yet: forty 5 pounds more is in my lady mouddes hands which if you will be earnest with her for it I mak no dout but she will pay it forth with and the other 50 pounds I will pay presently, if you will be peased to giue vp my husbands band: I shuld much reioyce to see you here if it might be and if it were as conuenent for me to trauell as for you, it should not be long before I would see you and then would ther be a quick disspaich of this buisnes which other wayes will require many letters and much mistaken of on naother, for in your first letter after your brothers death you wrot that my husband should take no care for it if you could sell his land for respect to vrsula, your father in his letter wrot that you had giuen her 60 pounds or above which shee neuer knew what way unles it ware ment in your sayed letters yet if you wright that you will except of 50 pound and of 20 more when it shall be receiued of my lady moody you shall receiued the 50 pound before you goe away at the hands of my vncle tally vpon conuenant warning from you as I hop I shall intreat him by letter vpon your deliuering vp the band to him who I know will doe his vtmost with you for the rest from the lady thus desiering your answer and the presenting of my best loue to your selfe my worthy brother and sister downing I rest your louing mother

Pris: Paynter Ca. March, 1635 1.

W. 4. 27, 5 Collections , I. 71–72. For earlier correspondence dealing with the subject matter of this letter, see Henry Paynter to John Winthrop, Jr., ca. June, 1631, pages 38–39, above; Ursula Sherman to John Winthrop, Jr., June 18, 1631, pages 39–40, above; Emmanuel Downing to John Winthrop, Jr., November 2, 1631, pages 50–51, above; and Emmanuel Downing to John Winthrop, Jr., June 18, 1633, page 129, above.

Sir John Clotworthy to John Winthrop, Jr.1

Clotworthy, John Winthrop, John, Jr.

1635-03-06

My deare freinde,

Herinclosed I send you a casement through which I thinke you may much more securely impart your minde then any other way; you will finde at euery corner of the paper a little noch of this length ——, you must cause those noches to bee iust putt on those due places on the letter I haue written; and then you may reade my secrett minde;2 the rest being 190

[PWF03fd2] 191 couered; soe when you doe write, gett paper somwhatt larger then your casement, and pinn the casement to the paper, then make your corner marks; soe shall I be able to reade itt iust as you write; I had written in the way wee agreed on, butt I fownd itt, in my iudgment, more tedious, and less secrett; you may carry your casment allwayes aboutt you in a paper booke, don vpp in an other sheete of paper, to keepe itt from breaking. I thought meete to tell you, that som off our freinds where I last saw you thinke fitter to send there ——in a ——of ther owne then trouble you; they hauing noe partners before; butt I presume to cast my selfe on your favoure; and hope allsoe you will pardon mee; I long to heare from you; and hope very shortly to be satisfied; Mr. Allen the bearer hearoff will healpe to send your Lettre to mee very safely; allsoe one Mr. Burnett a mercer at the Golden Fleece, in Lumbert-Streete, as I remember hee dwells there; he sends vsually letters to the Primate; lett yours to mee bee inclosed in a backett to his Lordship and then allsoe they will bee safely conveyed to mee; whatt other conueniencie you meet with, lay hold on; and your Lettres will bee as heartily welcom as they are earnestly expected, by your affectionate freind and seruant

Jo: De-gleba-digna Ca. March 6, 1634/35

I pray present my seruis to mr. Hall I thanke you vnfeignedly for vsing my horse, butt I take itt vnkindly (if I could doe soe, any thing that you doe) that you made not vse of the other allsoe for Mr. Hall; I pray send my coate hatt etc. by the fyrst.

W. 12. 9.

The “casement” used by Clotworthy and Winthrop is a sheet of paper 7½ inches by 11 3/8 inches, with rectangular slits of varying lengths cut in such a way that when the “casement” is superimposed on the letter, only those words constituting the message can be read through the openings. The results obtained by the use of this device can be seen from the illustration facing this page.