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Papers of the Winthrop Family, Volume 3Note: 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 349. Please look at all notes at the end of the document or documents on page 349.

Matthew Cradock to John Winthrop1
Cradock, Matthew Wintrhop, John

1637-02-21

To my Honored and worthei freynd the worshipfull John Winthrop the elder Esqr. Boston in Newe England per the George Mr. Jno. Seuerne whome God perserue
Sir,

I lyke my Implyments so well there as I desyre to troble my selffe less then I haue done, which hath made mee cross out this Postscript,2 I not In­349tending to haue it mooued. god send me some meanes to dispose of that I haue that somewhat may come of it, towards my exceeding great Charge I haue beene and am at, my taxes in publique beeing to be great maney wayes Considering howe my buseynes are there Carryed by mr. Mayhewe. I send you heerewith a letter date the 13 January which I thought to haue sent away then but missed of Convayance. that written in the margent was by mistake and should haue bene written in Jno. Jolliffs letter3 That you maye judge of mr. Mayhewes dealings by me I send herewith to Jno. Jolliffe my chardge on him for what hath come meereley to his hands, whereby he Is debtor to me besyds the increase of my Cattell and improuement of my grounds and proffitt by the labors of seruants which if sett against there Chargs and other losses, yeet I should haue there aboue 11500li yf I be well dealt with, and whereas accordingley I gaue order to haue moneys Remitted home to mee; in steede thereof I ame Charged by Tho: Mayhewe without the knowledge of Jno. Jolliffe with great somes, whereas my expresse order was he should doe nothing in my buiseynes without Jno Jolliffs Consent. I must abruptly breake of but doe pray you with your best aduize to Furder me in Aught that may tend For my saffetey. by mr. Pierse I hope to Inlardg, hauing Caused this letter to be Returned me from Plymouth whether I nowe send it to be sent you by the George mr. Jno. Seuerne. Thus with my best Respects I rest Your Worships to be Commaunded

Mathewe Cradock London 21 February 1636/37
1.

W. 2. 63, 4 Collections , VI. 121–122. This communication is written at the end of Cradock’s letter to Winthrop of September 13, 1636 (see above, pages 307–309), which was, however, not actually sent until sometime after February 21, 1636/37, as is explained in this letter. Because of this unusually long interval, it has seemed best to treat the portion bearing the February date as a separate document.

2.

See the canceled postscript to Cradock’s letter to Winthrop, September 13, 1636 (page 309, above).

3.

See the message to Jolliffe in Cradock’s letter to Winthrop, January 13, 1636/37 (page 346, above).

William Munning to John Winthrop1
Munning, William Wintrhop, John

1637-02-21

To the Worshipfull and his very Worthy freind and kinsman Mr. Jo: Winthrop senr. at Boston in New Engld. with truste and speed present these
Good Sir,

I received your late loving lines dated the 12 th of Octob: last past about 9 or 10 weeks after: I am right glad to vnderstand by them, of the generall well-fare of your Plantations (which I beseech the Lord to perpetuate 350to the Praise of his Name) but very sorrie to heare by them of the death of my Brother-in-lawe of whose true-harted sincerity to god and man, I was as well perswaded as of any with whom I haue had so short acquaintance, which Confidence causeth mee (though I bee sorrie) not to sorrow for him as a Heathen without Hope, but rather as a Christian, with good hope that it is well with him now, and shall bee yet better with him at that Day of Refreshing from the Presence of the Lord. Act: 3. Your Relacion of the manner and 2d cause of his death hath fenced mine eares against the false Rumour which I heard since, vizt. that hee with many others was slaine by the Natives. Wee haue noe news heere worth the Relating, Onely wee heare, that the Arch-bishops Metropoliticall Visitacion is (once againe) comming downe into this County. What effects it will produce I am not prophet sufficient infallibly to foretell: but (if wee may ghesse by the Proceedings of Pope Regulus2 in our next neighbour and natiue diocesse) it is to bee feared that wee shall haue more Loste Groates swept out of the House instead of the Duste, to the litle laude of our good huswifery. Hee alone can amend All who threatneth to lay Judgment to the Line, and Righteousnes to the Plummett (Isai. 28) that soe hee may give every one his due to an haires breadth; and to Him they that are His must and doe referre their Case.

For myselfe (bycause I beleeue your good affection may make yow willing to heare how and what I doe) I am, (not longe since) remooved from Graces to the litle plat which gods good Prouidence hath layd out for mee at Good-ester, where meeting with the Flocke much larger then the Fleece it seemeth to signify vnto mee that the Lord would haue mee take more paines in Feeding then in shearing of his sheepe, tho many Idle and Idoll shepheards are best skilled in the latter of these. Sir, my earnest Request to yow is that yow would please to put vp your Prayers to the Lord for mee, to intreate him, that Hee which hath counted mee faythfull by putting of mee into the Ministry, would giue mee grace not to fayle his expectation in the Discharge thereof; but would vouchsafe to make mee soe faythfull now both to him and his Church, that Hee may finde mee faythfull at the last Day. For former lettres from yourselfe, I can call to minde but onely one before this that I haue received and in both that and this more love and respect then I can challenge as due. I make noe question but lettres from Graces will more fully informe yow how they doe there then time and paper and my present absence from thence will permitt mee to doe; onely I heere that Sir Hen:3 hath lately had another sore brush with the gowt, but is now vpwards againe. 351The Lord season and sanctify all for good. I am bold to enclose a lettre to my sister the widdow, for the more certainty of the deliuery. Thus with the tender of my due respect and seruice to your selfe and Mrs. Winthrop etc. with my loue remembred to my sister and to all with yow that desire to loue the Lord Jesus in sinceritie, I leaue yow and yours to him that leaueth none of His and soe take leaue to rest Your kinsman in all faythfull and vnfained Affection to command

Wm. Munninge Goodester in Essex Febr: 21° 1636/37
1.

W. 4. 84; 5 Collections , I. 235–237. The Reverend William Munning (Munnings) of Emmanuel College, Cambridge, was the son of the Reverend Humphrey Munning, Rector of Brettenham, Suffolk. He was successively Vicar of Good Easter, Essex (1635–1645), Rector of “Preston” (Friston?), Suffolk, and Rector of Chedburgh, Suffolk. Venn, Alumni Cantabrigienses, Part 1, 111. 227. His wife, Elizabeth, was a cousin of Governor Winthrop and also of the Reverend Nathaniel Ward of Ipswich.

2.

Matthew Wren, Bishop of Norwich.

3.

Sir Henry Mildmay.