A website from the Massachusetts Historical Society; founded 1791.

Papers of the Winthrop Family, Volume 4

Roger Williams to John Winthrop1
Williams, Roger JW

1638-05-22

Providence the 22 of 3rd mon. 1638 Sir,

Blessed be the Father of Spirits in whose hand our breath and wayes are that once more I may be bold to salute you and congratulate your returne from the brinck of the pit of Rottennes! What is man that thou shouldest visit him and trie him etc. Job 7th: You are put of to this tempestuous Sea againe, more stormes await you, the good Lord repaire our leakes, fresh vp the gales of his blessed Spirit steadie our Course by the Compasse of his owne Truth reskue vs from all our spirituall Adversaries not only men, but fiends of warr and assure vs of an harbour at last, euen the bozome of the Lord Jesus.

31

Sir you haue many an Eye (I presume) lift vp to the hills of mercy for you: mine might seeme superfluous: yet privately and publikely you haue not bene forgotten and I hope shall not while these Eyes haue sight.

Sir This last night Mr. Allen of Hartford and Lieftenant Holmes lodgd with me, and relate that Mr. Heynes or some chiefe resolved to be with you this weeke So that you may please a litle to stop till their Comming. Lieftenant Homes relates that William Baker who lay hid so long among the Monahiggens and Pequts, for whome he gave bale etc. was hid againe the second time among the same by Okace, but the Lieftenant by a Providence heard of him and returnd him to Hartford where he hath suffred for his much vncleanenes 2 severall whippings. This fellow notorious in villany and strongly affected by those wretches, both studying Revenge, is worthy to be watcht euen by the whole Countrey and to be dispersed from the Pequts, and they each from other according as I haue bene bold to motion formerly.

Sir, we haue bene long aflicted by a young man, boysterous and desperate, Philip Verins Sonn of Salem, who, as he hath refused to heare the word with vs (which we molested him not for) this twelue month, so because he could not draw his wife a gracious and modest woman to the same vngodlines with him, he hath troden her vnder foote tyrannically and brutishly: which she and we long bearing though with his furious blowes she went in danger of life at the last the maior vote of vs discard him from our Civill Freedome, or disfranchize etc. he will haue Justice (as he clamours) at other Courts: I wish he might for a fowle and slanderous and brutish Cariage, which God hath delivered him vp vnto: he will hale his wife with ropes to Salem, where she must needes be troubled and troublesome as differences yet stand. She is willing to stay and live with him or else where, where she may not offend etc. I shall humbly request that this Item be accepted, and he no way countenanced vntill (if need be) I further trouble you: So with due respects to Mrs. Wintrop Mr. Deputie Mr. Belingham etc. I rest Your Worships vnfaigned

Roger Williams
1.

W. 2. 109; 4 Collections , VI. 244–245; N.C. , VI. 94–96.