Papers of the Winthrop Family, Volume 4
1638-08-28
1638. 6. 28. In my letter to Mr. Hooker, I complain of three things:
1. That they told the Narragansetts, that they were not tied to the agreement2 we made with the Indians; and that they did this, to advance their own reputation with the Indians, and to abase ours; that it was a point of state policy in them not to dissent, while the war was at their doors, for they had need of our help etc. that it was done without any pressing occasion; that it was done unseasonably, after their own commissioners had propounded that before the Indians we should in all things appear as one.
2. That they altered the articles of confederation in the most material point, and all because some preeminence was therein yielded to the Massachusetts, and being again agreed, (only referred to consent etc.) in three months we had no answer from them; that the way which they would have taken, of referring differences to the churches, would occasion infinite trouble and expense, and yet leave the issue to the sword.
I expostulated about the unwarrantableness and unsafeness of referring 54matter of counsel or judicature to the body of the people, quia the best part is always the least, and of that best part the wiser part is always the lesser. The old law was, choose ye out judges etc. and thou shalt bring the matter to the judge etc.
3. That they did still exercise jurisdiction at Agawam, though one of their commissioners disclaimed to intermeddle in our line, and thither we challenged our right, and it was agreed so, and I had wrote to them to desire them to forbear until etc. that Mr. Pincheon had small encouragement to be under them; that if his relation were true, I could not see the justice of their proceeding against him etc.
That the end of my writing to him was, that he might help quench these sparks of contention; that I did open our grievances to him in their most true and reasonable intendment; that though I be strict for our right in public, quia their magistrates are so, yet I am willing to listen to advice, and my aim is the common good.
Original lost; Savage (1826), 349–350. This summary was among various memoranda written by Governor Winthrop at the end of the second volume of his Journal. This volume was destroyed by fire in Savage's Boston office on November 10, 1825.
J. Hammond Trumbull, in editing Hooker's answer to the letter here abstracted by Winthrop, has, in his introduction and notes, supplied the background and explanations necessary for the understanding of Winthrop's summary. Collections of the Connecticut Historical Society, I (1863), 1–3, 15–18. Hooker's answer is printed in this volume (pages 75–84, below). See also the rough draft of Winthrop's rejoinder (pages 99–100, below).
See note 2, page 52, above.