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Papers of the Winthrop Family, Volume 4

Sir Nathaniel Barnardiston to John Winthrop1
Barnardiston, Nathaniel JW

1640-03-15

To my Honored and assured loving freind John Winthrop esqr. gouernor in New England present these
Deare Brother and intirely beloued,

I receaued two letters from you the last returne: at that tyme it pleased the Lord to visit me with a great and long sicknes, to the great hasard of my life, but it pleased the Father of Mercies and God of all Consolations to heare prayres, and to rayse me from the gates of the graue, and to lend me (most vnworthy) sume longer tyme the better to fitt my selfe for Hym, and to try how farr that correction would worke my vnruly and poluted hart to better obedience, and frame it to improue the remaining talant of my tyme in the glorifiing of Hys name, and advancement of His Honor, for which I euer desyre I may acknowledg 218with all thankfullnes, and bless and prayse His abundant free grace and goodnes to me, and provocke all that know and affect me to ioyne in assisting and helping me in the same, which I humbly craue of you with confidence and assurance. And now the Lord hath put me vpon a tryall, by caling of me, with Sir Phillip Parker, (alltogether vnsought for) to serue for my countrey in the Parlament which is to begin the 13th of Aprill next. I haue nothing to supporte me in this great busines, being contious to my self of my most vnfitnes euery way, but the allsuffitience of Hym that caled me cann inable me, who deliteth to manifest His powre by contemtable and weake meanes. His couenant and cale is the only supporter of my fayth hear in. Help, I beseech you, Sir, with all the might and force you can make, this great work; which if it suckseed not well, is like to proue exeding perrelous and dangerous to this church and kingdome. Now we see and feele how much we are weakned by the loss of those that are gonn from vs, who should haue stood in the gapp, and haue wrought and wrasled mightely in this great busines. My neighbor Mr. Pepis desyreth me to present his loue to you. We both thanke you for your loue to his sonnes. I know not yet how the Lord will dispose of me. This parlament will beget a resolution in vs, but I fear; I could wish sume of you wear hear before it endeth. Mr. Waldegraue soiorneth with me. I forget not you in your apoynted tyme. I doubt not but you doe the like for vs. The Lord hath made me a grandfather by my daughter. My son is yet a single man. I often consceaue in my sleep that I am with you. My self and wife salute you and Mrs. Wintrope with our best affectiones, beseeching the Lord to prosper you all in all your vndertakinges to His glorey. Salut in the Lord all our dear frindes with you, as if I named them in perticular. So resteth Your most assured loving frend and brother

Nath. Barnardiston Ketton, March 15th 1639/40

Endorsed by Governor Winthrop: Sir Nath: Barnardiston. Resp. per the Sparrow, J. Bradshawe etc.

1.

Original not located; 4 Collections , VI. 547–548. For Barnardiston, see D.N.B.