A website from the Massachusetts Historical Society; founded 1791.

Papers of the Winthrop Family, Volume 4

John Tinker to John Winthrop1
Tinker, John JW

1640-04-13

To the Right Worshippffull and his much honnered Mr: Jno: Winthropp Esqr: Governour of the Matachuses, these deliver At Boston in N: Engl:
Lond: Aprell 13th 1640 Right Worshippffull,

Though my occations are not many to wright vnto you, I thinke it my bounden duty to neglect no opertunyty to present my servis. I did thinke I should haue presented my persone beffore thesse lines before your worshipp, but such sadd and dangerous times as nowe are in England, will occation our demourage beyound our time Appoynted: I writ your worshipp word per Mr. Goosse that I had joyned with Mr. 224Paine a part vndertaker in the susan and ellin, and our intentions ware to haue set forth the 25th of Aprell, but I feare it wilbe mid may beffore wee shall gett of: passengers and frait coming in very slowly, partly staying to see what the ishue of the Parlament wilbe, and partly becaues of the dead marketts men haue for the puting of of theire estates: all which expence of time and monyes I feare wilbe to me a great losse rather then a gaine, yett I desire to submit my selfe to the good prouidence of the Lord to deale with me as it pleaseth him, and to rest satisfyed if hee shall only carray mee through all thesse cares and paines and set me downe in the place and condicion whence he tooke me vpp: presumeing if I should faile of prosperity in this pressent way for my advansment I shall finde exeptance with your worshipp as formerly: I haue effected nothing as yet for you, eyther for the paying of Mr. Rowe or the buying of comodytys according to your appointment, there is soe litle mony stiring to be exchanged for the Plantacion and soe many hands to catch for it, that there is noe hopes of obteineing any in that way, nor of Mr. White the Layer in whitefryers it being dispossed of some other way: only I heare that Mr. Tindall is vppon salle of your worshipps land, by whome my last hoppes is to be furnished with what is requisite. I doe heare a dayly complainte of Goodman Luxford vppon the Exchange for charging bills vppon men for the payment of great somes of mony heare for soe much taken vpp there of some new comers ouer for your worshipps vsse, which doth apere to men of vnderstanding to haue an ill face of deceipt, the men to whome he sends being such as he neuer had deallings with for a peny, nor doe se any reason why he should charge any such bills vppon them eyther in your worshipps or his owne name. I speak not any thing out of preiudice to the man but to informe your worshipp of what is related to me being tender of your detryment per any such vnfaithfullnesse of which you may be ignorant: and that it may appeere it is noe groundlesse asspercion I shall indeauour eyther in this leter or at my coming, to shew your worship the coppys of his bills vnder their hands to whome they ware sent, but I only whisper this to your worshipp intreating (if he proue himselfe an onest man) it may not come to his heareing as from me least he be insenced against me, if otherwise it is a timely warning to your worshipps preuenting what euells may ensue: I omit to wright of any nuse soposseing your worshipp will haue it plentyfully by word of mouth: Mr. Kerby haueing a sonn in this shipp the William and George with Mr. Babb: only this, this preasant day the 13th of Aprell is the first day of the Parlament and I heare the first request the King doth make in his speech to shew the ocation of meeting, is to require ayde against the Scotch faction, pretending 225to make it apeer they intend rebellyon against the King, the which with many other passeges, both seene and heard of, doth make vs feare sadd times. the lord fitt vs to suffer and stirr vpp the harts of you in generall and partickuler to importune him at the throwne of his grace for a preuencion from, or deliuerance out of those iudgments we dayly expect: and soe for the presentts I leaue your worshipp to the lord and the power of his grace who is able to saue our soules to the day of his coming, and with my humble seruis to you and to my mistris desire euer to rest Your Worshipps Faithfull servant to my poore power

John Tinker
1.

W. 3. 59; 4 Collections , VII. 223–225.