A website from the Massachusetts Historical Society; founded 1791.

Papers of the Winthrop Family, Volume 4

George Cleeve to John Winthrop1
Cleeve, George JW

1644-01-27

To the honered John Wenthrop Esquire Gouernour thes present
Casco Bay this 27th of the 11 moneth, 1643/44 honered Sir,

With my most humble sarvice I salute you, accnolidging my duty of thankfullnes to you for all formar favors shewed mee, and whereas 434you were plesed at my requst to writ to mr. Vines and othars in behalfe of Mr. Rigbies athority of which I informed him in my last lettars assuring my selfe that hee will not be vnmyndfull to requit your love therein. What mr. Vines answered you I know not, but thus can afferme and proue that by his practis he doth slitly regard your advice therein (as may appere by the supplication of the inhabitants of ligonia and othar passeges the truth whereof this bearar can informe you, as allso of there consultations with Mr. Jurdin a ministar of antichrist, there chefe Counsellar,) who doth not only calumniate and slandar the parliament of England with vile reprochfull termes, as Rebellious factias trayteros parssons against the king, But allso Belteth out his blasfemise against the Churches of Christ in this land, charging them with scisme and faction for fasting and praying for the affliction of there Brethren in England; denying yt to be the hand of god vpon the land for Sinn nor the occation of papist or evell Counssellars, but for the rebellion of the parliament and the puritant faction there, with many othar passeges of that vnworthy Ballitte, of which this bearar Mr. Tuckar can informe you, as allso of Vines his dealings with him and of his thretning to send mee pressonar to England in Mr. Trelanies Ship, which inforseth mee once more to Joyne with the inhabitants of ligonia and humbly to desire your assistanc against there vnlawfull practisses and so much the rathar for there wicked oposition of the ways of Christ. They seing vs about to settle ourselues vndar the ministry, and that wee ar in hope that the lord will gathar a Church amoungst vs, this causeth them and there prelatticall Counsellar to raidg the more, which will insite you to assist vs so much the rathar. I nede not here aquaint you what tytle they pretend to haue from the king allthough we nevar sawe any nor know of any they haue, seing you bettar know then my selfe that the king can not lawfully grant what was formarlie granted by that actte of Counsell established at Plymmoth, to whose bettar Judgment I submit, Beseching you to answere the inhabitants petishion and hopefull expectation, committing you to gods holie protextion, Resting evar reddy to sarue your Commands Whilst I am

Georg Cleeve
1.

W. 3. 98; 4 Collections , VII. 363–365; G.S. , II. 238–240. For Cleeve, see 4 Collections , VII. 363n.; James P. Baxter, George Cleeve of Casco Bay, 1630–1662 (Portland, Maine, Gorges Society, 1885).