Papers of the Winthrop Family, Volume 4
1638-04-16
I kindly thanck you for your loving inclination to receaue my late protestation concerning my selfe ignorant of Mr. Greenes letter etc.2 I desire vnfeignedly to rest in my Appeale to the most high in what we differ as I dare not but hope you doe: it is no small griefe that I am otherwise perswaded, and that some times you say (and I can say no lesse) that we differ: the fire will try your workes and mine, the Lord Jesus helpe vs to make sure of our persons that we seeke Jesus that was crucifyed: howeuer It is and euer shall be (the Lord assisting) my Endeavour to pacifie and allay where I meete with rigid and censorious spirits who not only blame your actions butt doome your Persons: and indeede it was one of the first grounds of my dislike of John Smith the miller especially of his wife viz: their iudging of your persons as
I allso humbly thanck you for that sad relation of the monster etc. The Lord speakes once and twice: he be pleased to open all our Eares to his Discipline.
Mrs. Hutchinson (with whome and others of them I haue had much discourse) makes her Apologie for her Concealement of the monster, that she did nothing in it without Mr. Cottons advice, though I can not belieue that he subscribes to her Applications of the Parts of it. The Lord mercifully redeeme them, and all of vs from all our delusions and pitie the desolations of Zion and the Stones thereof.
I find their longings great after Mr. Vane although they thinck he can not returne this yeare: the Eyes of some are so earnestly fixt vpon him that Mrs. Hutchinson professeth if he come not to New she must to Old Engl.
I haue endeavoured by many Arguments to beate of their desires of Mr. Vane as G
Sir concerning your intended meeting for reconciling of these Natiues our friends and dividing of the Pequts our Enemies I haue ingaged your name, and mine owne; and if no Course be taken the name of that God of Truth whome we all profess to honour will suffer not a little, it being an ordinary and common thing with our neighbours if they apprehend any shew of breach of promise in my selfe thus to obiect: doe you know God and will you lye? etc.
The Pequts are gathered into one, and plant their old fields: Wequash and Okace carying away the people and their treasure which belong to your selues: I should be bold to presse my former Motion or else that with the next Convenience they might be sent for other parts etc.
I hope it will never be interpreted that I press this out of feare of any revenge vpon my selfe by any of them: I euer yet (in point of reason to say no more) conceaved this place the safest of the land, and can make it appeare etc. but out of desire to cleare your names and the name of the most High which will be ill reported of in case (according to so many Promises) an honourable and peaceable Issue of the Pequt warr be not established.
Sir the bearer hereof (not daring either to bring my letter or attend for an Answere) I must request you to send your letter to Rich: Collicuts that so a natiue may convey it or els to Nicholas Vpshalls: and I should be bold humbly to propound to the Countrey whether in case there be a necessitie of keeping leauge with the Natiues and so consequently many occasions incident, (and some which I will not write of) as allso a Conveniencie of Informacion this way how matters may stand with you on the sea shoare, as I say whither it be not requisite so farr to dispence with the late Order of Restraint as to permit a messenger freely.5
Tis true I may hire an Indian: yet not alwayes, nor sure, for these 2 things I haue found in them: sometimes long keeping of a letter: 2ndly if a feare take them that the Letter concernes themselues they suppresse it, as they did with one of special Informacion which I sent to Mr. Vane.
27Sir there will be new Heavens and a new Earth shortly but no more Sea (Revel. 21.2.) The most holy God be pleased to make vs willing now to beare the Tossings Dangers and Calamities of this Sea and to seale vp to vs upon his owne grounds, a great Lot in the glorious State aproaching So craving Pardon for Prolixitie, with mine and wiues due respect to Mrs. Wintrop Mr. Deputie Mr. Bellingham etc. I rest Your Wo
W. 2. 105; 4
Collections
, VI. 226–228;
N.C.
, VI. 89–94.
“While the general court sate, there came a letter, directed to the court, from John Greene of Providence, who, not long before, had been imprisoned and fined, for saying that the magistrates had usurped upon the power of Christ in his church, and had persecuted Mr. Williams and another, whom they had banished for disturbing the peace by divulging their opinions against the authority of the magistrates, etc.; but upon his submission, etc. his fine was remitted; and now, by his letter, he retracted his former submission, and charged the court as he had done before.”
Journal, I. 261–262D.J.W.
at 248
Records of Massachusetts under date of March 12, 1637/38 (I. 224).
The word in brackets has been crossed out in the original.
One of the purposes of the Fast Day observed in Massachusetts on April 12, 1638, was “for seeking the Lord to prevent evil, that we feared to be intended against us from England by a general governor.” Journal, I. 269D.J.W.
at 255
“Now because the court knew, that divers other of Providence were of the same ill affection to the court, and were probably suspected to be confederate in the same letter, the court ordered, that, if any of that plantation were found within our jurisdiction, he should be brought before one of the magistrates, and if he would not disclaim the charge in the said letter, he should be sent home, and charged to come no more into this jurisdiction, upon pain of imprisonment and further censure.”
Journal, I. 262D.J.W.
at 248