John Winthrop First Governor of the Masschusetts Colony

THE COMING MAN. 27
his father delighted ; whose letters to him at college
are pleasant reading, — plenty of cheerful, good
advice in them, garnished with Latin and sweetened
with a tone of unmistakable pride and fondness.
Pleasant reading, too, are the letters the collegian
gets from Forth, some years his junior, with
ceremonious prefaces, like the following :—
their
To his most lovinge Brother Mr John Winthroppe at Trinitie
thes. Ireland.
Coll : neere Dublin, give
Most lovinge brother, — I received youer letters
the 16 of Aprill whereby I perceived your great love &
respect towards me which alwaise hath binne : I thank you
for your good admonitions which you in your letters sent
me for to alwaise goe on as I haue begunne ; knowinge
that althow the waye to lerninge seeme verry hard &
difficult, yet the frute & end is sweet & pleasant. I hope
althow the distans of place hath set us one from another
yet nether sea nor land nor anythinge else can part our
affections one from the other: I had an intention to have
written to you by one of Bury that went over, but he
went over so speedilie as I cold nott have time to wright:
but having so fitt an opportunitie I will wright. I wold I
cold find matter wherein I might expresse my mind to
you : for sich are our sinnes to God as they dailie cry for
vengans uppon us, & so littell love or charitie one to
another in these daies as it is Gods mercy that we are
nott consumed.
Thus the lad of thirteen to his big brother, but
with very natural boy-talk and school-gossip and
home-news (i??ipri?nis, new baby) coming after.
It had been expected that John, Jr., would follow
the law; and after his graduation he was admitted