er maids. She had written many pathetic entreaties to her
mother, Madam Winthrop, to send her a "good girle, a strong lusty
servant," one "vsed to all kind of work who would refuse none," and we
learn what she got, from a letter written a few months later, with a
new-born babe by her side:

"A great affliction I have met withal by my maide servant and now
I am like through God his mercie to be freed from it; at her first
coming me she carried her selfe dutifully as became a servant; but
since through mine and my husbands forbearance towards her for
small faults, she hath got such a head and is growen so insolent
that her carriage towards vs especialle myselfe is unsufferable. If
I bid her doe a thinge she will bid me to doe it myselfe, and she
sayes how she can give content as wel as any servant but shee will
not, and sayes if I love not quietnes I was never so fitted in my
life for she would make mee have enough of it. If I should write to
you of all the reviling speeches and filthie language she hath vsed
towards me I should but grieve you. My husband hath vsed all meanes
for to reforme her, reasons and perswasions, but shee doth profess
that her heart and her nature will not suffer her to confesse her
faults. If I tell my husband of her behavior towards me, vpon
examination she will denie all she hath done or spoken, so that we
know not how to proceed against her."

We must not forget that the Winthrops had the best opportunity of any in
the land to have good servants; for not only were help placed in their
families, but the best of English servants were consigned to them; yet
neither the Governor's sister, Madam Downing, nor his daughter, Madam
Dudley, could be "suited." And hear the plaint of John Winthrop to his
father in 1717:

"It is not convenient now to write the trouble and plague we have
had with this Irish creature the year past. Lying and unfaithfull;
w'd doe things on purpose in contradiction and vexation to her
mistress; lye out of the house anights and have contrivances w'th
fellows that have been stealing from o'r estate and gett drink out
of ye cellar for them; saucy and impudent, as when we have taken
her to task for her wickedness she has gone away to complain of
cruell usage. I can truly say we have used this base creature w'th
a great deal of kindness and lenity. She