Sir William Spring II (1579-1656), served as an MP for Suffolk in the First Protectorate Parliament in 1654. He had been knghted by James I in 1610. His eldest son, William was crated a baronet in 1641. Sir William was a prominent proponent of an English republic, despite his family traditionally always having been monarchists. It has been suggested that he had a part in the arrest of his royalist son in 1656, but this is unlikely.
William Spring's closest friend was John Winthrop, sometimes described as 'America's lost Founding Father'. In a parting letter written by Winthrop to Spring, Winthrop declared the friendship that the two men shared. Opening with his wonder at how God had blessed him, "a poor worm, and raised but yesterday out of the dust," with Spring’s love and esteem, he stated that he had loved Spring "before I could think you took any notice of me" and now had come to esteem and value their mutual affection, which was such that his "soul is knit to you, as the soul of Jonathan to David." "Were I now with you," he continued, "I should bedew that sweet bosom with the tears of affection," for "h, what a pinch will it be to me, to part with such a friend." Yet though their parting was final in terms of this earth, he was confident that "we shall meet in heaven, and while we live our prayers and affections shall hold an intercourse of friendship."
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