Huntingdon - I climbed the hill of old King John’s Castle and sat there and looked across the Ouse, to Godmanchester.Later perhaps I willl go there. I am of all men most damned and cant but be convinced the outer darkness is the place prepared for me. Later maybe I will go there, I will see her house, and the spire.

When I came down from the hill I was surprised to find my Uncle there, he mounted on a great horse. He seemed as if watching, waiting for me, yet he had just ridden from London, or Cambridge.  He is as Mother said active and energetic for the Parliament; and he seemed so, that is energetic. I recall some letter that he was sick for a time, and in bitter dispute with the Corporation of the town; whence he sold the house on the High Street here to Mother, then moved to St Ives, and sunk to yeoman status? Then the uncle of his wife died in Ely, leaving him the tax-farms there; I recall he tried to have that uncle declared insane, or maybe I misremember. But Uncle told me, as we spoke there at the foot of the hill, that it was his mind, to raise a number of men to secure the interest of Parliament in the county, and having heard great things of me from Mr Winthrop “and others” inquired would I be interested, “Unless, of course, you’d prefer to contemplate your sins ‘neath that tree, yonder.”

He winked when he spoke, with a smile; I wonder what he hath heard from Winthrop and who are “these others”. I am am of all men most damned, the chief of sinners and I have a strange sense he knows this, can read it in me. but but it were most likely a figure of speech. I said that I could be counted on in the service against Popery and tyranny, and for this I came to England, and sought a place in the lifeguard of Essex, in the Horse.