Today (as yesterday and the day before and as will be tomorrow, and tomorrow, and tomorrow; I welcome if truth be known the work and the exhaustion) we drill; we rise as the Moon wanes, and break our camp in Cedric’s fields; baggage secure, we ride and I think I see, or probably what’s more likely false and wicked sinner that I am, Anne watching me from the walls of the Rectory, the rising sun behind us, toward St Ives, and Huntingdon, and Cambridge.

In the Green of King’s College, Capt Cromwell hath erected Dummies, and until far into the night (lit by torches) we trot along the Course, and strike their heads. All, again, with the usual tumult and noise of drums and muskets firing, and arms clattering; the horses are now becoming used to the cacophany. The Scholars and masters, many watched sullenly, and others with great interest; there being nothing that will move the spirit of a man like observing the force of Arms, and thoughts of the honor to be gained thereby. It's my prayer, Cromwell said, they will write to their families, and friends, and tell what they have seen.

There were prizes for the most strikes; and in this God blessed my sword; I took the prize among the officers, and most overall; Kilmister among the troopers.

Then Cromwell gathered us in the Chapel. He stood before the Altar, and opened his Bible, and led us in the singing of Psalm 20, Some trust in Chariots; and then read Jeremiah 48,10, Cursed be he that keepeth back his sword from blood.

Then he closed his Bible. He looked at us, chewing slowly on his lower lip. Then he walked to and fro before us, and in the aisle between, and he spoke, saying, that

-- That we are no armed rabble, mere mercenaries, who undertook this service for plunder  and lust for wine and woman (at that my heart near surged and I thought he was looking direct at me but twas a trick of the candlelight);

-- Nor were we unlawful traitors or rebels, as those near the King have scurrilously claimed;

-- But we were freeborn men of England, who hath undertaken this Service, and the risk of life and property, for the liberty of the Gospel, and the law of the land; and as I hath made apparent to all, should the King be in the field before us, I would sheathe my sword in his belly, as I would any other man;

-- And he would lead freeborn Englishmen to battle, not traitors, nor mercenaries, nor bandits;

-- And that even as the Christian must constantly self-examine, and through prayer and mortification bind the impulses of the Sin that, even though no longer held a charge against us (is this correct?) by the grace of Christ (is that imputed to me?); so an Army must have Discipline;

Here he smiled, grimly it seemed, and said,--  Yes, I speak of that which seemeth in short supply in the force of Essex; to which it seems this Troop shall soon be joined, and I would not have you ruined;

Therefore, then, the following:

No man shall swear, or curse, but he shall pay twelvepence;

No man shall be drunk, but he shall be whipped, and placed in the stocks;

No man shall call another Roundhead, or traitor; but he shall be whipped, and cashiered from this Service;

No man shall Plunder, or commit other Crimes against persons and property, but he shall be Hung.

-- It’s my hope, Capt Cromwell said, as we pondered this, that this merely states, the Discipline within each man, and each squadron, and the Troop, but even as constant wrestling with God in prayer and the study of the Word, is required to keep the mind and will pointed toward our Ultimate End; so, too, these Points of Discipline will be repeated, every Sunday, as we gather for Prayer, and Wednesdays as well, when the same is done.

-- Dismissed, he said, — but for you, Lieutenant Holyfen.

My first thought — and it was a relief, truth be known, that I was to be the first Charged, and Hung, under this Discipline; but no, he merely wished my thoughts on which of the Men seemed most suited for the role of Sergeant. I recommended Kilmister, with which Capt Cromwell agreed heartily.