We hath 19 from Holyfen; 11 from Huntingdon; 11 from Cambridge; 11 from St Ives; with  Uncle, our Captain (and from here foreward Captain Cromwell); Cuthbert Baildon and Joseph Waterhouse, Coronets; John Disbrowe, Quartermaster; and Hathaway, our Chaplain. We are well-armed, with that from the magazine at Cambridge, in back-and-breasts, and lobster-pots; and buff-coats of boiled leather; and to each trooper two pistols, and a sword. Appx half of those raised brought their own mounts; the remainder we have purchased; if more needed then it may be necessary to requisition from malignants and other ill-affected throughout the countryside.

Captain Cromwell has taken special care to get religious men into the troop, in particular sectaries, such as the Holyfen men; he saith that religious men are of a greater understanding than common soldiers, and better understand the importance and the consequence of this war, and why we fight, that he looks for men who enlist not for pay or spoils, but the public felicity; are more engaged to be valiant. Capt. Cromwell said, religious men, being men of understanding, know that flying is the way to death, and that many fall in flight, for each one that falls in valiant fight.

He told us this, as we drilled the troop on the green of King’s College, beneath the noses of the Academics; we have made there four Rings, for the training of the Horses; and as the ring is ridden, we discharge muskets and pistols, and clatter armor, and beat drums; and also, have a dozen men stand in the ring, shouting and bellowing, threatening the Horse even as the rider bids him him on; then the men on foot run away as if in retreat; all to better accustom the horses, and the men too, with the hideous noise of Battle.

Tomorrow or perhaps the next day I am to ride, Captain Cromwell tells me, with one-third of the troop, the Holyfen men, through Ely, and Downham; and observe the bridges and roads there, there is rumor that Wren, the Bishop of Ely, hath some malignant design afoot. I would arrest and restrain him now, but No, Capt. Cromwell says, let us see first what he does, and with whom he does it.

I said, he could be compelled to tell us, and Capt Cromwell laughed, and said Be patient. Yet I would do, and do now. James Hathaway our chaplain preached this morning on I Chron 22, 16; Arise therefore, and be doing; the message being, that it is not enough to wish well, for the cause of England’s liberties against the despotism of Charles; that if one brings prayers, but not purse; heart, but not hands, the duty of the text is not done.

I would do and this mean that my Assurance of pardon, lost in America, is returned. with purse, and hand, and all; and am eager to ride East, and perhaps catch that bird Wren, about his ill-affected business. The woman’s name is Anne.