Dear Anne,

I write in haste; we with the Regt of Col Hampden are ordered to march west, and reinforce the regts of Col Holles and Lord Brooke at Brentford, which Prince Rupert (we have certain intelligence) means to attack, as a Preliminary to an assault on London.

The Trained-Bands of London are Mustered in their Battle-array, and posted at Kingston and Acton as well as Brentford, and the Earl of Warwick is raising an additional seven Regiments for the defense of London. Perhaps there will be another battle Soon, one that will I pray, as we all pray, will end this War; but if not, then we will fight on. For your Question, Sarah and I after we Married spent only a year in the Bay-colony; we then moved south, to the fort at Saybrook (a colony settled by Patent of the Earl of Warwick and named for Lord Saye and Lord Brooke), and then later to Wethersfield. It was there that Sarah was taken by the Savages.

I will write more when Able; in the meantime please Pray for me, and please greet my Father.

Lt Edm. Holyfen, with the Troop of Capt Cromwell, near London

To Anne Finch at Holyfen Rectory, Holyfen, Hunts.