February 10, 1676 In the Year of Our Lord

Oh Dear God. As Job hath said "And said, Naked came I out of my mother's womb and naked shall I return thither: the Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord." (1.21) I cannot but wonder at the turning of events in the last day. So little time has passed yet the world I just described as peaceful and full of blessing has fallen from under my feet. My soul yearns to cry out as Christ did " My God, My God, why have you abandoned me?" (John 15.34)

They came at dawn.I heard the cries of the cattle first and then I saw them. From the east side of the village, they came to us shrieking and screaming, charging all the while. They were quick to do their work, shooting and throwing boulders at homes, demanding for the inhabitants to exit or die. Either choice seemed certain death, yet I saw neighbor after neighbor cut down as they quitted their homes. These heathens showed no sign of faltering in their quest for blood. The Queen put it well when she gave charge to claim these "remote heathen and barbarous lands, countries and territories not actually possessed of any Christian prince and inhabited by Christian people..." I am no enslaved. I have been taken by these "heathen and barbarous" people and know not if my life should continue another day. Sarah has been shot through the stomach and it pains me intensely to see her writhe in pain. She is constantly in my arms and will not leave them, so help me God.