June 30th, 1658 Worcester Battlefield

My dear wife Madeleine,

I have missed you so much ever since I went to war. Tomorrow, I will be returning to the battlefield to fight again. I wish I were not here, fighting in King Richard’s army. The war is horrible, because many of the friends I have made have died or been wounded. Their final fates are ones I hope I never have to share with them - crushed under the balls of catapults, slain by sword and vanquished by soul-piercing arrows. I know that fighting for my country is truly a noble task, but at what cost? Every day I fight is more perilous and terrifying, with more bloodshed from my companions. And those poor souls on the other side…Sir Robert seems not to care about soldiers lost, and even children fight under his command. I understand why we must fight against him - if England fell under his control, all would be chaos, with life becoming utter hell.

It has started to rain just now, making our already dull atmosphere even more depressing. I am dressed as ever in my uniform, writing this in one of the many tents for soldiers to rest in. It is late now, with the ground wet and muddy, the soil turned upright and covering the grass. Sitting over in the corner is one of the new recruits, Roderick. He is still struggling to adjust to the whole aspect of war, so every day I try to comfort him, like I tried to comfort you back home. Every moment I spend away from you, my heart feels a powerful, painful blow. Every second, I wish I was right beside you, able to nurture and love you. Alas, I cannot do so, which is why this letter is filled with so much of my love. I can taste the bitter chill of the air, which makes me yearn so much to return to the warmth of my home. Yet, I am glad you are safe, away from here. This place of hell and death is no place for you, or anyone for that matter. So many have been lost in this war, and it has only been going for several months. I simply shudder at the thought of this war carrying on any longer.

There is so much I want to tell you. I wish I could see your beautiful face glow under the moonlight. Or your eyes, sparkling like the stars above. I just hope that the weather back at home is better than here, for it is now starting to pour down. I fear that it may even be a storm brewing, meaning that we may be in for a rough night. I cannot wait to get home and see you again, my dear. I cannot wait to hold you in my arms once again, and tell you that I love you, because…I do. I love you more than anything in the world, and through this distraught, malevolent war…I will return home and see you again, if just to say those three words.

With my most sincere hopes and wishes, of which are to see you soon my love,
Francis