Het Begin van het Leven

"How can you ask this?" she said. "Your father loves you. He wants the best for you. He will never agree to this foolish plan. And I will not ask. I will not help you destroy your life!"

"It costs you nothing," he continued. "My father's ship has space. London is exciting. You will find it wonderful!" I should have said no. I should have gone home. But I didn't think. I didn't pray.

On September 1, 1651, I boarded that ship. I didn't write to my parents. I didn't ask for my father's blessing. It was the beginning of all my problems. The ship left Hull and went onto the open sea.

Immediately the wind began to blow. The waves became bigger and bigger. I had never been on a ship before. I became terribly sick. My stomach turned. My head spun. But worse than the sickness was the fear.