114 DIARY OF PATRICK GORDON. [1686 Shrudeus krue, three miles from Riga

Passages from the diary of General Patrick Gordon of Auchleuchries : A.D. 1635-A.D. 1699"

114 DIARY OF PATRICK GORDON. [1686

Shrudeus krue, three miles from Riga, and payed a third of a doller, and
fom- poltoraks to the maides.

Wee came to Mittaw, three miles. Here is the residence of the Duke
of Curland, in a castell fortifyed with an earthen wall and a moate, haveing
a decayed home worke upwards on the river. Writt from hence to Pater
Makovius, by Pater Sturms convoyance. The towne is pretty bigge, with
a decayed earthen wall about it. Here wee payed for our dinner, thirty
two pence or poltorakes. Wee passed over three litle rivers, and lodged
in Duplins krue, three miles, and payed for bier seven poltorakes, and four
for hay, which we lay on.

Wee crossed a litle river, and came by Annes church, and dined in
Blydens krue, about three miles, paying for bier eight pence ; and went
three miles further, and lodged in Fronbergs krue, where payed in all nine
pence.

We came and crossed the river Wendon, and dined in a house, being
four miles. Here is a stone house, belonging to the Duke of Curland,
environed with a tetragon. Payed here for beer and egges twelve pence.
Wee went two miles further, and lodged in a krue, where payed for beer
seven pence, and for hay, to lay on, three pence.

A great snow falling out, wee came to a krue, by a gentlemans house,
where I bought a litle sledge, giving a doller for it, two miles. Payed here
for beer eleven pence. Wee travailed with greater speed, and, crossing a
litle river by Christburg, wee came to Barta river, Avhich crossing on a
floate, wee lodged in a good house, being fyve miles. Here wee payed for
bed and bier eighteen pence, and to the maid a penny.

Wee came to Rutzen krue, three miles. All the snow being gone, I
was forced to leave my sledge, neither could I gett any thing for it ; and all
by a piece of the juglery of a merchant which came along with me from
Riga, vv^ho, as in other things, made his advantage of me. Here payed for
bier and egges eighteen pence. Wee came nearer the sea coast, and,
crossing the river Heyligen Agh by a float, wee lodged hard by in a good
house, being but two miles and a litle more from the place where wee had
dined. Here wee payed for fyve persons, and my two boyes, for supper,
bier, and bed, two florens, and to the maid four pence. Here wee were on
Polnish ground, this being the Starosty of Polanga.

Wee travelled to Polanga, a little towne inhabited most by Jewes, two