128 DIARY OF PATRICK GORDON. [1686 I was, because of hireing chaires or coaches

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

128 DIARY OF PATRICK GORDON. [1686

I was, because of hireing chaires or coaches to and from the Court, I tooke
up a lodging in the Pellmell, at the signe of the Crowne, paying for a
dineing room, chamber, and a roome for my servants, eleven shillings a
weeke. Here I had the convenience of a lane and gate into St. James his
Parke, which was both pleasant and saveing. This day 1 recovered my
baggage from the shipp, which cost me in all, eight shillings four pence.
Payed also for shoos to Shenka and Daniell, six shilUngs four pence ; for
buckles to both, one shilling ; to a sick Scotsman, one shilling ; for chaire hire,
one shilling ; for dinner, two shillings ; to servants, two pence; tea, four pence.
I went to Lincolne Inne Fields, haveing, with Sir James Kenedy,* James
Lindesay, and Captaine Seton, hired a coach, to convoy the Duke of
Hamilton, Generall Drummond, and Sir Georg Lockart, the President of
the Session, who, haveing been sent for by the King, to prepare them for
the ensuing Parliament, returned this day.f We convoyed them to Barnet,
being ten miles, and dined there; and, towards evening, returned to London.
Expended this day, for trimming, one shilling ; to sonne and servants, two
shillings six pence ; for tea, six pence ; coach hire and wages, fyve shillings
six pence ; dinner, four shillings.

Attending His Majestic at his walke in Arlington Gardens, he was pleased,
walking up and downe the alley, to speake with me about halfe a houre,
enquiring particularly armes, and manner of warring, the business of
Czegrin,:f and many other things. Expended this day, for dinner, three
shillings six pence ; to servants, two shillings ; at night, fourteen pence.

According to my ordinary custome, I went and waited on the King, at
his walking in the Parke. The King caused try the new invention of the
pumpe, made by Sir Robert Gordon,§ but some things breaking therein, it

* [The Conservator of the Privileges of the t [Tschigirin, in the defence of which

Scottish nation, in the Low Countries.] Gordon distinguished himself in 1678.]

t [Sir John Lauder notes that on the 26th § [Sir Kohert Gordon, tlie grandson of the

of March, 1686, 'the DulvC of Hamilton, the historian of Sutherland, and the third baronet

President of the Session, and Generall Drum- of Gordonstoun, born in 1647, died in 1704.

mond, part for London, being called thither According to an unprinted account ofthefia-

by the King, to receive his commands anent mily, quoted by Sir Kobcrt Douglas, he 'tra-

the Parliament, because the first two showed veiled much into foreign countries for his im-

some aversion in the secret committee, to con- provcmcut, was a man of extensive learning

sent to the rescinding the penall laws against and knoAvledge, and particularly skilled in

Popery ; and the Chancellor [the Earl of I'erth] mechanics and chemistry, which sufficiently

had procured their upcalling, to ciijole them appears by the long correspondence by letters

over their scruples.' They returned to Edin- he kept with that celebrated philosoplier,

burgh on the 27th of April. [Fouutainhall's Mr. lioyle. He contrived a curious machine

Historical Notices, vol. ii. pp. 714, 718.] or pump for raising of watci', which wass