138 DIARY OF PATRICK GORDON. [1686 to a coachman, to bring the trunke

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

138 DIARY OF PATRICK GORDON. [1686

to a coachman, to bring the trunke maile to Duncaster, foure shillings. In
the evening, wee rode to Stilton, nyne miles, where lodged, and payed for our
selves, twenty pence ; for our horses, three shillings six pence ; wages, six pence.
The Prince of Denmarkes last borne daughter, christined and named
Anna Sophia ; the Earle of Fewersham, godfather ; the Ladies Roscommon
and Churchill, godmothers ; christined by the Bishop of Durham.

Wee rose early, and came to Stamford, twelve miles, crossing here the
river Welland, by a stone bridge, and rode ten miles further, and dined
in a village called Kolsfoot, where wee payed for victuals, twenty pence ; for
horses, fifteen pence ; wages to the ostler, two pence. Then wee rode
through Grantham, six miles ; and, a mile further, wee had a delicate prospect
of a fertile valley, with a ancient place, called Beavoir Castle, on our left
hand. Wee passed through the valley, and lodged in a large long village,
called Great Billingtowne, which is five miles from Grantham, where wee
payed for our selves, twenty nine pence ; for horses, three shillings six
pence ; wages, one penny.

Wee came to Newarke, fyve miles, where wee passed the river Trent,
and, at the ferry, paid six pence. Wee came further, through a low couutrey,
and dined in Tuxfoord, ten miles from Newarke, where wee had a sight of
Lincolne on the right hand. Here wee payed for our selves, thirty two'
pence ; for horses, fifteen pence. From hence wee rode through Shirwood
Forrest, the old haunting place of Robin Hood, to Barnby on the Moor,
eight miles, and to Skribtree, three miles, where wee lodged, and payed for
our selves, two shillings six pence ; for horses, three shillings ; wages, six pence.
Wee came to Doncaster, being six miles, where I received my trunk
maile by the Yorke coach. Being afrayed to spoile my mare, as I had
done the horse, with the maile, I bought a portmantle or bagge, and put in
the linnens, and such other things as could not be the worse of being pressed,
and caused fitt the maile pillion better ; and, refreshing ourselves, wee payed
for our selves, two shilhngs six pence ; for dressing the pillion, one shilling
six pence ; for foot socks, twelve pence. Here, crossing the river Done, wee
came foure miles further to Robin Hoods Well, and, by the old Roman
causey way, to Wentbridge, three miles ; and to Ferrybridges, three miles,
very stony and strait way ; and then to Aberfoord, six miles. All this way
wee had a sight of Yorke forward on our right hand. Here wee rested,
and payed in all thirteen pence ; and rideing six miles further, wee