14 DIARY OF PATRICK GORDON. [1653-5-t continent. Below, towards the river, and all along the side of the hill, towards Grandents

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

14 DIARY OF PATRICK GORDON. [1653-5-t

continent. Below, towards the river, and all along the side of the hill,
towards Grandents, ar many lair orchards and gardens, as also by the river
a large suburb, called the Fishery. It hath within the towne three mo-
nasteryes, a Dominican, Franciscan, and of Votaresses, and a large cathedrall.
There ar fair lands belonging to the to^^ne, which is divided among the
burgers ; who, of beer brewing, and buying of cornes, for the most part have
their livclyhood.

Here I passed the tyme during the winter, when falling in acquaintance
with one John Dick, who was prentice to a merchant called Robert Sleich,
I was perswaded by him to travell further up into Polland ; and, because I
was much inclined to be a souldier, he told me that Duke Ian Radzewill
had a lyfe company, all or most Scottismen, where wee would without
doubt be accommodated.

[A.D. 1654]

So, takeing my leave of friends here, I began againe a jorney on foot,
in company of the foresaid John Dick, who had left his service. My stock
was much the same as I liad when I came from Brawnsberg, haveiug gott
foure dollers from a friend upon my way ; but ray habit was farr changed,
for, towards the winter, I had translated my c'.oak into a Polls upper coat,
and lyned it with sheepskines. The first night, wee went to a village, and
lodged by a Skotsman, who lived thei-e. The next day, we passed by a
gentleman's house, called Gzin, and so the direct way to Thorun. When
wee were within a mile of the town, two waggons, with wood did overtake
us, to whom wee, being weai'ied, gave each two pence to lett us sitt up
to the towne. We entered the towne towards night, and tooke up our
lodging in a great house, on the west side of the market place, in the old
towne.

Here we stayed foure dayes, and then haveing with two Dutchmen,
who were bakers, hired a waggon for Varso, giveing each eight florens, wee
sett forward on Saturnday, betimes in the morning. The next day, wee
passed by Cuiafsky Brest, so called to distinguish it from another Brest in
Tjittaw, through Cowale and Gambin, two little townes, to Varsaw, which is
thirty miles from Thorun.

Wee tooke up our lodgeing in the suburb Lesczinsky, so called from a
pallace-like house hard by, built by noblemen of the family of the Lesczin-
skyes, The seym or parliament was sitting at this tyme in Varsaw, where we