1655] DIAEY OF PATRICK GORDON. 17 who was, according to the custome of the Polonian nobility

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

1655] DIAEY OF PATRICK GORDON. 17

who was, according to the custome of the Polonian nobility, f^oing- to visit
foreigne countiyes. At my departure, my kind couutreymen furnished me
with money and other necessaries very liberally, so that I was better stocked
now as I had been since I cam from my parents.

[A.D. 1655.]

In this noblemans company, as one of his attendants, I came to Hara-
borgh, being very civilly used the whole way. It was the midle of Februar
when wee arrived here ; and the nobleman, after eight dayes stay, takeing
post for Antwerp, I tooke my leave of him.

Here, at this tyme, were the Sweds oiSciers, very busy levying and
listing of souldiers. AH the innes were full of cavaliers, ranting and carous-
ing. When my lord departed, Wilczitsky, his paedagogue (who spoke
good French, Dutch, and Latiue) agreed with the landlord of the inne
where wee lodged, for my dyet, chamber, and bed, for four markes a weeke •
only, when there were no other strangers, I Avas to be content with such
ordinary fare as the house afFoorded. Here I stayed eight weeks, when it
chanced a cornet and a quarter master to lodge in the same innes who
haveing mquired at the landlord what I was, and miderstandeing my con-
dition, began to be very kynd to me, and to sheu me all respect in the tyme
of dinner and supper, which was the only tyme 1 was forced to converse
with them ; I either passing the other tymes with walking or keeping my
chamber. In all their discourses they extolled a souldiers lyfe, telling that
riches, honour, and all sorts of worldly blessings lay prosti-ate at a souldiers
feet, wanting only his will to stoop and take them up ; then, falling out in
commendation of our contreymen, than whom no better sojors were of any
nation to be found, and that, albeit, nature had endued tliem with a genius
fitt for any thing, yet did they despise the ease, advantage, or contentment
any other trade might bring, and embraced that of a souldier, which, with-
out all dispute, is the most honourable. Albeit I understood most of their
discourse, and was well enough pleased therewith, yet was 1 not able to
render any satisfactory answer, negative and affirmative being all I could
atfoord them ; and, being jealous that they had a designe to engage mee, I
shunned, as much as I could, any familiarity or conversation with them.

One day at dinner, the quartermaster told me that a countreyman of
mine was come, called Gardin, which, according as he pronounced it, seemed