1655] DIARY OF PATRICK GORDON. 19 last night's engagement, I found myself in such a labirinth of perplexed thoughts

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

1655] DIARY OF PATRICK GORDON. 19

last night's engagement, I found myself in such a labirinth of perplexed
thoughts, that I knew not how to wind myself out of them. However of
necessity, according to my promise and duty, I must go wait on my ruit-
master ; whither being come, he brought me below to the stable and showed
me his horses, here being three prime horses for his owne sadle, any of
which, he told me, should be at my service and for my use, and that his
servant should be as ready to bring my horse as his, and that he would use
me as a loveing kinsman, with many fair promises more, which satled my
wavering thoughts ; so that, now come what will, I resolved to try my for-
tune this way. The ruitmaster his occasions carrying him from this citty
to Stade, I stayed in my old lodgeing, not at my owue but his charges now.
He told me, that, in a few dayes he would call for me.

Here I continued a fortnight, when, by intemperancy (to the which my
nature was alwayes averse) or by some other accident, I fell into a feaver,
which the phisitians commonly call the remitting feaver, which continued
me bedfast eight dayes, and then turned to a tertian ague. After I had
stayed three weeks longer, which made up in all thirteen weeks, I rode
with the ruitmaster to Ratzeburg, the residence of the Dukes of Saxen-
Laweuburg, one whereof called Frantz Artman was our coUonell, and from
thence, the next day, to Lubeck, where the ruitmaster left me, I not being
able to travell. After foure or fyve dayes stay, the ruitmaster, bemg on
his march, sent for me. I was in this march in a very pittyfull condition,
being hardly able to ride that day which I was free of the ague ; and that
day I had it, I was forced to ly on an open waggon, above the ruitmaster's
baggage, and was very glad of such a convenience.

Wee continued our march through Pomeren to Stetin. 1 am sorry that
1 can give no exact account of my jorney and march now through this
pleasant and fruitfull countrey, being hindred in my jorney to Hamborg by
ndeing in a closse waggon and want of the Dutch language, and now by
my tedious sickness, which took away all appetite to my curiosity. Wee
had very good accomodation on this march ; and by that tyme that I was
come near Stetin, I was pretty well recovered. I was sent befor to Stetin
to buy some necessaries, or swords and boots, for some troupers who wanted.

On the fourteenth of July, 1 rode out of Stetin, and the next morning juij- 14.
came to the army, when they were drawing up in a large meadow. It con-
sisted of thirty brigades of foot and 7000 ruiters, being in all about 17,000