1686] DIARY OF PATRICK GORDON. 149 I went and see the Colledge in the Old Towne,

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

1686] DIARY OF PATRICK GORDON. 149

I went and see the Colledge in the Old Towne, and was very well July
received, and showed all worth the sceeing- there. I went to the Linkcs after-
wards. In the evening, the Earle of Aberdeen came, to whom I payed a visitt.

I was invited to a collation by the Lord Provost and Magistrates, where, July
with my ffriends, I was heartily entertained, and all my relations who were
there made burgesses * My sister and sisters in law being come into the
towne to see me, wee made very merry with good musick.

1 did writt to the Duke of Gordon, and to some ffriends in Edinburgh, juiy
and mad some visitts in the towne. My ffriends tooke their leave, and
went home. In the morning, 1 went over Dee, and to St. Fiacres Church .f

The Laird of Watertowne being come to towne, wee did fall to talke of July
a composition concerning the Muii-take, he desireing a tollerance of mosse
for his lyfe tyme, and I, being pers waded by Aberdeen, promised it for
seven yeares ; whereof he not allowing, wee broke of.

This afternoone, I made some visitts, and walked in the evening, and at July
night passed the tyme with the Earle of Aberdeen.

The Earle of Aberdeen, with my Lady, went from hence. In the July
evening, the Earle Marshall^ came to towne, whom I visittcd, he comeiug
over to my lodging, where supped, and were merry.

In the morning, I tooke my leave of the Earle Marshall, who went July ;
north. In the afternoone, Nethermuir, older and yonger, went from hence,
I haveing given a factory for my effaires to my unkle, and the yonger

* [The burgh register places this event on f [The parish church of Nigg, on the south

the seventh of July : _ bank of the Dee, was dedicated to St. Fithak,

'Eodem die, m presentia Prcpositi, Bali- Fiack, or Fiacre, an Irish recluse of the seventh

vorum, Decani Glide, et Thesaurarii dicti century, long held in great veneration iu

burgi, Joannes Gordon in Westertoun [de] France. In 1641, Anne of Austria made a

Achlouchvies, Joannes Gordon filius natu pilgrimage on foot to his shrine in the cathe-

maximus excelleutis viri Domini Patricii Gor- dral of Meaux ; and the eloquent Bossuet in-

don de Achlouchries, GeneralisLocumtenentis vckcd his protection for l.ouis XIV., when

sub hmperatonbus Iv'ussie, et Jacobus Gordon undergoing a surgical operation. The French

filius secundo genitus Joaunis Gordon in Wes- hackney coach received its name of fiacre,

tertoune de Achlouchries [recepti fuerunt in from an image of the saint, hung up for a

burgenses glide burgi de Aberdeen."] sign by one Nicolas Sauvage, who was the first

The cost ot the collation appears from the in Piiris to hire out carriages bv the hour or

Guildry Accounts:— day. So lately as the year 1G30, the kirk

' Item of the expenssis of wax and parch- session of Aberdeen ordained that any one re-

ment for the burges actis of John Gordone ot pairing to St Fiacke"s well, in the bay of Nigg,

Auchleuchries, John Gordone, sone to Live- 'in a superstitious manner, seeking health to

tennant Generall Gordone, and of James Gor- themselves or bairns,' should be punished with

dune, sone to Auchleuchries, £1 4s Od the punishment due to fornication ]

'Item of the expenssis of wyne, etc. de- + [George, eighth I'.arl Marischal. succeeded

bursed with the magistiats and utlieris with his brother in Kiul, and died in ICUi lie had

them, at making them burgessis of the toune, served in the French army, and distinguished

£31 12s. 6d.'] himself in the battle of Worcester in 1651 ]