74 DIARY OF PATRICK GORDON. [1666 go from hence. So here wee lodged, and the next morning came to Dort

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

74 DIARY OF PATRICK GORDON. [1666

go from hence. So here wee lodged, and the next morning came to Dort,
two howres.

This towne hath the priority of all the others in Holland, hath the staple
of Rhenish wyne, and is a strong, populous, rich citty, and standeth in ane
illand. Short of it I went a shore, and viewed the ruines of the house De
Merve, being on our left hand ; for anno Domini 1421, by a suddaine inun-
dation, eighty villages and about a hundred thousand people were drowned,
one child in the cradle, being a son and heire of this lordship of Merve, being
miraculously preserved; for a cat, getting up upon the cradle, kept the
cradle in ballance till it sailing downe the river arrived safely at Dort,
called in Latine Dordracum, and in Hollands Dordrecht.

Here, haveing put our baggage over into another boat, I went into the

towne, and up through the principall streets ; and returning to our boate, wee

set forward about ten aclock downe the river Wael, towards Zeeland. Wee

had a great boat, and store of company of all sorts, and passed the tyrae with

discourses, tobacco, and eating of bernacles. I understanding that in the

boat was a captaines wyfe, with two children, who, being of English parents,

and marryed to ane Englishman called Aiscue, a captain who, being with

others, at the beginning of the warr, recalled out of the States service, was

gone over to England, and now she was convoying her sslf and effects over

to England as privately as possible ; by meanes of my brother in law,

Charles, who had found her out, I offered my assistance and company on the

way, whereof she was glad. We sailed by Wilhehnstadt on our left hand,

St 21. foure howres, and giveing our selves rest in the night tyme, by day light,

wee found our selves within sight of Zerick-Zee, it being ten howres from

Wilhehnstadt. Wee passed by it, being a good way off, on our right hand.

About midday wee landed at Tervere, being foure howres from Zerick-Zee.

Here wee landed, and tooke coach to Midleburg, being a Hollands mile

or howres going. From thence, putting our baggage on a waggon, I, with

company, went a foot to Flushing, being one howres going. I shall speak

nothing of these townes, being so well knowne, and described so often.

This Flushing was so propt up with souldiers and seamen, that wee
could hardly gett a house to lodge in, for here was De Ruiter, with his fleet,
embarking. Haveing, at last, gott a lodging, and only roome without
bedding or beds, wee had but sorry accomodation, and no ease ; for some
Scotsmen were gott into the next roome, who passed the whole night