76 DIARY OF PATRICK GORDON. [1666 the cart was ready

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

76 DIARY OF PATRICK GORDON. [1666

the cart was ready, I gott the same people to put our baggage on the cart,
and, for joy, rewarded them Hberally. In tlie meane tyme, the captaines
wyfe being come, for she had tohl a long formall story to the officer at the
gate, wee set forward to the other gate, which we found shutt, wherewith
I was a litle troubled ; but the carter telleing me that, how soone as the
preaching was done, it would be opened, to avoid examination and telling
a ly, 1 went into a brandewine house, and called for brandy, which, not
being able to drink, I spilled unperceived, leaving the captaines wyfe to keep
discourse with the guards, which she could very well do, being a notable,
talkative, witty woman.

The gate being opened, wee went forward, the captaines wyfe with her
litle child on the cart or carr, and I, with the rest, on foot. About a mile oif,
wee came to Middleburg, where, at first, wee were detained by a Hollander,
and at the other end of the towne by a Spaniard, who would needs searche
us for merchandise, and from the last, with a great deale of trouble, wee
came free. Being come about three miles, wee entred Bruges, where, at the
gate, wee were questioned from whence wee came. Wee, as the fuirman
had instructed us, said wee came from Ardenburg, that being clear of the
pest, but Sluis infected. Being entred the gate, wee gott a great company of
boyes after us, crying Geuse ! Geuse ! which is a name they give to the Pro-
testants here, all who come from the United Provinces being supposed to be
such, albeit there be in Hollands not few less Roman Catholickes as Pro-
testants, especially in Amsterdam.

This citty is the best built of any in Flanders, and the citizens the most
gentile of all the Low Countreyes. It is fortifyed with a stone and earthen
wall, and large ditches, hath a very wholesome aire, and, by a new digged
chanuell, can receive vessels of foure hundred tunne.
ist 23. Haveing lodged with good convenience, I hired a waggon to Ostend.
On the way wee found one of our Kings yachts at anker, who had aboard,
albeit he would not be knowne, Mr Kyvet, one of the States Generall, who
was fled for keeping correspondence with England, and interessed in the
business of Ruitmaster Buat. I went into the alehouse, where the captain
of the yacht was, and was very pressing to take me aboard ; but he refused,
under pretence that he durst not, being sent expressly about his Majesties
business, and so durst not take in any passengers. So I went forward
towards Ostend, and, getting a boat, ferryed over the haven, wherein, at this