38 DIARY OF PATRICK GORDOl^. [1661 such service againe ; with which the ambassadour was very much moved,

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

38 DIARY OF PATRICK GORDOl^. [1661

such service againe ; with which the ambassadour was very much moved,
Steelhand also regrateing my condition. At last, the ambassadour recol-
lecting himself, profered me, if I would go with him to Vienna, he should
procure me the place of a ruitmaster or capitaine of horse, under a stand-
ing regunent or then give me a thowsand reichs dollers to beare my ex-
pences and losses ; which, seeing I could not otherwise do or better, I ac-
cepted. He offering me a writeing, I modestly refused it, telling him that
I trusted his word. He desired me also to come and stay in his lodging,
where, as upon way to Vienna, I should be defrayed ; which I promised to
do, how soone I had set my business in order.

Two dayes thereafter, I comeing to wait upon the ambassadour, he told
me that he had found a way to make me deservmg to the Roman Em-
perour ; which was, that haveing letters and business of great concernment
which he must despatch very soone, he would entrust me with these dis-
patches, as being well acquainted with the countrey, and haveing such an
ample passe, whereby I should be kuowne at court, and have a pretension
upon the account of service ; whereof I was glad, and promised to performe
it with all care, fidelity, and diligence

In the meane tyme, many of my acquaintances and ffriends hearing of
my determination to engage in the Roman Emperours service without levy-
ing, and of the conditions proffered me, began seriously to diswade me from
it telling me that a peace being lyke to be concluded, betwixt the Roman
Emperour and the Turkes, soldiers of fortune, unless of great merit and
long standing in that service, would be hardly admitted, and little regarded ;
that if at last I should obtaine a company in a standing regiment, the
officers in such regiments, at least the captaines, being, for the most part,
men of great birth and rents, or well stocked and acquainted with the wayes
of that countrey, where quarters, accidences, and shifts are the greatest part
of their subsistance, I should not be able to beare out an equall part with
them without running my self in debt, or makehig unusuall and not allow-
able shifts ; that I might dance attendance long enough at court, befor I
could be accommodated, and albeit in the tyme of my waiting for a chai-ge,
I might get some allowance for a subsistance, which would even be very
difficult to obtaine, yet would it come farr short of what I should be obliged
to spend there ; that, by putting my self in a garbe fitt for appearing at
com-t, and conversing with persons of quality, I should soone spend the