CHAPTERII。
HismothercouldforhimascradlesetHerhusband'srustyironcorselet;
Whosejanglingsoundcouldhushherbabetorest,Thatneverplain'dofhisuneasynest;
Thendidhedreamofdrearywarsathand,Andwoke,andfought,andwon,erehecouldstand。HALL'SSATIRES
Itwastowardsthecloseofasummer'sevening,duringtheanxiousperiodwhichwehavecommemorated,thatayounggentlemanofquality,wellmountedandarmed,andaccompaniedbytwoservants,oneofwhomledasumpterhorse,rodeslowlyuponeofthosesteeppasses,bywhichtheHighlandsareaccessiblefromtheLowlandsofPerthshire。[ThebeautifulpassofLeny,nearCallander,inMonteith,would,insomerespects,answerthisdescription。]Theircoursehadlainforsometimealongthebanksofalake,whosedeepwatersreflectedthecrimsonbeamsofthewesternsun。Thebrokenpathwhichtheypursuedwithsomedifficulty,wasinsomeplacesshadedbyancientbirchesandoak—
trees,andinothersoverhungbyfragmentsofhugerock。
Elsewhere,thehill,whichformedthenorthernsideofthisbeautifulsheetofwater,aroseinsteep,butlessprecipitousacclivity,andwasarrayedinheathofthedarkestpurple。Inthepresenttimes,ascenesoromanticwouldhavebeenjudgedtopossessthehighestcharmsforthetraveller;butthosewhojourneyindaysofdoubtanddread,paylittleattentiontopicturesquescenery。
Themasterkept,asoftenasthewoodpermitted,abreastofoneorbothofhisdomestics,andseemedearnestlytoconversewiththem,probablybecausethedistinctionsofrankarereadilysetasideamongthosewhoaremadetobesharersofcommondanger。
Thedispositionsoftheleadingmenwhoinhabitthiswildcountry,andtheprobabilityoftheirtakingpartinthepoliticalconvulsionsthatweresoonexpected,werethesubjectsoftheirconversation。
Theyhadnotadvancedabovehalfwayupthelake,andtheyounggentlemanwaspointingtohisattendantsthespotwheretheirintendedroadturnednorthwards,and,leavingthevergeoftheloch,ascendedaravinetotherighthand,whentheydiscoveredasinglehorsemancomingdowntheshore,asiftomeetthem。Thegleamofthesunbeamsuponhishead—pieceandcorsletshowedthathewasinarmour,andthepurposeoftheothertravellersrequiredthatheshouldnotpassunquestioned。"Wemustknowwhoheis,"saidtheyounggentleman,"andwhitherheisgoing。"Andputtingspurstohishorse,herodeforwardasfastastheruggedstateoftheroadwouldpermit,followedbyhistwoattendants,untilhereachedthepointwherethepassalongthesideofthelakewasintersectedbythatwhichdescendedfromtheravine,securingthusagainstthepossibilityofthestrangereludingthem,byturningintothelatterroadbeforetheycameupwithhim。
Thesinglehorsemanhadmendedhispace,whenhefirstobservedthethreeridersadvancerapidlytowardshim;butwhenhesawthemhaltandformafront,whichcompletelyoccupiedthepath,hecheckedhishorse,andadvancedwithgreatdeliberation;sothateachpartyhadanopportunitytotakeafullsurveyoftheother。Thesolitarystrangerwasmounteduponanablehorse,fitformilitaryservice,andforthegreatweightwhichhehadtocarry,andhisrideroccupiedhisdemipique,orwar—saddle,withanairthatshoweditwashisfamiliarseat。Hehadabrightburnishedhead—piece,withaplumeoffeathers,togetherwithacuirass,thickenoughtoresistamusket—ball,andaback—pieceoflightermaterials。Thesedefensivearmsheworeoverabuffjerkin,alongwithapairofgauntlets,orsteelgloves,thetopsofwhichreacheduptohiselbow,andwhich,liketherestofhisarmour,wereofbrightsteel。Atthefrontofhismilitarysaddlehungacaseofpistols,farbeyondtheordinarysize,nearlytwofeetinlength,andcarryingbulletsoftwentytothepound。Abuffbelt,withabroadsilverbuckle,sustainedononesidealongstraightdouble—edgedbroadsword,withastrongguard,andabladecalculatedeithertostrikeorpush。Ontherightsidehungadaggerofabouteighteeninchesinlength;ashoulder—beltsustainedathisbackamusketoonorblunderbuss,andwascrossedbyabandeliercontaininghischargesofammunition。Thigh—piecesofsteel,thentermedtaslets,metthetopsofhishugejack—boots,andcompletedtheequipageofawell—armedtrooperoftheperiod。
Theappearanceofthehorsemanhimselfcorrespondedwellwithhismilitaryequipage,towhichhehadtheairofhavingbeenlonginured。Hewasabovethemiddlesize,andofstrengthsufficienttobearwitheasetheweightofhisweapons,offensiveanddefensive。Hisagemightbefortyandupwards,andhiscountenancewasthatofaresoluteweather—beatenveteran,whohadseenmanyfields,andbroughtawayintokenmorethanonescar。Atthedistanceofaboutthirtyyardshehaltedandstoodfast,raisedhimselfonhisstirrups,asiftoreconnoitreandascertainthepurposeoftheoppositeparty,andbroughthismusketoonunderhisrightarm,readyforuse,ifoccasionshouldrequireit。Ineverythingbutnumbers,hehadtheadvantageofthosewhoseemedinclinedtointerrupthispassage。
Theleaderofthepartywas,indeed,wellmountedandcladinabuffcoat,richlyembroidered,thehalf—militarydressoftheperiod;buthisdomesticshadonlycoarsejacketsofthickfelt,whichcouldscarcebeexpectedtoturntheedgeofasword,ifwieldedbyastrongman;andnoneofthemhadanyweapons,saveswordsandpistols,withoutwhichgentlemen,ortheirattendants,duringthosedisturbedtimes,seldomstirredabroad。
Whentheyhadstoodatgazeforaboutaminute,theyoungergentlemangavethechallengewhichwasthencommoninthemouthofallstrangerswhometinsuchcircumstances——"Forwhomareyou?"
"Tellmefirst,"answeredthesoldier,"forwhomareyou?——thestrongestpartyshouldspeakfirst。"
"WeareforGodandKingCharles,"answeredthefirstspeaker。——"
Nowtellyourfaction,youknowours。"
"IamforGodandmystandard,"answeredthesinglehorseman。
"Andforwhichstandard?"repliedthechiefoftheotherparty——"CavalierorRoundhead,KingorConvention?"
"Bymytroth,sir,"answeredthesoldier,"Iwouldbeloathtoreplytoyouwithanuntruth,asathingunbecomingacavalieroffortuneandasoldier。Buttoansweryourquerywithbeseemingveracity,itisnecessaryIshouldmyselfhaveresolvedtowhilkofthepresentdivisionsofthekingdomIshallultimatelyadhere,beingamatterwhereonmymindisnotasyetpreceeselyascertained。"
"Ishouldhavethought,"answeredthegentleman,"that,whenloyaltyandreligionareatstake,nogentlemanormanofhonourcouldbelonginchoosinghisparty。"
"Truly,sir,"repliedthetrooper,"ifyespeakthisinthewayofvituperation,asmeaningtoimpugnmyhonourorgenteelity,I
wouldblithelyputthesametoissue,venturinginthatquarrelwithmysinglepersonagainstyouthree。Butifyouspeakitinthewayoflogicalratiocination,whilkIhavestudiedinmyyouthattheMareschal—CollegeofAberdeen,IamreadytoprovetoyeLOGICE,thatmyresolutiontodefer,foracertainseason,thetakinguponmeeitherofthesequarrels,notonlybecomethmeasagentlemanandamanofhonour,butalsoasapersonofsenseandprudence,oneimbuedwithhumanelettersinhisearlyyouth,andwho,fromthenceforward,hasfollowedthewarsunderthebanneroftheinvincibleGustavus,theLionoftheNorth,andundermanyotherheroicleaders,bothLutheranandCalvinist,PapistandArminian。"
Afterexchangingawordortwowithhisdomestics,theyoungergentlemanreplied,"Ishouldbeglad,sir,tohavesomeconversationwithyouuponsointerestingaquestion,andshouldbeproudifIcandetermineyouinfavourofthecauseIhavemyselfespoused。Iridethiseveningtoafriend'shousenotthreemilesdistant,whither,ifyouchoosetoaccompanyme,youshallhavegoodquartersforthenight,andfreepermissiontotakeyourownroadinthemorning,ifyouthenfeelnoinclinationtojoinwithus。"
"WhosewordamItotakeforthis?"answeredthecautioussoldier——"Amanmustknowhisguarantee,orhemayfallintoanambuscade。"
"Iamcalled,"answeredtheyoungerstranger,"theEarlofMenteith,and,Itrust,youwillreceivemyhonourasasufficientsecurity。"
"Aworthynobleman,"answeredthesoldier,"whoseparoleisnottobedoubted。"Withonemotionhereplacedhismusketoonathisback,andwithanothermadehismilitarysalutetotheyoungnobleman,andcontinuingtotalkasherodeforwardtojoinhim——"And,Itrust,"saidhe,"myownassurance,thatIwillbeBON
CAMARADOtoyourlordshipinpeaceorinperil,duringthetimeweshallabidetogether,willnotbealtogethervilipendedinthesedoubtfultimes,when,astheysay,aman'sheadissaferinasteel—capthaninamarblepalace。"
"Iassureyou,sir,"saidLordMenteith,"thattojudgefromyourappearance,Imosthighlyvaluetheadvantageofyourescort;
but,Itrust,weshallhavenooccasionforanyexerciseofvalour,asIexpecttoconductyoutogoodandfriendlyquarters。"
"Goodquarters,mylord,"repliedthesoldier,"arealwaysacceptable,andareonlytobepostponedtogoodpayorgoodbooty,——nottomentionthehonourofacavalier,ortheneedfulpointsofcommandedduty。Andtruly,mylord,yournobleprofferisnotthelesswelcome,inthatIknewnotpreceeselythisnightwhereIandmypoorcompanion"(pattinghishorse)"weretofindlodgments。"
"MayIbepermittedtoask,then,"saidLordMenteith,"towhomI
havethegoodfortunetostandquarter—master?"
"Truly,mylord,"saidthetrooper,"mynameisDalgetty——DugaldDalgetty,Ritt—masterDugaldDalgettyofDrumthwacket,atyourhonourableservicetocommand。ItisanameyoumayhaveseeninGALLOBELGICUS,theSWEDISHINTELLIGENCER,or,ifyoureadHighDutch,intheFLIEGENDENMERCOEURofLeipsic。Myfather,mylord,havingbyunthriftycoursesreducedafairpatrimonytoanonentity,Ihadnobettershift,whenIwaseighteenyearsauld,thantocarrythelearningwhilkIhadacquiredattheMareschal—
CollegeofAberdeen,mygentlebluidanddesignationofDrumthwacket,togetherwithapairofstalwartharms,andlegsconform,totheGermanwars,theretopushmywayasacavalieroffortune。Mylord,mylegsandarmsstoodmeinmoresteadthaneithermygentlekinormybook—lear,andIfoundmyselftrailingapikeasaprivategentlemanunderoldSirLudovickLeslie,whereIlearnedtherulesofservicesotightly,thatI
willnotforgettheminahurry。Sir,Ihavebeenmadetostandguardeighthours,beingfromtwelveatnoontoeighto'clockofthenight,atthepalace,armedwithbackandbreast,head—pieceandbracelets,beingirontotheteeth,inabitterfrost,andtheicewasashardaseverwasflint;andallforstoppinganinstanttospeaktomylandlady,whenIshouldhavegonetoroll—
call。"
"And,doubtless,sir,"repliedLordMenteith,"youhavegonethroughsomehotservice,aswellasthissamecolddutyyoutalkof?"
"Surely,mylord,itdothnotbecomemetospeak;buthethathathseenthefieldsofLeipsicandofLutzen,maybesaidtohaveseenpitchedbattles。AndonewhohathwitnessedtheintakingofFrankfort,andSpanheim,andNuremberg,andsoforth,shouldknowsomewhataboutleaguers,storms,onslaughtsandoutfalls。"
"Butyourmerit,sir,andexperience,weredoubtlessfollowedbypromotion?"
"Itcameslow,mylord,doomsslow,"repliedDalgetty;"butasmyScottishcountrymen,thefathersofthewar,andtheraisersofthosevalorousScottishregimentsthatwerethedreadofGermany,begantofallprettythick,whatwithpestilenceandwhatwiththesword,whywe,theirchildren,succeededtotheirinheritance。Sir,Iwassixyearsfirstprivategentlemanofthecompany,andthreeyearslancespeisade;disdainingtoreceiveahalberd,asunbecomingmybirth。WhereforeIwasultimatelypromotedtobeafahndragger,astheHighDutchcallit(whichsignifiesanancient),intheKing'sLeifRegimentofBlack—
Horse,andthereafterIarosetobelieutenantandritt—master,underthatinvinciblemonarch,thebulwarkoftheProtestantfaith,theLionoftheNorth,theterrorofAustria,GustavustheVictorious。"
"Andyet,ifIunderstandyou,CaptainDalgetty,——Ithinkthatrankcorrespondswithyourforeigntitleofritt—master——"
"Thesamegradepreceesely,"answeredDalgetty;"ritt—mastersignifyingliterallyfile—leader。"
"Iwasobserving,"continuedLordMenteith,"that,ifI
understoodyouright,youhadlefttheserviceofthisgreatPrince。"
"Itwasafterhisdeath——itwasafterhisdeath,sir,"saidDalgetty,"whenIwasinnoshapeboundtocontinuemineadherence。Therearethings,mylord,inthatservice,thatcannotbutgoagainstthestomachofanycavalierofhonour。Inespecial,albeitthepaybenoneofthemostsuperabundant,beingonlyaboutsixtydollarsa—monthtoaritt—master,yettheinvincibleGustavusneverpaidaboveone—thirdofthatsum,whilkwasdistributedmonthlybywayofloan;although,whenjustlyconsidered,itwas,infact,aborrowingbythatgreatmonarchoftheadditionaltwo—thirdswhichwereduetothesoldier。AndI
haveseensomewholeregimentsofDutchandHolsteinersmutinyonthefieldofbattle,likebasescullions,cryingoutGelt,gelt,signifyingtheirdesireofpay,insteadoffallingtoblowslikeournobleScottishblades,whoeverdisdained,mylord,postponingofhonourtofilthylucre。"
"Butwerenotthesearrears,"saidLordMenteith,"paidtothesoldieryatsomestatedperiod?"
"Mylord,"saidDalgetty,"Itakeitonmyconscience,thatatnoperiod,andbynopossibleprocess,couldonecreutzerofthemeverberecovered。ImyselfneversawtwentydollarsofmyownallthetimeIservedtheinvincibleGustavus,unlessitwasfromthechanceofastormorvictory,orthefetchinginsometownordoorp,whenacavalieroffortune,whoknowstheusageofwars,seldomfailethtomakesomesmallprofit。"
"Ibeginrathertowonder,sir,"saidLordMenteith,"thatyoushouldhavecontinuedsolongintheSwedishservice,thanthatyoushouldhaveultimatelywithdrawnfromit。"
"NeitherIshould,"answeredtheRitt—master;"butthatgreatleader,captain,andking,theLionoftheNorth,andthebulwarkoftheProtestantfaith,hadawayofwinningbattles,takingtowns,over—runningcountries,andlevyingcontributions,whilkmadehisserviceirresistiblydelectabletoalltrue—bredcavalierswhofollowthenobleprofessionofarms。SimpleasI
ridehere,mylord,IhavemyselfcommandedthewholestiftofDunklespielontheLowerRhine,occupyingthePalsgrave'spalace,consuminghischoicewineswithmycomrades,callingincontributions,requisitions,andcaduacs,andnotfailingtolickmyfingers,asbecameagoodcook。Buttrulyallthisgloryhastenedtodecay,afterourgreatmasterhadbeenshotwiththreebulletsonthefieldofLutzen;wherefore,findingthatFortunehadchangedsides,thattheborrowingsandlendingswentonasbeforeoutofourpay,whilethecaduacsandcasualtieswereallcutoff,Ie'engaveupmycommission,andtookservicewithWallenstein,inWalterButler'sIrishregiment。"
"AndmayIbegtoknowofyou,"saidLordMenteith,apparentlyinterestedintheadventuresofthissoldieroffortune,"howyoulikedthischangeofmasters?"
"Indifferentwell,"saidtheCaptain——"veryindifferentwell。I
cannotsaythattheEmperorpaidmuchbetterthanthegreatGustavus。Forhardknocks,wehadplentyofthem。Iwasoftenobligedtorunmyheadagainstmyoldacquaintances,theSwedishfeathers,whilkyourhonourmustconceivetobedouble—pointedstakes,shodwithironateachend,andplantedbeforethesquadofpikestopreventanonfallofthecavalry。ThewhilkSwedishfeathers,althoughtheylookgaytotheeye,resemblingtheshrubsorlessertreesofaneforest,asthepuissantpikes,arrangedinbattaliabehindthem,correspondtothetallpinesthereof,yet,nevertheless,arenotaltogethersosofttoencounterastheplumageofagoose。Howbeit,indespiteofheavyblowsandlightpay,acavalieroffortunemaythriveindifferentlywellintheImperialservice,inrespecthisprivatecasualtiesarenothingsocloselylookedtoasbytheSwede;andsothatanofficerdidhisdutyonthefield,neitherWallensteinnorPappenheim,noroldTillybeforethem,wouldlikelylistentotheobjurgationsofboorsorburghersagainstanycommanderorsoldado,bywhomtheychancedtobesomewhatcloselyshorn。Sothatanexperiencedcavalier,knowinghowtolay,asourScottishphraseruns,'theheadofthesowtothetailofthegrice,'mightgetoutofthecountrythepaywhilkhecouldnotobtainfromtheEmperor。"
"Withafullhand,sir,doubtless,andwithinterest,"saidLordMenteith。
"Indubitably,mylord,"answeredDalgetty,composedly;"foritwouldbedoublydisgracefulforanysoldadoofranktohavehisnamecalledinquestionforanypettydelinquency。"
"Andpray,Sir,"continuedLordMenteith,"whatmadeyouleavesogainfulaservice?"
"Why,truly,sir,"answeredthesoldier,"anIrishcavalier,calledO'Quilligan,beingmajorofourregiment,andIhavinghadwordswithhimthenightbefore,respectingtheworthandprecedenceofourseveralnations,itpleasedhimthenextdaytodeliverhisorderstomewiththepointofhisbatoonadvancedandheldaloof,insteadofdecliningandtrailingthesame,asisthefashionfromacourteouscommandingofficertowardshisequalinrank,though,itmaybe,hisinferiorinmilitarygrade。Uponthisquarrel,sir,wefoughtinprivaterencontre;andas,intheperquisitionswhichfollowed,itpleasedWalterButler,ouroberst,orcolonel,togivethelighterpunishmenttohiscountryman,andtheheaviertome,whereupon,ill—stomachingsuchpartiality,IexchangedmycommissionforoneundertheSpaniard。"
"Ihopeyoufoundyourselfbetteroffbythechange?"saidLordMenteith。
"Ingoodsooth,"answeredtheRitt—master,"Ihadbutlittletocomplainof。Thepaywassomewhatregular,beingfurnishedbytherichFlemingsandWaloonsoftheLowCountry。Thequarterswereexcellent;thegoodwheatenloavesoftheFlemingswerebetterthantheProvantrye—breadoftheSwede,andRhenishwinewasmoreplentywithusthaneverIsawtheblack—beerofRostockinGustavus'scamp。Servicetherewasnone,dutytherewaslittle;andthatlittlewemightdo,orleaveundone,atourpleasure;anexcellentretirementforacavaliersomewhatwearyoffieldandleaguer,whohadpurchasedwithhisbloodasmuchhonourasmightservehisturn,andwasdesirousofalittleeaseandgoodliving。"
"AndmayIask,"saidLordMenteith,"whyyou,Captain,being,asIsuppose,inthesituationyoudescribe,retiredfromtheSpanishservicealso?"
"Youaretoconsider,mylord,thatyourSpaniard,"repliedCaptainDalgetty,"isapersonaltogetherunparalleledinhisownconceit,where—throughhemakethnotfitaccountofsuchforeigncavaliersofvalourasarepleasedtotakeservicewithhim。Andagallingthingitistoeveryhonourablesoldado,tobeputaside,andpostponed,andobligedtoyieldpreferencetoeverypuffingsignor,who,wereitthequestionwhichshouldfirstmountabreachatpushofpike,mightbeapttoyieldwillingplacetoaScottishcavalier。Moreover,sir,Iwasprickedinconsciencerespectingamatterofreligion。"
"Ishouldnothavethought,CaptainDalgetty,"saidtheyoungnobleman,"thatanoldsoldier,whohadchangedservicesooften,wouldhavebeentooscrupulousonthathead。"
"NomoreIam,mylord,"saidtheCaptain,"sinceIholdittobethedutyofthechaplainoftheregimenttosettlethosemattersforme,andeveryotherbravecavalier,inasmuchashedoesnothingelsethatIknowofforhispayandallowances。Butthiswasaparticularcase,mylord,aCASUSIMPROVISUS,asImaysay,inwhilkIhadnochaplainofmyownpersuasiontoactasmyadviser。Ifound,inshort,thatalthoughmybeingaProtestantmightbewinkedat,inrespectthatIwasamanofaction,andhadmoreexperiencethanalltheDonsinourTERTIAputtogether,yet,wheningarrison,itwasexpectedIshouldgotomasswiththeregiment。Now,mylord,asatrueScottishman,andeducatedattheMareschal—CollegeofAberdeen,Iwasboundtoupholdthemasstobeanactofblindedpapistryandutteridolatry,whilkI
wasaltogetherunwillingtohomologatebymypresence。Trueitis,thatIconsultedonthepointwithaworthycountrymanofmyown,oneFatherFatsides,oftheScottishCovenantinWurtzburg——"
"AndIhope,"observedLordMenteith,"youobtainedaclearopinionfromthissameghostlyfather?"
"Asclearasitcouldbe,"repliedCaptainDalgetty,"consideringwehaddrunksixflasksofRhenish,andabouttwomutchkinsofKirchenwasser。FatherFatsidesinformedme,that,asnearlyashecouldjudgeforahereticlikemyself,itsignifiednotmuchwhetherIwenttomassornot,seeingmyeternalperditionwassignedandsealedatanyrate,inrespectofmyimpenitentandobdurateperseveranceinmydamnableheresy。Beingdiscouragedbythisresponse,IappliedtoaDutchpastorofthereformedchurch,whotoldme,hethoughtImightlawfullygotomass,inrespectthattheprophetpermittedNaaman,amightymanofvalour,andanhonourablecavalierofSyria,tofollowhismasterintothehouseofRimmon,afalsegod,oridol,towhomhehadvowedservice,andtobowdownwhenthekingwasleaninguponhishand。Butneitherwasthisanswersatisfactorytome,bothbecausetherewasanuncodifferencebetweenananointedKingofSyriaandourSpanishcolonel,whomIcouldhaveblownawaylikethepeelingofaningan,andchieflybecauseIcouldnotfindthethingwasrequiredofmebyanyofthearticlesofwar;neitherwasIprofferedanyconsideration,eitherinperquisiteorpay,forthewrongImighttherebydotomyconscience。"
"Soyouagainchangedyourservice?"saidLordMenteith。
"IntrothdidI,mylord;andaftertryingforashortwhiletwoorthreeotherpowers,IeventookonforatimewiththeirHighMightinessestheStatesofHolland。"
"Andhowdidtheirservicejumpwithyourhumour?"againdemandedhiscompanion。
"O!mylord,"saidthesoldier,inasortofenthusiasm,"theirbehaviouronpay—daymightbeapatterntoallEurope——noborrowings,nolendings,nooffsetsnoarrears——allbalancedandpaidlikeabanker'sbook。Thequarters,too,areexcellent,andtheallowancesunchallengeable;butthen,sir,theyareapreceese,scrupulouspeople,andwillallownothingforpeccadilloes。Sothatifaboorcomplainsofabrokenhead,orabeer—sellerofabrokencan,oradaftwenchdoesbutsqueakloudenoughtobeheardaboveherbreath,asoldierofhonourshallbedragged,notbeforehisowncourt—martial,whocanbestjudgeofandpunishhisdemerits,hutbeforeabasemechanicalburgo—
master,whoshallmenacehimwiththerasp—house,thecord,andwhatnot,asifhewereoneoftheirownmean,amphibious,twenty—breechedboors。Sonotbeingabletodwelllongeramongthoseungratefulplebeians,who,althoughunabletodefendthemselvesbytheirproperstrength,willneverthelessallowthenobleforeigncavalierwhoengageswiththemnothingbeyondhisdrywages,whichnohonourablespiritwillputincompetitionwithaliberallicenseandhonourablecountenance,IresolvedtoleavetheserviceoftheMynheers。Andhearingatthistime,tomyexceedingsatisfaction,thatthereissomethingtobedoingthissummerinmywayinthismydearnativecountry,Iamcomehither,astheysay,likeabeggartoabridal,inordertogivemylovingcountrymentheadvantageofthatexperiencewhichI
haveacquiredinforeignparts。Soyourlordshiphasanoutlineofmybriefstory,exceptingmydeportmentinthosepassagesofactioninthefield,inleaguers,storms,andonslaughts,whilkwouldbewearisometonarrate,andmight,peradventure,betterbefitanyothertonguethanmineown。"