首页 >出版文学> A Legend of Montrose>第3章
  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。"