me to be laid in a Barn with a Centinel to guard me, and the Surgeon of
the Regiment was immediately call'd for to dress and tie up my Wounds. I
had not been in that Lodging above an Hour, but the Village was attack'd
by the _French_ Gens d'Arms, and there was a Tryal of Skill between the
Flower of both the Armies, in which Action the _French_ at last were
Superior, so I was releas'd, but it was equal to me in the Condition I
was in whose Hands I fell into, for I had so many fainting Fits which
succeeded one another, that I expected not to survive any of 'em. My
Brother, whom I desired to go to _Loraine_ during the Action had a Mind
to be a little nearer, so remain'd with the Baggage, but met not with me
till the next Day, that we both went in a Waggon to his Lodgings in
_Loraine_, where I was confin'd three Months before I was able to
Travel.

In this Retirement it was that I began to be very Serious: A Soldiers
Life has many Occurrences which are not very reconcileable to strict
Morality. To comprize my own Character in relation to Christianity, I
was neither a Saint nor a Devil. The Pains I felt were very Sharp, and
hindred my Rest; my Blood was heated and boiling up to a Fever, which
being agitated with daily dressing my Wounds, it requir'd a skillful
Physician and a good Regimen in the Patient, to stave off a Fit of
Sickness. My Brother prov'd an excellent Nurse, and had he not us'd a
great deal of Reason in keeping me from improper Nourishment, the Game
would quickly have been up with me. I was also waited upon several
times by a worthy Clergyman, who neglected not to give me Penitent Hints
to have regard to the main Concern; I return'd him Thanks, and gave him
to understand I would make use of him when there was more urgent
Occasion. When I began to grow a Valetudinarian, and that my Wounds
began to heel up, I had the Liberty to drink _Loraine_ Beer, which is
much celebrated in those Parts. As yet I had drank nothing but Tissans
and such like Decoctions, which being very mild upon the Palate, did not
give content to the inward dryness and thirst I felt by the loss of
Blood. But I quickly repented this Indulgence of tasting the Beer, I
took such deep Draughts that I relaps'd into a dangerous and most
violent Fever, in which I acted all the Parts of a dying Man, besides
making my Exit; I was delirious above three Days, which though it was
but a melancholly Sight in it self, yet I behav'd my self so various in
my ra