Upon this the Duke of Saxony entered the room, and finding the king engaged, offered to retire; but the king, beckoning with his hand, called to him in French; “Cousin,” says the king, “this gentleman has been travelling and comes from Vienna,” and so made me repeat what I had said before; at which the king went on with me, and Sir John Hepburn informing his Majesty that I spoke High Dutch, he changed his language, and asked me in Dutch where it was that I saw General Tilly’s army.  I told his Majesty at the siege of Magdeburg.  “At Magdeburg!” said the king, shaking his head; “Tilly must answer to me some day for that city, and if not to me, to a greater King than I. Can you guess what army he had with him?” said the king.  “He had two armies with him,” said I, “but one I suppose will do your Majesty no harm.”  “Two armies!” said the king.  “Yes, sir, he has one army of about 26,000 men,” said I, “and another of about 15,000 women and their attendants,” at which the king laughed heartily.  “Ay, ay,” says the king, “those 15,000 do us as much harm as the 26,000, for they eat up the country, and devour the poor Protestants more than the men.  Well,” says the king, “do they talk of fighting us?” “They talk big enough, sir,” said I, “but your Majesty has not been so often fought with as beaten in their discourse.”  “I know not for the men,” says the king, “but the old man is as likely to do it as talk of it, and I hope to try them in a day or two.”

The king inquired after that several matters of me about the Low Countries, the Prince of Orange, and of the court and affairs in England; and Sir John Hepburn informing his Majesty that I was the son of an English gentleman of his acquaintance, the king had the goodness to ask him what care he had taken of me against the day of battle.  Upon which Sir John repeated to him the discourse we had together by the way; the king seeming particularly pleased with it, began to take me to task himself.  “You English gentlemen,” says he, “are too forward in the wars, which makes you leave them too soon again.”  “Your Majesty,” replied I, “makes war in so pleasant a manner as makes all the world fond of fighting under your conduct.”  “Not so pleasant neither,” says the king, “here’s a man can tell you that sometimes it is not very pleasant.”  “I know not much of the warrior, sir,” said I, “nor of the world, but if always to conquer be the pleasure of the war, your Majesty’s soldiers have all that can be desired.”  “Well,” says the king, “but however, considering all things, I think you would do well to take the advice Sir John Hepburn has given you.”  “Your Majesty may command me to anything, but where your Majesty and so many gallant gentlemen hazard their lives, mine is not worth mentioning; and I should not dare to tell my father at my return into England that I was in your Majesty’s army, and made so mean a figure that your Majesty would not permit me to fight under that royal standard.”  “Nay,” replied the king, “I lay no commands upon you,