An Autobiography
Of a former camp follower

Merrileah Draginass (nee Fitzwalter) daughter of Moira MacCallum and Henry Fitzwalter, was the first born child, her mothers pride and joy and soon to be her fathers greatest headache. The eldest of total of five children, four younger brothers thought her the meanings of patience, temperance, and when force was necessary, and of course diplomacy. Early on the boys discovered their sister's temper which was every bit as bright as her flaming red hair, and hot as hell fire, (at least to them). Suffice to say she towered over her brothers. But then she reached her full height around 17, which to her fathers dismay discouraged many a suitor, and so his Many and sometimes desperate attempts to marry her off met with failure, though did provide some amusement for her brothers who often took bets on how long any particular courtship would last. When she reached twenty her father resigned him to having a spinster daughter.

Then tragically in the winter of her 20 year her mother passed away. It was at this time her father decided to take the boys who were now old enough to serve in the army and enlist. Merrileah went along simply because they were family and as her Mother had taught her it was her duty to see them well fed and dressed. So she didn't even flinch at becoming Laundress and cool for the regiment her family was assigned. Two of her brothers opted to join the navy, and though she missed them greatly she wished them well. Merri quickly learned that camp followers were often shunned as nothing more then common harlots. In truth it bothered her not but on rare occasions when confronted by an upper class Lady as she was shopping. Never one to back down from and Insult she learned just as quickly to return the snide innuendos in the same haughty manner, often leaving the woman or women, blinking in utter silence. She carried her self regally as any high born lady, simply because she was proud of her self and her family.

She followed her father and brothers from camp to camp marveling at the ranks they attained tended their wounds and learned the art of feeding many on limited resources. This trait saw them through many a harsh winter. Although she lost them one by one, she traveled with army regiments for 15 years. It was in her second year with her fathers regiment that, she married Much to her fathers shock and pleasure corporal John Redway, they were married some 4 months, before he fell victim to a battle her axe. She donned the widows weeds and carried on there was still work to be done. Days flowed in months... the oldest of the four brothers' transferred to cavalry and she went along. that was were she Met and married Thomas Darwin, they were married for 13 months, Until his death by arrowshot thought the visor of his helm, a senseless tragedy to be sure. After her brother was killed went back to the Infantry regiment with her remaining brother.

It was almost two years later where she met and soon married Nicholas Godwin, they remained married for 7 months, and before he fell to musket fire tragically it took him two days to die. Being of the Practical mind she cared for him as best she could while maintaining her other duties. She worked to keep the infantry fed and clothed and Nursed back to health through many harsh winter side by side with other women of the camp. At times she began to think there would never be any other color then black amongst the women but ever now and then things changed. It was in the summer of her tenth year with Her Majesties' armies, she met Captain (so he said) Robert Isgar who swept her off her feet, literally and Married her, and for three glorious weeks Nothing else mattered. But then He sailed away. Some months later she received word he was Lost at sea and presumed dead.

By now most would have given up the ghost. But Merri is nothing if not a staunch pillar against the harshest of storms. Some 18 months Later, Sgt Major Richard Siggers took notice of the cook being in the and Laundress who tended his uniforms, though he paid her with coin it was stature and confidence and strange Poise that came with being self assured that attracted him. At first she rebuffed his proposals, but eventually succumbed to his charms, and Lord above he was charming, they were married 15 months when he was felled by cannon ball.

The autumn after losing sgt maj as she referred to him, she found her self on the shores of Ireland with Her Royal Majesty's army of the lowlands under the command of Baron Thomas of Oakham Hall. She wasn't impressed and often kept well out is His Lordships site, given his penchant for being some what of a rake. One cool autumn day, a Young captain by the Henry Orrick shyly approached Mistress Merri asking for some repairs to be maid to his clothing. He was sweet, and shy and It wasn't Long be fore he was asking for her hand in marriage. Now Merri being of Practical Mind new that the winter would be long and cold and thus agreed to his proposal. It was early spring Morn with skirmish woke her, she stepped out of the tent in time to see her young husband felled by raiding Irishman. In what seem Liked Hours... but was really mere minutes the raiders over ran the camp and captured the women thinking to force the English away by taking their means of support and food.

Merri found her self a captive of Edward Collins, after many attempts to escape. Not to mention brain him with Yon frying pan at ever turn she finally gave up and resigned her self working as servant for some one she despised at first... rebuffed at every turn and threatened with castration if got grabby, but Edward who was English Irish mix, and traitor of sorts.. She could never truly decide one way or another. Edward when set out to woo Merri in fashion she had never been woo'd before. Composing songs and bringing her flowers and the like. It wasn't Long be fore she found her self standing once more in Kirk and promising to be a good wife. All the while thinking this was not a good... as she looked back she felt old. But supposedly 7 was lucky number. Some five or six Months Later in late summer Edward was killed in a return raid.

So she gathered up everything she ever inherited from each of her husbands and caught first boat back to England. Once home she considered settling in quiet Little town, but decided she would grow quickly bored and so she converted what she could of her possessions to coin and returned to the queens armies stationed in England, Namely those that housed her majesties Royal Guard. Thinking she was finally safe at last and free of men who wished to marry,sinceshe considered her self Now well beyond the constraints of marriage, and happily so.  She served once more as cook and Laundress. It was during this time she decided to take a page from her Majesty Elizabeth I, so she sat. And wrote the last names of each and her husbands and came up with Name she rather liked. She came up with Draginass. Hence forth she was addressed as mistress Draginass to those who knew her and understood the reasoning they smiled nodded. Here she was happy, up until the day, one of her meals, and this was purely by happenstance served to her Majesty. This was a nerve Wracking experience to say the least. Merri having never been one to hide... present her she straightened her apron dusted of her bodice, grabbed her flat cap and marched into the Queens presense and bowed low before her Soverign. And when asked who she was she stated proudly her Mistress Merrileah Draginass formerly of Berwick.