Related
1666] DIARY OF PATRICK GORDON. 71 residence of Graffe Philip of Schawenborg and Lippe
1667] DIARY OF PATRICK GORDON. 97 storme, wee could not gett over to Embden
110 DIARY OF PATRICK GORDON. [1686 I gave up my petition
1667] DIARY OF PATRICK GORDON. 99 I went to Altenaw and heard devotion
86 DIARY OF PATRICK GORDON. [1667 burgh, the fourth of December
116 DIARY OF PATRICK GORDON. [1686 a third, on the way to Konigsberg
1678] DIARY OF PATRICK GORDON. 107 delivered to Gordon.
1667] DIARY OF PATRICK GORDON. 95 After breakfast, I went to Greenwich, Sir John [Hebden]
146 DIARY OF PATRICK GORDON. [168G Haveing dyned, and hearing my trunks were come from Edinburgh
100 DIARY OF PATRICK GORDON. [1667 Brandeburg. Writt also to Mr. AylofFe in Riga
Summary
Passages from the diary of General Patrick Gordon of Auchleuchries : A.D. 1635-A.D. 1699"
100 DIARY OF PATRICK GORDON. [1667
Brandeburg. Writt also to Mr. AylofFe in Riga, and to his care letters to
Collonells Forrat and Odovern.
I delivered Steelhands writeing;s and passes to him, but received no
money, he remaining, upon this account, due to me fifteen punds sterling.
I gave visitt to Field Marshall Wurtz, and to some others who had
visitted me.
Queen Christina being here, and I finding it fitt to pay my duty to Her
Majestic, gave notice of my desire to kiss Her Majesties hands, which she
very readily granted. So I went thither with Steelhand, and, haveing given
notice, I was introducted by an Italian Marquesse to a large roorae, where
the Queen was standing at the upper end of the roome. How soone she
saw me, and, that after my first reverence, I advanced, she made hast to
meet me ; and, notwithstanding my dilligence, she did meet me near halfe
the roome, and, pulling of her glove, she presented me her hand, which,
bowing, I kissed ; then spoke in High Dutch to Her Majestic a very short
oration. She haveing thanked me, invited me, as it were, to go up and
downe the roome with her, which I did, a litle backward, discoursing with
Her ]\Iajestie about halfe an howre. Then haveing heard a very short
masse in the same roome, I tooke my leave, being convoyed down staires to
my coach by a gentleman.
Hearing that Mr. Johan van Sweden, with his family, was come to
Lubeck, and going for Russia, I went to Lubeck to consult with him about
our passage. I lodged a night by the way, and the next day, about noone,
came thither. So wee resolved to take our passage from Lubeck by sea ;
and, by his perswasion, I resolved to come and stay in his lodging, and take
my dyet and chamber here, being mor quiet, and farr lesse expensive live-
ing, as at Hamborg. So the next day I went for Hamborg againe.
Writt to my wyfe and mother in law, in a coverto to Mr, Bryan, and to
Doktor Collins, and to Mr. Joseph Williamson. I received eighty reichs
doUers, in specy, from Henry Poorten, upon a bill of exchange from Sir John
Hebden. Received letters from Mr. Benjamin Glanville, one dated Bruges,
the fourteenth of February, the other dated Ostend, the sixteenth of
February, with a full power to persue and recover his debts ft'om Henry
Krevett in Russia
I was by Mr. Zelmer, and see his horses, at the Bremer house.
Two collonells, Shults and Olefelt, would needs be going for Russia
Gordon was brought up and remained a lifelong Roman Catholic, at a time when the Church was being persecuted in Scotland. At age of fifteen, he entered the Jesuit college at Braunsberg, East Prussia, then part of Poland. In 1661, after many years experiences as a soldier of fortune, he joined the Russian army under Tsar Aleksei I, and in 1665 was sent on a special mission to England. After his return, he distinguished himself in several wars against the Turks and Tatars in southern Russia. In recognition of his service he was promoted to major-general in 1678, was appointed to the high command at Kiev in 1679, and in 1683 was made lieutenant-general. In 1687 and 1689 he took part in expeditions against the Tatars in the Crimea, being made a full general. Later in 1689, a revolution broke out in Moscow, and with the troops under his command, Gordon virtually decided events in favor of Peter the Great against the Regent, Tsarevna Sophia Alekseyevna. Consequently, he was for the remainder of his life in high favor with the Tsar, who confided to him the command of his capital during his absence from Russia. In 1696, Gordon's design of a "moveable rampart" played a key role in helping the Russians take Azov. One of Gordon's convinced the Tsars to establish the first Roman Catholic church and school in Muscovy, of which he remained the main benefactor and headed the Catholic community in Russia until his death. For his services his second son James, brigadier of the Russian army, was created Count of the Holy Roman Empire in 1701. At the end of his life the Tsar, who had visited Gordon frequently during his illness, was with him when he died, and with his own hands closed his eyes. General Gordon left behind him a uniquely detailed diary of his life and times, written in English. This is preserved in manuscript in the Russian State Military Archive in Moscow. Passages from the Diary of General Patrick Gordon of Auchleuchries (1635–1699) was printed, under the editorship of Joseph Robertson, for the Spalding Club, at Aberdeen, Scotland, 1859.