Related
170 DIARY OF PATRICK GORDON. [1690 delighted that he made the Boyars
1657] DIARY OF PATRICK GORDON. 25 A.D. 1657. He was less fortunate on the next occasion. Some Polish peasants
1699] DIARY OF PATRICK GORDON. 193 ' A number of Strelitzes were executed
1661] DIARY OF PATRICK GORDON. 47 good earnest to consider how I might ridd myself of this countrey
1686] DIARY OF PATRICK GORDON. 163 and equity which I had on my syde
1657 DIARY OF PATRICK GORDON. 27 left to support themselves by charity
1690] DIARY OF PATRICK GORDON. 107 their arrival was announced. Gordon was at once admitted to His Majesty
22 DIARY OF PATRICK GORDON. [1656 route of a body of about 10,000 Poles
15-18. Arkhangelsk on the Dutch engraving of 1765
1655] DIAEY OF PATRICK GORDON. 17 who was, according to the custome of the Polonian nobility
Summary
Passages from the diary of General Patrick Gordon of Auchleuchries : A.D. 1635-A.D. 1699"
1655] DIAEY OF PATRICK GORDON. 17
who was, according to the custome of the Polonian nobility, f^oing- to visit
foreigne countiyes. At my departure, my kind couutreymen furnished me
with money and other necessaries very liberally, so that I was better stocked
now as I had been since I cam from my parents.
[A.D. 1655.]
In this noblemans company, as one of his attendants, I came to Hara-
borgh, being very civilly used the whole way. It was the midle of Februar
when wee arrived here ; and the nobleman, after eight dayes stay, takeing
post for Antwerp, I tooke my leave of him.
Here, at this tyme, were the Sweds oiSciers, very busy levying and
listing of souldiers. AH the innes were full of cavaliers, ranting and carous-
ing. When my lord departed, Wilczitsky, his paedagogue (who spoke
good French, Dutch, and Latiue) agreed with the landlord of the inne
where wee lodged, for my dyet, chamber, and bed, for four markes a weeke •
only, when there were no other strangers, I Avas to be content with such
ordinary fare as the house afFoorded. Here I stayed eight weeks, when it
chanced a cornet and a quarter master to lodge in the same innes who
haveing mquired at the landlord what I was, and miderstandeing my con-
dition, began to be very kynd to me, and to sheu me all respect in the tyme
of dinner and supper, which was the only tyme 1 was forced to converse
with them ; I either passing the other tymes with walking or keeping my
chamber. In all their discourses they extolled a souldiers lyfe, telling that
riches, honour, and all sorts of worldly blessings lay prosti-ate at a souldiers
feet, wanting only his will to stoop and take them up ; then, falling out in
commendation of our contreymen, than whom no better sojors were of any
nation to be found, and that, albeit, nature had endued tliem with a genius
fitt for any thing, yet did they despise the ease, advantage, or contentment
any other trade might bring, and embraced that of a souldier, which, with-
out all dispute, is the most honourable. Albeit I understood most of their
discourse, and was well enough pleased therewith, yet was 1 not able to
render any satisfactory answer, negative and affirmative being all I could
atfoord them ; and, being jealous that they had a designe to engage mee, I
shunned, as much as I could, any familiarity or conversation with them.
One day at dinner, the quartermaster told me that a countreyman of
mine was come, called Gardin, which, according as he pronounced it, seemed
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.