Related
1661] DIARY OF PATRICK GORDON. 47 good earnest to consider how I might ridd myself of this countrey
116 DIARY OF PATRICK GORDON. [1686 a third, on the way to Konigsberg
42 DIARY OF PATRICK GORDON. [1661 misfortune
1699] DIARY OF PATRICK GORDON. 193 ' A number of Strelitzes were executed
1661] DIARY OF PATRICK GORDON. 33 sence of the King
1661] DIARY OF PATRICK GORDON. 43 Wee rose early, and, towards eveniug, came to Kokenliausen
1689] DIARY OF PATRICK GORDON. 165 memory, the younger Czar
170 DIARY OF PATRICK GORDON. [1690 delighted that he made the Boyars
136 DIARY OF PATRICK GORDON. [1686 Queens hand; whereat his Majestic smileing
1661] DIARY OF PATRICK GORDON. 45 been one of the three greatest market cittyes of Europe
Summary
Passages from the diary of General Patrick Gordon of Auchleuchries : A.D. 1635-A.D. 1699"
1661] DIARY OF PATRICK GORDON. 45
been one of the three greatest market cittyes of Europe, giveth name to a
large dukedome, and the greatest of all Russia, where Rurick, from whom
all the Russian princes and dukes draw their oi'iginall, did reiorne. It is
distant from Mosco a hundred and fyve miles, or fyvc hundred and
twenty fyve versts, from Plesko thirty-six, and from Veliklj Lukij, and
Narwe forty miles.
Anno Domini 1570, Tzaar Johannes Basilidcs began a warr with the
Novogrodians, which lasted seven yeares, when, haveing beat their forces at
the river Solona, he forced them to submitt, and placed a governour over
them. But thinking that he had not such ane absolute power over them as
he would, by the m canes of Theophilus the archbishop, he gott entrance into
the towne ; where, what cruelty he used to the citizens and to the archbishop
himself, I referr to those who have written at large thereof; as also conceni-
ing their idoll Rerun, from whence the Perunsky monastery hath its deno-
mination.*
Being provided with a large boat, wee went up the river Msta to
Brunits, twenty fyve verst, where, by an order from the governour of
Novogrod, the boyar Kniaz Ivan Borisoyits Repenin wee had ten post
horses given us, whichwere changed at diverse stages, and so my horses
were spared. Wee crossed the river Volga at Twere, which giveth name
to a great tract of land with the title of duke, and had in former tymes
dukes of its owne, till of late, when it, as well as others, were swallowed up
by the great Duke of Mosco. It is distant from Mosco thirty-six miles.
Wee came to Mosko, and hired a lodging in the Slabod, or village September 2.
where the strangers live, ^'y'" "«'«"■
Wee were admitted to kiss his Tzaarsky Majesties hand at Columinsko, September r.
a countrey house of the Tzaars, seven werst from Mosko, below by the
river of the same name. The Tzaar was pleased to thank me for haveing
been kind to his subjects who were prisoners in Pollaud ; and it was told me
that I should have his Majesties grace or favour, whereon I miaht relv.
In the morning, the boyar EUa Danielovitz Miloslavsky, Avho being septemhe,
the Tzaars father in law, had the command ff the stranger office, ordered
me to come in the afternoon to a field without the citty called the Gar-
toly, and to bring the other officers who came in with me along. Being
* [The German editors here think it no- torical notices are not always to be implicitly
cessary to warn the reader that Gordon's his- relied upon.]
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.