Related
1666] DIARY OF PATRICK GORDON. 79 I did writt to Sir John Hebden
110 DIARY OF PATRICK GORDON. [1686 I gave up my petition
42 DIARY OF PATRICK GORDON. [1661 misfortune
62 DIARY OF PATRICK GORDON. [1666 purpose to convoy
1661] DIARY OF PATRICK GORDON. 47 good earnest to consider how I might ridd myself of this countrey
1667] DIARY OF PATRICK GORDON. 97 storme, wee could not gett over to Embden
186 DIARY OF PATRICK GORDON. [1697 put out the white flag
76 DIARY OF PATRICK GORDON. [1666 the cart was ready
126 DIARY OF PATRICK GORDON. [1686 religion* At night wee cast anchor
1666] DIARY OF PATRICK GORDON. 59 account, to banish the English
Summary
Passages from the diary of General Patrick Gordon of Auchleuchries : A.D. 1635-A.D. 1699"
1666] DIARY OF PATRICK GORDON. 59
account, to banish the English, and take away ther privileges. Yet, after-
wards, they were permitted to trade, paying custonie as others ; in which
state they continued uutill the happy restauration of King Charles the
Second, at which tyme the English conceived hopes of being restored to
their privileges ; for, in the year 1662, the Tzaar, not to be behind with
other Christian princes, sent a splendid ambassy (and a person of great
birth and quality as had been sent any where befor), to congratulate Great
Brittaiues King, his happy restauration ; which was accepted the better, be-
cause, of all Christian princes, the Tzaar alone had never acknowledged,
nor kept any correspondence with the usurper Cromwell ; as also the King,
dureing his exile, had received other good offices from the Tzaar.
These ambassadours, in their conferences and discourses, giveing great
hopes of the restauration of the priviledges, the King sent a very eminent
person, his extraordinary ambassadour, to Mosko, (it was Sii' Charles, Earl of
Carlisle, Viscount Hovard of Morpeth, Baron Dacre of Gillesland, etc.), in
full hopes to obtaine the priviledges. But his excellency takeing himself to
be afronted at his first reception at the sea port, (at Archangel), and then
much more at his comeing into Mosko, which, albeit done by a mistake and
not of purpose, he urged the reparation thereof with too much heat ; where-
upon followed some irritations on both sides, so that the ambassadour ui'ging
reparation at diverse conferences, and at a private audience, and not getting
any to his satisfaction, as also being denyed the priviledges, the chieffe busi-
ness for which he came, refused the presents, which were sent to him by the
Tzaar ; which offended his Tzaarsky Majestic so highly, that he dispatched
a stolnick, Vasily Yakufleufsin Diaskow,* in the quality of envoy to the
King, to complaine of the ambassadour, who comeing into England had
but a cold reception, and getting but three dayes defrayment, was permitted
to live upon his owne. Yet, the Earle of Carlisle returning into England,
upon the relation of his negotiation, was justified, and his comportment ap-
proved. Thereafter, giveing the envoy a visitt, whei'eat he was much sur-
prized, he promised his assistance for his friendlyer usage, and so, out of
an excess of generosity, interceded with the King so farr that he gott full
restitution of wliat he had disbursed, and was dismissed honourably.
Nevertheless this envoy, at his returne, did so aggravate his hard usage,
* [Wassily Jakowlewitsch Daslikow.]
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.