Related
1666] DIARY OF PATRICK GORDON. 79 I did writt to Sir John Hebden
1686] DIARY OF PATRICK GORDON. 141 Being invited to devotion and dinner, by my Lord Chancellour
1667] DIARY OF PATRICK GORDON. 99 I went to Altenaw and heard devotion
1667] DIARY OF PATRICK GORDON. 97 storme, wee could not gett over to Embden
1667] DIARY OF PATRICK GORDON. 95 After breakfast, I went to Greenwich, Sir John [Hebden]
170 DIARY OF PATRICK GORDON. [1690 delighted that he made the Boyars
1678] DIARY OF PATRICK GORDON. 107 delivered to Gordon.
1667] DIARY OF PATRICK GORDON. 91 Majestic, our most dear and loveing brothers
110 DIARY OF PATRICK GORDON. [1686 I gave up my petition
1667] DIARY OF PATRICK GORDON. 87 Dined by Mr. Carril his father
Summary
Passages from the diary of General Patrick Gordon of Auchleuchries : A.D. 1635-A.D. 1699"
1667] DIARY OF PATRICK GORDON. 87
Dined by Mr. Carril his father, who was a member of the Innes of January 7.
Court m Holborne.
Received a letter from Mr. Bryan, dated Mosko, the fourth of December,
and therein letters from ray wyfe and mother in law.
A letter was ordered by His Sacred Majesty to be written to the King of
Polland, in favour of my father in law, the substance whereof followeth,
after titles and salutations :
Whereas Coloncll Philippus Albertus von Bocklioven haveing, for
severall yeares, served our father of blessed memory and us, and had still
so continued in our service, had not the late rebellion of our subjects
happened, whereby wee were forced for some tyme to estrange ourselves
from our patrimoniall kingdomes, and so consequently our servants were
forced to seeke for their subsistance of fori-eigne Princes: Amongst those,
our distressed servants, the aforesaid Collonell Philippus Albertus von
Bockhoven was entertained m the service of our loveing brother, his
Tzarish Majestic of Russia, in whose pay and service he continued till the
yeare 1660, when, in October the same yeare, he was made prisoner of warr
to the Littawish Generall Johan Sapiha, and now doth continue prisoner
with the eldest son of the foresaid Generall, now deceassed : Wee, calling to
mind the many and faithfull services which wee received from our aforesaid
servant, Collonell Philippus Albertus von Bockhoven, and the desire which
wee have to restore him againe into our service, do, therefor, desire of your
Majesty to give unto our said servant his liberty to returne unto us and our
service, which wee shall acknowledge as a particular kindnes from your
Majestic to us, and shall be ready upon all occasions to returne the lyke,
when it shall be required of us, etc.
. I dined with my Lord Middleton, and was very kindly entertained. January 8.
Writt to my father, unkle, brother, and cousin Mr. Thomas. Lievetennant
Generall Drummond came to London.
I i-eceived the money ordered me by tlie King, and payed for the fees Jimuary 14.
as followeth :
Foundi. Shillings. Pcdm.
For drawing the bill ------ l__
Fees of the signet and privy scale - - - - 4 _ _
To Sir Philip Sidneyes clerk for the docquet - - - 10 -
For my Lord Treasurers warrant - - - - 110-
For entring the privy scale at my Lord Ashly - - 5 -
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.