Related
1666] DIARY OF PATRICK GORDON. 79 I did writt to Sir John Hebden
1667] DIARY OF PATRICK GORDON. 97 storme, wee could not gett over to Embden
1667] DIARY OF PATRICK GORDON. 103 to me, desireing me to let him have him
1667] DIARY OF PATRICK GORDON. 99 I went to Altenaw and heard devotion
1667] DIARY OF PATRICK GORDON. 95 After breakfast, I went to Greenwich, Sir John [Hebden]
1666] DIARY OF PATRICK GORDON. 69 evening, wee sailed by it, and Bornholme
1678] DIARY OF PATRICK GORDON. 107 delivered to Gordon.
136 DIARY OF PATRICK GORDON. [1686 Queens hand; whereat his Majestic smileing
110 DIARY OF PATRICK GORDON. [1686 I gave up my petition
1667] DIARY OF PATRICK GORDON. 91 Majestic, our most dear and loveing brothers
Summary
Passages from the diary of General Patrick Gordon of Auchleuchries : A.D. 1635-A.D. 1699"
1667] DIARY OF PATRICK GORDON. 91
Majestic, our most dear and loveing brothers most kind expressions in
severall former letters and ambassies to us, wherein your Imperiall Majestic
declared that the brotherly love and friendship, which your Imperiall
Majestic had for us, was more then ever had been befor between any of our
Royall predecessours, and that your Imperiall Majesties esteemc towards us,
was farr greater than what your Imperiall Majestic had for any other Christian
Prince ; upon the confidence whereof wee gave you, our loveing brother,
your Imperiall Majestic, notice of the present warr wee have with the
Estates of the Netherlands, and of the severall glorious victories which it
hath pleased God to give us over them. In answer to which, wee cannot
see by your Imperiall Majesties said letter, that your Imperiall Majestic
discovers any greater inclination or concerne for us then for the said States,
our enemies. Also, in our said letter, wee gave your Imperiall Majestic
notice that we, our Royall Majestic, had received advice that the subjects of
the said States of the Netherlands, our encmyes, did furnish themselves, out
of your Imperiall Majesties dominions, with masts for ships, and tarr for the
use of their ships of warr, which are employed against us and our Royall
navy ; and, thereupon, wee desired your Imperiall Majestic, out of the
brotherly love and affection which your Imperiall Majestie hath for us, our
Royall Majestie, not only to forbid the said subjects of the States of the
Netherlands to export any such navall provisions out of your Imperiall
Majesties dominions for the future, but that, on the contrary, your Imperiall
Majestie would give liberty to the officers of our navy or their assignes, to
buy up and transport, out of your Imperiall Majesties dominions, such masts
and tarr as, yearly, for fyve yearcs to come, should be, by the said officers
of our navy, found necessary for our immediate service, and the use of our
Royall navy. In answer to which, wee find ourself obliedged to you, our
most deare brother, your Imperiall Majestie, for the restriction which your
Imperiall Majestie hath caused to be made, both upon your Imperiall
Majesties river of Dwina and port of Archangell, that no man, upon paine
of death, Miall dare to sell any navall provisions to the subjects of the States
of the Netherlands, nor they to buy or export any such out of your
Imperiall Majesties dominions. But to make the obligation compleat, wee
can expect no lesse then your Imperiall Majestie should effectually comply
with our former desires, that navall provisions for our owne proper service,
and the use of our Royall navy, should be ffreely bought and transported out
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.