Related
1666] DIARY OF PATRICK GORDON. 79 I did writt to Sir John Hebden
74 DIARY OF PATRICK GORDON. [1666 go from hence. So here wee lodged, and the next morning came to Dort
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
1678] DIARY OF PATRICK GORDON. 107 delivered to Gordon.
1686] DIARY OF PATRICK GORDON. 141 Being invited to devotion and dinner, by my Lord Chancellour
150 DIAEY OF PATRICK GORDON. [1686 Nethermuir. I went thereafter to the Links
1667] DIARY OF PATRICK GORDON. 91 Majestic, our most dear and loveing brothers
1666] DIARY OF PATRICK GORDON. 73 Haveing breakfasted early, and given the postmaster
1667] DIARY OF PATRICK GORDON. 95 After breakfast, I went to Greenwich, Sir John [Hebden]
Summary
Passages from the diary of General Patrick Gordon of Auchleuchries : A.D. 1635-A.D. 1699"
1667] DIARY OF PATRICK GORDON. 95
After breakfast, I went to Greenwich, Sir John [Hebden], with his whole January 29.
family, convoying me, whither came also all the Russia merchants and other
fFriends, where wee supped, and were exceeding merry.
At one after midnight, tiie tyde serving, I tooke leave of our kind January 30.
friends, and tooke boate. Comeing by day light to Gravesend, where
breakfasting, I hired horses, and, towards night, came to Sandwich, where I
lodged.
I came to Deale, and immediately caused enquire for the ketches to January si.
whom I had orders, but could not gett notice of them.
Sir John Kempthornc lying in the Downes at anchor with his squadron, February 1.
I went aboard of him, and shewed him my order. He told me that these ^ ^^ ^^
ketches might have been here and gone, for any thing he knew, they
not belonging to him, and that, without express orders from the Lord High
Admirall, he could not affoord me any vessell. Being returned to my
lodging, I immediately did writt by post to Sir WilUam Coventry, in-
forming him that there were no such ketches in the Downes as he had
given me order to ; who, the next day, returned me answer that, the wind
serving, the ketches, it seemes, had followed their former orders, and that he
could not forsee any occasion whereby I could be served in hast. So I re-
solved to go to Dover, and take the packet boat.
The great Field Generall and Crowne Marshall of Polland, George Se- February 2.
bastian Lubomirsky, dyed in Bresslaw.
I rode to Dover, being rainy, unpleasant weater, and lodged by Mr. February 4.
Tours, at the signe of the Prince of Orange.
I passed the tyme in viewing from the high ground the coast of France, February 5.
which, albeit a darkish day, wee could plainly discerne.
About midnight, we were told to make ready to go aboard, which, have-
ing payd dear for naughty entertainment and sweet musick, wee did, about
two aclock in the morning. Wee were tossed hither and thither the whole February «.
day betwixt Calais and Graveling, and the next night too, and had enough
to do the next day to gett to Newport late, I haveing been extremly seasick
all the tyme.
Wee went by boat to Bruges, and tooke up my old lodging ; afterwards February «.
went with the English resident, Mr. Glanvile, to the Vrie, and, with other
ffriends, were merry till midnight.
Haveing heard masse at the Nunnery after the Princes Pallace, and takei^ February s»
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.