Related
1678] DIARY OF PATRICK GORDON. 107 delivered to Gordon.
1667] DIARY OF PATRICK GORDON. 97 storme, wee could not gett over to Embden
1686] DIARY OF PATRICK GORDON. 117 maides, 1 doller 1 floren 14 pence
1667] DIARY OF PATRICK GORDON. 95 After breakfast, I went to Greenwich, Sir John [Hebden]
1667] DIARY OF PATRICK GORDON. 99 I went to Altenaw and heard devotion
1667] DIARY OF PATRICK GORDON. 103 to me, desireing me to let him have him
1692] DIARY OF PATRICK GORDON. 179 Patrick Gordon of Cults
110 DIARY OF PATRICK GORDON. [1686 I gave up my petition
42 DIARY OF PATRICK GORDON. [1661 misfortune
1667] DIARY OF PATRICK GORDON. $8 perour, in the quality of Extraordinary Envoy
Summary
Passages from the diary of General Patrick Gordon of Auchleuchries : A.D. 1635-A.D. 1699"
1667] DIARY OF PATRICK GORDON. $8
perour, in the quality of Extraordinary Envoy, and, his suite not being ar-
rived, he kept himself incognito, I sent to him to know if he would be
pleased to accept of a visitt without ceremony ; which at first he excused,
yet, bethinking himself, he condiscended. So I went thither in the evening,
and had a long discourse witli him concerning the passages of the moderne
transactions. All the tyme he looked very eaniestly on me, and at last he
told me that he had seen rae some where else, but conld not call to mind
where. So I, thinking it uncivility to keep him in long suspcnce, told him
what I was, and of our Varsavian business.* He rejoyed heartily at my
good fortune, he told me, and was sorry that I AS'as going from thence so
soone. So, with a great many protestations of kindness on both sides, I
tooke my leave, haveing great satisfaction to have seen such a eminent per-
son, to whose kindness and inclinations I had been so much engaged.
Haveing given my valete dinner to my friends at the signe of the Cock,t
where wee were merry with musick, ladyes, and choice company, I caused
pack up all, sending my trunks to Mr. Meverall to be sent by shipping. I
tooke only two great valizes with me, and a red bagge, wherein tlie Kings
letter, and best papei's and things.
I communicated in St. Jameses, and, after dinner, takeing leave of my January 27.
good landlord and landlady, as of Madam Lesly and her daughter, ^Mrs.
Charles, I tooke coach and went for Peckham, from whence I did writt the
followmg letter to Sir William Coventry :
Right Honourable,
I should have wished that by this tyme I had been engaged to
returne a thankfull acknowledgment to your honour for giveing order for
transporting me out of His Royall jMajesties dominions. But, being disap-
pointed of my expectation, I could do no less as notify and represent the
case to you. The King, out of the affection His Royall Majestic hath for
the Emperour my master, was graciously pleased, when I tooke my leave of
His Majestic, to grant me a vessell to transport me to Flanders, and His
Royall Highness was pleased to second His Majesties will by speaking to
you. I question not but it is well knowne to you, that there never cometh
any person, of never so meanc a character, upon a publick account, from
* rSee above, pp. 35-40.] Tiary (l.lth Marrh, IGCO) vol. v., p. 142. Gor.
t [' The Cocke, at the end of Suffolk Street, don mentions it in a previous page. See above.
& real ordinary, mightily cried up.'— Pepy's p. 86,]
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.