Related
1686] DIAEY OF PATRICK GORDON. 113 I gott our landlord to conduct
170 DIARY OF PATRICK GORDON. [1690 delighted that he made the Boyars
1661] DIARY OF PATRICK GORDON. 47 good earnest to consider how I might ridd myself of this countrey
182 DIARY OF PATRICK GORDON. [1694 Gordons my lawfull, undoubted, and irrevocable procurators
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
146 DIARY OF PATRICK GORDON. [168G Haveing dyned, and hearing my trunks were come from Edinburgh
110 DIARY OF PATRICK GORDON. [1686 I gave up my petition
1686] DIARY OF PATRICK GORDON. 131 Htle way, and being four, wee hired a coach
1686] DIARY OF PATRICK GORDON. 163 and equity which I had on my syde
Summary
Passages from the diary of General Patrick Gordon of Auchleuchries : A.D. 1635-A.D. 1699"
1686] DIARY OF PATRICK GORDON. 163
and equity which I had on my syde, may appear from the many remon-
strances which I gave in ; which, because they could not answer, they passed
all over, and told only all were tales or fables. The copyes of all my remon-
strances are apart.
I insisted to have a copy of the order on the Earle of Middletons letter, Decembe
and my remonstrance, pretending not to understand the true sense of their
words, saymg that I would send the copy of their order, and fearing that
if I wrote any thing of my self, it might disagree with their Majesties
order. But the incongruity of a word or two in the order letted that they
would not give me a copy of it, and with much ado I recovered the
origiuall of the Earle of Middletons letter.
The Boyar being at his village, I went and msisted for the copy of the Decembe
order, Avhich he promised me. I came late home.
I did writt to Collonels Hamilton, Ronaer, and Menezes, and informed Decembe:
them of the progress of my effaires.
I received letters from the Earle of Melfort, Mr. Cooke, Mr. Meverell, Decembei
and another letter from the Earle of Middleton to the same purpose, as also
from my cousin Alexander, and my sonnes from Doway.
I returned answer to my sonnes letter, ordering James to stay there as Decembei
he had been ordered before, and telling John, that seemg he had no mmd
to learne, I had ordered his going to Edinburgh to stay at the . . .
some tyme to gett some knowledge in the lawes.
Bemg Christmasse, Fetka Mieln* came and told me of my wyfe bemg Decembei
on the way, and that she would be here on Moonday.
I^went and did meet my wyfe and children m Semenofsky, and came to Decembei
the Slobod with them about midday. •
^ I got orders to writt to the Earle of Middleton, and to show it in the Decembei
pricase or office first.
I show the letter into the office in Latin, which being translated was December
approved of, and I ordered to send it by the first post.
1 sent the forsaid letter, a copy whereof in my other copy booke of December
letters, by post, m a coverto to Mr. Frazer.
* [His servant.]
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.