Related
110 DIARY OF PATRICK GORDON. [1686 I gave up my petition
1692] DIARY OF PATRICK GORDON. 179 Patrick Gordon of Cults
146 DIARY OF PATRICK GORDON. [168G Haveing dyned, and hearing my trunks were come from Edinburgh
1666] DIARY OF PATRICK GORDON. 79 I did writt to Sir John Hebden
1661] DIARY OF PATRICK GORDON. 47 good earnest to consider how I might ridd myself of this countrey
176 DIARY OF PATRICK GORDON. [1692 just wages thrive. I think he may be summoned...
136 DIARY OF PATRICK GORDON. [1686 Queens hand; whereat his Majestic smileing
150 DIAEY OF PATRICK GORDON. [1686 Nethermuir. I went thereafter to the Links
APPENDIX. 213 Sasine, John Gordone, sone of Generall Patrick Gordone
18 DIARY OF PATRICK GORDON. [1655 to me Gordon. He told me he was a ruitmaster, a very pretty discreet man
Summary
Passages from the diary of General Patrick Gordon of Auchleuchries : A.D. 1635-A.D. 1699"
18 DIARY OF PATRICK GORDON. [1655
to me Gordon. He told me he was a ruitmaster, a very pretty discreet man.
In the tyme of my being in this citty, I had not sought to be acquainted
with any man for severall reasons, but especially for saveing of expenses :
but now I could not be at rest untill I had gott notice where this ruitmaster
lodged, and thereupon resolved to give him a visitt, not without thoughts of
engadgeing my self. Being come to his lodging, I enquired for him, and,
by accident, light upon a servant of his called Andrew, who was a Dutch-
man, but spoke good English as haveing lived in Scotland some yeares.
He brought me immediately above to the ruitemaster, who was in company
with two or three other officers. I told him, that, hearing of a person of
such quality as he was being come to this citty, T could not be satisfyed
with myself untill I had payed my respects to him with a visitt, hopeing
that he would pardon my abrupt intrudeing myself into his company at such
a time, where, perhaps, he was bussied with weighty effaires. He answered
me that I was very welcome, and that he had not such weighty effaires as
could hinder him for giveing that entertainment which was due to a friend,
especially a countreyman and stranger. And, haveing desired me to sitt
downe, he began to enquire of my parents, wherein, having received satis-
faction, he asked me if I knew one Major Gardin. I told him I had heard
of him, but had not the honour of his acquaintance. He told me that he
was his brother, and that I must be their kinsman ; then, calling for a glass
of wine, began to be very merry, remembring all friends in Scotland ; and
then, falling to particular healths, in a short tymc we were all pretty well
warmed. All along, both he and the other officers were a battering downe
my resolution for Scotland, telling me that T would be laught at when I
should come home, and that they would tell me I had been over sea to see
what a clock it was, and returned as wise as I went out ; and what comfort
or content could any man of spirit, who had nothing to care for, have to
stay at home, when the countrey was enthralled by an imperious insulting
enemy, and no way of redresse left ? The only way for those who bore
honourable minds was to pass the tyme abroad, and better their judgements
by purchaseing experience at least. But what needed many perswasions, it
being a course to the which I was naturally enclined ? So that, without any
further circumstances, I give my promise to go along, and that, without
makeing any capitulation. So ignorant I was of such matters at that tyme.
The next morning, when I had slept out, and began to reflect upon my
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.