110 DIARY OF PATRICK GORDON. [1686 I gave up my petition

Passages from the diary of General Patrick Gordon of Auchleuchries : A.D. 1635-A.D. 1699"

110 DIARY OF PATRICK GORDON. [1686

I gave up my petition to be lett out the countrey for a tyme ; and had
orders to be lett off, my wyfe and children staying in Mosko in pledge.

Was at their Majesties hands, receiving a charke* of brandy out of the
yongestf his hand, with a command from him to returne speedily.

I was at the Princesse:}: her hand, who required me to returne speedily,
and bring at least one of my sonnes with me.

I went to Czarny Grash, and tooke my leave of the Boyar, who desired
me to returne speedily, and not to drowne him my cautioner, and to writt to
him by every post.

I did writt to Lieutennant Generall Drummond and Mr. Meverell by
post, under Mr. WulfFe his coverto^ informing them of my being dismissed
and going from Mosko the next day ; and the Lieutennant Generall, my
transaction with Mr Cooke, and, because no exchange could be had, of my
haveing given the money to Mr. Wulffe, to be remitted from Archangell,
hopeing to gett it done tender cento better as now.

I dined with Mrs. Boetenant and diverse others ; and afterwards, in the
towne, tooke my leave of the Secretary of Estate,§ and Mr. Vinius, from
whom I received a verball commission, by order from the Chieffe Minister of
Estate,|| concerning their Majesties effaires.

In the Slobod, I tooke my leave of the Hollands resident, and others
my nearest ffriends.

In Nowgrod, the Customers wished to inspect my effects. I did not allow
it. They assured to have the orders to sight persons of all quality, charge,
and condition. I told them that that was to be understood as to merchants
and others, and not to military persons, especially of such quality as myself,
and instanced them diverse examples of late. They pretended an order of
some few dayes old, and I referred my self to the Governours raport or
verdict, who declined to medle into it, yet gave me his dispatch as to what
concerned himself. I visited him a night ; he was exceedingly kind, and
repeated what is said befor.

I sent againe to know the Governours pleasure, who told as befor, that
I might go for him, haveing full dispatch from him ; and upon my desire,

*f Apparently a cup or glass. Gordon after- only the Czar Ivan, Peter being ill of the

wards notes that, at Memel, he bought " anc small pox ]
amber crosse, a diarke, and three bracelets."] tfSophia.]

f[The Czar Peter, then in his fourteenth g[Icmelian Ignatjewitsch Ukrainzow, who

year. This was Gordon's first interview with was then Dumny Dyak.]
him. When at court, in January, 1684, he saw l|[Wassilij Wassiljewitsch Golizyn.]