160 DIARY OF PATRICK GORDON. [1686 been represented to her

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

160 DIARY OF PATRICK GORDON. [1686

been represented to her, and that she was enclined to have a harder sentence
put upon me.

I made another remonstrance ready, which I gott rectifyed by M. V.

I gott the remonstrance written over by another hand.

I was advertised by diverse fFriends, that If I did not, by confessing my
fault, and craveliig their Majesties pardon, make hast, snddaine sentence
was to be executed upon me ; wherefor they advised me to make what hast
I could to prevent the ruine of my self and family, which, if prolonged, their
teares could not be able to help me. The thoughts of this so perplexed my
mynd, that I could not gett sleeped the whole night ; and the worst was, I
had no body whom I durst trust with my mynd, all being ballanced by
interrest, or careless of another mans state, or then not capable of affoording
any help or counsell.

The Emperour* and Princess being in Ismailow, I went thither in the
morning early, and to the Boyarsf lodging, where, after a wlnles stay, the
Boyar did fall out in great passion against me ; and because I vindicated my
self the best way I could, and had the great advantage of reason upon my
syde, he was the more incensed, so that in great heat he ordered me to be
writt in for an ensigne, and sent away the next day. Some noblemen
comeing in, and hearing the contest, did fall all to the Boyars syde ; and in
his favour, though even against reason, and their owne judgement, began to
lay a great deale of blame upon me, and urged me to take other measures.
The Boyar also, with very high words, and threats, and reasoning, without
all reason, or the least show of uprlghtnes, or Vciluing, or considering, any
thing I said, insisted still that I should acknowledge my error, and crave
pardon, and promise to serve in future. So that, knowing his power, and
that all things were caryed according to will, and not to reason, or justice,
and fearing the rulne of my family, I, with much reluctancy, consented to
what they would have me ; and so caused v/ritt a very circumspect petition,
acknowledging that, seeing by my petitioning to be out of the countrey, I
had offended their Majesties, I desired pardon, and promised to serve as
formerly. This petition being read above, was not thought sufficient, as
not being penned in humble enough tearmes ; so that, being forced, and
threatened to be sent, with my family, to the remotest places of their em-
pire, I told them they should sett downe, or give, a copy of such a one as

* [Ivan, the elder of tli3 two Czars.] f [Golizyn.]