1661] DIARY OF PATRICK GORDON. 45 been one of the three greatest market cittyes of Europe

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

1661] DIARY OF PATRICK GORDON. 45

been one of the three greatest market cittyes of Europe, giveth name to a
large dukedome, and the greatest of all Russia, where Rurick, from whom
all the Russian princes and dukes draw their oi'iginall, did reiorne. It is
distant from Mosco a hundred and fyve miles, or fyvc hundred and
twenty fyve versts, from Plesko thirty-six, and from Veliklj Lukij, and
Narwe forty miles.

Anno Domini 1570, Tzaar Johannes Basilidcs began a warr with the
Novogrodians, which lasted seven yeares, when, haveing beat their forces at
the river Solona, he forced them to submitt, and placed a governour over
them. But thinking that he had not such ane absolute power over them as
he would, by the m canes of Theophilus the archbishop, he gott entrance into
the towne ; where, what cruelty he used to the citizens and to the archbishop
himself, I referr to those who have written at large thereof; as also conceni-
ing their idoll Rerun, from whence the Perunsky monastery hath its deno-
mination.*

Being provided with a large boat, wee went up the river Msta to
Brunits, twenty fyve verst, where, by an order from the governour of
Novogrod, the boyar Kniaz Ivan Borisoyits Repenin wee had ten post
horses given us, whichwere changed at diverse stages, and so my horses
were spared. Wee crossed the river Volga at Twere, which giveth name
to a great tract of land with the title of duke, and had in former tymes
dukes of its owne, till of late, when it, as well as others, were swallowed up
by the great Duke of Mosco. It is distant from Mosco thirty-six miles.

Wee came to Mosko, and hired a lodging in the Slabod, or village September 2.
where the strangers live, ^'y'" "«'«"■

Wee were admitted to kiss his Tzaarsky Majesties hand at Columinsko, September r.
a countrey house of the Tzaars, seven werst from Mosko, below by the
river of the same name. The Tzaar was pleased to thank me for haveing
been kind to his subjects who were prisoners in Pollaud ; and it was told me
that I should have his Majesties grace or favour, whereon I miaht relv.

In the morning, the boyar EUa Danielovitz Miloslavsky, Avho being septemhe,
the Tzaars father in law, had the command ff the stranger office, ordered
me to come in the afternoon to a field without the citty called the Gar-
toly, and to bring the other officers who came in with me along. Being

* [The German editors here think it no- torical notices are not always to be implicitly
cessary to warn the reader that Gordon's his- relied upon.]