168 DIARY OF PATRICK GORDON. [1690 The twenty-eiglith of January

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

168 DIARY OF PATRICK GORDON. [1690


The twenty-eiglith of January was spent in writing to Scotland, to his son John, to the Earl
of Erroll, and to the Earl of Aberdeen. This last letter follows :

TO THE EARLE OF ABEEDEEN.

Mosco, 28 January, 1690.
May it please your Lordship,

I doubt not but myne of the fyrst February last yeare is
come to your hands, for I had notice of the receit thereof at London. I am
perplexed that I have heard nothing from thence in two yeares, for which I
blame the negligence of my soune very much ; for albeit by the troubles
there, the passage by the way of London might have been uncertain, yet I
doubt not but ships have come from Aberdeen to Dantzick, by which he
might have written.

I am very much grieved for the troubles, divisions, and the distracted
condition of that our poor country. I pray God to grant peace and quiet-
ness, for there is nothing more, as to my owne particular, which I desire in
this world, as to come home and end my lyfe, where I received it, in
tranquilUty. I have written to Nethermuir, and my sonne, concerning the
particulars of my affaires, so that I only most earnestly recommend to your
Lordship's care and protection my sonne and effaires there. So takeing leave,
I remaine

Your Lordship's most humble and devoted servant,

P. GORDON.



inuary 31.
ebruary 4, 5.
ebruary 19.

ebruary 23.



On the thirty-first of January, the Czar gave orders that Gordon's wine and other things
should pass free of duty.

On the fourth and fifth of February, he was in the city, and had long conversations with the
Czar. This is an entry which now falls to be frequently repeated.

On the nineteenth of February, he was in the city. 'When the Czar returned from church,
he gave Gordon a glass of brandy with his own hand. Gordon was again summoned to the
Kremlin in the evening, and had to stay there all night.

On the twenty-third of February, the troops repaired to the Kremlin to congratulate the
Czar on the birth of a son. Gordon, in name of the regiments which he commanded, made the
following speech :— * God grant that thou, Great Czar, and Grand Duke Peter Alexeiewitsch,
Autocrat ot all Great, Little, and White Russia, and Lord, Heir, and Ruler, though father and
grandfather, of many lordships and lands in east, west, and north, with your Majesty's new
bom heir and our lord the most Serene Prince and Grand Duke Alexei Petrowitsch, of Great,
Little, and White Russia, may be preserved in health many years.' Gordon then drew up his