1691] DIARY OF PATEICK GORDON. 173 [A.D. 1691. On the second of January, Gordon was at Preobraschenskoje

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

1691] DIARY OF PATEICK GORDON. 173

[A.D. 1691.

On the second of January, Gordon was at Preobraschenskoje, and, when taking leave was January 2.
ordered by the Czar to make ready dinner and supper for his Majesty and the court next day.

The Czar came about ten o'clock in the morning, and immediately sat down to table. He January ^
was accompanied by eighty-five persons of distinction, with about a hundred servants. They
were all veiy merry, both at dinner and at supper, and spent the night as if in camp.

On the fourth of January, his Majesty and the whole company dined with Lefort. January 4

Gordon notes, on the nineteenth of January, that 'the Hollands Resident was prevailed upon January 1
to receive the pretended King "William his letter to their Tzaarish Majesties ;• and, five days after- January 2
wards, that ' the Hollands Resident gave up the letter from the Prince of Orange, giveing notice
of his being advanced to the crowne of Great Britaine.'

On the sixth of March, the Czar made Gordon a gift of silver plate and other confiscated March 6.
property, worth in all a thousand rubles.

Towards the end of May, he again wrote to the Duke of Gordon.] May 22.



FOR HIS GRACE THE DUKE OF GORDON.

Mosco, 22 Maij, 1691.
May it please your Grace,

I received, by the last ordinary, your Graces most kind and
obli<'-eing letter, dated at London the twelfth April, an7io 1690, being sent
from Varsow by Harie Gordon. Haveing heard of your Grace being in
Paris I did writt to your Grace the fyfteenth of November Last yeare, witli
an enclosed, being a returne to the Earle of Melfort. I shall be glad to hear
your Grace hath received it. Your Graces behaviour all along is highly
commendable, and in myne opinion, and all honest mens, you have done
very wysely. Wee have nothing here but as represented to us by the Dutch
and Hollands Gazettes, which are partiall ; yet wee may collect that Orange
is not so sctled but he may be removed. For I cannot imagine but that, when
the EngUsh see their purses emptyed, their trade ruined, and their necks
bowing under a forreigne yoke, and small hopes of prevailing against the
Most Christian King, a sense of loyalty and generosity, at least of their
owne ruine and slavery, may prevaill so as to move the most generous of
them to take other measures. There is nothing here more highly commended
in the Most Christian King, as his generous and most Christian resolution,
not to give eare to any peace untill his Sacred Majestic, our gracious King,