170 DIARY OF PATRICK GORDON. [1690 delighted that he made the Boyars

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

170 DIARY OF PATRICK GORDON. [1690

delighted that he made the Boyars, counsellors, and officers stay with him and carouse all night
in the great hall. During the debauch, he took offence at something which was said, and was
not pacified hut with the greatest difficulty.

Gordon's daughter, Mary, was married to Captain Daniel Crawfurd on the twenty-third of
September, and the Czar graced the nuptials with his presence.

On the twenty-fifth of October, the Czar dined with General Le Fort, Gordon being one of
the party.
15. On the fifteenth of November, he wrote to the Duke of Gordon at Paris, and to the Earl of
Melfort at Eome.]

FOE HIS GRACE THE DUKE OF GORDON.

Mosco, Novembris 1,5, 1690.
May it please your Grace,

The sad revolution in our countrey, and the Kings misfortunes,
wherein your Grace hath a large share, hath occasioned inexpressible
grieffe to me, which brought me in a sicknesse and even almost to deaths
doore. Had I been in a place where I could have been serviceable to his
Majestic, I should have vented my passion another way. I perceived even
when I was there, that the Kings too great goodnes and credulity in
intrusting dissaffected and ill principled persons in high charges, could not
but prove fatall. Notwithstanding all that hath fallen out, I am sorry from
my heart that his Majestic did not, when I was in Scotland, lay his com-
mands upon me to stay there, albeit without employment. Then might I
have had occasion, at this tyme, to have given proofs of my loyalty and
what I can do. Wee have nothing from our countrey but what wee have
from the Hollands Gazets, from which, though partiall, wee may collect
that the want of good conduct and vigilancy are partly the causes why his
Majesties eflfaires and armes have so bad success there. If there were any
likelyhood of doing any good, and that I had a commission, I am ready still
to hazard lyfe and all I have in his Majesties service, and for the maintain-
ing of his just right, and that in any place where his Majestic shall com-
mand, and in whatsoever quality I may be thought capable of I may have
some difficulty in getting of from hence, yet being so near the Tzaar as I am
now (for I have access to his Majestic every day), I doubt not but to
obtaine licence, if it be but for a tyme. I have gott this court still to ownc
his Sacred Majestic, and not to hcare of any other. If their friendship could
signify any thing to the effaires of his Majestic or the Most Christian Kings,
it may (notwithstanding former disgusts) be obtained by a message from the