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60 DIARY OF PATRICK GORDON. [1666 that it was doubted here whither any intercourse or correspondence
Summary
Passages from the diary of General Patrick Gordon of Auchleuchries : A.D. 1635-A.D. 1699"
60 DIARY OF PATRICK GORDON. [1666
that it was doubted here whither any intercourse or correspondence should
be hereafter betwixt the princes. But now the warr, which the King had
with France and Holland, being like to continue, by the advice of the
Moskovia merchants, the King did writt to the Tzaar by post, showing of
the warr he had with France and Holland, and how that he was informed
that the Hollanders brought much materialls for their shipping from Russia,
which he desired might not be permitted them, and that it might be free for
his Majesties subjects to buy such materialls. His Majestic gave notice,
hkewise, how that the pestilence did rage in his residential! citty of London,
and diverse others places of the kingdom of England. This letter was kept
very closs a while, untill they resolved upon an answer, which being ready,
no Russe was found willing to go with it, fearing such cold entertainment as
Diaskow had gott ; for notwithstanding it was knowne how that he had been
sufficiently rewarded and honourably dismissed, yet he atributed all this to
his owne dexterity, and the fear the King had of offending his Tzaarsky
Majestic, averring that none thereafter would be defrayed but for three
dayes, as the ministers of other princes ; that all things wer ten tymes so
dear as in Mosko ; and many difficulties more ; which, with the Russes
unwillingnes to allow any minister so much money as to maintaine him at
any court, and also loth to offend the Hollanders, who had now engrossed
all the trade almost here, by a publick message, it was resolved to send
some stranger, and me especially, because I had petitioned to go thither the
year befor, and being one of his Majesties subjects, might haply have
flfriends at court.
It was in vaine for me to refuse, when concluded above by his Majesty
and counsell ; so being ordered to come to the pricase the next day, I went
and made ready my petitions.
nne 24. I went into the office, but there being no convenience to come to his
Majesty es hand, 1 was ordered to come the next day. I bought a coverd
waggon and necessaries for my jorney.
rune 25. I went into the ambassy office, and haveing resolved to take ray brother
in law along with me to England, I told the chancellour, and that he might
come to his Majesties hand with me. About midday I was brought above,
and admitted to kiss his Majesties hand, who v/os pleased to speake very
graciously to me. I gave his Majestic two petitions, one for my full
meanes, and another for two mouths meanes which was owing me ; and his
Gordon was brought up and remained a lifelong Roman Catholic, at a time when the Church was being persecuted in Scotland. At age of fifteen, he entered the Jesuit college at Braunsberg, East Prussia, then part of Poland. In 1661, after many years experiences as a soldier of fortune, he joined the Russian army under Tsar Aleksei I, and in 1665 was sent on a special mission to England. After his return, he distinguished himself in several wars against the Turks and Tatars in southern Russia. In recognition of his service he was promoted to major-general in 1678, was appointed to the high command at Kiev in 1679, and in 1683 was made lieutenant-general. In 1687 and 1689 he took part in expeditions against the Tatars in the Crimea, being made a full general. Later in 1689, a revolution broke out in Moscow, and with the troops under his command, Gordon virtually decided events in favor of Peter the Great against the Regent, Tsarevna Sophia Alekseyevna. Consequently, he was for the remainder of his life in high favor with the Tsar, who confided to him the command of his capital during his absence from Russia. In 1696, Gordon's design of a "moveable rampart" played a key role in helping the Russians take Azov. One of Gordon's convinced the Tsars to establish the first Roman Catholic church and school in Muscovy, of which he remained the main benefactor and headed the Catholic community in Russia until his death. For his services his second son James, brigadier of the Russian army, was created Count of the Holy Roman Empire in 1701. At the end of his life the Tsar, who had visited Gordon frequently during his illness, was with him when he died, and with his own hands closed his eyes. General Gordon left behind him a uniquely detailed diary of his life and times, written in English. This is preserved in manuscript in the Russian State Military Archive in Moscow. Passages from the Diary of General Patrick Gordon of Auchleuchries (1635–1699) was printed, under the editorship of Joseph Robertson, for the Spalding Club, at Aberdeen, Scotland, 1859.
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