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82 DIARY OF PATRICK GORDON. [1666 thought fitt to conforme myself...
Summary
Passages from the diary of General Patrick Gordon of Auchleuchries : A.D. 1635-A.D. 1699"
82 DIARY OF PATRICK GORDON. [1666
thought fitt to conforme myself to that, putting myself in deep mourning ;
my brother in law, who was to carry befor me the Emperours letters, in
halfe mourning ; but my servants in my ordinary livery, which, because
conforme to my instructions, I was not to have any publick entry or
audience, needed not to be numerous.
Haveing furnished myself with all things, I went privately to London,
which lay smoaking in its ashes, and tooke up my lodging in the Strand, a
litle above Ivy Lane, in ane apothecaryes house. The same day, I desired
Sir John Hebden to go to the Earle of Lawderdale, and acquaint him of my
comeing, and know his pleasure, how and when I should have the honour of
kissing His Sacred Majesties hand ; who went and returned with answer that
he had acquainted His Majesty of my business and comeing, and, that this
evening I should have access to His Majesty.
About six aclock at night I was sent for, and brought to the Earle of
Lawderdales lodgings, being accompanyed by Sir John Hebden, and Mr,
James Metellane, his lordships secretary. The Earle of Lawderdale re-
ceived me very kindly, and, being informed more particularly of the circum-
stance of my business, he conducted me to His IMajesty, who was newly
returned from seeing a French ship which was taken.
I found His Majesty standing under a canopy bareheaded, with many
nobles about him. Being entred the roome, and performed the usuall reve-
rences, I tooke the Emperours letters from my brother in law. After 1 had
the short complement, His Majesty was pleased to receive the letters with
his owne hand, and gave them oiF immediately to one standing by, and
asked me for the good health of His Majesty, which I answered after the
ordinary way. Then His Majesty was pleased to say, that this message was
so much the more acceptable that the Tzaar had been pleased to entrust one
of his owne subjects with it, and caused tell me, that I might use the free-
dome of the Court.
Being reconducted to my Lord Lawderdales lodgings, I stayed halfe an
howre, expecting that my Lord should come downe; but he not comeing, I
went to my lodging, whither ]\Ir. Patrick Wast conducted me, and, with
others, stayed about two howres with me.
The next day I received the visits of diverse particular persons, not
haveing in my instructions to give notice of my comeing, or visits, to the
ministers of forreigne Princes, upon the account of not makeing any great
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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