Related
174 DIARY OF PATRICK GORDON. [1692 be restored. As for Harie Gordon
1692] DIARY OF PATRICK GORDON. 179 Patrick Gordon of Cults
152 DIARY OF PATRICK GORDON. [1686 et Magnorum Ducura Johaiinls Alexiades
1678] DIARY OF PATRICK GORDON. 107 delivered to Gordon.
1661] DIARY OF PATRICK GORDON. 33 sence of the King
1689] DIARY OF PATRICK GORDON. 165 memory, the younger Czar
1686] DIARY OF PATRICK GORDON. 155 Crossing the Black River
162 DIARY OF PATRICK GORDON [1686 the Hollands Resident, and the Chancellour Vinius
CONTENTS. XXXV Letter to the Earl of Melfort 171 Memorial of Gordon's services in Bussia from 1661 to 1690
154 DIARY OF PATRICK GORDON. [1686 Alexander Gordon, to the Earle of Middleton and Esquire Cooke
Summary
Passages from the diary of General Patrick Gordon of Auchleuchries : A.D. 1635-A.D. 1699"
154 DIARY OF PATRICK GORDON. [1686
Alexander Gordon, to the Earle of Middleton and Esquire Cooke, all in a
coverto to Mr. Meverall, by Mr. Philes convoyance per mare. Writt also to
the Duke of Gordon, the Earles of Aberdeen and Erroll, and to Nether-
muir, in a coverto to William Gordon in Aberdeen, to my unkle, brother,
and Mr. Thomas, all by my nephew, James Gordon.
I did writt to my wyfe, Collonell von ]\Iengden, and Mr. Vinius, per
post, Robert Gordon,* James Adie, and Bayly Adie in Dantzick per post, as
also to Madam Crawfuird. And not thinking it fitt to take my nephew
into Russia, I sent him back by sea to (Scotland. This night I supped by
Mr. Hoist, and was entertained most magnificently.
I did writt to Mittaw, to Pafri Ernesto Sturmio residentiae superiori.
I dined by Mr. Frazer, and was nobly entertained.
I supped by Mr. Watson, and was kindly entertained ; and the rest of
my tyme I passed every day almost with walking and shooting. I payed
for dyet for my self and another, a doller, and for foure servants at the rate
of tenpence for each, with lodging.
I did writt to the Earle of Middleton and Mr. Meverell per post ; and,
haveing hired two Riglsh fulrmen, for eight dollers a peece, with two horses
and two waggons of retour of a Russe, with one horse at fyve dollers for
both, I tooke jorney, and being convoyed in a coach a large halfe mile
without the towne with kind ifrlends, wee made merry with good liquor,
which the ffrlends brought along with them ; and at New Mills,f crossing
the river . . . and the river Aa, wee lodged in a inne, hardly being
foure miles from Riga.
Wee jorneyed three miles, and dined in Rosembems krow, and, going
two and a half miles further, wee lodged in a krow, by a morass.
Wee dined a mile short of Wolmar, and passing that towne, and three
miles further, haveing passed over the river Bresla by a bridge, and by the
two castles, Great and Lltle Ropen, betwixt which the forsald river runneth,
lodging in a krow or inne, within a wood.
Wee passed foure miles, and dined in a small village ; and this after-
noonc, the way being better, wee came six miles further, and lodged in a
pleasant village in a Inne, by the Black River. From AVolmar, wee had
nine miles all wood.
• [Perhaps the founder of Robert Gordon's have been a trader in Dantzic about this time.]
Hospital at Aberdeen. He is understood to f [Neuerniuhlen.]
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.