Related
1655] DIAEY OF PATRICK GORDON. 17 who was, according to the custome of the Polonian nobility
174 DIARY OF PATRICK GORDON. [1692 be restored. As for Harie Gordon
1667] DIARY OF PATRICK GORDON. lOl with their officers, from which 1 diswaded them, that the Emperour
1655] DIARY OF PATRICK GORDON. 21 and actions at home
169. NEAR-GRANADER L.-G. Preobrazhensky regiment, from 1700 to 1732.
146 DIARY OF PATRICK GORDON. [168G Haveing dyned, and hearing my trunks were come from Edinburgh
1686] DIARY OF PATRICK GORDON. 127 with severall necessaryes, and having received from Mr. Meverell
1666] DIARY OF PATRICK GORDON. 75 carowsing, swearing, and blaspheming
1666] DIARY OF PATRICK GORDON. 69 evening, wee sailed by it, and Bornholme
1651-53] DIARY OF TATRICK GORDON. 7 the citty, whltlicr wee arrived at iioone, and lodg-cd in a Scotsman's house
Summary
Passages from the diary of General Patrick Gordon of Auchleuchries : A.D. 1635-A.D. 1699"
1651-53] DIARY OF TATRICK GORDON. 7
the citty, whltlicr wee arrived at iioone, and lodg-cd in a Scotsman's house in
the Holy Ghost street, our landlord being called John Donaldsonc. Here
I stayed eight dayes.
On Friday, with a gentleman Thomas Menezes, and three other Dutcii
men, wee bespoke the ordinary coach for Konigsbei-g ; and Mr. ]\renczcs and
I payed each for our share to Brawnsberg a doUer and a halfc. On
Saturnday at eight acloak wee tooke our jorney, and came the same night to
Elving, being nyne miles, and the next day timely to Frawensberg, fyve
miles ; where meeting with our good friend Mr. Robert BLickhall, who was
priest and vicar to one of the chanons there, by his perswasion wee let our
coach go, and stayed all night.
This townc lyeth on the lake called the Frish HafFe, being every where
open, and all along the foot of an hill, whereon the Dume standeth, wherein ^lere Copemi-
ar, as I remember, eight Channons, who have most pleasant houses and wwkii! "^"^
orchards towards the fields. The next day, being well entertained by ]\[r.
Blackball, and hireing an open waggon, with Father Blackball and Mr.
]\Ienezes, I rode to Brawnsberg, being a mile, most of the way being
through a wood.
Brawnsberg lyeth. in the bishoprick of Yermia, on the river Passarg,
which a mile from thence falleth in the Frish HafFe. Over the river is the
new towne, which is divided in two streets, one towards Konigsberg, the
other along the river upwards. The townes are joined by a bridge, the old
towne walled, the new open every where. Here wee tooke up our
lodging by Mr. Menezes his brother, who was a priest called Alexander
^lichal Menezes, whose charge was a small church in the new towne.
Here being at my studies in the CoUedge of the Jesuits, albeit I wanted
not for any thing, the Jesuits alwayes bestowing extraordinary paines, and
takeing great care in educateing youth, yet could not my humor endure
such a still and strict way of liveing.
[A.D. 1653.]
Wherefor takeing my leave, I resolved to returne home againe, and on
a Tuesday, about ten acloak, I took my joraey on foot to save expences, for
1 had no mor money left but seven reichs dollers and a halfe, and one suit
of cloaths which I had on. So takeing my eloake and a litle ba"-gc
wliercin were my linnens and some bookes, with a staffe in hand I pilgrim'd
it away all alone. I had not learned any Dutch, by reason of our speaking
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.