Related
1666] DIARY OF PATEICK GORDON. 81 mariners aud souldlers
66 DIARY OF PATRICK GORDON. [1666 wee had from Plesko
1678] DIARY OF PATRICK GORDON. 107 delivered to Gordon.
1666] DIARY OF PATRICK GORDON. 69 evening, wee sailed by it, and Bornholme
1667] DIARY OF PATRICK GORDON. lOl with their officers, from which 1 diswaded them, that the Emperour
76 DIARY OF PATRICK GORDON. [1666 the cart was ready
1667] DIARY OF PATRICK GORDON. 87 Dined by Mr. Carril his father
122 DIARY OF PATRICK GORDON. [1686 flesh was torren out of their armes
166 DIARY OF PATRICK GORDON. [1669 The renewal of the war against the Crim Tartars
1666] DIARY OF PATRICK GORDON. 77 tyme were about a hundred saile of ships
Summary
Passages from the diary of General Patrick Gordon of Auchleuchries : A.D. 1635-A.D. 1699"
1666] DIARY OF PATRICK GORDON. 77
tyme were about a hundred saile of ships of all syzes, bound for severall
places, to tlie other sydc, and immediately agreed with the master of a ship
for my passage to England, and brought my baggage aboard. I did not go
into the towne because the pest was in it, yet wee bought our provisions
from thence.
The Kings yacht being come downe and ankered in the haven, I went August 24.
aboard of her, and revealed to the captaine what I was, and what my errand
or business, desireing that he would take me along. But then he was more
averse, saying he would have resolved to have hazarded the takeing of a
private person, but could by no meanes, without express order, adventure to
take me in. So I was forced to desist.
In the morning, it was expected that our fleet should set saile the next August 25.
day, but notice haveing come that the Hollands fleet was gone from Flushing,
they were at a stand what to do.
After noone wee did see the Hollands fleet at sea of from Blankenburg, August jc.
which put all the confused counsels of the masters of the shipps to a resolu-
tion of not adventuring out till a safer season. Whereupon I resolved to
returne to Bruges, and take up a lodging there, being more convenient to
stay there, as a shipboard, or at Ostend, where the aire was unwholesome
and vivres dearer.
I went to Bruges, and tooke a lodging in the Esel street, at the signe August 27.
of the King of Great Brittaine.
I went to Ostend, and brought my baggage back to Bruges, paying August i'9.
halfc fraught, and that with much ado. I writt to Hamburg, and ffriends
in Mosko.
Hearing that Mrs. Plowden was come to Gent, upon the account of August 3).
entring herself a nunne in that convent, where her daughter was abbess, I
resolved to go thither, and perswaded my landlord, Mr. Frazer, a good
merry man, to go along with me. Wee went in a great boat along the
river or channell called Albertlna. Wee had all sorts of company on this
boat, and were merry. A mile short of Gent, wee quitted our boat, and
lodged in ane innes ; the boates not being permitted to go to Gent, because
the pcstlence was in Bruges.
Wee hired a waggon early, and came to Gent, and lodged at the signe August 31.
of the Starr. I went immediately and heard devotion, and went to the
English Nunnes monastery, and spoke with Mrs. Plowden, who was exceed-
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.