1661] DIARY OF PATRICK GORDON. 51 went the next day and complained to the Colonell

Passages from the diary of General Patrick Gordon of Auchleuchries : A.D. 1635-A.D. 1699"

1661] DIARY OF PATIUCK GORDON. 51

went the next day and complained to the Colonell, who promised to take
inquisition and give satisfaction ; but I denying all, according to the fashion ^
of this countrey, where there are not witnesses, which, upon his complaint
to the Boyar, and in the office, I did also ; so that he, seeing the Boyar to
befriend me, as one lately come and unacquainted with the fashions of the
countrey, desisted from his suite, and made meanes to be gone from the
regiment, which was that I wished and aimed at.

Whilst I was here, I was at two weddings, in the Slobod of the Strangers,
the one, Ruitmaster Ryter, marryed to the -widdow of Lievetennant Collonell
Thomas ]\[enezes, who, being wounded by Czudnow, dyed there ; the other,
Captaine Lidert Lome, marryed to Bannerman, at both which I was merry,
and gott my first acquaintance with the females.

By order, I removed and quartered over the river Yausa, in the December.
Tagany and Potters Slobod, within the Earthen Wall. Here I had my
quarters in a rich merchants house, who used all meanes to gett me removed,
and brought two orders out of the court office to this purpose ; but, I being
loth to quite such a convenience, did not obey them of the stranger office.
I would not remove, and keeped the orders by me.

At this tyme ane accident did fall out, which I cannot omitt to relate.
At my removall from the Zagrodniky, a Russe liewtennant, called Peter
Nikiforuf, came to me with a Serjeant, tellino; me, that three souldiers the
night befor, in a quarrell with the Streltsees, were so beat and maimed, that
they were not able to remove with the regiment, and that without ane
underwritten petition from me, they could not be permitted to stay in their
quarters. So bringing a petition and reading it, that they might stay in
their quarters fyve or six dayes mitill they might be able to remove, which
I, suspecting no deceit, unadvisedly put my hand to it. But when I mustered
the regiment in the Taijany Slabod, these mens names being called, their
comerades answered, that they were let of to their habitations, after which
euquireing, I understood, that this lieutennant being bribed by these sojours,
had either not read the petition right, or shufled in another into my hands
10 subscrive ; for the petition I subscrived was to let of three sojours to their
houses for six weekes. These three comeing to Vologda, where their habi-
tations were, the governour apprehended them, and sent them to Mosko
with the petition ; which, thereafter, by the malice of the chauncelor, who
was my enemy, had like to have bred me Great trouble.