1698] DIARY OF PATRICK GORDON. 187 empire.* In this capacity he marched with a considerable force to Asof,

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

1698] DIARY OF PATRICK GORDON. 187

empire.* In this capacity he marched with a considerable force to Asof, the fortifications of
which it was desirable to restore and strengthen as speedily as possible. From Asof he pro-
ceeded to Taganrog, where the Czar had resolved, in the previous year, to have a strong fortress.
His presence put a stop to a meditated attack by the Tartars upon the cities of the Ukraine ; and
finding no further occupation for his arms, he began to march l)ack towards Moscow, where he
arrived in November.

A.D. 1698.

In the end of February, Gordon notes the receipt of a letter from the Czar, written at London February
in the middle of Jannary.

A few weeks afterwards his journal begins to be occupied witli that mutiny of the Strelitzes,
which, but for him, would, in all probability, have issued in the dethronement of the Czar.

'This afternoon came the greater part of the Strelitz petitioners, and about a hundred others, April 3.
who had seceded from the corps of Prince Michael Grigoijewitsch Romodanowski, to the honse
of their Boyar, Prince Iwan Borissowitsch Trojekurow, and begged to be heard. They were
told to send in four, the most influential, of their number; who accordingly came and declared
that they could not take the field by such a bad road ; and they begged for delay, representing
that they had sufiered great privations, and were still suffering. They exaggerated everything
excessively. But the Boyar interrupted them, and ordered them to go to their duty, and march
off immediately. As they declined to do so, he ordered them to be arrested and taken to prison.
But their comrades, seeing this,, rescued them from the guard that was conducting them, and set
them at liberty. This occasioned great consternation among the high authorities. The gene-
ralissimo Prince Fedor Jurjewitsch (Romodanowski) sent in great haste for me. When he had
told nie all the circumstances, with considerable exaggeration, I was of opinion that, consider-
ing the weakness of the party, and that they were without leaders, it was hardly worth while to
take the matter so seriously, or anticipate great danger. I went, however, to Butirki to obviate
all danger, and be ready in case of any tumult or meeting. I made see that all the soldiers were
in their quarters, and finding all right, I lay down to get some rest, as it was now late. First,
however, I had sent word to the authorities how matters stood.

' On the fourth, at daybreak, I sent to learn how things were in the city. Learning that all April 4.
was quiet, I repaired to Generals Alexei Semenowitsch and Prince Fedor Jurjewitsch (Romo-
danowski), who had been attending an imperial council. I found every body in anxiety about
the impending danger, wliich I tried to allay. But many persons, who are inclined by nature to
anticipate dangers, have, in such cases, yet another object ; they magnify the circumstances in
order that their own zeal and services may appear the more signal in quelling the dangers, and

* 'His Majesty appointed an army of who, by his extraordinary behaviour and suc-

12,000 soldiers, of which most of the officers cess, had acquired both the love of the army

were foreigner,', to be quartered in the suburbs and the esteem of the whole nation.'— (Captain

of Mosco, to keep the city in awe, commanded John Periy's State of Russia under the present

by General Gordon, who had entered in the Czar, p. 156.)
Russian service in the time of his father, and