174 DIARY OF PATRICK GORDON. [1692 be restored. As for Harie Gordon

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

174 DIARY OF PATRICK GORDON. [1692

be restored. As for Harie Gordon,* he is in Varsow in Polland, exspecting
my advice, which I have sent him by this post. 1 have showne him the
conveniencles and inconveniencyesof thisconntrey,so that, if he resolve to come
in hither, I shall not be wanting in any thing that lyes in my power to do
for him. By our change at court, I am in a better condition as formerly
to help myself and others, haveing the favour of the yongest Czaar in a large
measure, and dayly accesse to hira. Here is an internuncius from the Roman
Emperour, sent hither to move us to divert the Tartars, but lyke to prevail
litle, wee neither being in a capacity, nor resolved, to do any more as in-
tended befor his comeing, which is to defend oure borders.

I shall, from my heart, wish to hear of hopes of his Sacred Majesties re-
stauration, and that your Grace may enjoy your owne in tranquillity, to the
which, if I knew a way to contribute any thing, I would most willingly
hazard my lyfe and fortunes. I long to hear if your Grace approve of what
I wrote in my former. In the meane tyme, I confort my self very much
with the thoughts that your Grace is pleased to give me a place in your
remembrance and favour, the continuance whereof I humbly crave, and shall,
as in duty obliged, remauie

Your Graces most humble and totally devoted servant
whilst I breath,

P. GORDON.

[Gordon's son-in-law, Colonel Strasburg, after repeated injuries from the Czar's fireworks, of
which he seems to have taken the chief charge, was, in January of this year, burned almost to
death by an explosion which killed three others outright. He lingered on till December, when
becoming worse, the Czar visited him nearly every day until his death on the fourth of January,
1692. His widow received a pension of three hundred rubles.

A.D. 1692.

The beginning of this year found Gordon occupied with settlements of his Scotch affairs, for
the approaching marriage of his eldest sou with Elizabeth Grant, eldest daughter of the Laird
of Crichie.]

♦[Probably the gentleman of the same oflBcer writes in his Diary on the eighth of No-
name who, two years before, served under the vember, 1694: 'This afternoon took place the
Duke of Gordon as one of the garrison of betrothaloiMajorHarryGordonwiththesecond
Edinburgh Castle.— (Siege of the Castle of daughter of the late Colonel Koonaer. I lent
Edinburgh in 1689, pp. 36, 58, CO, 75.) the Colonel's widow 7^ rubles. Major Koouaer

The German editors inform us that Captain paid me 3 rubles, 20 alten, and remained still

Harry Gordon arrived at Moscow in the year 2 rubles in my debt.' Harry Gordon is last

1691, and was well received, being promoted to heard of at Archangel, in the year 1698, when

the rankof major in the following year, through he was in correspondence with General Patrick

theintluenceofGenei'al Patrick Gordon. That Gordon.]

Godfather of Peter the Great

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.