P. I. Gordon, by birth a Scottishman, came in the quality of Major to Mosko,
in the yeare 7169th [A.D. 1661], and was sent out of the ambassy into the
stranger office ; and in the yeare 7171 [A.D. 1663] in September, was preferred,
for his comeing into the countrey, to be Lieveterment Colonell ; and was
in the yeare 7172 and 3 [A.D. 1664-5] at his Maiesties service in Smolensko
; and in the yeare 7173 [A.D. 1665], the I I th of February, he was preferred,
for his services, to be Colonell. In the yeare 7174 [A.D. 1666] he was sent
on his Maiesties affaires to England. In the yeare 7176 [A.D. 1668], he
was at service in Trubschefsky, Branskoy, and other Ukrainish townes. In
the yeare 7179 [A.D. 1671] lie was at Novoskol against the rebellious Cosakes
; and from that yeare to the 7185th yeare [A.D. 1677], he was at service
in Skewsky, and from Shewsky in the 71827 71837 7184 yeares [A.D. 1674-A.D.
1679], he was at service at Kaniow, Pereaslaw, and at Czegrin at the takeing
of Doroschenko; and in the 7185th yeare [A.D. 1677], at the seige of Czegrin.
And in the 7186th yeare [A.D.), 1678], he was in Czegrin at the siege or
beleaguering of [it], in which yeare, the 20th of August, for his service
at Czegrin, he was preferred to be Major Generall, and was at the marching
of from Czegrin, until the army was dismissed the 11th of September, in
the 7187 etc. [A.D. 1679]. From this yeare to the 7191 [A.D. 1683], he was
at service in Kyow, in which yeare, he was, for his service, preferred to
be Livetennent Generall, and was thereafter in Kyow to the 7195 yeare [A.D.
1687], in which yeare, he received the command of the Moskowish Selected
Regiments of Sojours, and the same yeare, was at service in the Crimish
expedition. In the 7196th yeare [A.D. 1688], the 11th of September, he was,
for his services, preferred to be Generall. In the 7197th yeare [A.D. 1689],
be was at service in the Crimish expedition ; and in the 7198th yeare [A.D.
1690], in the expedition to the Monastery of the Holy Trinity of Serge.
['His Majesty appointed an army of 12,000 soldiers, of which most of
the officers were foreigners, to be quartered in the suburbs of Moscow,
to keep the city in awe, commanded by General Gordon, who had entered in
the Russian service in the time of his father, and who, by his extraordinary
behaviour and success, had acquired both the love of the army and the esteem
of the whole nation.'- (Captain John Perry's State of Russia under the present
Czar, p. 156.)]
A.D. 1698.
In the end of February, Gordon notes the receipt of a letter from the Czar,
written at London February 27. in the middle of January.
A few weeks afterwards his journal begins to be occupied with that mutiny
of the Strelitzes, which, but for him, would, in all probability, have issued
in the dethronement of the Czar.
April 3. 'This afternoon came the greater part of the Strelitz petitioners,
and about a hundred others, who had seceded from the corps of Prince Michael
Grigorievich Romodanowski, to the house of their Boyar, Prince Ivan Borisovich
Troiekurov, 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 suffered 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 generalissimo Prince Fedor Iurievich (Romodanowski)
sent in great haste for me. When he had told me all the circumstances, with
considerable exaggeration, I was of opinion that, considering 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.
April 4. 'On the fourth, at daybreak, I sent to learn how things
were in the city. Learning that all was quiet, I repaired to Generals Alexei
Semënovich and Prince Fedor Iurievich (Romodanowski), who had been
attending an imperial council. I found every body in anxiety about the impending
danger. which 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 that they may thus extract merit
and consideration from them, After calling at my own house, I went back
to Butirki. Having had all the officers present at the exercising of the
regiment, I dismissed two-thirds of them, and with the other part remained
all night at Butirki, in deference to the alarm of the other Generals. Some
hundred men of the Semënov regiment were sent to expedite the march
of the Strelitzes. These made no resistance, but marched off at midnight,
after delivering up the ringleaders of the insurrection.
April 8. 'On the eighth, I wrote to his Majesty, giving him an account
of the occurrences of the last week.' These were the first distant mutterings
of the tempest. There was to be a lull of two months before it broke.
June 8. 'A report spread that the four Strelitz regiments at Toropetz
were disposed to insurrection and disobedience. An equerry was, therefore,
sent to get information of their doings.
June 9. 'An order was issued to detach four officers and forty men
of the Butirki regiment, to be sent against the Strelitz regiments; the
same numbers were detached from the other regiments in Moscow. One hundred
and forty Strelitz deserters were ordered to be arrested, and sent to the
cities of the Ukraine.
June 10. 'Accounts were received of the four Strelitz regiments that
bad been stationed in the camp at Veliki Luki, and were then in Toropetz,
that they were discontented at the dismissal of the rest of the army, and
the orders given to them to go to various towns, and were inclined to disturbance.
June 11. 'Two captains returned from Toropetz, and reported that
the Strelitzes, after repeated secret consultations, had resolved not to
march to the stations appointed for them, but to go straight to Moscow and
that they had required their officers to lead them thither. On their refusing,
they had deposed them, and had chosen four men from every regiment to lead
them; they were firmly resolved on coming to Moscow. This news caused no
little consternation among the high authorities. In a council hastily called
together, it was resolved to send against them an army corps composed both
of infantry and cavalry; and I was to go before with the infantry, till
the cavalry were collected. I was, therefore, sent for and informed of the
matter. After it had been fixed that five hundred men of my regiment, and
a like number of each of the three regiments stationed in Moscow, should
go, I selected the officers and men that should be used.
June 12. 'I attended a sitting of council at court, in which the
former resolutions were affirmed. There were no more news of the insurrectionists.
I dined with the Polish Ambassador, In company with the other Ambassadors,
and a number of friends. Twenty-seven equerries were sent to me, to be used
in carrying orders and despatches to Moscow.
June 13. 'Another council was held, and I received orders to march
with the infantry and artillery for the river Khodinka, and there wait further
orders. After making the soldiers get a month's pay, sending on five cannon
to Butirki, and getting a hundred and fifty waggons, I set out from the
Sloboda in the afternoon. After an hour's stay in Butirki, I marched out
and pitched camp on the little river Khodinka. The other three regiments
arrived at midnight.
June 14. 'The Polish Ambassador came to the camp. I sent and received
several messengers, but no further accounts of any certainty.
June 16. 'I broke up in the morning, and pitched camp again on the Swidja
(Svidnia), a verst from Tuschina (Tuchino). At midnight, the Boyar came,
and brought the orders on all the points that we had laid before the council
to have instruction and full authority upon.
June 17. 'On Friday, at six o'clock, I marched with the infantry,
and came to Tschernewa (Chernevo), ten versts. Here I found a nobleman's
servant, who said that he had spent the previous night with the Strelitzes,
and that they were marching with all speed to reach the convent of Woskressensk
(Voskressensk) that night. This news made me hasten on to get there before
them. After advancing five versts farther, I rested a little, and sent a
report to the Boyar, requesting him, at the same time, to send me some cavalry.
I then crossed the river, and, lest the mutineers should reach the convent
before me, I pushed on before with what horsemen I could muster. Two versts
from the convent, the scouts brought to me four Strelitzes, who said that
they were sent, one man from each regiment, to take a petition to the Boyar,
Reading it, I found In it nothing but a catalogue of their services, with
exaggeration of their grievances, and a prayer for leave to come to Moscow
to visit their homes, wives, and children, as well as to petition for their
necessities. I sent them on to the Generalissimo; and having learned from
these deputies that the Strelitzes were still fifteen versts off, and could
not reach the convent that night, I gave orders to mark off a camp near
the convent, as the most convenient place. I arrived at the place fixed
upon about sunset, and immediately received information from my scouts that
the Strelitzes had reached the river, and were crossing at a shallow place.
Hearing this, I hastened thither with what horsemen I had with me. I spoke
to them in a calm tone, and advised them to return across the river, and
encamp on the other side. Not heeding this, they turned into a line, and
remained stationed on a meadow beside the river, outside the village. I
returned as quickly as possible to bring up our infantry. I made the first
two regiments march through the village, and take post in the best position,
while the other two were stationed on the fields by the Moscow road. I then
rode down to the Strelitzes, and had a conversation with them; but I found
them very refractory in all that we required of them. However, I persuaded
them to send two other deputies to the Generalissimo, which they did. After
a mutual promise that no movement should take place that night, they returned
to their camp, leaving a strong guard in the lane. I made a battalion keep
guard not far from them, and stationed another near for relief. I then went
to the other regiments, and ordered strong guards and detachments in various
places in sight of their camp, to observe them. Having reconnoitred their
camp at a little distance, and found no stirring among them, and having
also visited our own guards, I went back to the camp at the time of reveille,
which I did not allow to be beat, and rested an hour. After which I went
to the Generalissimo, and consulted with him what was to be done. After
mature deliberation, it was resolved that I should repair to their camp
and intimate to them: 1, That they should turn back and repair to the places
assigned them; 2, That they should give. up one hundred and forty deserters
who had run away from Velikie Luki to Moscow, as well as the ringleaders
of the present insurrection. and disobedience to the commands of his Majesty;
3, That in the appointed places his Majesty should give them the usual pay,
and either bread or money, according to the local prices; 4, That the present
fault should be forgiven them; and, 6, That even the others, who were more
guilty, should riot suffer severe punishment,
' Taking the six deputies with me, I went to their camp, where I communicated
the orders to assemble and hear the gracious concessions of his Majesty.
When about two hundred had come together, I let the deputies communicate
the orders given, and then employed all the rhetoric I was master of to
induce them to return to obedience, and give In a petition, confessing their
guilt in having transgressed his Majesty's orders. Bat they answered that
they were all determined to die or else go to Moscow, though it were only
for eight or three days; after that they would go wherever his Majesty should
order. When I told them that they would not be permitted to go to Moscow,
and that they must not think of it, they replied that they wouId rather
die than not get to Moscow. With that began two old fellows among them to
aggravate their privations, and half a dozen confirmed what they said, and
kept up the disturbance. I advised that each regiment should hold a consultation
apart, and that they should consider well what they did, and what they were
refusing. But they rejected all advice, and declared that they were all
of one mind. I then intimated that I would withdraw from the camp and wait
an answer outside, adding the threat, that if they did not embrace the gracious
offers of his Majesty now, they needed not expect such conditions again,
when once we should be obliged to use compulsion to bring them to obedience.
But to all this they paid no heed. I then rode out of their camp, and waited
at some distance for a quarter of an hour; after which I sent to ask their
final answer. Finding no alteration of their mind, I took my departure with
an indication of sorrow. After inspecting the best approaches to the rebels,
and holding a consultation with the Generalissimo and others, it was resolved
to draw up the army, and plant the cannon, and use force. l brougbt up the
infantry and twenty-five cannon to a fit position, surrounded their camp
on the other side with cavalry, and then sent an officer to summon and exhort
them once more to submit. As they again declined, I sent yet another to
demand a categorical decision. But they rejected all proposals of compromise,
and boasted that they were as ready to defend themselves by force as we
were to attack. Seeing that all hope of their submission was vain, I made
around of the cannon be fired. But as we fired over their heads, this only
emboldened them more, so that they began to wave their colours and throw
up their caps, and prepare for resistance. At the next discharge of the
cannon, however, seeing their comrades fall on all sides, they began to
waver. Out of despair, or to protect themselves from the cannon, they made
a sally by a lane, which, however, we had occupied with a strong body. To
make yet surer, I brought up several detachments to the spot, so as to command
the hollow way along which they were issuing. Seeing this, they returned
to their camp, and some of them betook themselves to the barns and outhouses
of the adjoining Tillage. At the third discharge of the guns, many of them
rushed out of the camp towards the infantry and cavalry. After the fourth
round of fire, very few of them remained in their waggon rampart; and I
moved down with two battalions to their camp, and posted guards round it.
During this affair, which lasted about an hour, a few of our men were wounded.
The rebels had twenty-two killed on the spot, and about forty wounded, mostly
mortally. We had all the prisoners brought to the convent, and shut up in
vaulted houses and other places. A list of their horses was then made, and
orders given not to touch their property ; only the ammunition and the regimental
waggons were brought to head quarters, and
an account of them taken. The next thing was to send an officer to Moscow
with an account of the business, The whole afternoon we were occupied collecting
the arms scattered about on the camp and fields.
June 19. Information having been got as to a few of the ringleaders,
from some who thought to gain favour for themselves, several influential
Individuals were called up and examined. One of the regiments was then mustered.
The greater part of the influential men and others being examined, it was
frankly confessed that some had been the ringleaders and guilty rebels.
Those that were found good we put on the one side, and the bad on the other.
In the afternoon, another regiment was proceeded with in the same way.
June 20.' We removed our camp to beside the convent, to be out of
the dust of the field where we were.
June 21. 'We mustered another regiment of the Strelitzes, and examined
various individuals, putting them to the torture; whereon they confessed
the wicked designs they had meant to carry out when they got to Moscow.
Word was despatched to Moscow twice or thrice of all that was going on.
June 22. 'Twenty-four individuals were found guilty, on their own
confession, of the most shocking crimes, and of having designed, when they
got to Moscow, to massacre certain Boyars, and to extort an increase of-pay,
and a new regulation of their services. On these we pronounced sentence
of death, to consist in beheading. They were confined apart, and directed
to confess, receive the eucharist, and prepare for death.
June 23. 'Those condemned yesterday were beheaded. The fourth regiment
was mustered in the same way.
June 24. 'I wrote to his Majesty, giving a short account of the previous
events.
June 25. 'On this and following days, we were engaged from morning
to night in hearing cases; many were put to the torture, of whom a few confessed.
June 27. 'An order arrived to send the less guilty Strelitzes to
the various convents, and there keep them closely imprisoned.
June 28. 'Some Strelitzes that had confessed themselves guilty were
hanged.
June 29. 'His Majesty's birthday was celebrated, first by divine
service, and then by a feast, at which his health was drunk, with discharge
of cannon. A great many Strelitzes were sent under strong guard to various
convents.
June 30. 'Many rebels of the regiment of Colonel Hundertmark were
interrogated and put to the torture; but none would confess himself guiltier
than the others. They were therefore informed that they must cast lots,
as the tenth man must die, which they did. About two hundred persons were
knouted in the afternoon.
July 1. 'Forty-five men of Hundertmark's regiment, on whom the lot
had fallen, were brought out. They were told that if they would only name
the ringleaders of the rising, the rest should go free. After a pause, they
began to mutter and to name one or two, who, being tortured, without much
ado pled guilty; three or four more were then named, who were also tortured,
and confessed after a few strokes. They were then set apart and bid prepare
for death; and the others, on whom the lot had fallen, were set free.
July 2. ' To-day, seventy men were hanged by fives and threes on one gallows. Numbers more were sent away to confinement.
July 3. 'An order came for the army to be dismissed. We were all thanked for our services. Three regiments went off immediately. The Generalissimo and we, his assessors or aids, with the Butirki regiment, remained all night.
July 4. 'In the morning, the four Strelitzes condemned last Saturday were brought out and beheaded. With few exceptions, all those executed submitted to their fate with great indifference, without saying a word, only crossing themselves; some took leave of the lookers-on, One hundred and thirty had been executed, about seventy had been killed in the engagement or died of their wounds, eighteen hundred and forty-five been sent to various convents and prisons, and twenty-five remained in this convent.
July 6. 'This day, after devotion, I, with many more, were confirmed by the Archbishop of Anura [Ancyra], called Petrus Paulus de St. Joseph, of the Carmelite order; I takeing the name of Leopoldus, and my son Theodorus that of Joseph.
July 19. 'I was called to Preobraschensk. The gracious letter of his Majesty was read, in which our services were commended. The same was read to the soldiers, who were promised a ruble a piece, besides that they were all to be treated at his Majesty's table. We also were sumptuously treated, especially in drink. August 23. 1 Gott this account of my mothers father. The Laird of Petlurg married Janet Ogilby, daughter to the Laird of Cullen, and was soone after killed at the battel of Pinky, leaving him who succeeded unborne, or in the cradle. She was afterwards maryed to one Olgilby of Blarak, her cousin, a cadet of the house of Cullen, and of 3000 merks in the Boyne. By him she had a son called James, brother uterine to Sir John Gordon of Petlurge, and ankle to Mr Robert. This James marryed Marjery Gordon, daughter to Georg Gordon of Coclaraghy. These were my grandfather and grandmother.' July. The tidings of the formidable revolt of the Strelitzes reached the Czar at Vienna, towards the end of July, and hastened his journey homewards.
September 2. On the second of September, Gordon, who had gone, with his eldest son and his family, to visit his estate in the country, writes : 'I received a letter saying that the Czar had arrived in Moscow, and had been at my house to enquire for me.' Gordon returned in a few days, and was immediately sent for by the Czar, who received him very graciously, and thanked him in the heartiest way for his faithful services, and the great things he had done.
September 17. 'Many Strelitzes were brought up and put to the torture, his Majesty being desirous to institute a stricter examination than ours.
September 19. 1 was unwell and kept the house. A sharp enquiry was made into the Strelitz business. September 20. More Strelitzes put to the question. A number were directed to prepare for death. September 23. In the afternoon, I went to Preobraschensk, but in vain: every body about the court was engaged in arresting more of the adherents of the Princess Sophia, and putting the Zarina (Tsarina) in the convent. [The widow of the late Czar Ivan, Proskovia, daughter of Feodor Soltykof. She survived her husband twenty-seven years, dying in 1723.]
September 30. 'A number of Strelitzes were executed.
October 3. 'I was at Preobraschensk, and saw the crocodile, swordfish,
and other curiosities, which his Majesty had brought from England and Holland.
November 14. 'Orders were issued not to give support to any of the
wives or children of the executed Strelitzes.
The Diary closes on the last day of this year, with these devout aspirations
:--' Almighty December al. God be praised for his gracious long suffering
towards me in sparing my life so long. Grant, gracious God, that I may make
a good use of the time that thou mayest be pleased yet to grant me for repentance.
This year I have felt a sensible decrease of health and strength. Yet thy
will be done, gracious God!'
These were the last words that Gordon was to enter in his journal of many
years. His strength was now fast failing, and during the following summer
he became so weak that he was unable to leave his bed. He died at seven
o'clock in the morning of the twenty-ninth of November, 1699. The Czar,
who had visited him five times in his illness, and had been twice with him
during the night, stood weeping by his bed as he drew his last breath; and
the eyes of him who had left Scotland a poor unfriended wanderer, were closed
by the hands of an Emperor.
Peter himself ordered the funeral procession, and took his place in its
long line, accompanied by all the pomp of his empire, and followed by the
representatives of most of the great powers of Europe. The body was carried
on the shoulders of twenty-eight colonels; two generals supported the footsteps
of his widow, and twenty ladies, the wives of high Muscovite dignitaries,
walked in her train. The religious obsequies were performed by the priests
of the church which he loved, in the first chapel of stone which the Roman
Catholics were suffered to raise in Moscow. It was built chiefly by his
bounty, and his tomb was dug before its high altar, in a vault, where this
inscription may still be read :
SACRAE TZAREAE MAJESTATIS MILITIAE GENERALIS PATRICIUS LEOPOLDUS GORDON
NATUS ANNO DOMINI 1635 DIE 31 MARTII DENATUS ANNO DOMINI 1699 DIE 29 NOVEMBRIS
REQUIESCAT IN PACE