Page:Dictionary of National Biography volume 22.djvu/213

Rh by the Spaldlng Club in 1842, along with 'Aberdoniæ Utriusque Descriptio,' which he wrote to accompany the drawing, and a translation of the description, under the title 'A Description of both Towns of Aberdeen.' The Latin description is printed from a manuscript, apparently in his father's hand, preserved in the library of the Faculty of Advocates, Edinburgh, and the translation from a manuscript in the same volume. In the original Straloch maps and plans in the Advocates' Library are pen-and-ink sketches by the parson of Rothiemay of St. Andrews and Cupar-Fife, of the former of which an engraving was published in the 'Bannatyne Miscellany', iii. 329, and of the latter in 'Ecclesiastical Records of St. Andrews and Cupar,' published by the Abbotsford Club, Edinburgh, 1837, p. 101. In 1646 Gordon wrote a commonplace book of practical divinity. By William Gordon, author of the 'History of the Illustrious Family of Gordon,' who made large use of its materials, the 'History of Scots Affairs' is attributed to Robert Gordon of Straloch, the parson's father. But Man, in his introduction to projected 'Memoirs of Scots Affairs from 1624 to 1651,' states, on the authority of James Gordon of Techmuiry, the parson's grandson, that the historical manuscripts were written, not by Straloch, but by his son James. This is corroborated by internal evidence, although probably the parson was indebted to his father for much of his information. The author of the 'History of the Gordons' says that he had not been able to recover any of the manuscript of more recent date than September 1640; and Dr. William Gordon, in his 'Life of Gordon of Straloch,' states that, 'receiving no encouragement in a time of general distress, it was soon abandoned.' Not improbably, therefore, it never extended beyond 1640. Dr. William Gordon, writing in 1780, states that ninety sheets of the manuscript from 1637 to 1640 remained in possession of representatives of the family. The edition of 'Scots Affairs' published by the Spalding Club in 3 vols. 1841 was printed from a copy transcribed, at the expense of the university of Aberdeen, by James Paterson, schoolmaster at St. Machar, from a copy in the possession of the grammarian Thomas Ruddiman. While the volumes were passing through the press, the original manuscript possessed by Ruddiman was placed at the editor's disposal by General Gordon of Cairness and Buthlaw. It was found to be in the autograph of the parson of Rothiemay, and from the marks in the margin appears to have been written at intervals from the end of 1659 till about the spring of 1661. On the first page there is inscribed in Ruddiman's handwriting: 'This was written either (as is supposed) by the famous Robert Gordon of Straloch, or by — Gordon, parson of Rothemay.' From another copy in the possession of the 'laird of Techmuiry' Man made large extracts, which are contained in two volumes of his 'Historical Collections' in the Advocates' Library, Edinburgh. The parson's father, Gordon of Straloch, bequeathed him all his maps, papers, and descriptions relating to Scotland, with the injunction that they were not to be published until they were well corrected (will of Gordon of Straloch, Scots Affairs, appendix to preface, No. iii.) Except that his remissness in the 'exercise of discipline' against persons suspected of anti-covenanting leanings led occasionally to grave admonitions from the visitation commissions, Gordon's life as a pastor seems to have been uneventful. He died on 26 Sept. 1686. He is thus characterised by Man: 'The stoicism which has been observed in that family (besides expressing strong sense in ordinary conversation in broad Scots) was likewise observed in him. He is said to have been a dealer in judicial astrology.' He was twice married, first to Margaret, sister of James Gordon, laird of Rothiemay, without issue, and secondly to Katherine Gordon, of whose family there is no mention, by whom he had two sons. The two youngest died without issue, and the eldest, James, who succeeded his father in the lands of Zeochrie, Banffshire, acquired in 1686 by marriage the estate of Techmuiry, Buchan.

[Prefaces to Scots Affairs (Spalding Club, 1841); Preface to Aberdoniæ Utriusque Descriptio (ib. 1842); Introduction to Bleau's Atlas, vol. vi. ed. 1662; Hew Scott's Fasti Eccles. Scot. iii. 214-15.]  GORDON, JAMES (1664–1746), Scotch catholic prelate, son of Patrick Gordon, who possessed the estate of Glastirum, and was a cadet of the Letterfourie family, was born in the Enzie, Banffshire, in 1664. He was sent to the Scotch College at Paris in 1680, and after being ordained returned to Scotland in 1692. He officiated as missionary priest in his native district till 1702, when he was sent to assist William Leslie, who had long been agent to the Scotch mission in its intercourse with the holy see. While there he was elected coadjutor, cum futura successione, to Bishop Thomas Joseph Nicholson. Owing to the severity of the persecution of catholics in Scotland, extraordinary pains were taken to keep Gordon's appointment and consecration secret. By direction of Clement XI he was consecrated at Montefiascone, with all secrecy,