Appendices.
Historical Documents.
I.
EXTRACTS FROM THE "SWEDEN AND DENMARK CORRESPONDENCE, 1612,"[136] IN
THE PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON.
_Letter from_ SIR ROBERT ANSTRUTHER _to the_ KING, _dated from
Coppenhagen the 8 of Juin 1612_.
Most humbly sheweth unto your Majestie,
* * * * *
Moreover Sir, they heire are much greeved against Scottis men, in
regairde of some Scottis shippes, that have nowe of late fallen in,
In Norroway,[137] and done great hurt unto the inhabitants there,
and taken sindrie shippes out of theire havens, which the Dunkirkers
never did in tyme of warre: the one shippe is found to have been the
Erle of Orknayis, for shee was a flybotte of Dunkerke, that he had,
and one Stewart is Captane of herre; ther is another shippe in the
companie whois captaine is also named Stewart; and they have a thirde
shippe the Captane wherof is a Hollander: and the fourth is a pryse
that they have taken: they have beene the first, thirde and fyft
of Juin, in sundrie harbreis of Norroway; I have myself reade the
letters sent hither to the Chancellor, with havie complaints against
them. They heere doe beleeve certainely, that they have commission,
ather from Wormistoun, or els from S^r Robert Stewart, wich I have
protested instantlie against, assuring them that if such a thing be
with there consent, they never darre looke yo^r M^{tie} in the face.
In lyk maner this last winter, at my being heere in Denmark in that
great defaitte that Gustavus had, there was a Skots Ansient[138]
taken prisoner when there was no quarter kept amongst them, whois
name is Pryngle; the King wpone my most humble suit, and by meanes
of the Chancellor, sett him at libertie, in regard that he was your
M^{is} subject, as he hath done sindrie others: this Pringle, efter
he had given his oathe and a reversse taken under his hand, that he
should never goe to Sweden, nather serve against the King of Denmark,
he is now taken againe, in a shippe going to Sweden, and I am almost
ashamed to speek any more, in his behalfe; with such things I ame
oft met heere: as also with thir Inglish mariners sindrie discontent.
So I humblie crave your M^{tie} pardone, for trowbling of your
M^{tie} with thir Idle matters, but they being used as arguments
against me in conference, I thought good to lett your M^{tie} know
the trewth.
* * * * *
_Draft from the_ KING'S SECRETARY _to_ SIR ROBERT ANSTRUTHER, _dated
9, August 1612_.
Sir,
His Ma^{ty} hath commanded me to lett you understand that having
heard yesternight by meere accident that certein companies of men
were levying in Scotland and redy to embarke under the conduct of
Ramsey, Steward and some other captaines his Ma^{ty} enquiring
whither they intended it was told him that they went for Sweeden,
which his Ma^{ty} being displeased with gave order presently for the
stay of the levy and whereas some good number of them were alredy
embarked before his Ma^{ty} heard the newes or redy to embarke his
Highness also hath given order to discharge them and doth utterly
disadvow anie act of theirs and although he have been told by ther
frendes that they desired to serve the King of Sweeden in Muscovy
and they should be farre from annoying the King of Denmarke yet was
not his Ma^{ty} satisfied therwith but hath sent to forbidde them,
accompting it all one to serve the King of Sweden there or neerer
to Denmarke for that it should but enable him to use the greater
force against the King of Denmarke. And this his Ma^{ty} doth out
of memory of his promise to the King of Denmarke and out of his
especiall care to discharge all parts of a kinde frend and brother
towardes him. And least anie evill report should be brought to his
eare of the levying and embarking of these men his Ma^{ty} thought
fit to be the first reporter of it himselfe by you his Minister there
and his pleasure therefore is that you take the first opportunity
to advertise him of it in his Ma^{tys} name both how the levy was
without his Ma^{tys} warrant and how spedely his Highnes uppon the
first hearing of it did take order to prohibit their proceeding.
SIR ROBERT ANSTRUTHER _to the_ KING.
_From Halmestade the [=10] of Agust 1612._
Most humbly sheweth unto your Majestie,
* * * * *
The King of Denmark is informed, that one Menigowe a fleeming,
haveing in companie with him fyfteen hundreth men, is to meet
with Androw Ramsay, in some pairt of the North of Scotland, about
Caithness, or Orknay, who hath in lyk maner moe than a thowsand
Scottis men with, and so they mynd to joine their forces togither,
and to fall upon Norroway, and spoile some towns, and so to goe into
Sweden. The King of Denmark doeth much mervaile theirat, in regaird
of that letter which your M^{tie} sent wnto him, when Sir Robert
Stewart, and Maister Ramsay went first into Sweden: whereby your
M^{tie} desyred, that they might pass saively, for particulairs of
their owne; and that their going shuld in no wayis prejudge the King
of Denmark: notwithstanding Maister Ramsay being come to Sweden, maid
offer of his service to the Prince and State of Sweden: and coming
owt againe, had letters and directions to my Lord of Wormeston,
which he did throw in the sea, being taken prisoner by the King of
Denmarks ships, and browght unto the King, and examined upon his
oathe if he had any commission for leveing of men, for the King of
Swedens wss, or if he intended to goe bak againe to serve him: all
which he then flatly denyed, and did sweare that he shuld never serve
against Denmark; wherewpon he was dismissed, with a saveconduict
to goe through the King of Denmarks dominions. Notwithstanding of
this, the King of Denmark is certainly informed by men comed owt
of Scotland, that he hath leveed men about Eden^{gh} and imbarked
them at Leeth: And moreover his M^{tie} tould me of a particular
man that wes killed in Leith by one of his companie, which caused
a great sturre amongst some noble men, and the towne of Leith.
His M^{tie} wsed this speech as an argument to prove, that such
leveis, and imbarkements so neere to Eden^{bh} could not be done
without permission of the State: whereto I answered, that I beleeved
certainly, that these leveis were not, by any authoritie of your
M^{tie} or the State, but only voluntarie men, of whom the cuntry is
full, for want of Imployment.[139] And moreover I called his M^{tie}
to mynd, that 10 yeers agoe when William Ogilvye, and 6 yeers agoe
when Wormeston went over in tyme of peace betwixt Denmark and Sweden:
notwithstanding I know perfytly, that none of them had licence to
lift wp men, without express command of your M^{tie} that they shuld
never Imploy themselves, or their men, against the crowne of Denmark;
farre more easily his M^{tie} myght beleeve that now in tyme of
warres y^r M^{tie} would give leave to no subject of yours, to goe
serve against him: I perceave by the Kings speeches if they come in
his hands, they shall runne a great hasard.
* * * * *
His Majesty heering of the forces that M^r Ramsay and Menigow have
assembled did send shippes alreadie, towards the coaste of Norroway:
and heering certainly of their strenth, intendeth to send moe shippes
and men.
* * * * *
receaved 17^{th} Septem at Havering.
SIR ROBERT ANSTRUTHER _to_ SIR THOMAS LACHE, _Knyght and secretairie
to his M^{tie}_.
_From Coppenhagen the 26 of Agust 1612._
Honorable Knyght,
* * * * *
Efter that Wormestons man was send away, I receaved upon the morrow,
the Kings M^{teis} directions, conteaned in your letter, concerning
M^r Ramsayis proceedings: I hope his M^{tie} shall be content with my
answers, to the King of Denmarks objections and complaints against
M^r Ramsey and his doings: for the King was long before informed of
his proceedings, with one Menigow a fleeming who shuld joine with
him, and fournish him armour, and money: as I have written at large
in my letter to his M^{tie}.
* * * * *
_Draft of Letter from the_ KING _to_ SIR ROBERT ANSTRUTHER, _dated
16, Sept 1612_.
Trustie etc.
* * * * *
As for the Scottishmen gon into Sweeden; wee hope that by o^r Lres by
Quarryer w^{ch} wilbe w^{th} yo^w before these, the King will have
receaved satisfa[=ccon] in that matter. And as wee wrote then, wee
wold bee curious to informe ourself, how that cold be, considering
o^r order given to the contrary, when o^r Secretary of Scotland shold
be come, who was then upon the way, soe have wee upon his arrivall
made very straight enquiry of the passage of that matter, and cannot
find other then this; That as heretofore upon our first entring into
this Kingdome, the Earle Hume and some others did Levye some men for
the Archdukes service (though making us privately acquainted w^{th}
it) yet having no publique warrant nor striking any drumme, but
only passing them in silence; Soe now the Captens of this Levye did
by that example suppose to themselves; that usuing the same privie
maner of proceeding w^{th}out drumme or Ensigne displayed (though
not making us acquainted w^{th} it) they might without offence have
caryed away such as they cold move voluntarily to goe; the rather,
for that they protest they had no purpose to serve against the
King of Denmarke, but to be employed in Muscovia; a misconceipt of
theires w^{ch} wee doe no wayes allowe; for indeed it is all one, as
if they did, seeing their serving the King of Sweeden in that part
doth but enable him to be the stronger against Denmarke. And o^r
said Secretary doth further assure us upon his creditt w^{th} us;
that the Levye was so closely caryed, as that untill o^r Lres came
to o^r Councell of Scotland for the stay of them; he had never for
himselfe heard of any such thing to be in hand; He doth further adde
that it is likely; that Andrew Ramsey being the cheif of the buisnes
(whose brother all men knowe what place he hath w^{th} us) many did
suppose that it was not w^{th}out our liking; that he undertooke the
transporting of them, untill by our prohibition the contrary was
made manifest. Although these be the excuses, w^{ch} our Councell
of Scotland have made to us for this erro^r, yet have they not so
satisfied us therew^{th}, that that wee have lett them knowe how much
wee mislike some dullnes of theirs, w^{ch} they ca[=n]ot avoyd; And
wee doe assure o^{r}self that hereafter no like thing will happen;
and pray the King to be perswaded; that if any of ours shall soe
farre forth forgett themselves as to serve any Adversarye of his; wee
shall impute it to them for no lesse fault, then if they served an
Enemy of our owne;
As for that point; concerning Andrew Ramsey, wherew^{th} the King
doth charge him; that having heretofore (after service don to the
late King of Sweeden) found favo^r at the King o^r brothers hande;
and given his faith to him never to serve the King of Sweeden against
him more; wee are so much displeased w^{th} his cariage therein; as
we meane to take a due tryall thereof; and if he doe not give us
satisfaccon although by course of Lawe the fact be of that nature
as hath no punishment p^{r}scribed; yet shall o^r usage towarde him
be such; as all men shall perceive how farre wee mislike men of so
unworthie disposi[=con].
_Draft from the_ KING _to_ SIR ROBERT ANSTRUTHER, _dated 30, Sept
1612_.
Trustie, etc.
* * * * *
Yo^w shall also lett him understand concerning Andrew Ramsey, as wee
wrote in o^r last lres to yo^u wee wold; so did wee take to speedie
order to have a tryall made what he could answere to the fowle fact
of breach of his faith to the Kings Ministers who had him prisoner
w^{ch} yo^r lres did charge him w^{th}; for w^{ch} purpose, he being
called before o^r Councell hid himself; and being often su[=m]oned
and not appearing, is for his contempt at the Horn, whereby yo^u may
say unto the King, he hath now given us a good ground to punishe him
by coorse of lawe; for that before although his fact proving true; we
might have ever thought of him as a naughtie and unworthie person,
yet could wee not have inflicted any punishement uppon him, for that
the declaring of Shelmo is not in use w^{th} us. But now having out
of his owne fact putt himself in the daunger of the lawe wee have
ground to proceed against him; whereby the King and all men shall see
how much we detest such acts.
Wee have also taken a coorse to trye whenne the moneys came w^{ch}
wee heard he had distributed to the men he levyed; And we doe find
that the money came not out of Sweeden; but from whence he had it
wee will spare to deliver at this p[=n]t, but at yo^r retorne wee
will make yo^u acquainted w^{th} it, and by yo^u, the King shall
afterwardes understand.
SIR ROBERT ANSTRUTHER _to the_ KING.
_From Coppenhagen 26 October 1612._
Humblie sheweth unto your Majestie,
* * * * *
Doutles your M^{tie} heth hard, of that infortunat accident that
hapned unto [=300] of your M^{is} subjects, which landed in Norroway,
under the conduict of Alex^r Ramsay, (Lieutenant Coronell unto
Coronel Ramsay) captane Hay, and Captane Sinclaire. Efter they had
martched six dayis within the cuntry, pressing to goe through to
Sweden, were overcharged by the inhabitants of the cuntry, and all
killed, except some few, of which the said lieutenant Ramsay, and
Captane Bruce, James Monypenny, and James Scott these foure were
sent to Denmark efter their coming hither, a counsell of warre
was called, to have examined them, and efterward to have given
judgement upon them. Efter I had spoken with them, and fand that
theire journey was interprysed rashly, and rather simple then weel
advysed; for not one of them had any kynd off commission or warrant
to shew, nather from the late King Charles, nather from Gustavus,
neither from Coronell Ramsay; wherein first they would have beene
condemned of great simplicitie, or ignorance: and nixt founde to be
plaine invaders, and ravers of the Kings Dominiouns, and subjects,
and a severe judgem[=e]t would have followed, in regairde the King
was much discontented, for eviting of this publick censure, and
danger, I thought good to labour to have them privily examined in
the presence only of the Chancellore and Bredo Rantzow, where I was
myself, (unworthie) present: their depositione is sent with them
selfs unto your M^{tie} hoping it shall be farre better for them to
come into the hands of your Royall M^{tie} whoe ever had used grace,
and clemencie unto those, that offends of simplicitye, and not of
willfulnes.
* * * * *
_Letter from_ SIR ROBERT ANSTRUTHER _to_ SIR THOMAS LACHE, _Knyght,
etc. Coppenhagen, 26 of October 1612_.
* * * * *
I dout not but you have hard the infortunat newis of these 300
Scottis men that went to Norroway; the bours of the country haue
killed, and murthered them all, except some few, whereof Captane
Alex^r Ramsay, Captane Henry Bruce, James Monypenny, and James Scott
are saved, and sent by the King of Denmark unto his M^{tie} of great
Britannie: for it is much better for them to come in the hands of a
gratious and mercifull King, then to runne the hasarde and judgement
of a merschel court of warre, which was heere ordained for them, if I
had not prevented it, and procured, efter private examination, that
they shuld be sent into Ingland.
* * * * *
_Paper endorsed 15, Sep 1612._ _The examination of_ ALEXANDER RAMSEY.
A.
Anno MDCXII. die XV. mensis Octobris, in horto Sereniss^{mi} ac
Potentiss^{mi} Principis ac Domini, Domini CHRISTIANI Quarti, Daniæ,
Norwagiæ, etc. Regis & Domini nostri clementissimi, coram nobis,
Roberto Anstrutero, Ser^{mi} magnæ Britanniæ pro tempore Legato,
Christiano Frisio et Bredone Rantzovio, regni Daniæ Senatoribus,
constitutus Alexander Ramse, et ad diversa interrogata, hæc quæ
sequuntur, confessus fuit.
Se ab Andrea Ramse in Locum tenentem assumptum: dictum verò Andream,
se Caroli, Regis Sueciæ, literis, ad summi Ducis officium ascitum
esse, affirmasse: Veruntamen nullas hac de re literas vidisse: De
stipendio non conventum esse; spem sibi factam, fore, ut tantum
stipendii, quantum quilibet alter supremi Ducis Locum tenens in
Suecia, acciperet.
Correptus; quod S^æ R^æ M^{tis} Magnæ Britanniæ mandatum transgressus
esset, contrà intulit se prænominati Andreæ Ramse fidem sequutum:
Dixerat enim, jamdicta S^a M^{te} Magnæ Britanniæ sciente et
indulgente illa fieri.
Societatem constitisse tribus, suâ propriâ, et duabus aliis personis,
Georgio Sincklar et Georgio Hey, singulis centum peditum præfectis.
Se, Alexandrum, Dondi navim conscendisse: duos verò prædictos
Capitaneos Ketnes, insularum, quæ Orcadibus annumerantur, unâ, tribus
miliaribus Germanicis Orcadibus distante solvisse.
Senatores regni Scotiæ hæc omnia latere, neq^e facultatem unquam
petitam; Verùm præfati Andreæ Ramse verbis et promissis nitentes,
transfretasse.
Sistendi locum fuisse præfixum sub Hetlandia, quò mille militibus,
et tribus armorum millibus Munichouen, ut et supremus Dux Hacket,
Scotus, mille peditibus instructi, confluerent, numero ad tria millia
accrescente.
Secundo die Augusti illinc solvisse: Se, Alexandrum Ramse, 400
Sterlingorum libras, in centum milites impendisse. Majores enim
sumptus fieri, furtim et clam, quàm publicé, militem conscribendo.
Jacobum Nisbet Edinburgensem, periculum, quod navis incurrere
posset, in se recepisse. Rusticos Norwagienses iter monstrasse, ubi
appulerant in Ramsdal, in Iisfiord.
Huic examini interfuere Jacobus Monipenne et Jacobus Scott.
In majorem hujusce examinis et confessionis, præfati Alexandri Ramse,
fidem, propriarum manuum subscriptione hæc corroborare voluimus.
Actum Hafniæ, [=15] die mensis Octobris, Anno &c. 1612.
ROBERTUS ANSTRUTHER.
CHRISTIANUS FRIIS
_manu Ppria_.
BRINDE RANTZOVIO
_manu hanc_, etc.
_Translation of foregoing._
In the year 1612, on the fifteenth day of the month of October, in
the garden of the Most Serene and Powerful Prince and Lord, CHRISTIAN
the Fourth, King of Denmark, Norway, etc., and our most gracious
Liege, was Alexander Ramsay brought into the presence of us, Robert
Anstruther, _pro tem_. Ambassador of His Most Serene Majesty of
Great Britain, Christian Friis, and Brinde Rantzow, councillors of
the realm of Denmark, and in answer to divers questions made the
statements which do hereinafter follow:--
That he had been appointed to the post of lieutenant-colonel by
Andrew Ramsay; that the said Andrew had declared that he had been
appointed to the office of colonel by a letter from Charles, King of
Sweden, but he had himself seen no such letter; that there had been
no agreement concerning pay; that he had been led to hope that he
would receive as much pay as any other lieutenant-colonel serving in
Sweden.
When reproached with having gone beyond the commands of His Majesty
of Great Britain, he set forth in his defence that he had relied
on the word of the aforesaid Andrew Ramsay; for he had said that
those things were being done with the knowledge and approval of His
aforesaid Sacred Majesty of Great Britain.
That an agreement had been made between three persons, himself and
two others, George Sinclair and George Hay, each being in command of
a hundred infantry.
That he, Alexander, had embarked at Dundee; but the two aforesaid
captains had set sail from Caithness, one of the islands which are
reckoned among the Orkneys (_sic_), but distant three German miles
from the Orkneys.
That all these things were unknown to the Council of the kingdom of
Scotland, nor had any permission been applied for; but that relying
on the words and promises of the aforesaid Andrew Ramsay, they had
crossed the sea.
That a stopping-place had been fixed upon beforehand off Shetland,
where Mönnichhofen, furnished with a thousand soldiers and three
thousand arms, as also General(?) Hacket (Halkett) of Scotland, with
a thousand infantry, were to meet, the number increasing to three
thousand.
That they had set sail from that place on the second day of August.
That he, Alexander Ramsay, had spent four hundred pounds sterling
upon a hundred soldiers; for that greater expenses were incurred in
enlisting soldiers privily and secretly than (by enlisting them)
publicly.
That James Nisbet of Edinburgh had taken upon himself the risk which
the ship might incur. That the Norwegian peasants had shown them the
way, when they had landed at Romsdal in Iisfiord.
At this examination were present James Moneypenny and James Scott.
That more reliance may be placed on this examination and deposition
of the aforesaid Alexander Ramsay, we have wished to corroborate
these statements by the signatures of our own hands.
Done at Copenhagen, the 15th day of the month of October, in the
year, etc., 1612.
ROBERT ANSTRUTHER.
CHRISTIAN FRIIS.
(_Sign manual._)
BRINDE RANTZOW.
(_Sign manual._)
_Paper endorsed 1612, 27 Nov._ _The examination of_ ANDREW RAMSEY
_gent_.
The examination of Androw Ramsey gent. taken the 27 Nov. 1612, in the
presence of the Duke of L[=en]ox and Ld. Viscount Fenton.
Being asked when he came out of Sweeden whether he had any commission
from the King of Sweeden for levying of men he confesseth he had but
for service against the Muscovite and that being taken by the King of
Denmarkes ships he cast it into the sea.
Being asked when he was taken by the ships of Denmarke and examined
whether he made any promise or gave anie oth for not serving against
the King of Denmarke he denyeth that ever he made anie such promise
by speach or by oth or was ever pressed to do so nor did at that time
see the King of Denmarke.
Being asked how he durst undertake or goe about to levy men in
Scotland without the Kings licence or privity He sayth he did it of
ignorance not knowing but that he might lawfully take such as wold
goe And for his fault submitteth himself to his Ma^{ts} mercy as also
for using the Kings name to induce others w^{ch} he confesseth he did
and promised them to stand between them and anie danger.
Being asked if the King were acquainted w^{th} his doings He sayeth,
he never had any leave oversight or connivence directly or indirectly
from the King; either by himself; or by meanes or significa[=con] of
any other bodie.
Being asked if any of the Kings Councell of Scotland or any other
officers of the Kings were acquainted with his doings or did
encourage him. He sayth he never acquainted anie with it nor receaved
anie encouragement from them or anie els.
A. RAMSEY.
_Paper endorsed The examination of_ ANDROW RAMSEY _and_ ROBERT
DOWGLAS.
B.
Anno MDCXI. die XIX. mensis Decembris. S^a R^a M^{tas} Daniæ,
Norwegiæ & Dominus noster clementissimus, nobis infra nominatis,
clementissime injunxit, ut Scotum quendam, Andream Ramsö, qui una
cum duobus Locumtenentibus, totidemq^e famulis, navi ex Suecia
Lubecam tendens, in itinere unà cum navi captus atq^e Hafniam
conductus fuerat, posteà verò huc, uno Vicetenente comite, se
receperat, de subsequentibus capitibus, propriâ S^æ R^æ M^{tis}
manu designatis, interrogaremus, et quemlibet separatim examini
submitteremus.
1. Ubi locorum familiaritatem primò colere ceperint, quo hospitio et
hospite usi sint.
2. Quomodo commeatum vel abeundi facultatem obtinuerit.
3. Quot peregrini militum præfecti adhuc in Suecia, et quinam eorum
ad conscribendum militem extra regnum, degant.
4. Quorum conterraneorum, et ad quos literas secum ferant. Nullum
enim dubium, quin tam Stuardus, quàm alii ad suos amicos, literas
dederint.
5. Quidnam Stuardus cum literis salvi conductus, Calmariæ a Nobis
acceptis, egerit.
6. Causam dicat, cur Stuardus ab omnibus Suecis, Regis magnæ
Britanniæ, appelletur legatus.
7. Quasnam conditiones obtulerint Stuardo, ipsius ære se liberandi.
Vicetenens speciatim interrogandus, quomodo à Capitaneo suo
discesserit, et sub quo summo Duce stipendia fecerit.
Cùm vero meridianâ sit luce clarius, ejusmodi viris, qui diu in
Suecia militarem operam præstiterunt, sine specialioribus passagii
literis, abitum minime concedi, quo pacto inde solverit.
Hoc clementissimo mandato accepto, statim Ottonis, arcis præfecti
conclave, locum comparendi præfato Ramsö assignavimus, ibidem eundem
separatim examinavimus, et quæ sequuntur, in medium proferentem
audivimus.
Ad primum articulum: Locumtenentem, hic sibi comitem consanguineum
suum esse: Eundem Stockholmiæ, in diversorio Ducis Johannis, cuivis
ibi loci noto, quando cum suo capitaneo Lörmundt, etiam Scoto,
ex Livonia, ubi per quinquennium militasset veniret, casu in se
incidisse. Se, Ramsö, dicto vicetenenti veniam apud Ducem Gustavum
impetrasse.
Ad secundum: Nullas sibi, neq^e Regis, neq^e Ducum, Gustavi et
Johannis, verùm unas tantum Vicetenentis Stockholmiæ, in suum ipsius
duorum Locum-tenentium totidemq^e famulorum usum, salvi conductus
literas fuisse, quas Waxholmi, antequam navim ascendissent, redditas
post se reliquisset.
Ad tertium: Sequentes Duces et præfectos militum, adhuc in Suecia
commorari; Summum Ducem Roderfört, Scotum, ejusdem Locum-tenentem
Lormundt; Horum Legionem vel regimen constare 8 vel 9 cohortibus;
Capitaneum Wachop; Munichow; Summum Ducem Due; Casparum Matzen; Græc,
Scotum, magistrum machinarum fulminalium. In obsidione Calmariæ,
Sclopetæ globo jamdictu Graec tibiam alteram ita vulneratam, ut 20
ossicula exempta fuerint, atq^e jam num de vita ipsius desperari.
An aliqui, ad conscribendum externum militem emissi sint, se omnino
nescium esse.
Ad quartum: Nullas se habere literas.
Ad quintum: Stuardum literas salvi conductus navarchæ, à quo Calmariâ
Rusbuy vectus erat, tradidisse, ut èo meliùs ad suos redire posset;
vicetenentem etiam Hafniensem affirmasse, ad suas manus prædictas
literas venisse.
Ad sextum: Vulgum de Stuardo tanquam de Legato sentire; Stuardum verò
hoc ægrè ferre. In aula tamen non idem de ipso judicium fieri.
Ad septimum: Solutionis spe in ver proximum, pecunia vel cupro
interfuturo, Stuardum lactari.
Cæterum: prænominatus Ramsö, per discursum et incidenter retulit,
Dominum de la Ville, Gedanum abiisse, 7,000 Joachimicorum, ibidem
sibi numerandorum, literis cambii acceptis: Verùm nihil, nisi fraudem
et vana promissa, expertum esse: In obsidione Calmariæ latus alterum
ipsi globo ictum:
Dixisse etiam, quamvis ab Angelo cœlis delapso, sibi suaderetur, ut
in Suecia pedem sisteret, nequaquam tamen se facturum.
Omnes præfectos vel officiales regni Sueciæ, in Calmariæ obsidione,
præter Monnichowen, vulneratos esse: Ea ex causa, quod cæteros
prudentia anteiret, et eminus certare novisset. Hisce peractis,
ipsum in hospitium dimisimus, et Locumtenentem, Robertum Douglis,
accersi curavimus, eodem planè modo, ut supra ad præfatos articulos
responsionem ejus flagitantes.
Respondit: Se et dictum Ramsö, amitinos esse: In Scotia uxorem et
liberos se habere, ibidemq^e mali quid perpetrasse; in Livonia, per
sexennium militasse; Lubecam navi, cum qua captus erat, tendisse;
Eandem, pro ut navarcha videndi copiam fecisset, cuprum et ferrum
vehere.
Neq^e abitus neq^e conductus literas habere; et nisi in hunc Ramsö
forte incidisset, ex Suecia discedendi potestatem sibi denegatam
fuisse; Spatio 4 annorum, tribus mensibus exceptis, nihil stipendii
se accepisse. Capitaneum suum nunc in Suecia prope Boosund commorari;
Se tres septimanas solummodo in Suecia substitisse; Nicopingi verò
Capitaneum suum liquisse: Et quamvis commeatum petiisset, nihil
tamen, nisi, abeas, abeas, se ab eo oretenus obtinuisse. A Duce
Gustavo, illum petere, minime ausum fuisse: Capitaneum suum, officia
sua, Suecis ulterius promisisse: sex prætereà Capitaneos, natione
Scotos, ibidem adhuc inservire: Dominum de la Barre, circa 500
Equites Suecos ducere; limites defendere; nullum alias peregrinum
superesse militem.
Sex cohortes, 600 Equitum numero, ex Livoniâ proximo vere exspectari.
Se audivisse, quòd in Suecia, ne unica quidem Germani militis cohors,
integra sit. De conscribendo externo milite, nihil sibi constare,
nisi de eo postquam comitia finem habuerint, quidpiam inaudiri possit.
Gustavum specioso illo verbo, accipietis, accipietis, creditores æra
residua exigentes, prensare et pascere.
Nullas se habere literas, præter unas Mercatoris, cujusdam, et
schedulam cambii, 150 Thalerorum, ad civem quendam Lubecensem,
Hermannum Scheflerum; prædictam schedulam Rostochium mittendam.
De salvi conductus Stuardi literis, nihil sibi constare. Stuardum
verò præter victum nihil accepisse; ibidem hiemem consumpturum.
Non esse legatum, Stuardum: Rusticos quidem ita eum nuncupare: primò
ibidem à se visum.
Suecos maximâ consternatione percitos; destitui militibus; post
comitia, huc legatos missum iri; Regem Carolum, à populo devoveri;
Naves prope Stockholmiam, non nautis, sed Rustica plebe, regi; Pane
et halece, vulgò Strömling, victitare: In Muscovia etiam milites fame
perire.
Suecum non habiturum peregrinum, siquidem optimus hisce in oris jam
adsit, militem.
Alterum illum Locum-tenentem, qui nunc Hafniæ, præterita æstate
in Suecia, antea verò in Livonia militasse; ab hisce aliena non
relaturum.
Quod hæc omnia, ut supra consignata sunt, ita interrogaverimus, et
responsiones ad interrogata factas, præsentes audiverimus, manuum
nostrarum subscriptione et sigillis testamur.
Actum Friderichsburgi, 19 die Decembris 1611.
GEORGIUS LUNG,
Sacr^æ Reg^æ M^{tis}
Daniæ, etc., in
Orum præfectus,
et summus
Dux.
JOACHIMUS BULOW,
Sacr^æ R^æ Ma^{tis}
Daniæ, etc., in Friderichsburg
præfectus,
Equitum magister.
THOBIAS LAUTERBRAOS,
Sacr^æ Reg^æ Ma^{tis} Daniæ,
etc., exteraram nationum
Cancellariæ Secretarius.
_Translation of the foregoing._
In the year 1611, on the nineteenth day of the month of December, His
Royal Majesty of Denmark, Norway, etc., our most gracious Lord, did
most graciously enjoin upon us the undersigned to interrogate upon
the following heads, as set forth by His Royal Majesty's own hand, a
certain Scot, Andrew Ramsay, who, while crossing by sea from Sweden
to Lubeck with two lieutenants and two servants, had been, together
with the vessel, captured on the voyage and brought into Copenhagen,
and had afterwards, accompanied by one lieutenant, made his way
to this place; and, further, to submit each of them to separate
examination:--
1. Where did these two first become intimate? At whose house and at
whose hands did they receive entertainment?
2. How he obtained a letter of safe-conduct or a permission to leave
the country.
3. How many foreign officers are still in Sweden, and who of them are
engaged in raising troops abroad.
4. From whom among their countrymen and to whom they are conveying
letters. For there is no doubt that Stuart as well as others have
given letters to their friends.
5. What Stuart did with the letter of safe-conduct which he received
from us at Calmar.
6. Let him tell the reason why Stuart is called by all the Swedes
ambassador of the King of Great Britain.
7. What conditions they have offered to Stuart with a view to freeing
themselves from their debt to him.
The lieutenant to be asked especially how he came to leave his
captain, and under what commander (general?) he has served.
And since it is clearer than noonday that men like these, who have
long served in Sweden, would by no means be allowed to leave the
country without a special passport, how he managed to get away from
thence.
Immediately after this most gracious mandate had been received, we
assigned to the said Ramsay the private chamber of Otto, the governor
of the castle, as the place where he should present himself, and
there we examined him separately, and heard him make openly the
following statements:--
In answer to the first question--
That the lieutenant, his companion here, was a relative of his. That
he had fallen in with him by chance at Stockholm in the country-house
of Duke John--a house well known to every one in that place--on his
return with his captain, Learmonth, also a Scot, from Livonia, where
he had served for five years. That he, Ramsay, had obtained leave to
go (pardon?) from Duke Gustavus for the said lieutenant.
To the second--
That he had had no letter of safe-conduct either from the
King or from Dukes Gustavus and John, but only one from the
lieutenant-governor of Stockholm, for the use of himself, his two
lieutenants, and his two servants, which letter he had given up and
left behind him at Waxholm[140] before they embarked.
To the third--
That the following commanders and officers were still left in
Sweden:--General Rutherford, a Scot, and his lieutenant Learmonth;
that their force or regiment consisted of eight or nine companies;
Captain Wauchope; Mönnichhofen; General Due; Caspar Matzen; Greig, a
Scotchman, commander of the artillery. That at the siege of Calmar
the aforesaid Greig had been so severely wounded in the shin-bone by
a cannon-ball that twenty pieces of bone were taken out, and even
then they had little hope of his life. That he does not know at all
whether any officers have been sent to levy soldiers abroad.
To the fourth--
That he has no letters.
To the fifth--
That Stuart had given up the letter of safe-conduct to the captain of
the ship, who took him from Calmar to Ryswik(?)[141] to facilitate
his return home. Besides, the lieutenant-governor of Copenhagen had
stated that the aforesaid letter had come into his hands.
To the sixth--
That the common people looked upon Stuart in the light of an
ambassador, and that this annoyed him greatly; but at the Court he
was not regarded in the same light.
To the seventh--
That Stuart was being cajoled by the hope of payment in the following
spring, either in money or in copper.
Further: the said Ramsay did state, by the way and incidentally,
that the Sieur de la Ville had gone away to Danzig on the receipt of
a letter of credit to the amount of seven thousand dollars, payable
to him at that place, but that he had met with nothing but lies and
vain promises; that at the siege of Calmar he (de la Ville?) had been
struck in the side by a ball; and, further, he had said that though
an angel were to come down from heaven to persuade him to set foot in
Sweden, he would certainly refuse to do so.
That all the officers or officials in the employment of the King of
Sweden at the siege of Calmar had been wounded, except Mönnichhofen;
and the reason was that he surpassed the others in prudence, and knew
how to fight from a distance.
After this had been gone through, we dismissed him to his lodging,
and had the lieutenant, Robert Douglas, called, and in exactly
the same manner as above required him to answer to the aforesaid
questions.
He answered:--
That he and the said Ramsay were cousins; that he had a wife and
children in Scotland, and had committed some crime there; that he
had served for six years in Livonia; that he had been on his way to
Lubeck in the ship in which he had been captured; that the same ship
was carrying a cargo of iron and copper, as far as the captain had
given him an opportunity of seeing.
That he had no permission to leave the country, or letter of
safe-conduct; and had he not chanced upon this Ramsay, leave to
depart out of Sweden would have been refused him; that in the course
of four years, with the exception of three months, he had received
no pay; that his captain was now in Sweden in the neighbourhood of
Boosund; that he himself had only stayed three weeks in Sweden, but
had left his captain at Nyköping; and that although he had asked
for a letter of safe-conduct, he had received nothing in answer
to his entreaties but the words, "Begone, begone with you;" that
he had not dared to ask Duke Gustavus for this letter; that his
captain had promised his further services to the Swedes; that six
captains besides, Scotchmen by birth, were still in the service of
the country; that the Sieur de la Barre was in command of about five
hundred Swedish cavalry; that they were defending the frontier; that
no foreign soldiers were still left in any other place.
That six troops of cavalry, six hundred in all, were expected from
Livonia next spring; that he had heard it said that there is not
even one company of German soldiers in Sweden left entire. About the
enrolment of soldiers abroad he knows nothing, though something may
possibly be heard on the subject, after the session of the council is
over.
That Gustavus was putting off and nourishing (the hopes of) his
creditors, who were demanding their arrears of payment, with the
specious words, "Be sure you shall be paid, be sure you shall be
paid."
That he had no letter, except one from a merchant, a letter of credit
for one hundred and fifty thalers to a citizen of Lubeck, named
Hermann Schefler; that the said letter was to be sent to Rostock.
That he knew nothing about Stuart's letter of safe-conduct; that
Stuart had received nothing except his food; that he was going to
spend the winter there; that Stuart was not an ambassador; that the
country people indeed called him so; that he had seen Stuart for the
first time in Sweden.
That the Swedes were thoroughly panic-stricken; they were deserted by
their soldiers; after the session was over envoys would be sent here
(to treat for peace); that King Charles was execrated by the people;
the ships at Stockholm were manned with peasants, not sailors;
they had to live on bread and fish-brine, called by the natives
"_Strömling_;" that in Russia, too, the soldiers were dying by famine.
That the Swedes would not succeed in getting foreign soldiers, as the
best were already engaged in these parts (Denmark).
That the other lieutenant, who was now at Copenhagen, had served in
Sweden during the past summer, and previously in Livonia; that the
account he would give would not differ from the present.
That we did put all these questions as set down above, and that we
did hear with our own ears the answers given to those questions, we
bear witness with the signature of our own hands and seals.
Done at Fredericksborg on the 19th day of December 1611.
GEORG LUNG,
H.S.R.M.'S of
Denmark, etc.
Governor of
Aarhuus(?) (or
Aaroe?) and
General.
JOACHIM BULOW,
H.S.R.M.'S of
Denmark, etc.,
Governor of
Fredericksborg,
Master of the
Horse.
THOBIAS LAUTERBRAOS,
H.S.R.M.'S of Denmark,
etc., Secretary
to the Chancellery of
Foreign Affairs.
_Draft of a Letter from the_ KING _to_ SIR ROBERT ANSTRUTHER, _dated
21, Dec. 1612, with the examination of Andrew Ramsey_.
Trustie and well beloved, wee greet yo^u well.
* * * * *
Now for yo^{r}self; we cannot but take it in ill part from yo^u,
that wee heare so sealdome from yo^u; and thinck yo^u are, instead
of an Ambassado^r, become a Secretary to keepe Councell: for to
the severall dispatches wee have made to yo^u, one of the nynth of
August by Quarryer; one other of the sixteenth; and one other of the
second of October;[142] we have received no aunswere from yo^u. In
all w^{ch} we advertised yo^u of o^r proceeding upon the rumo^r wee
heard of the Levyes in Scotland; and what coorse wee had taken w^{th}
Andrew Ramsey; And willed yo^u to acquaint the king w^{th} both.
* * * * *
Last of all; concerning Andrew Ramsey; as wee have written before;
that if he fell into o^r handes wee wold so proceed w^{th} him;
as shold give the king satisfa[=ccon]: So may yo^u lett the King
understand that the said Andrew Ramsey being first fugitive in
Scotland (as wee have before sent yo^u word) and secretly comed
into England, moved there a quarrell to S^r Robert Carre of Ankram,
for discovering to us (as he said; whereby the king may see how his
proceeding was w^{th}out o^r privitie) Andrew Ramseys gathering
of men in Scotland; By occasion of w^{ch} Quarrell he came to be
apprehended: whome as soone as wee had, wee caused first to be
examined by some of o^r councell, as well upon the pointes the king
charged him w^{th}, as upon the transgressing of his duty towardes
us; to w^{ch} pointes wee have sent yo^u his aunswere under his owne
hand. And upon this Confession of his, his fault being of that nature
as doth not by any Lawe here or in Scotland forfaite life or Lymme;
and the custome of declaring Schellum being not w^{th} us in use;
wee have by oure warrant under oure hande banished him out of all
oure Dominions; w^{ch} next unto death, is the highest punishment
wee could inflict; And for the rest of his company; you may assure
the King wee find them innocent of any fault; and only misled by
his authority; whoe assuring them he had our connivence, and having
a Brother so nere about us, was easily beleeved; especially using
no open proceeding w^{th} drumme, but gathering them w^{th} silence
and secrecye, it carryed a shew as though wee had permitted it. But
he having therein abused us as well as them; hath now receaved the
punishment due to so lewd a part. As for the prisoners sent unto us
you may say, finding them likewise no otherwise in fault then as
abused by Ramsey; Wee have sent them home to their countrye. And
for Bruce; we sawe no cause to punishe him, seeing the King himself
layeth nothing to his Charge; but that he refused to be a Gaoler to
the rest.
_Letter from_ SIR ROBERT ANSTRUTHER, _dated_ "_frome Elsonbourg in
Sconeland the [=24] of Januarie 1613_" _to_ SIR THOMAS LACH, _knyght,
secretarie in the Latin tongue to his M^{tie} of Great Britaine, etc._
Honorable and worthie knyght,
* * * * *
Concerning the proceedings with Mr. Ramsay, his M^{tie} resteth weell
contented: but I hope seeing the warres are ended, and a ferme peace
maide that his M^{tie} also will forget those particular querrels.
there shall be no thing wanting that may forder it. Concerning them
that were killed, and taken prisonners, God knoweth it greeved me
much, both for the loss of the men, as also for the King of Denmarkes
cause; for I know it will not forder the nation's goodwils, which no
smal matter eavint to a great prince.
I ame sorye that the poaste which I sent for Inglande the [=26] of
October hath been so long a comeing to yow, whereby I perceave his
M^{tie} doeth charge me of negligence, in advertising how matters doe
goe heere.
I hope his M^{tie} will not imput that longsomnes of a Poaste unto
me, and soe I hope your self will mak my humble excuses.
* * * * *
FOOTNOTES:
[136] In manuscript.
[137] There appears to be no record in Norwegian history of these
piratical visits. They may possibly have been undertaken with the
view of selecting a place of disembarkation for the Scottish levies.
The Earl of Orkney in question was one of the great feudal lords
of Scotland. He committed "many extravagant excesses of arbitrary
authority amongst the wild recesses of the Orkney and Zetland
Islands;" and having at length shown some token of a wish to assume
sovereign power, he was tried and executed at Edinburgh on the 6th
February 1614 ("Tales of a Grandfather"). In the Swedish State
Archives is preserved a letter, dated London, April 4, 1611, from
"Robert Stewart" to Steinbock, Swedish ambassador at the Hague,
urging that if money be sent there is a good opportunity of engaging
men, as "thair is sum companeis to be cassered out of holand ...
this nixt mounth." There is also an earlier letter from him to the
same ambassador, dated London, December 10, 1610, recommending the
bearer, Captain Stewart, for employment, and asking, "Hwat seruice
your maister the King of Sueden will employ me with and wpon what
condiciounes. Without mony I noe he can do no seruice to the Kyng
your (L) maister." On the 29th November 1610 the Duke of "Lenox"
wrote to Steinbock, warmly recommending Captain James Stuart, who
desired to repair a second time to Sweden. Another letter from him
(likewise in the Swedish Archives), relating to William Stuart, will
be found on page 178.
[138] Ensign.
[139] The removal of the royal residence from Edinburgh attracted
to England Scotch courtiers and men of rank who made fortunes by
King James's favour. On the other hand, the sons of the gentry and
better classes, "whose trade had been war and battle," were deprived
of employment by the general peace with England, and the Scottish
nation felt at the same time the distress arising from an excess of
population. "To remedy the last evil," says Sir Walter Scott, "the
wars on the Continent afforded a resource peculiarly fitted to the
genius of the Scots, who have always had a disposition for visiting
foreign parts."
[140] A town and fortress near Stockholm.
[141] Near the Hague.
[142] The letters found in the Public Record Office are dated
respectively 9th August, 16th September, and 30th September 1612.
II.
COPIES OF DOCUMENTS[143] FROM THE GENERAL REGISTER HOUSE, EDINBURGH.
1.
Apud Edinburgh quarto Augusti 1612.
Sederunt
SECRETAR KILSYTH
CLERK REGISTER SIR JOHNNE ARNOT
ADVOCAT
[Sidenote: Proclamatoiun dischargeing the transporting of souldiouris
to Sweden.]
Forsamekle as the Kingis Majestie and lordis of secrete counsell ar
informed that certane personis abuseing His Majesteis princely name
power and auctoritie hes maid some levyis of men within this kingdome
to be transportit to the weare of Swaden, his Majestie being noways
acquented, nor maid foirsene thairof nor his hienes licence haid and
obtenit to that effect wharin thair presumptioun is so muche the moir
greater in that thir levyis ar maid aganis his Majesteis darrest
bruthir the King of Denmark his Majestie haveing formerlie refuisit
the King of Swaden to grant him ony supplie of men or vtherwys for
his assistance aganis the said King of Denmark, And besydis this
heich presumptioun of the personis foirsaidis thay haif to the fardir
contempt of the Kingis Majestie and misregard of law ordour and
justice violentlie pressit and tane a grite nomber of honnest menis
bairnis and servandis hes put thame in schipboard aganis thair will
and intendis to transport thame to the countrey of Swaden whareupon
suche ane universall complaynt murmour and greif of his Majesteis
subjectis is raisit throughout the haill countrey as yf thay levit
not in the conditioun of frie subjectis bot war undir the slaverie
and tirrannie of strangearis quhilk being ane abuse intollerable
and not hard of in a free kingdome the same aucht to be advertit to
preventit and stayed And thairfoir the saidis lordis ordanis lettres
to be direct to command charge and inhibit all and sindrie personis
bering the name of Colonell or Capitane within this Kingdome and all
utheris haveing commandiment under thame that thay nor nane of thame
presome nor tak upoun hand to cary or transport furth of this realme
to the said Kingdome of Swaden ony sojouris or men of weare upoun
quhatsomevir cullour or pretens, And that thay onnawys presse nor
tak ony men heirefter under the pane of dead certifeing thame that
failyees or dois in the contrair that thay salbe takin apprehendit
and execute to the dead without favour and without ony respect of
thair birth qualyteis or uther conditioun quhatsomevir, And siclyke
to command charge and inhibite the maisteris awnaris and marineris
of all and quhatsomevir schippis and veschellis that thay onnawys
presome nor tak upoun hand to mak saill nor to transport ony of the
saidis sojouris and men of weare listit and tane up for the saidis
weares of Swaden under the foirsaid pane of dead And yf neid beis
to fens and arrest the saidis schippis and to tak the saillis from
the raes swa that thay depairt not As alswa to command and charge
all schireffis justices of peace provestis and bailleis of burrowis
and utheris judgeis officiaris and magistratis to burgh and land,
that whenevir they salbe adverteist be complaynt or uthirwys that
ony personis ar preist and tane to be transportit as said is that
they immediatlie rail his Majesteis subjectis nixt adjacent yf neid
beis and releve the persone or personis swa tane and prest aganis
their will, And that thay tak and apprehend suche personis as ar the
takaris of thame and keepe thame in sure firmance quhill ordour be
tane for thair tryall and punneishment as appertineth.
2.
[Sidenote: Proclamation aganis the souldiouris listed for Swaden.]
Forsamekle as the lordis of secrete counsell hes ressavit sindrie
informationis that of laite thair hes bene ane verie extraordinar and
uncouthe oppressioun committit upoun divers of oure soverane lordis
good subjectis be certane personis undir the pay and commandiment
of the Capitanes and utheris bowne for the weares of Swaden who
haveing shaikin af all reverence of the law and regaird of ordour
modestie and discretioun hes most presumptouslie at thair handis
without lauchfull warrand power or commissioun violentlie prest and
tane a grite many honnest menis sones and servandis and hes caryed
thame to their schippis aganis thair will of purpois to transport
thame to Swaden And the further to testifie their most presumptous
and heich contempt divers of thame in swaggering manner gois athorte
the countrey awayting the tyme and occasioun how and whair thay may
apprehend ony personis travelling in thair lauchfull adois and yf
thay may be maisteris of thame thay immediatlie lay handis on thame
and be force and violence caryis thame to the nixt shoir whair thay
haif thair boites in reddines to tak thame aboard of thair shippis
sua that thair is suche a feir and dredour rissin amangis the commoun
people that nane of thame dar travell in thair lauchfull adois unles
thay be accompanyed and upoun thair gaird able to withstand and
resist the violence and injurie of the saidis personis and divers
young and able fellowis who war resolvit to haif come to thir pairtis
to haif awaitit upoun the harvest and cutting down of the cornis, ar
upoun the occasioun foirsaid affrayit to come heir This is ane abuse
and contempt most intollerable the lyk quhairof hes not bene hard of
in this kingdome Wharin althoch the lordis of his Majesteis previe
counsell hes bene most cairfull to haif tane ordour and accordinglie
to haif punneist the committaris of thir enormiteis, yitt in
regaird of the silence of these who hes sustenit wrang and that no
particular complaynt hes bene maid heirupoun to the saidis lordis
The ordour taking with this abus and contempt hes bene neglectit and
ovirsene Alwys the saidis lordis considering how far the ovirsicht
and impunitie of suche ane offens may prejudge his Majesteis good
subjectis heireftir yf upoun this preparative and example utheris
undewtifull personis sall presome to attempt the lyk And the saidis
lordis being verie desyrous to gif contentment and satisfactioun by
cours of justice to suche personis as will complaine and justifie
thair complaintis Thairfoir ordanes lettres to be direct chargeing
officiaris of armes to pas to the marcat croce of Edinburgh and
uthiris places neidfull and thair be oppin proclamatioun to intimat
and declair to all his Majesteis subjectis who hes sustenit ony harme
or violence of the saidis personis that yf thay will complaine to
the saidis lordis and justifie and qualitie thair complaintis that
thay sall haif suche favorable justice ministrat unto thame as sall
gif unto thame satisfactioun and salbe ane terrour to all utheris to
committ the lyk enormiteis heirefter.
3.
[Sidenote: Charge aganis Capitanes Hay, Ker, and Sinclair.]
Forsamekle as the Kingis Majestie and lordis of secrete counsell ar
informed that Capitane Hay Capitane Ker and Capitane Sinclar hes
tane up and listit some companyis of men within this kingdome to
be transportit to the weares of Swaden his Majestie noways being
acquented nor maid foirsene thairof nor his Majesteis licence haid
and obtenit to that effect wharin thair presumptioun is so muche
the moir in that thir levyis ar maid aganis his Majesteis darrest
bruthir the King of Denmark his Majestie haveing formerlie refuised
the King of Swaden to grant him ony supplie in that querrell, And
besydis this heich presumptioun of the saidis Capitanes to levey his
Majesteis borne subjectis to serve a forreynnar without his Majesteis
allowance they haif to the further contempt of the Kingis Majestie
violentlie tane grite nombaris of honnest menis bairnis and servandis
and hes caryed thame aboord of thair schippis quhair they ar detenit
as slaves and captaves aganis thair will quhill the commoditie of
thair transport be offerrit This is ane abuse most intollerable,
the lyk quhairof hes not bene hard of in this Kingdome quhairupoun
suche ane generall and universall complaint is maid be his Majesteis
subjectis throughout the haill Kingdome as yf thay levit not in the
conditioun of frie subjectis bot war under the slaverie and tyrrannie
of strangearis Thairfoir the saidis lordis ordanes lettres to be
direct to command charge and inhibite the saidis three Capitanes and
utheris officiaris and memberis of thair companyis that they onnawys
presome nor tak upoun hand to cary or transport furth of this realme
to the said Kingdome of Swaden ony sojouris and men of weare under
quhatsomevir cullour or pretext quhill first they obtene licence of
oure Soverane Lord to that effect, and that this licence be intimat
to his Majesteis counsell and thair consent haid thairunto under
the pane of dead As alsua that thay onnawise presome to presse and
be violence to tak and detene ony men heirefter under the said pane
certifeing thame that failyees or sall do in the contrair heirof
that they salbe followit and persewit takin apprehendit and execute
to the dead without favour And siclyk to command charge and inhibite
the maisteris awnaris skipperis and marinaris of all and quhatsomevir
shippis and veshellis that they onnawyse presome nor tak upoun hand
to louse and mak saill nor to transport ony of the saidis Capitanes
or thair companyis furth of this realme under quhatsomevir cullour
or pretens under the pane of confiscation of the saidis schippis and
veschellis to his Majesteis use, and furder under the pane of dead to
be execute upoun the saidis maisteris awnaris skipperis and marineris
incais thay failyee in the premissis, And for this effect to fens and
arrest the saidis schippis and veschellis and to tak thair saillis
fra the raes quhairthrough thay depairt not And to command and charge
the provestis and bailleis of the burrowis and townes in whose roadis
or harboryis the saidis schippis and veshellis ar lyand that they go
aboard of the saidis schippis concurre with his Majesteis officeris
in making of the said arrestment and taking of the saillis fra the
raes And siclyk that they examine the haill personis being within the
saidis schippis quhidder or not they haif bene violentlie tane and
detenit aganis their willis and yf ony within the saidis schippis
will complene of violent taking and detentioun, that the saidis
provestis and bailleis see thame put to libertie furth of the saidis
shippis And siclyk to command and charge all schireffis justices
of peace and utheris magistratis and officeris to burgh and land
that quhensoevir thay sall heir or be adverteist be complaynt or
utherwis that ony personis ar violentlie tane and detenit that thay
immediatlie rys follow and persew the same personis and the takaris
of thame and keep thame in sure firmance quhill ordour be tane for
thair triall and punneishment as appertineth.
4.
[Sidenote: Charge aganis Colonell Ramsay.]
Forsamekle as the lordis of secrete counsell hes laitlie ressavit
some directioun from the Kingis Majestie concerning thir men of
weare listit under the pay and command of Colonell ---- Ramsay to
be transportit to the weares of Swaden Thairfoir the saidis lordis
ordanes lettres to be direct chargeing the said Colonell ---- Ramsay
to compeir personalie befoir the saidis lordis upoun the morne efter
the charge to heir and sie his Majesteis will pleasour and directioun
in this mater imparted and signifeit unto him and such ordour tane
thairin as may gif unto his Majestie contentment and satisfactioun
under the pane of rebellioun etc. with certificatioun etc.
Followis his Majesteis missive and warrant for the
proclamatiounis and actis abovewritten.
Richt trustie and richt weilbelovit cosen and counsellour We greit
you weill At what tyme the last service of Sir Robert Ker of Ancrum
in the Midle schyres wes relaitit unto ws, we understood that he haid
apprehendit a nomber of malefactouris quhairof some wer executed
some sett at libertie upoun cautioun and some sent to Swaden, whiche
last point we nather could then nor yett can understand what it
meaneth, for whareas it is said that thair is a Colonell and certane
Capitanes leveying men thair to go to Sweden we wonder that ony
subject of ouris dare presome in that kynd to serve ony forreyne
prince not onlie without oure licence bot directlie aganis oure
meaning and speciall promeis maid to our deare bruther the King of
Denmark: in respect quhairof we planelie refuisit the King of Swaden
to assist or send ony of oure subjectis to his service and also
recalled Sir James Spens of Wolmerstoun not sufferring him ather ony
longer to serve the said King or to remane in his dominionis till now
that we haif sent him as our ambassadour It is thairfoir our pleasour
that ye certifie us what that leveying of soldiouris meaneth by what
authoritie it is done and that ye mak stay of all proceiding thairin
till yee sall be adverteist of oure fardir pleasour concerning that
mater. And so we bid you fairweill at our court at Kirbie the last of
July 1612.
5.
Apud Edinburgh quinto Augusti 1612.
Sederunt
SECRETER SIR JEDEOUN MURRAY
ADVOCAT SIR JOHNNE ARNOT
[Sidenote: Charge aganis maisteris of shippis].
The lordis of secrete counsell according to the Kingis Majesteis
will pleasour and directioun signifeit unto thame ordanes officeris
of armes to pas command and charge the maisteris awneris skipperis
and marineris of shippis and veshellis frauchted for transport of
sojouris to Swaden, that thay bring in thair shippis to the harborie
of Leyth and thair suffer thame to ly and onnawise lowse nor depairt
quhill thay understand the counsellis will and pleasour towardis
thame within twa houris nixt efter the charge undir the pane of
rebellioun and putting of thame to the horne, and yf thay failyee the
said space being bipast to denunce thame rebellis and to put thame
to the horne and to command and charge the Admirall and his deputis
the provest and bailleis of Edinburgh the bailleis of Leyth and
Bruntyland to convocat his Majesteis lieges yf neid beis and to go
aboard of the saidis schippis and to see this directioun and command
be satisfeit and obeyit and as the occasioun sall fall out upoun the
refuisall and dissobedience of the saidis skipperis or oppositioun
and resistance to be maid be ony of the personis within the schippis,
that the saidis Admirall provest and bailleis with the concurrance
and assistance of his Majesteis goode subjectis to be assemblit be
thame, compell and force the saidis skipperis and marineris to gif
thair obedyence and to bring thair shippis to the said harborie,
for doing quhairof thir presentis salbe unto thame a warrant and
commissioun And yf ony personis being within the saidis schippis
complene of thair forceable detentioun and that the Capitanes and
utheris refuis to put thame to libertie, that the saidis Admirall
provest and bailleis assist and see thame put to libertie, and suche
malefactouris as wer delyverit unto the Capitanes to be transportit
that the said Admirall provest and bailleis tak thame bring thame
ashoir and put thame in sure firmance quhill thay understand the
counsellis will towardis thame.
6.
Apud Edinburgh decimo quinto Augusti 1612.
Sederunt
BLANTYRE
SECRETER ADVOCAT
KILSYTH SIR JOHNNE ARNOT
[Sidenote: Charge aganis souldiouris.]
Forsamekle as it hes pleasit the Kingis Majestie upoun some speciall
caussis and considerationis to gif ordour and directioun that the
companyis of men laitlie listed undir the charge and commandiment of
Colonell Ramsay and some utheris capitanes for the weares of Swaden
salbe brokin and that thay sall noway be transportit to Swaden to
serve in these wearres, And seing the saidis companyis according to
his Majesteis pleasour and commandiment ar now to be sett on land to
the effect that thay and every ane of thame may repair to the placeis
of thair former aboad and residence and thair attend thair severall
charge and calling Necessar it is for the better preserving of his
Majesteis peace and keeping of good reule ordour and quyetnes in the
countrey and for eschewing of suche disordouris and insolencyis as
may fall out alsweill amangis the companyis thameselffis as be thair
occasioun aganis his Majesteis good subjectis yf thay be sufferrit
ony space to remane togidder or to travell in nomberis and companyis
through the countrey That thairfoir immediatlie efter thair landing
thay dissolve thame selffis and that no nomberis of thame remane
togidder bot that thay seperat thame selffis and addresse thame in
peaceable and quyet manner without offending his Majesteis subjectis
in thair travelling through the countrey, ffor quhilk purpois ordanes
lettres to be direct to command and charge all and sindrie personis
listed and tane up for the wearres of Swaden be oppin proclamatioun
at the shoir and peir of Leyth at the mercat croce of Bruntyland
and utheris places neidfull, that thay and every ane of thame within
the space of tua houris after thair landing dissolve thameselffis
and repair every ane of thame in quyet and peaceable manner to thair
awne dwellingis and placeis of residence and that no nomberis nor
companyis of thame exceiding tua personis remane togiddir upoun
quhatsomevir cullour or pretens under the pane of dead Certifeing
thame that failyees or dois in the contrair that thay salbe
apprehendit and the said pane of dead execute upoun thame and to
command and charge all schireffis justices of peace and magistratis
to burgh and land, that thay and every ane of thame as thay sall
happin to challange ony personis travelling through the countrey who
ar or may be suspectit to be men of wearre yf thay pas tua in nomber
or yitt yf thay commit ony disordour or insolence in thair going
through the countrey that thay apprehend thame and committ thame to
waird as malefactouris and detene thame quhill ordour be gevin for
thair puneishment.
7.
[Sidenote: Act anent the landing of the soldiouris.]
The lordis of secrete counsell haveing hard the propositioun maid
be Colonell Ramsay tuicheing his willing dispositioun to randir his
obedience to the Kingis Majestie by dissolveing and brecking of the
companyis of men of wearre laitlie listit under his regiment and
commandiment for the wearres of Swaden and tuicheing the advis and
opinioun cravit be him in what forme and ordour he sould dissolve his
companyis and quhair he sould sett thame on land The saidis lordis
being advisit with the said propositioun thay haif prescryvit and
sett down to the said Colonell the ordour following to be observit
and keept be him in the dissolving and landing of his saidis
companyis, videlicet, that he sett the ane half thairof aland at
Leyth and the uther half of the same at Bruntyland, and that the said
Colonell tak exact triall and examinatioun amangis his capitanes and
sojouris what personis wer delyverit to thame be the commissionaris
of the lait bordouris and quhat uthiris personis thay haif ressavit
out of the toilbuith of Edinburgh and Dunbar And that he caus all
thir personis be delyverit in suirtie to the bailleis of Edinburgh
to be committit to waird in thair toilbuith ay and quhill ordour be
tane with thame as appertynes, and that this pairt be first performed
afoir the landing of the rest of the companyis.
8.
Apud Edinburgh xj Septembris 1612.
Sederunt
CHANCELLAR JUSTICE CLERK
ROXBURGH CLERK REGISTER
BLANTYRE ADVOCAT
PRESIDENT SIR ALEXANDER DRUMOND
PREVIESEILL SIR JOHNNE ARNOT
[Sidenote: Charge aganis Colonell Ramsay.]
The lordis of secrete counsell ordanes lettres to be direct chargeing
Colonell ---- Ramsay to compeir personalie befoir the saidis lordis
upoun the xviij day of September instant to answer to suche thingis
as salbe demandit of him tuicheing the lait levey maid be him of a
grite nomber of his Majesteis subjectis to haif bene transportit be
him furth of this realme for the weares of Swaden under the pane of
rebellioun and putting of thame to the horne with certificatioun
to him and he failyee lettrez salbe direct simpliciter to put him
thairto.
9.
Apud Edinburgh xviij Septembris 1612.
Sederunt
CHANCELLAR PRESIDENT
ERGYLE CLERK REGISTER
MONTROIS ADVOCAT
LOUTHIANE JUSTICE CLERK
ROXBURGH SIR JEDEOUN MURRAY
[Sidenote: Denunce Colonell Ramsay].
Anent the charge gevin be vertew of oure Soverane lordis lettres
to Colonell Andro Ramsay to haif comperit personalie befoir the
lordis of secrete counsell this present auchtene day of September
instant to haif answerit to suche thingis as sould haif bene demandit
of him tuicheing the lait levey maid be him of a grite nomber of
his Majesteis subjectis to haif bene transportit be him furth of
this realme for the weares of Swaden under the pane of rebellioun
and putting of him to the horne with certificatioun to him and he
[failyeed] lettres wald be direct simpliciter to put him thairto lyk
as at mair lenth is contenit in the saidis lettrez executionis and
indorsationis thairof Quhilkis being callit and the said Colonell
Andro Ramsay not comperand Thairfoir the lordis of secrete counsell
ordanes lettres to be direct chargeing officeris of armes to pas and
denunce the said Colonell Andro Ramsay his Majesteis rebell and to
put him to his hienes horne and to escheat etc.
FOOTNOTE:
[143] "Extracts from the Register of the Privy Council of Scotland,
MS., General Register House, Edinburgh."
III.
DOCUMENTS[144] FROM STATE ARCHIVES, STOCKHOLM.
COMMISSION FROM GUSTAVUS ADOLPHUS TO SIR JAMES SPENS.
GUSTAVUS ADOLPHUS, Dei gratiâ, Svecorum, Gothorum, Wandalorumq^e
princeps hæreditarius; Magnus dux Finlandiæ, Esthoniæ Wesmanniæq^e
princeps, etc.
Gratiam favorem, singularemq^e nostram benignitatem atq^e clementiam
etc. illustris et generose nobis sincere dilecte, domine Jacobe
Spentz; non dubitamus qvin recenti in memoria habeas, qvid
serenissimo potentissimoq^e principi ac Domino, Domino CAROLO nono,
Svecorum, Gothorum, Wandalorumq^e regi etc. Domino et parenti
nostro charissimo, laudatissimæ recordationis, sancte sincereq^e
promiseris, qvidve Sua Regia Majestas à te clementer suas per
literas postulaverit. Cum itaq^e bellum à rege Daniæ adversus
Dominum parentem pie sancteq^e prædefunctum, nos, nostramq^e patriam
iniqve susceptum continuetur, et nos ad reprimendos hostium impetus,
milite etiam peregrino indigeamus, eam ob causam te qvam clementer
rogatum volumus, ut cum ter millenis illis promissis, probatæ fidei
spectatæq^e fortitudinis militibus, et qvidem peditibus (equites
enim non curamus) tuum ad nos reditum matures, omnemq^e in id operam
impendas, ut ad Calendas Aprilis, anni iam proximi seqventis, cum
præfato militum numero armis necessariis probè instructo, in portu
Elsburgensi comparere qveas. Hoc autem ut eò felicius faciliusq^e
præstare valeas, utq^e nos absq^e mora et tergiversatione, tuâ
militumq^e tuorum operâ adversus hostes nostros uti possimus,
clementer tibi, vel plenam abs te potestatem habentibus viginti
millenos imperiales, in civitate Hamburgensi, per serenissimæ
reginæ, matris nostræ charissimæ, nostrosq^e commissarios numerandos
curabimus; clementer etiam atq^e etiam desiderantes, ut eam, quâ
serenissimo parenti, gloriosissimæ memoriæ, obligatus tenebaris,
fidelitatem serenissimæ qvoq^e matri nostræ, nobis, nostrisq^e regnis
præstare haud tergiverseris. Cum præterea certò nobis persvasum
habeamus, hæc omnia, aliaq^e salutem nostram, nostrorumq^e regnorum
incrementum concernentia (quæ iudicio tuo tuæq^e discretioni
relinqvimus), per te qvam diligentissime effectum iri, non dubitabis
qvin ipsum id, qvemadmodum etiam qvicqvid in præfatos milites, ultra
viginti millenos illos imperiales, nostro nomine impenderis, tibi
à nobis, suo tempore, qvam clementissime compensetur. Porro tibi
significandum duximus, nos cum duce nostro, nobis sincerè dilecto
Johanne Mœnichovio, transegisse, ut millenos, omnibus necessariis
armis probè instructos, milites pedites, ex Hollandia, vere primo,
Elsburgam asportet. Si itaq^e naves militesq^e tuos navibus
prænominati Mœnichovii adjunxeris, foret hoc nobis qvam gratissimum.
Ita enim esset classis vestra hostium classi, si forte vobis obviam
venerit, non modo par, verum etiam, ut bene speramus, longè superior.
Qvod te haud celandum censuimus.
Hisce divini numinis protectioni te clementer commendamus. Ex arce
Nycopensi, die 16 Novembris, Anni 1611.
GUSTAVUS ADOLPHUS.
M.P.
Illustri et generoso, copiarum nostrarum Britannicarum generali,
Domino Jacobo Spentz, libero baroni in Wolmersthon, etc.
(_Traces of a seal._)
_Translation._
GUSTAVUS ADOLPHUS, _by the grace of God, Hereditary Prince of the
Swedes, the Goths, and the Vandals; Grand Duke of Finland, Prince of
Esthonia, Westmannia, etc._
Our gracious favour, special benignity and grace, etc. Illustrious
and noble, our truly and dearly beloved Sir James Spens; we have no
doubt that you keep fresh in memory your sacred and true promise to
the most serene and mighty Prince and Lord, CHARLES the Ninth, King
of the Swedes, the Goths, Vandals, etc., our dearly beloved Lord
and Sire, of highly extolled memory, (as to) what his Royal Majesty
graciously required from you in his letters. Therefore, inasmuch as
the war, unrighteously entered upon by the King of Denmark against
our Sovereign Sire, predeceased in the odour of sanctity, against
ourselves, and against our country, is continued, and we are in
need of foreign soldiers as well [as native], wherewith to check
the attacks of the enemy,--on this account we request you with all
courtesy to hasten your return to us with those promised three
thousand soldiers of proved faithfulness and bravery, and, namely,
infantry (for we do not care to have cavalry); and that you will do
your best to be present in Elfsborg Harbour by the first of April in
this next coming year, with the before-mentioned number of troops,
properly equipped with the needful accoutrements. Now, that you
may be in a condition to do this the more successfully and easily,
and that we, without delay and interruption, may be able to avail
ourselves of your services and those of your soldiers against our
enemies, we shall graciously order twenty thousand imperials, to be
paid in the city of Hamburg, to you or to those fully authorized by
you, through the agents of the Most Serene Queen, our dearly beloved
Mother, and our own, urgently entreating you not to hesitate to
observe the same loyalty by which you were held bound to our Most
Serene Father of very glorious memory, to our Most Serene Mother
also, to ourselves and our realms. Moreover, while we are surely
persuaded that all these things, and others that concern our safety
and the aggrandizement of our kingdom (which things we leave to
your judgment and discretion), will be attended to by you with the
utmost care, you will rest assured that the aforesaid sum, as also
whatever you shall disburse in our name upon the above-mentioned
soldiers over and above the twenty thousand imperials, shall be most
graciously repaid by us at the proper time. Furthermore, we have
thought right that it should be notified to you that we have arranged
with our general, our truly beloved Johannes Mœnichovius, that he is
to transport his thousand infantry, fully furnished with necessary
arms, from Holland to Elfsborg in the beginning of the spring. If,
therefore, you combine your fleet and army with the ships of the
aforesaid Mœnichovius, we shall be extremely glad. For thus the
combined fleet would be not merely equal to the enemy's fleet, if it
should chance to come in contact with you, but, as we are justified
in hoping, far superior. And we have considered that this should
not be concealed from you. Herewith we graciously commend you to the
protection of the divine Deity (Power). From the Castle of Nyköping,
November 16, in the year 1611.
GUSTAVUS ADOLPHUS.
(_Sign manual._)
_Letter from_ SIR ROBERT ANSTRUTHER _to_ SIR JAMES SPENS.
Honarabile and my verie good Lord my best service remembred unto your
selfe
* * * * *
in England all things are in lyke staite as you left I have recauite
toe sundre letters from his Maieste, wharin he commands me to excuse
his pairte, annent that leuie of men whitch coronell ramsay haith
maide in scotland, he protests at it is score agienst his will and
altogiddar disauutches the deede sainge at if he haide not heard
of it in time, he haide biene the most dishonored prince by ther
goinge, bot the are stayed and the men dissolued, except neere four
hundreth[145] that went awaye afore the kould be stayed, captaine
Hay, and captaine Sinckler, and captain Allexander ramsay brother to
the princes man, and good Sir herie brusse are chanched in norrowaye,
and are all killd by the bourrs except some faue prisoners, whitch
are send for to be examined and we looke for them daylie; the common
bruict blames you to be ther heade bot I stifflie denie it, assuring
the king that I deare giue my woorde for your Innocence; other neus
heere ar none....
* * * * *
Faruell from Koppenhauen the 26 of September Anno 1612
your treue and affectionet
and seruant att all time
ROBERT ANSTRUTHER.
To the ryght honorable, and my very
good Lord: The Lord off Wormeston,
Ambassadour from His
M^{tie} of Great Brittaine to Sueden.
_Letter from the Duke of Lennox[146]_ "_To the Right honorable my
very good Lord My Lord Stainbuk Baron of Torpe and Overstaine, of his
Ma^{tie} priuie counsell of Sweden_."
My Lord this gentleman Williame Stuart my seruant whome I ame bond to
doo for bothe for his fathers caus whome I did affect, as also for
his own, haueing giuen sufficient proue of his good cariage, a yeare
ago did lift a company of fotmen to serue His Ma^{tie} of Sweden
to his great Losse. Be reason that after he had sent before some
parte of his company[147] whiche was stayed in Norway, himself with
the rest was stayed by the kings [=com]andement heare. Wherfore the
gentleman hauing an earnest desyre to give proue of his affection to
his M^{aties} seruice could not be stayed be any persuasion of frends
frome the said jornay: therfore out of the asseurance I doo giue my
self of your L^{ps} loue, I most recommend him to y^r L favor, that
for my caus you will vse the means to got him preferred, and what
charge soever His Ma^{tie} shall esteem him worthie of I wil bee
answearable for his fidelitie and duetifulnes in the same and I shall
reputed it ase a singulare pleasure done to my self and shall alwyse
be reddy to requyte it and all other your L. kyndnesses in what
soever occasion I can stand you in stead: therfore trusting in your
furtherance for this gentlemans preferment I shall ever rest
Your L^{ps} very Louing frend
LENOX.
Frome the Hage the 14 (19?) of Maj 1613.
FOOTNOTES:
[144] In manuscript.
[145] The true number was ascertained after the arrival of the
prisoners at Copenhagen.
[146] Son of Esme Stewart of Aubigny, the first favourite of King
James I. His uncle, Robert, sixth earl of Lennox, having agreed to
accept the earldom of March in exchange for that of Lennox, he, in
March 1580, received a charter of the latter earldom, which a year
later was erected into a dukedom.
[147] Alexander Ramsay made no mention of these men in his
deposition. (See page 145.)
IV.
DOCUMENTS[148] FROM STATE ARCHIVES, COPENHAGEN.
First Official Report to the DANISH CHANCELLOR respecting the
Scottish Expedition, from the Norwegian Stadtholder ENVOLD KRUSE and
Others.
_Translation from the Danish._[149]
(_Address._)
Our most friendly greeting now and ever in the Lord! Dear Lord
Chancellor, particularly good friend, we thank the Chancellor kindly
for favours evinced, which we would at all times desire to repay in
whatever manner might be to the honour or benefit of the Chancellor.
In the next place, we cannot omit to communicate to the Chancellor
somewhat at length, on account of the nature of the matter, how on or
about the 19th or 20th of August last two Scottish ships arrived off
Romsdalen, in the province of Bergenhuus, with a number of soldiers,
and landed them there. What ports those ships hailed from, and by
whom they were fitted out, as also who it was that procured them,
is to be ascertained from their own report and deposition hereunto
annexed.[150]
And straightway the next day after their arrival they betook
themselves inland, and proceeded along the country road over a
fjeld called Mæratoppene, whereupon they entered the valley of
Gudbrandsdal, which is to the southward of the mountain range, and in
this province of Aggershuus; and they had taken with them two Bönder
of Romsdalen as guides. But when one of his Royal Majesty's lensmen
in the parish of Vaage, which is situated in the above-mentioned
bailiwick of Gudbrandsdal, by name Lauritz Hage, perceived this, he
at once roused the Bönder and peasantry in the two parishes of Læssöe
and Vaage, and went forth against the said Scots and foreign troops.
And when he perceived they were too strong for him, he advanced for
two or three days and kept before them along the road, without,
however, engaging in any skirmish or fight. Meanwhile, he sent
messengers to the peasantry in the two adjoining parishes, called
Froen and Ringeböe, who quickly came to his assistance; and when they
were in this manner gathered they were four hundred and five men
strong. Thus he advanced in front of them along the road until he saw
his advantage at a fjeld called Kringelen, situated in Vaage parish,
which they were obliged to pass. Thus he hemmed them in between the
rock on one side and a large river close by on the other side, in
which advantageous position he quietly encamped in the woods, and
there lay with his men until the foreign soldiers arrived there,
without, however, supposing or knowing aught but that the Norwegian
troops were still withdrawing along the road before them.
The above-mentioned Lauritz Hage, having made his arrangements and
perceived his advantage, attacked, together with another lensmand,
Peder Rankleff of Ringeböe, and with all their men together they
fired upon the foreign troops and shot them to death during an hour
and a half. Those who were not shot jumped into the river to save
themselves, but were there drowned; and those of them who got alive
over the river were quickly killed by the Bönder on that side,--all
of which happened and occurred on the 26th of August last.
From the Bönder who were themselves present at the battle, and who
buried and counted the dead and the defeated, we learn that the
foreign soldiers must no doubt have numbered at the least five
hundred and fifty men, although the Scots who remained alive, and of
whom there are altogether eighteen, will not admit that they were
more than three hundred and fifty men strong at the utmost.
On the day the battle took place one hundred and thirty-four Scots
were taken prisoners, who were straightway the next day killed
and shot by the Bönder, with the exception of the above-mentioned
eighteen, the Bönder saying to each other that his Royal Majesty had
enough to feed in those same eighteen. Some of these were, however,
wounded, and some had bullets in their bodies when they arrived
here. Of the above-mentioned eighteen soldiers we now send to you
the three principal ones, who are a captain of the name of Alexander
Ramsay, and his lieutenant of the name of Jacob Mannepenge (James
Moneypenny), who has previously been both in Denmark and Sweden, and
who on this their expedition served as an interpreter. The third is
called Herrich Bryssz (Henry or Harry Bruce), who, according to
his own statement, has served as a soldier in Holland, Spain, and
Hungary.[151]
As regards the remaining fifteen persons, some of them have
straightway taken service among good folk here in the country; some
of them who will willingly serve your Royal Majesty in Jörgen Lunge's
regiment I sent at once to Elfsborg. What has further occurred in
this matter is, as already stated, all to be ascertained from their
own statements, which are written down. As to what knowledge can be
obtained from the letters that were found on them we can say nothing
this time, for when they (the Scots) were taken prisoners the Bönder
took all those letters to themselves, from which we now have our
certain knowledge, (and) what can be ascertained from them, so soon
as we receive them, shall be straightway sent to the Chancellor; and
if we on our part can serve the Chancellor to his honour, advantage,
and command, he shall always find us willing. The Chancellor is
hereby commended to God Almighty. Done at Aggershuus the 17th of
September 1612.
(Signed) ENWOLDT KRUSSZE.
Own hand.
(L. S.)
OLUFF GALDE.
Own hand.
(L. S.)
PEDER IFFRSEN.
Own hand.
(L. S.)
(Sealed with their several signets on uncoloured wax.)
Second Official Report to the DANISH CHANCELLOR and the Danish
Stadtholder respecting the Scottish Expedition, from the Norwegian
Stadtholder ENVOLD KRUSE and Others.
_Translation from the Danish._[152]
(_Address._)
To the honourable and well-born men, Christian Friis of Borreby, His
Royal Majesty's Chancellor, and Breide Ranndtzow of Ranndtzshollen,
His Majesty's Stadtholder, our particularly good friends, addressed
in perfect friendliness.
Our most friendly greeting now and ever in the Lord. Dear friends,
we thank you kindly for favours evinced, which we would at all times
desire to repay, in whatever manner might be to your honour or
benefit.
Dear friends, our last letter to you announced that, so soon as we
received information from the bailie in Gudbrandsdal of certain
letters found on the Scots who were defeated and taken prisoners at
that place, we would forward it to you as soon as we received the
letters, in case that any reliable information should be found in
them respecting their plans and armament. And we do not believe that
there is anything in them from which any information on those points
can be obtained, so far as the said letters can be correctly read or
construed.
We have now recently been written to and informed that their
real colonel[153] and captain, the person mentioned by the Scots
themselves in the Scottish Relation (which we sent you last), is
now at sea with four ships filled with soldiers, with the same
intention as the others of landing the troops somewhere in this
country, and afterwards proceeding with them into Sweden. This the
bailie at Sondmöer has written to Lauritz Gram, who is bailie in
Gudbrandsdalen. This appears, however, not to be true, seeing that
His Royal Majesty of England has forbidden them to do this, as is to
be further seen by the before-mentioned Relation which was forwarded
to you.
We have also since ascertained that those Scots who were defeated and
captured on their march through this country have absolutely neither
burned, murdered, nor destroyed anything on their march through this
country, either in Romsdalen, or in Gudbrandsdalen, excepting alone
one Danish man, who lives in the Romsdal, Söffrenn Settnes; from
him they have taken a box filled with various kinds of silver, both
tankards, belts, "stabbe," and other such wrought silver, which man
has now recently been in Gudbrandsdalen, to the bailie there, and
wanted to get back his silver, if any of it had been found on the
defeated Scots; but the Bönder of Gudbrandsdalen will not hitherto
acknowledge having got any. If otherwise is subsequently found to be
the case, it shall all be returned to him. And it was the plan of the
before-mentioned Scots to have made their way into Sweden through
Gudbrandsdalen, over a mountain called Österdalsfjeld, in the parish
of Tönset, which they all could have done easily in five days' time
at the utmost, had not God the most Almighty by this defeat ... them.
Of the Norwegian people were only shot ... six men and ten or twelve
somewhat "saa" ... (? saarede = wounded) ... remain alive. This ...
"ligen"(?) will let you know.[154] And we will personally do whatever
may be to your service or pleasure. Commending you hereby to God the
most Almighty. Done at Aggershuus the third of October in the year
1612.
ENWOLDT KRUSSZE.
Own hand.
(L. S.)
ANDERS GREEN.
With own hand.
(L. S.)
OLUFF GALDE.
Own hand.
(L. S.)
PEDER IFFUERSON.
Own hand.
(L. S.)
This manuscript is endorsed,
"ENVOLD KRUSZIS, ANDERS GREENS,
OLUFF GALDIS, and PEDER IFFUERSENS.
"Letter. Rec^d (?) Haff. (Copenhagen) 4 Nov. 1612.
"1. Respecting the Scottish soldiers who were defeated in
Gudbrandsdalen; transmitting a great heap of letters found on them.
"2. Their real commander said to be at sea with 4 ships; considered
untrue.
"3. They neither took nor burned anything in Norway, unless it be
some (?) silver they took from a Dane in Romsdalen."
FOOTNOTES:
[148] In manuscript.
[149] From a copy made from the original manuscript at Copenhagen,
and more perfect than that obtained by Dean Krag. The thanks of the
author are due in this respect to Mr. J. F. R. Krarup, Registrar of
the Danish State Archives, as well as to Messrs. Herbst and Blom of
Copenhagen for researches undertaken at the kind request of Professor
George Stephens, LL.D., also of Copenhagen. Most of the proper names
in this translation have been modernized.
[150] These documents have not hitherto been found in the Danish
Archives.
[151] No mention of James Scott, who was among the prisoners at
Copenhagen.
[152] This translation has been made from a more perfect copy than
the one hitherto published, and for which the author is indebted to
Mr. M. Birkeland, Keeper of the State Archives in Norway.
[153] No doubt Colonel Andrew Ramsay.
[154] The dots show where words are wanting, because a piece of paper
(which was the upper part of that to which the seals were affixed) is
lost from the third page.
Index to Names of Persons.
Anderson, J., 15.
Anne, of Denmark, 36.
Anstruther, Sir Robert, 15, 19, 34, 36, 42, 43, 47, 133, 135, 136,
138-142, 146, 157, 159, 177, 178.
Argyll, Duke of, 172.
Arneberg, Lieutenant, 59.
Arnot, Sir J., 160, 167, 169, 171.
Bache, N., 30.
Barre, Sieur de la, 151, 156.
Berg, C. J. C., 106.
Bergen, A. van, 126.
Bilde, Steen, 16, 23-29, 128.
Bing, 122.
Biockne, 87.
Birkeland, M., 184.
Bismarck, Prince, 19.
Bjelke, O., 129.
Björnstjerna, M. de, 15.
Blantyre, 169, 171.
Bloch, N. H. C., 121, 128.
Blom, 180.
Bratt, Thor, 128.
Breden, O., 92.
Bruce, Sir Henry, 43, 54, 113, 142, 143, 159, 177, 182.
Bruce, Robert, chaplain, 36.
Bulow, J., 152, 157.
Caithness, Earl of, 50, 51, 127.
Calder, J. T., 14, 71.
Carr, Sir Robert, 39, 46, 158, 166.
Chambers, 14.
Charles IX., 18, 20, 33, 43, 44, 75, 142, 143, 145, 151, 156, 173, 175.
Christian II., 80.
Christian IV., 18, 31, 33, 36, 49, 75, 76, 90, 128, 143, 145.
Christian V., 125.
Christian VI., 59, 122.
Cronholm, 19, 24, 28.
Cumberland, Duke of, 116.
Dickson, Thomas, 15.
Douglas, Robert, 19, 147, 150, 155.
Drummond, Sir A., 171.
Due, General, 19, 149, 154.
Dundee, 105.
Eckre, P., 129.
Elizabeth, Princess, 32.
Eneboe, B., 86.
Fenton, Viscount, 46, 146.
Fjerdingreen, K., 108, 120, 124.
Frederick, Elector Palatine, 32.
Frederick III., 126.
Frederick IV., 123.
Friis, C., 143-146, 184.
Galde, O., 183, 186.
Gordon, Sir Robert, 14, 50, 51.
Gram, L., 86, 90-92, 95, 185.
Green, A., 186.
Greig, 19, 149, 154.
Gude, artist, 11.
Gunstad, A. N., 101, 129.
Guri, 49, 101, 103, 104, 108, 130.
Gustavus Adolphus, 12, 14, 16, 18-20, 24, 29-33, 43, 65, 75, 134, 142,
149, 150, 153, 156, 173, 175, 177.
Hage, L., 13, 52, 53, 90-92, 95, 118, 128, 129, 181, 182.
Hakon VI., 127.
Halkett, General, 22, 45, 66, 144, 146.
Hay, Captain G., 38, 40, 43, 45, 51, 65, 67, 141, 144, 145, 164, 177.
Heftye, Consul Thomas, 64.
Heftye, Johannes, 64, 120, 121, 124.
Henderson, J., 50.
Hepburn, Sir J., 14.
Herbst, 180.
Hjorthöi, 94, 95, 104, 116, 123, 129.
Hume, Earl, 139.
Iffrsen, P., 183, 186.
Jahn, F. H., 19, 28, 34, 56.
James I. (England), 15, 16, 19, 32-37, 42, 46, 47, 57, 127, 137, 178.
James III. (Scotland), 127.
James V. (Scotland), 65.
John, Duke, 56, 149, 153.
Johnstone, Laird of, 50.
Jörgenstad, A., 92.
Jude, C. J., 16, 24.
Keith, Earl-Marshal, 36.
Ker, Captain, 38, 40, 164.
Ker, Sir Robert. _See_ Carr.
Killie, P., 120.
Kilsyth, Secretary, 160, 169.
Kingo, Bishop, 123.
Kingston, A., 15.
Kjerulf, O. R., 64, 122.
Klognæs, P., 48, 49, 80-83, 88, 89, 110, 115, 125.
Klüwer, 80.
Kostomaroff, 49.
Krabbe, T., 129.
Kraft, 126.
Krag, Rev. H. P. S., 12, 13, 48, 64, 75, 128, 180.
Krarup, J. F. R., 180.
Kruse, E., 13, 14, 42, 43, 49, 54, 55, 61, 78, 79, 83, 85, 86, 90, 92,
95, 98, 107, 110-112, 114, 180, 183, 184, 186.
Kruus, Colonel, 56.
Lache, Sir Thomas, 138, 142, 159.
Lagerheim, C. H. de, 15.
Laing, 14.
Laurgard, A., 92.
Laurvig, Count, 127.
Lauterbraos, T., 152, 157.
Learmonth, 19, 149, 153, 154.
Lennox, Duke of, 32, 46, 134, 146, 178, 179.
Lothian, 172.
Lunge, J., 54, 113, 152, 157, 183.
Mackay, John, 65.
Malmström, C. G., 15.
Mary, Queen of Scots, 64.
Matheson Family, 118.
Matzen, C., 19, 149, 154.
Maxwell, Lord, 50, 51.
Minas, General, 116.
Moneypenny, James, 43, 54, 113, 142-144, 146, 182.
Mönnichhofen (Munkhaven, Menigowe), 12, 15-25, 28-30, 32, 34, 37, 45,
58, 66, 75-78, 128, 136, 137, 144, 146, 149, 150, 154, 155, 174,
176.
Montrose, 172.
Moreno, General, 116.
Munch, A., 77.
Munthe, 114.
Murray, Sir J., 167.
Nielsen, Yngvar, 17, 21, 24, 45, 60.
Nisbet, James, 45, 144, 146.
Nordrehuus, 87.
Ogilvye, W., 137.
Olafsen, O. O., 14.
Oolstad, O., 92.
Orkney, Earl of, 127, 133, 134.
Oscar II, King, vi., 65.
Otto, Governor, 148, 153.
Pederson, J., 16, 24.
Pontoppidan, Bishop, 123.
Pottinger, Sir H., 71.
Pryngle, 134.
Puffendorff, 12, 13, 76.
Rahbek, K. L., 130.
Ramsay, Alexander, 35, 43-48, 54, 56, 65-67, 113, 141-146, 177, 178,
182.
Ramsay, Andrew, 19, 34, 35, 37-39, 41, 43-47, 49, 51, 66, 135-137, 140,
142, 144-148, 150, 152, 153, 155, 157-159, 166, 169-172, 184.
Ramsay, Sir John, 35.
Ramus, J., 75.
Randklev, P., 13, 53, 95, 128, 129, 182.
Rantzow, B., 44, 142-146, 184.
Rochester, Viscount, 46.
Romoengard, O., 92.
Roslyn, Earl of, 127.
Roxburgh, 171, 172.
Rutherford, General, 19, 149, 154.
St. Clair Family, 126, 127.
Salisbury, Earl of, 127.
Schefler, H., 151, 156.
Schell, 128.
Schlegel, 76.
Schöning, 84.
Scott, James, 43, 142-144, 146.
Scott, Sir Walter, 127, 137.
Sejelstad, B., 13, 95, 102, 104, 106, 121, 128, 129.
Setnæs, S., 55, 185.
Shepherd, J. S., 71.
Sinclair, Sir Andrew, 65, 126, 127.
Sinclair, David, 50, 126.
Sinclair, Francis, 126.
Sinclair, Gregers, 126.
Sinclair, Henry, 126.
Sinclair, George, 11, 35, 38, 40, 43, 45, 49-51, 57, 63, 65, 67, 71-73,
76-80, 82, 85, 87, 92, 96, 102-105, 111, 112, 120-122, 124-130,
141, 144, 145, 164, 177.
Sinclair, Mrs. G., 80, 108, 109, 124.
Sinclair, John, 51.
Skaktavl, 80.
Skjenna, A., 100, 130.
Skytte, J., 45.
Slange, N., 12, 24, 76-78, 90, 93, 95, 114, 122.
Sneedorff, F., 114.
Somerset, Earl of, 46.
Somerville, T. T., 75.
Sophia, Queen, 56.
Spens, Sir James, 16, 20, 24, 32-35, 43, 45, 75, 134, 137, 138, 167,
173, 175, 177, 178.
Steinbock, 133, 178.
Stephens, Dr. G., 180.
Stewart, Captain, 36, 134.
Stewart, Esme, 178.
Stewart, Robert, 133-136.
Stjernman, 126, 127.
Storm, E., 12, 14, 49, 55, 71, 77, 80, 85, 94, 99, 123, 130.
Ström, 126.
Stuart, 148-150, 152-154, 156.
Stuart, James, 134.
Stuart, William, 45, 134, 178.
Sturleson, S., 95.
Susanin, Ivan, 49.
Thaarup, 128.
Thott, Count, 128.
Tiedemann, artist, 11.
Tofte, 90.
Töndöffuel, T., 87.
Torrejos, General, 116.
Valde, J., 116, 117.
Ville, De la, 150, 154, 155.
Wang, J. S., 130.
Wauchope, 19, 149, 154.
Wergeland, H., 130.
Werlauff, 114.
Wibe, J., 125.
Widikindi, 12, 13, 76.
Willoughby, Lord, 19.
Wilse, 128.
Wormiston, Laird of. _See_ Spens.
TRANSCRIBER'S NOTE
Italic text is denoted by _underscores_.
Superscripts are denoted by ^ for example S^r and M^{tie}.
Macrons over one or more characters are denoted by [= for example
ca[=n]ot and [=com]andement.
A line of asterisks denotes omitted text. Thought breaks, and new
sections, are denoted by two blank lines.
Obvious typographical errors and punctuation errors have been
corrected after careful comparison with other occurrences within
the text and consultation of external sources. Punctuation or lack
of it in the Appendix documents has been left unchanged.
Except for those changes noted below, all misspellings in the text,
and inconsistent or archaic usage, have been retained.
Pg 96 (Illustration caption), 'ROMUNDGAARD' replaced by 'ROMUNGAARD'.
Pg 98 (Illustration caption), 'ROMUNDGAARD' replaced by 'ROMUNGAARD'.
Pg 157, 'Lauterbaos' replaced by 'Lauterbraos'.
Pg 166, 'blank space' for missing name replaced by '----'.
Pg 172, 'blank space' for missing name replaced by '----'.
Pg 183, (L. S.) indicates a letter seal.
Pg 186, (L. S.) indicates a letter seal.