Letter from Sir Robert Anstruther to the King, dated from Coppenhagen the 8 of Juin 1612.
Most humbly sheweth unto your Majestie,
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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 Sr Robert Stewart, wich I have protested instantlie against, assuring them that if such a thing be with there consent, they never darre looke yor Mtie 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 Mis 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 Mtie pardone, for trowbling of your Mtie with thir Idle matters, but they being used as arguments against me in conference, I thought good to lett your Mtie know the trewth.
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Draft from the King's Secretary to Sir Robert Anstruther, dated 9, August 1612.
Sir,
His Maty 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 Maty enquiring whither they intended it was told him that they went for Sweeden, which his Maty being displeased with gave order presently for the stay of the levy and whereas some good number of them were alredy embarked before his Maty 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 Maty 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 Maty 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 Maty 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 Matys name both how the levy was without his Matys 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 1̅0̅{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 Mtie sent wnto him, when Sir Robert Stewart, and Maister Ramsay went first into Sweden: whereby your Mtie 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 Edengh and imbarked them at Leeth: And moreover his Mtie 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 Mtie wsed this speech as an argument to prove, that such leveis, and imbarkements so neere to Edenbh 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 Mtie or the State, but only voluntarie men, of whom the cuntry is full, for want of Imployment.[139] And moreover I called his Mtie 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 Mtie that they shuld never Imploy themselves, or their men, against the crowne of Denmark; farre more easily his Mtie myght beleeve that now in tyme of warres yr Mtie 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 Mr 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 17th Septem at Havering.
Sir Robert Anstruther to Sir Thomas Lache, Knyght and secretairie to his Mtie.
From Coppenhagen the 26 of Agust 1612.
Honorable Knyght,
* * * * *
Efter that Wormestons man was send away, I receaved upon the morrow, the Kings Mteis directions, conteaned in your letter, concerning Mr Ramsayis proceedings: I hope his Mtie shall be content with my answers, to the King of Denmarks objections and complaints against Mr 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 Mtie.
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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 or Lres by Quarryer wch wilbe wth yow before these, the King will have receaved satisfac̅c̅o̅n̅satisfa{ccon} in that matter. And as wee wrote then, wee wold bee curious to informe ourself, how that cold be, considering or order given to the contrary, when or 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 wth 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 wthout drumme or Ensigne displayed (though not making us acquainted wth 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 wch 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 or said Secretary doth further assure us upon his creditt wth us; that the Levye was so closely caryed, as that untill or Lres came to or 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 wth us) many did suppose that it was not wthout our liking; that he undertooke the transporting of them, untill by our prohibition the contrary was made manifest. Although these be the excuses, wch our Councell of Scotland have made to us for this error, yet have they not so satisfied us therewth, that that wee have lett them knowe how much wee mislike some dullnes of theirs, wch they can̅otca{n}ot avoyd; And wee doe assure orself 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, wherewth the King doth charge him; that having heretofore (after service don to the late King of Sweeden) found favor at the King or brothers hande; and given his faith to him never to serve the King of Sweeden against him more; wee are so much displeased wth 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 prscribed; yet shall or usage towarde him be such; as all men shall perceive how farre wee mislike men of so unworthie disposic̅o̅n̅.disposi{con}.
Draft from the King to Sir Robert Anstruther, dated 30, Sept 1612.
Trustie, etc.
* * * * *
Yow shall also lett him understand concerning Andrew Ramsey, as wee wrote in or last lres to you 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 wch yor lres did charge him wth; for wch purpose, he being called before or Councell hid himself; and being often sum̅onedsu{m}oned and not appearing, is for his contempt at the Horn, whereby you 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 wth 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 wch 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 pn̅tp{n}t, but at yor retorne wee will make you acquainted wth it, and by you, the King shall afterwardes understand.
Sir Robert Anstruther to the King.
From Coppenhagen 26 October 1612.
Humblie sheweth unto your Majestie,
* * * * *
Doutles your Mtie heth hard, of that infortunat accident that hapned unto 3̅0̅0̅{300} of your Mis subjects, which landed in Norroway, under the conduict of Alexr 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 judgeme̅tjudgem{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 Mtie hoping it shall be farre better for them to come into the hands of your Royall Mtie whoe ever had used grace, and clemencie unto those, that offends of simplicitye, and not of willfulnes.
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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 Alexr Ramsay, Captane Henry Bruce, James Monypenny, and James Scott are saved, and sent by the King of Denmark unto his Mtie 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 Serenissmi ac Potentissmi Principis ac Domini, Domini CHRISTIANI Quarti, Daniæ, Norwagiæ, etc. Regis & Domini nostri clementissimi, coram nobis, Roberto Anstrutero, Sermi 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 Sæ Ræ Mtis Magnæ Britanniæ mandatum transgressus esset, contrà intulit se prænominati Andreæ Ramse fidem sequutum: Dixerat enim, jamdicta Sa Mte 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, neqe 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, 1̅5̅{15} die mensis Octobris, Anno &c. 1612.
Robertus Anstruther.
Christianus Friis Brinde Rantzovio
manu Ppria. 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.
Robertus Anstruther.
Christianus Friis Brinde Rantzovio
(Sign manual.) (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 Le̅n̅oxL{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 Mats mercy as also for using the Kings name to induce others wch he confesseth he did and promised them to stand between them and anie danger.
Being asked if the King were acquainted wth 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 significac̅o̅n̅significa{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. Sa Ra Mtas Daniæ, Norwegiæ & Dominus noster clementissimus, nobis infra nominatis, clementissime injunxit, ut Scotum quendam, Andream Ramsö, qui una cum duobus Locumtenentibus, totidemqe famulis, navi ex Suecia Lubecam tendens, in itinere unà cum navi captus atqe Hafniam conductus fuerat, posteà verò huc, uno Vicetenente comite, se receperat, de subsequentibus capitibus, propriâ Sæ Ræ Mtis 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, neqe Regis, neqe Ducum, Gustavi et Johannis, verùm unas tantum Vicetenentis Stockholmiæ, in suum ipsius duorum Locum-tenentium totidemqe 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, atqe 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, ibidemqe 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.
Neqe abitus neqe 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, Sacræ Regæ Mtis Daniæ, etc., in Orum præfectus, et summus Dux. | Joachimus Bulow, Sacræ Ræ Matis Daniæ, etc., in Friderichsburg præfectus, Equitum magister. | Thobias Lauterbraos, Sacræ Regæ Matis 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 you well.
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Now for yorself; we cannot but take it in ill part from you, that wee heare so sealdome from you; and thinck you are, instead of an Ambassador, become a Secretary to keepe Councell: for to the severall dispatches wee have made to you, 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 you. In all wch we advertised you of or proceeding upon the rumor wee heard of the Levyes in Scotland; and what coorse wee had taken wth Andrew Ramsey; And willed you to acquaint the king wth both.
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Last of all; concerning Andrew Ramsey; as wee have written before; that if he fell into or handes wee wold so proceed wth him; as shold give the king satisfac̅c̅o̅n̅:satisfa{ccon}: So may you lett the King understand that the said Andrew Ramsey being first fugitive in Scotland (as wee have before sent you word) and secretly comed into England, moved there a quarrell to Sr Robert Carre of Ankram, for discovering to us (as he said; whereby the king may see how his proceeding was wthout or privitie) Andrew Ramseys gathering of men in Scotland; By occasion of wch Quarrell he came to be apprehended: whome as soone as wee had, wee caused first to be examined by some of or councell, as well upon the pointes the king charged him wth, as upon the transgressing of his duty towardes us; to wch pointes wee have sent you 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 wth us in use; wee have by oure warrant under oure hande banished him out of all oure Dominions; wch 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 wth drumme, but gathering them wth 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 2̅4̅{24} of Januarie 1613" to Sir Thomas Lach, knyght, secretarie in the Latin tongue to his Mtie of Great Britaine, etc.
Honorable and worthie knyght,
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Concerning the proceedings with Mr. Ramsay, his Mtie resteth weell contented: but I hope seeing the warres are ended, and a ferme peace maide that his Mtie 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 2̅6̅{26} of October hath been so long a comeing to yow, whereby I perceave his Mtie doeth charge me of negligence, in advertising how matters doe goe heere.
I hope his Mtie will not imput that longsomnes of a Poaste unto me, and soe I hope your self will mak my humble excuses.
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