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these early letters the complaint occurs that no salary has
been paid him, nor did the promised seventy “ skippund ”
(about 11 tons) of copper arrive (Oct. 1615). As to guns
and ammunition he fears that English merchants will not run
the risk of exporting them (1617). His own health has
been bad; he is a martyr to gout, and begs the king to
excuse the tenor of his writings. In 1619 he is sent by
King Charles to Stockholm with a long letter of
instructions, dated 30th July. In it he is first told to congratulate
the Swedish king on his coronation, and to express
brotherly affection for him; he is, secondly, also to
congratulate him on the happy conclusion of the war between
Denmark and Sweden. Thirdly, the British sovereign
offers his further good services to make the alliance between
these two countries firm. Fourthly: “If you shall be
asked what is your opinion concerning the King’s marriage,
you shall answer, that we would refer that to his own
consideration both in respect to the liking of the parties,
as also to his own particular benefit. In a general way
we wish he would ally himself to some prince near his
own dominions.” Fifthly, as to the Polish war, the king
ought to consider what means he has and strength to
continue, what advantages the war has for him, what
strength the King of Poland has, etc. In conclusion, the
letter intercedes for a merchant of Edinburgh, Ths.
Lothian, and expresses a hope that the King of Sweden
will take the Scottish merchants under his protection.
We next hear of Spens, who had since been made a
baronet (1622), in the year 1623, when he is sent to
England to request permission of the Privy Council to
raise troops to repel a threatened Polish invasion. His
son James was authorised to levy 1200 men.1 This was
done at the request of the King of Sweden himself, who
1 Reg. of Privy Council., xiii. 364, 478, 500.
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