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closer union among them. He also asks that no other
levies might be raised till after his return, and signs
himself “ Y. M. faithful servant,” “ who does all that is in
his power to serve you.” In 1611 he is again in
England on diplomatic business.1 In the same year
Gustavus writes the two letters to him that have been
mentioned above, and which brought about the disastrous
expedition known by the name of the Sinclair expedition.
The last of these two letters, dated 16th November, also
orders him to complain to the King of Scotland about
some of his soldiers having deserted to join the Russian
foe.
Of the same year two letters of Spens to Gustavus
Adolphus, of the 4th of April and the 30th of May
respectively, have come down to us, in the first of
which he recommends an ensign of Captain Wauchope,
named John Campbell, for the post of captain. He is
not only, the writer says, the most experienced in drilling
recruits among all Colonel Rutherford’s officers, but he also
understands the language sufficiently well. This
apparently refers to the Gaelic of the Highlanders, and is the
only instance I have come across where this most vital
question of the language of military command is referred
to. The other letter expresses a hope to have the force
of levied troops ready as soon as the necessary moneys
were forthcoming. Relying on the king’s promise to
refund him within three months, Spens concludes by saying
that he will arrange about the outfit himself.
From this time onward Spens was flying like a shuttle-
1 His services were claimed also for purposes rather extraneous to his
character as diplomatic representative of Sweden. Duke John of
Ostrogötland begs him to remember his promise and send him eight men
able to sing and to play, also a noble youth who could “ bene saltare et
dimicare.” Spens Corr. Dipl. Angi. Riks A.
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