By THOMAS MICHELL, C.B. , Her Majesty's Consul General for Norway. London: T. NELSON AND SONS, PATERNOSTER ROW. EDINBURGH; AND NEW YORK. CHRISTIANIA: T. BENNETT, Tourist Agent . 1886. Rights of Translation and Reproduction reserved for the benefit of the Anglican Church at Christiania. Dedicated, BY GRACIOUS PERMISSION, TO His Majesty Oscar II. KING OF SWEDEN AND NORWAY, &c. &c. &c. WITH THE DEEPEST GRATITUDE AND THE MOST PROFOUND RESPECT OF THE AUTHOR ....

The idea of investigating the story of the Scottish Expedition to Norway in 1612 occurred to the author on a trip through the beautiful valleys of Romsdal and Gudbrandsdal in the autumn of 1884—many of the statements made on that subject in guide-books, and in almost every work on Norway, having appeared incredible when he left the highway and explored the old bridle-path along which the Scots marched on their way to Sweden. Subsequent researches in State Archives, made with the kind assistance

More than two centuries and a half have elapsed since the date of the occurrence so well known in Norway as the "Skottetog," or Scottish expedition, of which but little has hitherto been authentically known in Scotland. Notwithstanding, therefore, the conspicuous position which the so-called "Sinclair Expedition" holds in the traditions, [1] and to some extent also in the literature and the art, [2] of Norway, a fresh examination of the subject by the impartial light of historical truth is justi

Such being the documents and the information at last available in the matter of the Mönnichhofen and Scottish expeditions of 1612, it is time to narrate briefly why auxiliary troops were at that time wanted in Sweden. When Gustavus Adolphus, on the 26th December 1611, took into his own hands, at the age of seventeen, the government of Sweden, his first step was to seek the conclusion of peace with Denmark; and with that object he formally surrendered the title of King of the Lapps, the assumptio

According to the Report of the same Swedish agent, Mönnichhofen sailed at last on the 14th July from Amsterdam, [22] and landed five days later in Stordalen, on the coast of Norway—at that time united with the Crown of Denmark—without combining, as originally intended, with the levies made in Scotland, although measures for their detention were taken only on the 4th August following. The ships (evidently Dutch) which had transported his troops to Norway returned safely to Amsterdam with the info

Having dealt with that part of the general plan of bringing foreign troops to the aid of Sweden which was so successfully carried out by Mönnichhofen, we approach the main subject of this little work—namely, the history of the Scottish levies, and of the disaster that befell the very small portion of them that succeeded in leaving Scotland and landing in Norway. Our starting-point in this part of the inquiry must be the commission addressed by Gustavus Adolphus to Sir James Spens, Laird of Wormi

The vigorous measures of the Council were not, however, adopted in sufficient time to prevent a small contingent of the Scottish levies from crossing over to Norway. On the 17th September 1612, the Norwegian Stadtholder Kruse announced to the Danish Chancellor the arrival of two Scottish ships at Romsdalen between the 19th and 20th August, and the destruction at Kringelen, on the 26th August, of all the men, except eighteen, that had landed from those vessels. On the 26th October 1612, Sir Rober

The Scots disembarked at a place since named Skothammer, or Skotkleven (the Scots' Cliff), in the vicinity of Klognæs farm, in a part of the Romsdal fiord called the Iisfiord, some miles from the present hamlet of Veblungsnæs, which was not then in existence. The Sagas of Gudbrandsdal, collected by Dean Krag, begin with a stirring account of the patriotism of Peder Klognæs or Klungnæs, the occupant of the farm of that name, who is popularly supposed to have prevented the two Scottish vessels fro

In his first Report [49] to the Danish Chancellor, dated September 17, 1612, the Norwegian Stadtholder stated that when Lauritz Hage, Lensmand of Vaage in Gudbrandsdalen, heard of the arrival of the Scots in Romsdalen, "he at once roused the Bönder and peasantry in the two parishes of Lessje 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, howeve

We have seen that the historical facts are as follows:—A detachment of about three hundred Scots, commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel Alexander Ramsay and five other Scottish officers, marched safely, and without committing any acts of murder, pillage, or incendiarism, through Romsdalen and Gudbrandsdalen, as far as Kringelen, where it had opposed to it four hundred and five Bönder and peasants, under the leadership of two civil, not military, officers. Further, that one hundred and thirty-four of t

Herr Sinclair sailed across the sea, And steered his course to Norway's strand: 'Mid Gudbrands' rocks his grave found he,— There were broken crowns in Sinclair's band. Herr Sinclair sailed o'er the blue wave, That he might fight for Swedish gold: God help thee, man! thyself now save; Thou'lt fall before the Norsemen bold. The moon amid the pale night shone, The waves around so gently rolled; A mermaid rose on Sinclair's sight, And thus prophetic evil told:— "Turn back, turn back, thou Scottish m

The so-called Calmar War, between Denmark and Sweden, was carried on from the spring of 1611 until the winter of 1613. Christian IV. ruled at that time over the kingdoms of Denmark and Norway; while in Sweden reigned Charles IX., who died at the commencement of the war, leaving its prosecution to his son Gustavus Adolphus, then only seventeen years of age, and who subsequently became so famous. In 1612 Gustavus caused foreign troops to be enlisted in the Netherlands, in England, and in Scotland,

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 newe

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 De

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

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 communi