LESLIE, JOHN [SSNE 2928]
Text source
John Leslie served as a major in James Ramsay's [SSNE 3315] recruited infantry regiment in 1628-9 in Sweden. He was a major in Robert Leslie's [SSNE 2932] recruited infantry regiment in 1629-30. In July 1630, Oxenstierna informed Gustav II Adolf that he had paid Leslie's two companies until August and sent them to join the rest of their regiment. Thereafter, Leslie became a lieutenant colonel for John Ruthven's [SSNE 191] recruited infantry regiment in 1631-2 and, according to Monro, was later promoted full colonel. Two letters survive in the Swedish Riksarkiv, both of which are claims for money owed to Leslie for services rendered. In one of these he states that he had also brought 70 men over to Swedish service directly from Scotland. Though undated, approximate dates have been given to them below.
This is probably the same John Leslie who was commandant of Frankfurt an der Oder in 1631. In a letter dated 28 June 1639 from Hamburg, a Lt. Colonel John Leslie signed a testimonial that arms bought by Sir Thomas Roe [SSNE 4421] were serviceable and fit for service by Charles I. This is possibly the same officer. Leslie's mother was Agnes Logan who signed a discharge to Mr Walter Scharpe for 500 merks on 10 March 1631.
Sources: R. Monro, His Expedition with a worthy Scots Regiment called Mac-Keyes (2 vols., London, 1637), II, The List of the Scottish Officers in Chiefe; Swedish Krigsarkiv, Muster Roll, 1628/11,13; 1629/10,12,16,18,19; 1630/23; 1631/24; 1632/31; National Archives of Scotland, GD 30/1250, 10 March 1631; The National Archives, SP 81/47, f.102, 'Certificate of General King upon arms sent to England', 28 June 1639; The Records of the Parliaments of Scotland to 1707, K.M. Brown et al eds (St Andrews, 2007), 1641/8/379: Swedish Riksarkiv, Oxenstiernas Samlingen E648.
John Leslie to Axel Oxenstierna (both undated)
Letter 1. To the most illustrious Lord Chancellor of Sweden, etc. John Leslie [Lt \colonel], most humbly makes supplication.
Some time ago I made known to your Excellency at what great cost I have soldiered in Prussia and here for many years already and have not received money or payment for the work I have done. But when I found out that your Excellency decided to ask my advice, I stopped being a nuisance thereafter and (as long as I could) awaited your Excellency's pleasure. Now, however, I am unwillingly compelled to disturb your Excellency again and most humbly to beg that you be willing to instruct the Chamberlain to pay me the monies I have earned, once he had done the sums for himself. And if your Excellency decides to make use of my efforts in undertaking fresh recruitment, [I beg] that a document of authorisation be despatched to me as soon as can possibly be done. [Just as I have always done] I shall never fail to dedicate my life and all my fortunes to the King of Sweden and the common cause.
Letter 2 [by length of service mentioned, c.1634]. The things which I, John Leslie, [Lieutenant- Colonel], earnestly ask the most illustrious Lord Chancellor of Sweden to grant him.
Since I have undertaken the post of [Prefect of the Watch] in the army of the most serene King of Sweden for a whole three years and nine months, after which I was promoted to a higher position and acted as [vice-tribune] for two years and three months, and have brought seventy reserve troops from Scotland to Prussia at my own expense, now, because of frequently military disasters and because my [legio] has been completely worn down by encounters with the enemy, I very humbly beg that your Excellency be willing to recommend me for a post in which I can more profusely bear witness to my long-standing and devoted affection for the King and kingdom of Sweden. But if this cannot be granted me at present without any great convenience, I also beg that, once my reckoning has been approved, the sum of money I am still owed be put aside and paid by a public letter of authorisation.
John Leslie.
Service record
- SWEDEN, JAMES RAMSAY
- Arrived 1628-01-01, as MAJOR
- Departed 1629-12-31, as MAJOR
- Capacity OFFICER, purpose MILITARY
- SWEDEN, ROBERT LESLIE
- Arrived 1629-01-01, as MAJOR
- Departed 1630-12-31, as MAJOR
- Capacity OFFICER, purpose MILITARY
- SWEDEN, JOHN RUTHVEN
- Arrived 1631-01-01, as LT. COLONEL
- Departed 1638-12-31, as LT. COLONEL
- Capacity OFFICER, purpose MILITARY
- SWEDEN, FRANKFURT AN DER ODER
- Arrived 1631-01-01, as COMMANDANT
- Departed 1634-12-31, as COMMANDANT
- Capacity OFFICER AND COMMANDANT, purpose MILITARY
- STUART KINGDOMS, HAMBURG
- Arrived 1639-06-28, as LIEUTENANT COLONEL
- Capacity OFFICER, purpose MILITARY