SKOTTE, HANS [SSNE 8490]

Surname

SKOTTE, SCHOTTE

First name

HANS

Nationality

SCOT

Social status

ROYAL SERVANT

Text source

Hans Skotte (John Scott?) was in Sweden in May 1560 when he was provided with a royal pass to travel to 'the duke', presumably Duke Johan (later King John III). On 24 September Hans Skotte was sent to Ipswich, on behalf of Duke Johan, a journey costing 69 daler. The Vasa group then travelled to Colchester and onwards to Chelmsford, before meeting up with Duke Johan's 200-strong retinue (made up of both Scotsmen and Englishmen) and making an entry via Aldgate accompanied by trumpeters.  

In May 1563 two of Duke Johan's loyal servants, Hans Skotte and Nils Birgesson, were arrested and brought to Sweden on King Erik XIV's orders, seemingly having been in Poland with the duke. Hans Skotte was noted as a gentleman of the bedchamber of duke Johan. It is probable that King Erik XIV hoped to gain information on his brother from the two captives. It was a Finnish nobleman, Johan Bertilsson Slange who had been captured and tortured and then named a series of individuals conspiring with Duke Johan to overthrow Erik, before being executed in June.

Hans Skotte and Nils Birgersson were both condemned to death in Stockholm, the latter meeting his fate at Midsummer, whilst Hans Skotte was executed in Västerås on 31 July .

Source: Konung Gustaf den Förstes registratur, xxix, 1559-1560, (Stockholm, 1916), p.823; Ingvar Andersson, Erik XIV, (Falun, 1993 rpt), p.8H1, Lars Ericson, John III en biografi (Lund, 2004), p.63, 75.

Service record

SWEDEN, STOCKHOLM

Arrived 1560-01-01

Departed 1563-07-31

Capacity ROYAL SERVANT, purpose ROYAL SERVICE