FRANCKLIN, HENRY [SSNE 7821]
Text source
Henry Francklin was born in England. He initially served King Sigismund of Poland (and Sweden) but also took service with Duke Charles (later Karl IX of Sweden). In January 1591 Francklin was paid by the Duke for a trip to Poland the previous year. Sigismund had written to Queen Elizabeth of England in August 1590 on behalf of Francklin as his loyal servant of many years who was now forced to return to his native country for personal reasons. In December 1590 princess Anne Vasa (daughter of Sigismund) also wrote to Queen Elizabeth on behalf Francklin to the English monarch, again commending him for his lengthy service and hoping he could be of use in England. Queen Elizabeth responded favourably in May and June 1591. Meanwhile, Francklin accompanied Duke Charles to Gripsholm and Nyköping castles in Dec-Jan1591 before departing for England at the end of January in order to purchase cloth. Francklin did not leave Sweden until April, however. He was engaged to marry Constantia Eriksdotter, an illegitimate daughter of King Erik XIV. It appears that on Francklin's visit to England he engaged a troop of English players, albeit largely at his own expense (which he hoped to have reimbursed). He returned to Sweden by September 1591.
Henry Francklin was in Stockholm in September 1608 as he met John Forbes [SSNE 4957] and asked the Scotsman to sign his autograph album, which was duly done.
Source: E. Wikland, Elizabethan Players in Sweden 1591-92 &c. 2nd ed. Almqvist&Wiksell, Stockholm, 1971, pp.13-39.
Thanks to Dr Thomas Brochard for the autograph album reference. See Brochard, "Scots and Scandinavia as seen through Alba Amicorum, 1570s-1720s", Northern Studies, vol.52 (2021), p.120.
Service record
- POLAND, WARSAW
- Departed 1590-12-17, as ROYAL SERVANT
- Capacity ROYAL SERVICE, purpose DIPLOMACY