In 1627 Spens was dispatched to invest Gustavus, then occupied in the Polish–Swedish War (1626–1629), with the Order of the Garter. That he did in Dirschau; and moved on to Elbing, where he recruited John Durie as his secretary. On 28 April 1628 Gustavus made him friherre Spens awarding him the barony of Orreholmen.