Saturday, May 25, 2019

Kristina introduces Whitelocke to Ebba Sparre, January 27/February 8 (New Style), 1654

Ebba Sparre (1626/9-1662) was a Swedish countess and one of Kristina's ladies-in-waiting, whom she/he/they is believed to have had a romantic and possibly sexual relationship with.

Source:


The anecdote (year typo fixed):

... The queen was in a very good humor, and taking Whitelocke by the hand, she ledde him to a lady in the roome, whom they called La Belle Comptesse, the fayre countesse, the wife of Grave Jacob de la Garde: the queen sayd to Whitelocke, "discourse with this my lady, my bed-fellowe, and tell me if her inside be not as beautifull as her outside."

Whitelocke discoursing with her, found it so; and great modesty, virtue, and witt, accompanying her excellent beauty and behaviour.

The queen pulled off the countesse's gloves, and gave one of them to Whitelocke for a favour; the other she tore in four pieces, and distributed them to Piementelle, the Italians, and to Grave Tott. In recompense of the glove, Whitelocke sent to the belle comptesse a douzen payre of english white gloves, which are in much esteem in this countrey.


Above: Kristina, year 1650.


Above: Ebba Sparre, year 1652 or 1653.


Above: Bulstrode Whitelocke, year 1650. Image courtesy of National Portrait Gallery via Wikimedia Commons.

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