Sources:
L'espion dans les cours des princes chrétiens, volume 2, pages 457 to 460 (Lettre CXVI), by Giovanni Paolo Marana, 1739 (Erasme Kinkius edition); original at University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Letters Writ by a Turkish Spy: Who lived Five and forty Years, Undiscovered, at Paris, volume 3, pages 173 to 177 (Book II, Letter XI), by Giovanni Paolo Marana, translated by William Bradshaw, 1687 (1691 edition); scan in the collections Early English Books, 1641-1700; Books In Microfilm; and Microfilm, via the Internet Archive
The Eight Volumes of Letters Writ by a Turkish Spy: Who Liv'd Five and Forty Years Undiscover'd at Paris, volume 3, pages 137 to 140 (Letter XI), by Giovanni Paolo Marana, 1748 (twelfth edition); original at Harvard University
A description of Kristina given in a letter written by "Mahmut", "a Turkish spy", to the Agha of the Janissaries on August 7/17 (New Style), 1646. Fiction by Giovanni Paolo Marana.
The letter excerpt (in French translation, Kinkius edition, 1739):
... Ecoute en attendant, ce que les François disent de Christine Reine de Suéde, dont tu me demandes le portrait.
Elle est fille unique de Gustave Adolphe...
Après la mort de Gustave, les Etats du Royaume assemblés, Christine sa fille fut proclamée Reine; & durant sa minorité, on lui nomma pour Tuteur cinq des principaux Officiers du Royaume, qui étoient chargés en même tems de toute l'administration des affaires publiques.
Cette Princesse entend parfaitement bien sept Langues. Elle a une bonne connoissance de la Philosophie ancienne & moderne, & sçait l'Histoire en perfection. Et pour tout dire en un mot, elle passe pour la plus sçavante Princesse de son tems.
Elle a un air agréable & majestueux; un œil perçant; une partie de ses cheveux pendent autour de deux tempes, & descendent à boucles jusques sur ses épaules; ceux du derriere de la tête sont tressés en forme de Couronne. C'est ainsi qu'elle est représentée dans un de ses tableaux que j'ai vû dans une Galerie du Palais du Cardinal Mazarin, qui témoigne avoir beaucoup de vénération pour cette Reine. Si j'avois pu acheter ce portrait, comme je fis celui de Gustave, je te l'aurois envoyé: Mais à peine tous les pinceaux de Paris sont-ils suffisans pour fournir les Cabinets & les Galeries des gens de qualité, des portraits de cette admirable Princesse, qui est devenue l'idole des François.
Il s'est présenté pour elle plusieurs grands partis; mais elle les a tous refusés, ou par raison d'Etat, ou par dégoût des personnes, ou par aversion pour le Sacrement; ou parce que les Nobles, qui paroissent bienaises d'être gouvernés par une fille, se sont opposés à son mariage. Incontinent après la mort de son pere, le Roi de Dannemarck la fit demander; mais sa proposition fut refusée tout à plat. ...
With modernised spelling:
... Écoute en attendant ce que les Français disent de Christine, reine de Suède, dont tu me demandes le portrait.
Elle est fille unique de Gustave-Adolphe...
Après la mort de Gustave, les États du Royaume assemblés, Christine, sa fille, fut proclamée reine; et, durant sa minorité, on lui nomma pour tuteur cinq des principaux officiers du royaume, qui étaient chargés en même temps de toute l'administration des affaires publiques.
Cette princesse entend parfaitement bien sept langues. Elle a une bonne connaissance de la philosophie, ancienne et moderne, et sait l'histoire en perfection; et, pour tout dire en un mot, elle passe pour la plus savante princesse de son temps.
Elle a un air agréable et majestueux; un œil perçant; une partie de ses cheveux pendent autour de deux tempes et descendent à boucles jusque sur ses épaules; ceux du derrière de la tête sont tressés en forme de couronne. C'est ainsi qu'elle est représentée dans un de ses tableaux que j'ai vu dans une galerie du palais du cardinal Mazarin, qui témoigne avoir beaucoup de vénération pour cette reine. Si j'avais pu acheter ce portrait, comme je fis celui de Gustave, je te l'aurais envoyé; mais à peine tous les pinceaux de Paris sont-ils suffisants pour fournir les cabinets et les galeries des gens de qualité des portraits de cette admirable princesse, qui est devenue l'idole des Français.
Il s'est présenté pour elle plusieurs grands partis, mais elle les a tous refusés — ou par raison d'État, ou par dégoût des personnes, ou par aversion pour le sacrement; ou parce que les nobles, qui paraissent bien aises d'être gouvernés par une fille, se sont opposés à son mariage. Incontinent après la mort de son père, le roi de Danemark la fit demander, mais sa proposition fut refusée tout à plat. ...
Swedish translation (my own):
... Lyssna under tiden på vad fransmännen säger om Kristina, Sveriges drottning, vars porträtt du ber mig om.
Hon är enda dotter till Gustav Adolf...
Efter Gustavs död samlades Riksständerna, och Kristina, hans dotter, utropades till drottning; och under hennes minderårighet utsågs fem av rikets första officerare till hennes förmyndare, vilka också ansvarade för hela förvaltningen av offentliga angelägenheter.
Denna prinsessa förstår sju språk utmärkt. Hon har goda kunskaper i filosofi, både forntida och moderna, och känner till historia fullständigt; och, för att uttrycka allt med ett ord, går hon för att vara sin tids lärdaste prinsessa.
Hon har en behaglig och majestätisk air; genomträngande ögon; en del av hennes hår hänger runt tinningarna och faller i lockar ner till axlarna; håret på baksidan av hennes huvud är flätat i form av en krona. Så avbildas hon i en av hennes målningar som jag har sett i ett galleri i kardinal Mazarins palats, som uppenbarligen har stor vördnad för denna drottning. Om jag kunde ha köpt detta porträtt, liksom jag gjorde Gustavs porträtt, skulle jag ha skickat det till dig; men knappast är alla penslar i Paris tillräckliga för att förse skåpen och gallerierna hos personer av kvalitet med porträtt av denna beundransvärda prinsessa, som har blivit fransmännens avgudinna.
Flera stora friare har presenterat sig för henne, men hon har avböjt dem alla — antingen av statsreson, av avsky för folket, eller av motvilja mot sakramentet; eller för att adelsmännen, som verkade mycket nöjda med att styras av en flicka, motsatte sig hennes äktenskap. Omedelbart efter hennes fars död lät Danmarks konung fråga efter henne, men hans förslag avslogs blankt. ...
English translation (by Bradshaw):
... In the mean while, hear what the French say, of Christina Queen of Suedeland, of whom thou requirest a Description.
She is the onely Daughter of Gustavus Adolphus ...
After the Death of Gustavus, the States of the Kingdom assembling, proclaimed Christina Queen; And, during her Minority, committed her to the Tutelage of Five Principal Officers of the Kingdom, who also took on them, the whole Care of the Commonwealth,
She is perfect in Seven Languages. Well vers'd in Ancient and Modern Philosophy; And, a complete Historian. In fine, she has acquired the Title, of the Most Learned Princess of her Time.
She is of a Graceful and Majestick Aspect: Has a piercing Eye: Wears Part of her Hair loose about her Temples, and flowing down in Curls to her Shoulders; the Rest braided up behind, in Form of a Wreath. Thus is she represented by her Picture, which I have seen in a Gallery of Cardinal Mazarini's Palace, who possesses a great Veneration for this Queen. Could I have purchas'd her Portraicture, as I did her Father's, I would have sent it thee: But all the Pencils in Paris are hardly sufficient, to supply the Closets and Galleries of the Nobles, with this Admired Figure. She is become the Idol of the French.
Many great Matches have been offered her; but, she refuses all, either for Reasons of State, or Dislike of the Persons, or an Aversion she has for a Married Life; or through Opposition of her Nobles, who seem to covet to be governed by a Maiden Queen. Soon after her Father's Death, the King of Denmark attempted to make her his Wife; but his Redress was abruptly rejected. ...
Paris, 17th. of the 8th. Moon,
of the Year 1646.
With modernised spelling:
... In the meanwhile, hear what the French say of Kristina, Queen of Swedeland, of whom thou requirest a description.
She is the only daughter of Gustavus Adolphus ...
After the death of Gustavus, the States of the Kingdom, assembling, proclaimed Kristina Queen and, during her minority, committed her to the tutelage of five principal officers of the kingdom, who also took on them the whole care of the Commonwealth.
She is perfect in seven languages, well-versed in ancient and modern philosophy, and a complete historian. In fine, she has acquired the title of the most learned princess of her time.
She is of a graceful and majestic aspect; has a piercing eye; wears part of her hair loose about her temples and flowing down in curls to her shoulders, the rest braided up behind in form of a wreath. Thus is she represented by her picture, which I have seen in a Gallery of Cardinal Mazzarini's palace, who possesses a great veneration for this queen. Could I have purchased her portraiture, as I did her father's, I would have sent it thee; but all the pencils in Paris are hardly sufficient to supply the closets and galleries of the nobles with this admired figure. She is become the idol of the French.
Many great matches have been offered her, but she refuses all — either for reasons of State, or dislike of the persons, or an aversion she has for a married life; or through opposition of her nobles, who seem to covet to be governed by a maiden queen. Soon after her father's death, the King of Denmark attempted to make her his wife, but his redress was abruptly rejected. ...
Paris, 17th of the 8th moon, of the year 1646.
The 1748 version of Bradshaw's translation:
... In the meanwhile, hear what the French say about Christina Queen of Swedeland, of whom thou requirest a Description.
She is the only Daughter of Gustaphus Adolphus ...
After the Death of Gustavus, the States of the Kingdom assembling, proclaim'd Christina Queen, and during her Minority, committed her to the Tutelage of Five principal Officers of the Kingdom, who also took on them the whole Care of the Commonwealth.
She is perfect in Seven Languages, well vers'd in Ancient and Modern Philosophy, and a complete Historian. In fine, she has acquir'd the Title of the most learned Princess of her Time.
She is of a most graceful and Majestick Aspect; has a piercing Eye; wears part of her Hair loose about her Temples, and flowing down in Curls to her Shoulders; the rest braided up behind, in Form of a Wreath. Thus is she represented by her Picture, which I have seen in a Gallery of Cardinal Mazarini's Palace, who possesses a great Veneration for this Queen. Could I have purchased this Pourtraiture, as I did her Father's, I would have sent it thee: But all the Pencils in Paris are hardly sufficient to supply the Closets and Galleries of the Nobles with this admired Figure. She is become the Idol of the French.
Many great Matches have been offer'd her, but she refuses all, either for Reasons of State, or Dislike of the Persons, or an Aversion she has for a married Life; or through Opposition of her Nobles, who seem to covet to be govern'd by a Maiden Queen. Soon after her Father's Death, the King of Denmark attempted to make her his Wife; but his Address was abruptly rejected.
English translation (my own):
... Listen, in the meantime, to what the French are saying about Kristina, Queen of Sweden, whose portrait you ask me for.
She is the only daughter of Gustav Adolf...
After Gustav's death, the Estates of the Realm were assembled, and Kristina, his daughter, was proclaimed Queen; and, during her minority, five of the principal officers of the realm were appointed as her guardians, who were also charged with the entire administration of public affairs.
This princess understands seven languages perfectly well. She has a good knowledge of philosophy, ancient and modern, and knows history perfectly; and, to say everything in a word, she passes for the most learned princess of her time.
She has an agreeable and majestic air; piercing eyes; some of her hair hangs around her temples and falls in curls to her shoulders; the hair at the back of her head is braided in the shape of a crown. This is how she is depicted in one of her paintings that I have seen in a gallery in the palace of Cardinal Mazarin, who clearly has great veneration for this queen. If I could have bought this portrait, as I did that of Gustav, I would have sent it to you; but scarcely are all the brushes in Paris sufficient to supply the cabinets and galleries of persons of quality with portraits of this admirable princess, who has become the idol of the French.
Several grand suitors have presented themselves to her, but she has refused them all — either for reasons of State, or out of disgust for the people, or out of aversion to the sacrament; or because the nobles, who appeared quite pleased to be governed by a girl, opposed her marriage. Immediately after her father's death, the King of Denmark had her be asked for, but his proposition was flatly refused. ...
Above: Kristina.
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