Source:
A Collection of the State Papers of John Thurloe, Esq;, volume 2, page 423, published by Thomas Birch, 1742; original at Indiana University
A letter of intelligence from Hamburg describing Kristina's arrival and stay there, dated July 4/14 (Old Style), 1654.
WARNING: The term "rich Jew" (referring to the banker Diego Texeira) is used, obviously linked to anti-Semitic sentiment that Kristina fortunately was immune to. After deliberated I have concluded that to omit it would be the same thing as acting like anti-Semitism doesn't exist, even if the letter was not written with anti-Semitic intent.
The letter:
Hamb. this 4th of July, 1654. O. S.
ON the twenty-sixth of the last month, the brother of the new-crowned king of Sweden came to this town, who is travelling for France; and some days after him, the late queen of Sweden came hither likewise, but very privately, insomuch that no body knew of her coming; until two or three hours after her entrance of the city. She hath not above twelve persons in all with her, amongst whom some Swedish earls, and comes per post from Elsenore. It is said, she will expect her baggage here, which is coming after, and then prosecute her intended journey, which is given out to be for the Spa. She lodges here in a rich Jew's house, which (as is thought) was recommended unto her majesty by Don Pimentel, late Spanish embassador in Sweden.
With modernised spelling:
Hamburg, this 4th of July, 1654. O. S.
On the twenty-sixth of the last month, the brother of the new-crowned King of Sweden came to this town, who is travelling for France; and some days after him the late Queen of Sweden came hither likewise, but very privately, insomuch that nobody knew of her coming until two or three hours after her entrance of the city. She hath not above twelve persons in all with her, amongst whom some Swedish earls, and comes per post from Elsinore. It is said she will expect her baggage here, which is coming after, and then prosecute her intended journey, which is given out to be for the Spa. She lodges here in a rich Jew's house, which (as is thought) was recommended unto Her Majesty by Don Pimentel, late Spanish ambassador in Sweden.
French translation (my own):
Hambourg, ce 4 juillet 1654. Vieux style.
Le 26 du passé, le frère du nouveau roi de Suède, qui se rend en France, arriva dans cette ville. Quelques jours après lui, l'ancienne reine de Suède y vint également, mais très discrètement, si bien que personne ne sut sa venue avant deux ou trois heures après son entrée dans la ville. Elle n'est accompagnée que de douze personnes, dont des comtes suédois, et elle arrive par la poste d'Elseneur. On dit qu'elle attendra ici ses bagages, qui la suivent, et qu'elle poursuivra ensuite son voyage prévu, qui est annoncé pour Spa. Elle loge ici dans une riche maison juive, qui (selon ce que l'on pense) a été recommandée à Sa Majesté par don Pimentel, ancien ambassadeur d'Espagne en Suède.
Swedish translation (my own):
Hamburg, den 4 juli 1654. Gamla stilen.
Den tjugosjätte dagen i förra månaden kom den nykrönte Sveriges konungs bror till denna stad, som är på väg till Frankrike; och några dagar efter honom kom även Sveriges tidigare drottning hit, men mycket hemligt, så att ingen visste om hennes ankomst förrän två eller tre timmar efter hennes ankomst till staden. Hon har inte mer än tolv personer med sig totalt, bland vilka några svenskar räknas, och hon kommer per post från Helsingör. Det sägs att hon kommer att vänta på sitt bagage hit, som kommer efter henne, och sedan fortsätta sin planerade resa, som sägs vara till Spa. Hon bor här i en rik judes hus, vilket (som man tror) rekommenderades till Hennes Majestät av don Pimentel, tidigare spansk ambassadör i Sverige.
Above: Kristina.
No comments:
Post a Comment