https://www.british-history.ac.uk/thurloe-papers/vol4/pp79-96#h3-0022
The letter:
As for the queen of Sweden, that day the prince elector came to Francfort, she was come to Konigstein in the bishopric of Mentz, 3 German miles from this city; and there she tarried all next day, and received several visits, as that of the Scottish king, which indeed proved the longest for time, but shortest and meanest for discourse; to supply which the queen soon co-admitted the King's younger brother. Some time after the prince elector performed his visit, and was with her half an hour, with whom she had much discourse of general matters, avoiding all occasions of touching her design. The prince invited her to Heidelberg, for which she kindly thanked him, alledging she had lost much time, and would fain make all the haste she could not to be overtaken by the winter in her intended journey. All that day being spent in visits of that nature by her, the next she came to Francfort, only passing through the same with seven coaches and some of her lifeguards; the rest of her train, about 200 persons most horsed, were dispatched, and advanced another way the day before, consisting most of Spaniards, Italians, Frenchmen, Brabanders, she having scarce two persons left about her of those, whom she brought along with her out of Sweden. The chiefest of her company are Piemontelli, Don de la Cueva, and his lady, Don Antonio, a Portuguese, some jesuits and capuchins. And truly a body can hardly look otherwise upon it, but that these fellows purposely lead her triumph thus through all Germany. The magistrates of Francfort would gladly have bestowed some entertainment upon her, but she refusing it, they only saluted her from their works with the canon, and she barely passed through over the bridge. In her passing through the multitude, she made several strange grimaces and faces, and was not able to keep her countenance long. When she approached the forts, she sat in the right boot of the coach in a black velvet coat, and a hat with feathers, whereof the people getting notice, they all got on that side to have the better view of her; but she coming nearer to the city itself, she suddenly changed her black coat, and put on a grey with a black hood about her head, and got to the left boot. That night she dispatched a courier to the prince elector, returning him thanks for his visit and invitation. And now she being on her journey again, in regard she was to touch yet upon one of the bordering towns of the Palatinat, (Boxberg,) his highness, together with the lady electress, and both his sisters, who were very desirous to see this wandering queen, did there once more attend her, but she hasted on, and the visit proved very short. A person of note and quality, that waited upon her when she was about Francfort, doth relate he heard her say, The people talk, that I am going to Loretto, to offer up a scepter and crown to the lady Mary there. I laid down these regalities in Sweden, and if I had another crown to dispose of, I would rather bestow it on the good poor king of England. And when it was told by some, that there was a rumour abroad as if she intended to put herself into a cloister, she is said to have answered, smilingly pointing at Piemontelli, He there likely may know, what cloister-flesh I have about me.
Above: Kristina.
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