Excerpt from Charles Longland's letter to secretary John Thurloe, dated April 4/14 (New Style), 1656

Source:

A Collection of the State Papers of John Thurloe, Esq;, volume 4, page 674, published by Thomas Birch, 1742

https://books.google.com/books?id=70EqAQAAMAAJ&newbks=1&newbks_redir=0&dq=state+papers+of+john+thurloe+1656&source=gbs_navlinks_s

https://www.british-history.ac.uk/thurloe-papers/vol4/pp664-674#h3-0016

The letter:

RIGHT HONORABLE,

... The pope has a long tyme lul'd asliep most Christian princes with his pretended newtrallity as a comon father; but the truth is, he is entyrly Spanish, and must stick to him in al conditions, theyr interest being one and the sam, the pope's autority being only supported by the Austrian familly. They ar extreamly weary at Rom of theyr ghest the queen of Sweden, her carryage being so infinitly high and lofty, that she nether suffers man to be covered before her, nor woman to sit; besyd her behaviour in her new religion is not with such zeal, as with other new converted catholiks. Among other things ther was latly shew'd her Aron's rod; but shi told them plainly, it was not the ryht, (which was of an amond tree) and this was another sort of wood. The queen imploies all her interest with the pope, or whomsoever els, to advance the Spanish interest in al his affaires, wherof shi makes publik profession. ...

Your most humble and faithful servant,

CHARLES LONGLAND.

Leg. April 14, 1656. [N. S.]

With modernised spelling:

Right Honourable,

... The Pope has a long time lulled asleep most Christian princes with his pretended neutrality as a common father; but the truth is, he is entirely Spanish and must stick to him in all conditions, their interest being one and the same, the Pope's authority being only supported by the Austrian family.

They are extremely weary at Rome of their guest the Queen of Sweden, her carriage being so infinitely high and lofty that she neither suffers man to be covered before her, nor woman to sit. Beside, her behaviour in her new religion is not with such zeal as with other new converted Catholics. Among other things, there was lately shewed her Aaron's rod; but she told them plainly it was not the right (which was of an almond tree), and this was another sort of wood.

The Queen employs all her interest with the Pope, or whomsoever else, to advance the Spanish interest in all his affairs, whereof she makes public profession. ...

Your most humble and faithful servant,

Charles Longland.

Leghorn, April 14, 1656. [N. S.]

French translation (my own):

Très honorable seigneur,

... Le pape a endormi pendant longtemps la plupart des princes chrétiens avec sa prétendue neutralité de père commun; mais la vérité est qu'il est entièrement espagnol et doit lui rester fidèle en toutes circonstances, leur intérêt étant le même, l'autorité du pape n'étant soutenue que par la famille autrichienne.

Ils sont extrêmement las à Rome de leur invitée, la reine de Suède, dont le comportement est si infiniment haut et majestueux qu'elle ne permet ni qu'un homme soit couvert devant elle, ni qu'une femme s'asseye. Du reste, sa conduite dans sa nouvelle religion n'est pas avec autant de zèle qu'avec d'autres catholiques nouvellement converties. Entre autres choses, on lui a récemment montré la verge d'Aaron; mais elle leur a dit à brûle-pourpoint que ce n'était pas la bonne (qui était d'un amandier), et que c'était une autre sorte de bois. 

La reine emploie tous ses intérêts auprès du pape, ou de qui que ce soit d'autre, à faire avancer les intérêts espagnols dans toutes ses affaires, ce dont elle fait publiquement profession. ...

Votre très humble et fidèle serviteur,

Charles Longland. 

Livourne, le 14 avril 1656. [Nouveau style.]

Swedish translation (my own):

Ers Ärevördighet,

... Påven har under lång tid invaggat de flesta kristna furstar med sin påstådda neutralitet som gemensam fader; men sanningen är att han är helt spansk och måste hålla sig till honom under alla förhållanden, deras intresse är ett och samma, påvens auktoritet stöds endast av den österrikiska familjen.

De är ytterst trötta i Rom på sin gäst, Sveriges drottning, hennes beteende är så oändligt högt och upphöjt att hon varken låter män ha hatten på sig inför henne eller kvinnor att sitta. För övrigt är hennes beteende i sin nya religion inte med en sådan iver som med andra nykonverterade katoliker. Bland annat visades nyligen för henne Arons stav; men hon sade tvärt till dem att det inte var det rätta (som var av ett mandelträd), och att detta var en annan sorts trä.

Drottningen använder allt sitt intresse hos påven, eller vem som helst, för att främja det spanska intresset i alla hans angelägenheter, varav hon gör offentligt profession. ...

Er ödmjukaste och trognaste tjänare

Charles Longland.

Livorno, den 14 april 1656. [Nya stilen.]

Above: Kristina.

Above: Pope Alexander VII.

Note: Leghorn is the traditional English name for the Italian city of Livorno.