A Collection of the State Papers of John Thurloe, Esq;, volume 5, page 161, published by Thomas Birch, 1742
https://www.british-history.ac.uk/thurloe-papers/vol5/pp159-173#h3-0008
The letter:
RIGHT HONORABLE,
The sicknes at Naples is increast to 2000 per day, insomuch that the dead remayn unburyed for want of men to perform that offis. The infection of the very air at Rom hetherto has made no great progres; however thos fat prellats ar very fearful. The queen of Sweden would willingly get thence, if shi knew how. Shi intended to prevail with the pope for a couple of his gallyes to carry her for Marcelles, but the sicknes is in the gallyes; so shi dares not imbark. It is now talkt, as if shi would freit a couple of Flemish ships to carry her. What the event wil bi, we yet know not. ... I am
Right honorable,
Your most faithful servant,
CHARLES LONGLAND.
Leghorn, 7th July, 1656. [N. S.]
With modernised spelling:
Right Honourable,
... The sickness at Naples is increased to 2,000 per day, insomuch that the dead remain unburied for want of men to perform that office. The infection of the very air at Rome hitherto has made no great progress; however, those fat prelates are very fearful. The Queen of Sweden would willingly get thence, if she knew how. She intended to prevail with the Pope for a couple of his galleys to carry her for Marseille, but the sickness is in the galleys, so she dares not embark. It is now talked as if she would freight a couple of Flemish ships to carry her. What the event will be, we yet know not. ... I am,
Right Honourable,
Your most faithful servant
Charles Longland.
Leghorn, 7th July, 1656. [N. S.]
French translation (my own):
Honorable Monsieur,
... Le nombre de malades à Naples s'élève à 2 000 par jour, de sorte que les morts restent sans sépulture, faute d'hommes pour remplir cet office. L'infection de l'air-même à Rome n'a pas fait jusqu'à présent de grands progrès; cependant, ces gros prélats sont très craintifs. La reine de Suède s'éloignerait volontiers de là, si elle savait comment. Elle comptait obtenir du pape quelques galères pour la transporter à Marseille, mais, puisque le mal est dans les galères, elle n'ose pas s'embarquer. On dit maintenant qu'elle veut charger quelques vaisseaux flamands pour le transporter. Quel sera l'événement, nous ne le savons pas encore. ... Je suis,
Honorable Monsieur,
votre très fidèle serviteur
Charles Longland.
Livourne, le 7 juillet 1656. [Nouveau style.]
Swedish translation (my own):
Min honorable herre,
... Antalet sjuka i Neapel stiger till 2,000 per dag, så att de döda förblir obegravda, i brist på män för att fullgöra detta ämbete. Smittan av själva luften i Rom har hittills inte gjort stora framsteg; dessa stora prelater är dock mycket rädda. Drottningen av Sverige skulle gärna gå därifrån, om hon visste hur. Hon räknade med att få några galärer från påven för att transportera henne till Marseille, men eftersom sjukdomen finns i galärerna vågar hon inte gå ombord. Det sägs nu att hon vill lasta några flamländska fartyg för att transportera henne. Vad som kommer att hända vet vi inte än. ... Jag är,
Min honorable herre,
Er trognaste tjänare
Charles Longland.
Livorno, den 7 juli 1656. [Nya stilen.]
Above: Kristina.
Note: Leghorn is the traditional English name for the Italian port city of Livorno.
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