Source:
A relation of the life of Christina Queen of Svveden: with her resignation of the crown, voyage to Bruxels, and journey to Rome. Whereunto is added, her Genius, Translated out of French, by I. H., 1656
The description:
And in truth, he that will reflect upon the most remarkable passages of her life, shall see in her a marvelous disposition to the knowledge of all things worthy; much of Generosity, and a Lightness incredible. Minerva had the first years of her life; Venus drew her off at last from her profound meditations and studies, and set her on a height of Gallantry: Mercury taking his turn, to shew his power, made her cast her self down from a Throne, to take her walks about the world. But Mars hath always had the Ascendent during the whole course of her life, to this present: for it must be confessed, that whether she gave her self to studie, or to Divertisements, or to Walks, that in all things she shewed her self a very generous Queen. During her under-age, she was observed to take pleasure in all the Exercises that might beseem the perfection of a Princess: and that with such towardliness, that thereby she gave ground of very great and extraordinary hopes concerning her. So soon as her Wit was somewhat ripened, that she saw her self capable of the knowledge of gallant things, she ceased not to take pains for the acquiring a perfect knowledge therein. She sought out for the greatest men in Europe, to satisfie this her natural greediness that she had after all kinde of Knowledge. This Princess hath been seen, in the coldest days of Winter, in that cold Country, to rise by four of the clock in the morning, to have communion with the Muses in her Cabinet; where she stayed commonly until nine, when she was to prepare for her appearing in publike, and to the Council of her Kingdom, where she shewed an admirable depth of wit, by the ready and subtil resolutions that she gave upon all sorts of affairs that were there proposed. The Divertisements that she loved best, were, to be conversant with knowing personages, and with them to commune about some point of learning. Her ordinary Entertainments were very different from such as for the most part are used in Courts, especially in any Court whereof a woman is the head. Her poorest entertainment was as good, as the profoundest studies of the greatest Doctor of the Sorbonne could have given: and one would easily have believed, to hear this Princess utter so many excellent things, that she had had secret communication with some Goddess, that inspired her with such high knowledge: yea, I perswade my self, that she might easily have gain'd the same opinion of her self, amongst that gross-witted people of Sweden, as the Ceremonious Pompilius had amongst the people of Rome, before they were polished, & whilst they yet slept in the rudeness of such persons as inhabit Forests and Mountains. The extraordinary assiduity, wherewith she gave her self to the reading of all books of greatest worth, so replenished her minde with sparkling light, that in one hour she uttered more choice & rare sayings, then is ordinarily done in a whole year, in the most famous University of Europe; and one moment of her discourse gave more instruction, than an hundred lessons taken from the greatest Doctor of Salamanca. Hath any ever seen a Princess possess the knowledge of nine or ten Tongues, as she doth? If History vaunteth of Queen Elizabeth so much, that she could hold discourse in good French with the French Ambassadour, in perfect Castilian with the Ambassadour of Spain, and in very refined Tuscan with the Princes of Italy: what praises shall be recorded in favour of the Great Christina, who can hold discourse almost with all the Nations in Europe, in their own Languages? History can never speak so well of this Princess, as she speaks of it; whereof she hath an admirable knowledge. She hath learned all the Sciences that are called Humane, with so much perfection, that there is no Author, Greek or Latine, yea even the most difficult Poets, which she doth not expound with a marvelous facility. The Mathematicks, Philosophy Natural and Moral, have not escap'd her knowledge; which she hath carryed along even unto Theologie, whereof I have heard her discourse with an incredible subtilty. Behold, what the Genius of the Great Christina hath been, under the Empire of Minerva! to whom Venus succeeded.
This gentle Goddess, that had but sorrily acted her part in the formation of the body of this Princess, she being but poorly furnished with those accommodations requisite to the beauty of a woman, (for she is little, and crooked, having a hollow bending on one side, that spoils the grace of her walking) would yet have it to be seen, that this body, so poorly fashioned, was sufficiently capable of the highest sort of Gallantries: and after Christina had abandoned the Muses, she was observed to delight her self in Dancing and Balls, wherein she had always the better. Such discourses as were most dissolute, pleased her best; and wanton postures liked her better by far, than a modest behaviour. Great men for Learning (as Bouchard and Naudaeus) were in no more esteem with her, because they were not more gallant than became them; and their demeanour was accounted by her ridiculous, because they were too serious, and too modest. I have heard her tell such tales, as modesty will not permit me to commit to writing: and I know an Ecclesiastical person of high degree, with whom I had contracted a very strict amity in Sweden, that hath recreated her an hundred times, by telling her such stories as the most dissolute woman would hardly have born. Out of this high strain of Gallantry, or rather Dissoluteness, whereof she made a publike profession, she step'd into impietie; and those fair lights that she had acquired by studie, and which before had served to regulate her manners, furnished her now with reasons and arguments to fight against the sacred Mysteries of Christian Religion. She hath not onely been seen to doubt of that sacred Mystery of the Incarnation, but even also to mock at it; and to say, in imitation of Leo the tenth of the House of Medici, That Fable of Christ is very profitable for the Romane Kitchin. She spake not of Divine Providence, but under the term of Destiny, after the manner of Profane Authors.
Her chief Maximes were,
1. That we ought to love God, as the fountain of all good; but that we should not fear him at all: because it were a ridiculous thing, to fear a Being that is essentially good, and is incapable of evil. But that we ought to fear evil men, that can hurt us a thousand ways, and which are the onely devils, whereof the common people have so strong a belief.
2. That a right-set minde should never either repent, or pardon; because repentance and pardon are always accompanied with unmanliness, or base-mindedness. That indeed a person ought always to consult upon that which he takes in hand; but that he should take an irrevocable resolution to follow it, and never change.
3. That the most particular and self-ended opinions, are the best, and soundest; and that that which men at this day call Religion, is nothing but a poor illusion of men, wherewith the most part are pleased to deceive themselves. For what likelihood is there, that a Belief that blindeth a man, and forbids all reasoning against it, should be true? What reason is there to believe that, which one cannot comprehend; yea, and to impose an obligation on us to believe it? This is all one, as to desire a man to put out his eyes, that he may see the better; and to put him in such a condition, as that thereby ye may be able to perswade him to the greatest absurdities in the world. And that from hence, the many Sects are found scattered over the earth, are but so many pure dotages, and fond imaginations of some men, who have been desirous to make themselves famous, in declaring themselves the heads of some parties: whereat she wondered nothing, because there is no conceit or opinion so ridiculous, that hath not its followers.
4. That the Doctrine of Plato of the universal soul of the world, could not be confuted, but with false Reasons: and that she could not perswade her self of the immortality of the soul, but by making it go and return into its own principle again; which is this universal soul, whereof our soul makes a part.
5. That Moses hath been as great an Impostor, as he was a good Wit. For she could convince of falshood the pretended Miraculous passage of the Israelites thorow the Red-sea: forasmuch as Numenius, Praefect of Antiochus, making War against the Persians, had got a famous Victory over those Persians in the same place, at such a time, and in the same manner as Moses did over Pharaoh; to wit, by observation of the flux and reflux of the Arabian Gulf.
I could say more, if her self did not publish it by all her thoughts, which are now known to the greater part of Europe; and if I had not some horrour to set them down in writing.
Mercury seeing that this libertine humour, and with such a bent carryed to all Gallantry, was too deeply rooted in her heart, and that she as easily followed it to Recreations, as she had done before to Studies; thought it to his purpose, to associate himself with Venus; who was very well pleased with his company. So they strove each with other, which of them should make her the most Pratling Light-houswife, or most inconstant. But notwithstanding this, Queen Christina hath been noted for a long time, even from her Cradle, to be naturally of a very wavering minde; and that Mercury also had the dominion over her humour from her very infancie: But onely I begin to shew his Kingdom (to keep my order in what I write) since that change (almost unheard-of) that hath been made in the person of Christina, when of a Soveraign she made her self a Subject; and preferred a vagabond and wandering life, to the glory and magnificence of a Throne. To say the truth, this thought had possessed her minde more than four or five years, before she put it in execution; and it had been blamed by some great men, that had used their endeavour to disswade her from it. Monsieur Chanut Ambassadour of France, Monsieur Saumaize, and Monsieur Spanheim, did their endeavour to divert her from this purpose, which they judged would turn to her disadvantage. But it was in vain. For the desire she had to see forraign Countries, and the new world, carryed her away from the wise counsels of those persons of quality. And so much power had Novelty and Change over her spirits, that she turned her self to all sorts of objects, just as a Weather-cock is turned about at the pleasure of every winde. The last that came to her Court, were always most welcome, and most made of for a time, and received all imaginable testimonies of Amity; but yet without any effect, for the most part. For this lightness of minde in her, caused her to follow a kinde of Deceitfulness, of so fine a thred, that one could hardly take it up, or perceive it, but in a long process of time, and after one had taken a great deal of pains in her service, and expended much money, and then found himself far from being recompensed for his service, or satisfied for his disbursements. The neediness of a thousand persons, that she hath employed, to satisfie her fantastical humours, cries with a loud voice for vengeance in the presence of God, who, one may judge, according to appearance, hath left this Princess to a Reprobate-sense; and given her goodly lights, that she should not see at all; and exposed her to the laughter of all Europe, to satisfie, in part, his own justice. Since her fall, from which it is too probable she will never rise again, she hath committed so many kindes of Extravagancies, that she hath made her self the Fable of all the world. A little written Piece, which one of my friends communicated to me, and which I believe to be common, describes them well enough; which may suffice to give any one an account of them, that desire to be informed concerning them. It is said, that even at this day, amidst the Spanish Gravity, she shews so much levity, that the Venerable Fathers of the Society of Iesus, have much ado, with all their wit, to know the temper of so Motley a Genius, that assumes more shapes and postures, than ever Proteus himself did: They have so much ado, to know of what Religion she is, that they that make it their only business to decide the points of Faith, cannot tell what to make of hers: They are in doubt also, what to think of her Sex, because sometimes they see her in mens apparel, and sometimes in womens; and for the most part, they see her in such a fashion as partakes of both, as if she were an Hermaphrodite. These great men (the Jesuites) that at this day have the ascendent over the mindes of so many Princes, have not been able as yet to discover, with what Byas this Princess must be handled. They finde her discourse admirable; and so it is indeed; and beyond whatsoever one can imagine. Her cogitations are exceedingly raised above what is common; she hath a fountain of Wit inexhaustible; a strong Reason, a charming Discourse; a deportment as familiar as sweet: but with all this, they are constrained to confess, that they do not yet know Christina, that changes her Affections as often as she changes her Smock, and that loves and hates almost both at one instant. When I look upon the disgrace sustained by Count Magnus de la Garde, wherein he fell with her, at that time when one would have thought that all should have smiled upon him, and when there was neither appearance, nor reason, that he should have been removed from the Court, I flatter my self, that I know the Genius of the Queen somewhat neer, after a particular study of her, and the most serious reflexions that I made upon so many several matters that came to pass during the time of my sojourning at Vpsal. And this hath encouraged me to set down my thoughts, concerning which, I can answer any with truth, that they are free from passion, however they may seem not to be very favourable to this Princess: But yet they are more favourable than they may seem to be: for I proclaim with a loud voice, that I hold Christina for the most extraordinary person of the world; for the clearest-sighted and most knowing Queen, that hath ever appeared upon the earth: That her Discourse is adorable, answerable to her Wit; That she understands her self well enough, to take up and know great spirits, and great men; and last, That she is capable of the fairest and most extraordinary atchievements, that ever have been done by any Heroical spirits in Antiquity. But if I say, that she makes but little account of Christian Religion; that she hath a Faith very particular to her self; that she is a Deceiver, and inconstant: there's none of those, that ever had the honour to have frequented her Court, that doth not fully accord with me, and is not constrained to confess, that my conceptions of her do her no wrong. But if any accuse me of too little respect to a head that wore a Crown, to speak thereof with such liberty; I answer, that I owe her no such respect; but, to follow her own Maximes, I owe her rather the contrary, (although in truth I dare say, that I bear her no hatred) than any such respect: I was neither born her Subject, nor her Slave; she never did me any good, although she was bound to have done it: And all the obligation that ever I had to her, that I remember, was, that she received me favourably, when I had first the honour to kiss her hand; and that I deserved to obtain her approbation, if I may believe the report that one made to me thereof, that had ordinary communication with her. But I have learned, long since, to slight the approbation of four sorts of persons: that is to say, Of an Ignorant, because he is uncapable of understanding the value of a thing; Of a Flatterer, because he applaudeth for his own ends; Of a Deceiver, because ordinarily his thoughts are disguised; and, Of a light and unconstant person, because the esteem that such a one makes of any thing, is bred rather by Fancie and Humour, than from Reason.
To say that Christina is either ignorant, or a Flatterer, it cannot perhaps be affirmed with truth: but to believe that she is a Deceiver, and Inconstant, one will thereby do her no wrong. It must be confessed, for all this, that this Princess, amidst all her capricious and fantastical humours, and amidst her Gallantries, when she gave greatest attendance on her books, hath been carryed all along with an humour extraordinarily Martial, and full of Bravery.
Minerva had sometime the command of her mind: Venus possess'd it afterwards; and some do affirm, that she possesses it as yet. Mercury, that had possessed himself of her from her Cradle, yet made no such great shew of his power, as since he made her throw her self down from a Throne. But Mars hath at all times governed the humour of Christina, which hath not failed to drain all Sweden, to furnish the inbred greediness that she hath, to give to others.
Indeed, under the Reign of Minerva, she hath express'd such Liberalities, as were worthy of a Queen; and that to all great Personages that were sent for by her, or that came to Sweden otherwise, upon particular occasions of their own. Monsieur de la Tuillerie, Chanut, and Saumaize, may inform you of this.
Under the Reign of Venus, her Largesses were not lessened; whereof Bourdelot and Pigmentelli can tell you.
And under Mercury, she gave the rarest Present that can be given from one to another. Speak but to the King of Sweden that reigns at this day, and he will confess, that it is by the Grace of God, and the Liberality of Christina, that he sits upon the Throne. The Medals coyn'd at the time of his Coronation, speak it publikely: on the one side whereof, there is an arm holding a Crown, with this Inscription under it; [FROM GOD, AND FROM CHRISTINA.] And even yet, now she hath devested her self of her Kingdom, she useth such profuseness, as cannot but be the effects of a generous minde.
Such persons as have had experience of her all her life-time, report that she shewed this liberal nature in a remarkable manner, even from her Cradle: and I believe with some reason, that it will continue with her to her Tomb.
The Badge and Motto of that Order of Knighthood that she instituted, sets forth unto us a great bravery of her Spirit, which makes her even pretend to qualities that she possesses not at all. She gave it the name of the Order of the Amaranth, or Flower-Gentle, with this Device or Motto, [Semper idem.] All men know, that this Flower fades not at all; and accordingly the Device above-said doth perfectly well express its immortal nature: and this is the Badge of her Order of Knighthood. But all men know as well, that know her, that there is nothing so changeable as Christina; and that this invention doth very little resemble her humour; the which notwithstanding she would thereby have had to pass currant, for the most equitable and constant that ever was seen. She borrowed this Device from the now-deceased Cardinal Richlieu, in whom every thing was splendid and illustrious: but the application that she made of it, was her own invention: not intending thereby to blaze abroad the vertues of the Ama∣ranth, but the constancie of her own spirit, which she would have had to be believed thereby, more immoveable then a Rock: but it was far otherwise, as hath been said.
Mans apparel that she now wears, and which she had before used sometime in Sweden, where she went cloathed almost like a Cavalier, are the tokens of an inclination that she hath, to change her sex into a more perfect: and although she be in truth a woman, and so known to the world; yet she useth the postures and fashions of men, and will be fingering her Mustaches, as though she had some, when indeed she hath none: thus desiring to express her strong ambition to be what she is not, and to be believed to be indeed so.
And though all these conceits be but ridiculous, yet they represent to us some traces of a gallant soul, and a brave spirit, that would rather have been the inhabitant of a mans body, than of a womans, because that sex is much raised above the other, and more proper for brave undertakings: that other having been, as it seems, design'd by Nature to more lowe employments, and such as are meanest in humane society. But Great Christina raising her self above her female condition, puts her self into such postures and garbs, as may imitate and resemble such actions as are proper to men.
She can ride admirably, and spur an horse with such dexterity, as if she had been therein exercised some whole years in an Academy. She travels with a mans Periwig; her Hat garnished with a great Plume of Feathers, a Red Scarf, after the Spanish Fashion; and they write from Bruxels, that she hath ordered Arms to be made her, wherewith she will head the Catholike Army, and go and confront the Mareschal de Turenne.
Must we not confess, that amidst all these Follies, there is a great deal of Bravery? Since this Genius of hers, ceases not in them all, to form designes to it self, that are above and beyond it.
If this Pourtraict that I have made, seems to any to be too severe, let them pardon my disposition, which is always to speak the truth, where I think it is to the purpose. But to prevent all censures that more quick-sighted persons than my self may give upon this Piece, I here submit to them with all my heart: and when they shall give reasons strong enough, to inspire me with other thoughts than those which I have concerning the Genius of Christina; I shall embrace them very willingly. It is not (as I have already confessed) that I have not a greater esteem of her, than one can well imagine: but forasmuch as I have spoken both evil and good of her, I think I have spoken nothing but truth, thorowout: and the place wherein I write it, is such, that it permits me to speak the truth.
Above: Kristina.
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