Source:
Mémoires concernant Christine, reine de Suède, volume 4, page 206, compiled and edited by Johan Arckenholtz, 1760
"Dans quelques autres Lettres de Christine à son Oncle Jean Casimir (Du 4. & 11. Mai, du 22. & 29. Juillet 1639.), elle lui marque en chiffres la crainte où elle est que la froideur entre la Suède & le Dannemarc ne dégénérât enfin en une rupture ouverte, à cause du peu de sincérité que ce Voisin faisoit paroître envers la Suède, en ce que sous prétexte d'être Médiateur de la paix en Allemagne, il ne faisoit qu'y embrouiller les affaires au desavantage de la Suède. Elle doute même que les grands progrès des Armes Suédoises, sous la conduite du Connétable Baner, puissent tenir ce Roi & l'Electeur de Brandebourg en respect. On se confirme dans cette opinion, dit-elle, par une Lettre interceptée qui donne beaucoup à penser. Au reste elle déplore la mort du Duc Bernard de Weimar, arrivée dans un tems si critique, sur-tout dans le tems que la France veut s'approprier l'Armée Weimarienne, quoiqu'elle ait rendu hommage & prêté serment de fidélité à la Couronne de Suède.
Cette Lettre interceptée, qui selon Christine avoit donné à penser à la Régence, rouloit sans-doute sur les menées secrétes du Dannemarc pour faciliter l'évasion de la Reine sa Mére, qui se fit l'année d'après, & dont nous avons rapporté ailleurs les particularités assez en détail. Ceci se confirme encore plus par quelques autres Lettres que Christine écrivit ensuite à sa Mére, à qui elle témoigna l'impatience qu'elle avoit de la voir arriver bientôt auprès d'elle. Elle joignit même à sa Lettre celle de la Régence, où la Reine Mére étoit priée instamment d'honorer la jeune Reine de sa présence (Du 28. Mai, 15. Juillet & 28. Oct. 1639.).
Après bien des sollicitations, la Reine Marie-Eléonore vint enfin l'année suivante à Stockholm; mais elle s'impatienta si fort de retourner à la Ville de Nycöping, que cet empressement fit juger, quoiqu'après coup, qu'elle avoit dès lors pris des mesures pour s'évader. Aussi Christine en apprit la nouvelle au Prince Palatin son Oncle, qu'elle pria de vouloir bien se rendre auprès d'elle, parce qu'elle avoit eu la fâcheuse nouvelle que Madame sa Mére s'étoit retirée on ne savoit où, n'ayant avec elle que la Demoiselle Bulow & ses Gentilshommes Ducker & Pogrell, dont elle (Christine) aussi-bien que la Régence, étoient fort en peine, ne sachant quel parti prendre..."
"In some other letters from Kristina to her uncle Johan Kasimir (from May 4 and 11, from July 22 and 29, 1639.), she indicates in ciphers her fear that the coldness between Sweden and Denmark would finally degenerated into an open rupture because of the lack of sincerity that this neighbour showed towards Sweden, in that under the pretext of being mediator of the peace in Germany, it only confused matters there, to the disadvantage of Sweden. She even doubts that the great progress of Swedish arms, under the leadership of Constable Banér, can keep this king and the Elector of Brandenburg in check. One is confirmed in this opinion, she says, by an intercepted letter which gives a lot to think about. Moreover, she deplores the death of Duke Bernhard of Weimar, which happened at such a critical time, especially at a time when France wanted to appropriate Weimar's army, although it had paid homage and sworn an oath of loyalty to the Crown of Sweden.
This intercepted letter, which, according to Kristina, had given the regency something to think about, undoubtedly related to the secret activities of Denmark to facilitate the escape of the Queen her mother, which took place the following year, and of which we have reported elsewhere the particularities in some detail. This is further confirmed by a few other letters that Kristina then wrote to her mother, to whom she expressed the impatience she had to see her soon arrive with her. She even attached to her letter that of the regency, where the Queen Mother was urgently begged to honor the young Queen with her presence (From May 28, July 15 and October 28, 1639.).
After many requests, Queen Maria Eleonora finally came the following year to Stockholm; but she was so impatient to return to the city of Nyköping, that this eagerness led to the judgment, albeit after the fact, that she had since then taken measures to escape. Kristina also heard the news from the Prince Palatine, her uncle, whom she begged to come to her, because she had received the unfortunate news that her lady mother had gone to no one knew where, having with her only Lady Bülow and her gentlemen Ducker and Pogrell, of whom she (Kristina) as well as the regency, were in great difficulty, not knowing which side to take..."
The letter:
Stockholm 21. Junii 1640. titulo consueto.
Ew. Liebd. schreiben hab ich empfangen, woraus ich vernommen dass E. L. Sohn H. C. G. (Hertzog Carl Gustave) zu Hamburg gewesen sey. Hoffe derntwegen dass er wird bald hierkommen. Derenthalben bitte ich, dass E. L. wollen sich bald hieher verfügen und nicht allein darum, sondern auch dieweil [Gott beserts] ich sehr verdrüsliche zeitungen habe bekommen, nemlich dass F. M. weg gereist ist, man weis nicht wohin, und hat keinen mehr mit sich genommen, als die Bylow, Dückert und Pogrell, worüber ich, sammt die Regierung, seynd sehr perplex geworden, dass man nicht weiss was man thun soll. Dies E. L. zu notificiren hab ich nicht unterlassen können: E. L. hiemit den Allmächtigen empfohlen, und mich in dero gute affection. Ich verbleibe
Ew. Liebd.
Getreue bis im todt
Christina.
Ew. Liebd. schreiben hab ich empfangen, woraus ich vernommen dass E. L. Sohn H. C. G. (Hertzog Carl Gustave) zu Hamburg gewesen sey. Hoffe derntwegen dass er wird bald hierkommen. Derenthalben bitte ich, dass E. L. wollen sich bald hieher verfügen und nicht allein darum, sondern auch dieweil [Gott beserts] ich sehr verdrüsliche zeitungen habe bekommen, nemlich dass F. M. weg gereist ist, man weis nicht wohin, und hat keinen mehr mit sich genommen, als die Bylow, Dückert und Pogrell, worüber ich, sammt die Regierung, seynd sehr perplex geworden, dass man nicht weiss was man thun soll. Dies E. L. zu notificiren hab ich nicht unterlassen können: E. L. hiemit den Allmächtigen empfohlen, und mich in dero gute affection. Ich verbleibe
Ew. Liebd.
Getreue bis im todt
Christina.
English translation (my own):
Stockholm, June 21, 1640, titulo consueto.
I have received Your Lovingness's letter, from which I heard that Your Lovingness's son Duke Karl Gustav was in Hamburg, so I hope he will come here soon. On the other hand, I ask that Your Lovingness wish to come here soon, and not just because of that, but also because I have received very displeasing tidings, namely that my Lady Mother has traveled away, it is not known where to, and she did not take anyone with her except Bülow, Dückert and Pogrell, about which I, together with the Government, have become so perplexed that one does not know what to do. I could not fail to notify Your Lovingness of this. I hereby recommend Your Lovingness the Almighty, and me in your good affection.
I remain
Your Lovingness'
faithful until death
Kristina.
I have received Your Lovingness's letter, from which I heard that Your Lovingness's son Duke Karl Gustav was in Hamburg, so I hope he will come here soon. On the other hand, I ask that Your Lovingness wish to come here soon, and not just because of that, but also because I have received very displeasing tidings, namely that my Lady Mother has traveled away, it is not known where to, and she did not take anyone with her except Bülow, Dückert and Pogrell, about which I, together with the Government, have become so perplexed that one does not know what to do. I could not fail to notify Your Lovingness of this. I hereby recommend Your Lovingness the Almighty, and me in your good affection.
I remain
Your Lovingness'
faithful until death
Kristina.
Above: Kristina.
Above: Count Palatine Johan Kasimir.
Notes: H. C. G. = Herzog Carl Gustaf
F. M. = Frau Mutter
Kristina's mother, Maria Eleonora, had recently escaped from her exile at Gripsholm Castle and traveled to Denmark, which was Sweden's enemy at the time. Her escape shocked and angered Kristina's regency council.
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