Kristina's letter to Baron Sten Bielke, dated March 23, 1668

Source:

Mémoires concernant Christine, volume 2, page 118, Johan Arckenholtz, 1751

https://books.google.com/books?id=Fef0dKNmyggC&dq=reine%20christine%20de%20suède%20ferrario%20savant%20d%27italie%201653%20lettre&source=gbs_book_other_versions

The letter:

Monsieur le Baron Bielke, je fais profession de trop d'amitié, & d'estime pour mon Cousin le Duc de Julliers pour ne m'intéresser pas dans tout ce qui le regarde, & comme j'ai beaucoup de confiance en vous, j'ai voulu vous recommander ses intérêts pour lesquels il a envoïé en Suède son Conseiller d'Etat le Docteur Chimans. Je vous prie de lui donner l'assistance de votre faveur, dans la négociation, & de croire que je vous tiendrai compte de tout ce que vous ferez dans cette rencontre en ma considération: priant Dieu qu'il Vous tienne en sa sainte garde. Hambourg 23. Mars 1668.

CHRISTINA ALEXANDRA.

M. Santini

English translation (my own):

Lord Baron Bielke,

I profess too much friendship and esteem for my cousin the Duke de Julliers not to be interested in everything that concerns him, and as I have great confidence in you, I wished to recommend you his interests, for which he sent his Councilor of State, Doctor Chimans, to Sweden. I ask you to give him the assistance of your favour in the negotiation, and to believe that I will take into account all that you will do in this meeting in my consideration, praying to God that He may have you in His holy protection. Hamburg, March 23, 1668.

Kristina Alexandra.

M. Santini.

Above: Kristina. Courtesy of the National Library of Austria.

Above: Baron Sten Nilsson Bielke.

Note: In accordance with the nobility's ideals in the early modern era, kings and queens considered themselves siblings; when talking to someone of a lower rank than their own, they would refer to that person as "my cousin", regardless of whether or not they were related.