Source:
A journal of the Swedish ambassy, in the years M.DCC.LIII. and M.DCC.LIV., volume 1, pages 421 to 423, Bulstrode Whitelocke, 1772
The diary entry:
The queen sent one of her servants to Whitelocke, to give him notice of the audience of the Muscovia envoyé; Whitelocke went to court att the time, and there fell out a little bustle, the ricks admirall stepping betwixt the queen and Whitelocke to take his place there, was by Whitelocke putt aside, and Whitelocke stood next to the queen on her right hand: she perceiving the passage smiled, and asked Whitelocke, how he durst affront so great an officer in her court and sight? Whitelocke answeared, bicause that officer first affronted the ambassador of the great common-wealth of England, Scotland, and Ireland. The queen replyed, "you doe well to make them know themselves and you the better."
The audience was in this manner: First there presented himselfe a tall bigge man, with a large rude black beard, pale countenance, and ill demeanor.
His habit was a long robe of purple cloth, laced with a smalle gould lace, the livery of his master; on his right hand was a companion in the same livery, and much like the envoyé in feature and behaviour: he carryed on high the great duke's letters, sett in a frame of wood, with a covering of crimson farcenet over them; on the left hand of the envoyé was his interpreter.
After his uncouth reverences made, he spake to the queen in his own language; the greatest part of his harangue, in the beginning, might be understood to be nothing butt his master's titles: in the midst of his speech he was quite out; butt, after a little pause, recovered himselfe againe with the assistance of a paper.
When he had done, one of the queen's servants interpreted in Swedish what was said: then one of the queen's secretaryes answeared in Swedish to what the envoyé had spoken; and that was interpreted to him in his own language by his own interpreter.
After this, the envoyé cast himselfe flatt uppon his face on the floore, and seemed to kisse it; then rising up agayne, he went and kist the queen's hand, holding his own hands behind him. In the same order his fellow demeaned himselfe, and presented to the queen his master's letters.
The queen gave the letter to Whitelocke to looke on it; it was sealed with an eagle; the characters were like the Greek letters, and some like the Persicke. After the ceremony ended, the russes returned to their aquavitæ, and Whitelocke to his lodging to dinner.
In the afternoon, Whitelocke being invited by the queen to accompany her to take the ayre on horseback, he waited on her, and had much discourse with her about his buisnes.
She was mounted uppon one of the horses which Whitelocke gave her, and had pistolls att her saddle bowe; she much commended the horse, and thanked Whitelocke for him, and said she never rode so good a horse before.
Att their returne to the castle they fell to trying of armes; the queen's pistolls and Whitelocke's pistolls were compared togither for the workmanship, and both tryed, by the queen herselfe discharging them, and by Whitelocke and others; butt he being lame, and weary with standing, stole home to his lodging.
Above: Kristina.
Above: Bulstrode Whitelocke.
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