Saturday, July 17, 2021

Scots translation of Kristina's letter to General Patrick Ruthven, dated September 9, 1647

Source:

Ruthven correspondence. Letters and papers of Patrick Ruthven, Earl of Forth and Brentford, and of his family, A.D. 1615-A.D. 1662, page 93, compiled, edited and published by the Roxburgh Club and William Dunn Macray, 1868


The letter:

Christina, be the grace of God of Suedne, Gothin, and Wandin, designiret Queene, and heritable Dutchesse of Finland, Dutchesse of Estin and Carolin, Princesse ovir Ingermanland.

Our freindly salutatione to yow alwayes, richt loving and well borne. For certaine monthes by past, Capitaine George Grahame, whom yow sent heire to solicitate your affaires, and truely if we had not beine hindred in our affaires of so great importance hee should have beine a great sooner dispatched, but we hope ye will taike it in your good and kynd consideration, and not in any ewill pairt, nor thinke ewill of ws for the long delatione of your busines, as our trust and confidence is in yow; and wheras he whom ye sent ws did humblie solicitate ws for your restand pensione moneyes, whom wee and our kingdome, then as tuttors, then did appoynt yow for many yeares by past, and lykwayes did humblie demand how your pensione should bee in tyme coming .... (blank), doubt not that wee sie nothing mor just and reasonable then the thankfull payment of so just a debt as is your restand pensionne, but we expect that ye will taike it in your consideratioun what a continuall burthen we have in upholding our warres, and what a continuall expensses wee are daylie at for the same; so that the trust and confidence we have in yow maikes ws hope that ye will think this our excuse just and laufull; and, withall, we expect your patience a litle wntill we can fynd a fitter occation to pay yow so just a debt, which, God willing, shall be payed to your owne contentement. As conserning the continuance of your yearly pensione, we will assure yow by this that it shall aluayes bee wpholdin and not diminished, and shall have it to crave of ws whensoever ye please to demand it, assuiring your self with that confidence that als long as I have a goune to my backe ye shall not faille to have thankfull payment, for the merite of your true service shoued to our royall father of blessed memorie, our grandfather, and our selfe and crowne, these manie yeares past, which cannot bee but constant in our memorie and consideratioune, and shall aluayes remaine. Thus have wee givin yow the ansuer of your just demande, and we wold not be no litle rejoyced and comforted to sie yow heir with ws, if it werre not hurtfull or prejudiciall to yow. Thus we continue in our royall favor, and commend yow to the protection of the Highest. Givin at our royal Castile and Residence of Stokholme, the 9 September, anno 1647.
CHRISTINA.


Above: Kristina.


Above: General Patrick Ruthven.

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