Source:
A journal of the Swedish ambassy, in the years M.DCC.LIII. and M.DCC.LIV., volume 1, pages 444 to 445, Bulstrode Whitelocke, 1772
The anecdote:
In the afternoon, Whitelocke went to the castle to waite on the queen; no person was in the antichamber butt Sir William Ballendin, who, seeing Whitelocke, went in to the queen (being her servant) and returning, would neither looke on Whitelocke, nor speake to him, butt said to Whitelocke's eldest son standing by, he may goe in to the queen if he will; the young man made no answear, nor told his father of it, who (although he imagined what the buisnes was) yett did forbeare to take any notice of it, since Ballendine thought him unworthy to be spoken to: then Ballendin spake the same words, as he had done to the son, to one of Whitelocke's followers, that knew him not, and therfore told Whitelocke what was said to him; who theruppon thought it better to goe to the queen then to make her stay longer for him, and so followed Ballendin; and Mr. Stapleton, fearing lest some mischiefe might be done to Whitelocke in the passage, went after him, entering into the queen's chamber. Ballendin held up the hanging, and, just as Whitelocke entered, lett it fall in his face, as he believed, purposely, wherof the queen taking notice, reproved Ballendin for it; in whose hearing Whitelocke told the queen, that he believed that gentleman had no mind to doe him a favour, and asked the queen's pardon, that he came into her bed-chamber without being sent for: the queen said, "I sent Ballendin; did not he come and tell you?" Whitelocke replyed, "he did not think me worthy to be spoken to, butt told one of my followers that I might come in"; att which the queen seemed very angry, and said, "Ballendin is a sott and a foole."
Whitelocke gave her majesty thanks for the noble present of rayne deer, which she was pleased to bestow on him, which he told her, he purposed to send to the protector; butt she answeared, that they were not worth the sending.
Whitelocke then told her majesty, that he must take his leave of her and returne for England: she asked him why he spake so? he replyed, that it was the common report, that her majesty had proposed to her councell to quitt the crown, and then what should he doe heer? They had much discourse togither uppon that subject, and the queen seemed resolute in this design: butt told Whitelocke, that whatsoever she should determine in that point, yett she would dispatch his buisnes, and that therfore he needed not to goe away till that were done, and she hoped it would be to his contentment.
She told Whitelocke that she intended to goe out of town the next weeke to meet the prince of Sweden, and would speake with him about Whitelocke's buisnes. Whitelocke communicated to her his newes of Scotland, of the english fleet att sea, of the dutch treaty, and other newes; butt stayed not long with her, bicause she was not well.
From the castle, Whitelocke went to Woolfeldt, who discoursed about the queen's resignation, and said, he believed she was strongly inclined to it: Whitelocke objected the uncertainty of her revenue if she resigned, that her successors might not have due care to see it paid; he said, she would provide for that before hand, and have it in her own power, which Whitelocke had advised her to. He said, that he believed the revenues of this crown were much lessened, and he doubted whither they would suffice for her intertainment, and for the expences of her successors also: Woolfeldt answeared, that this was the great objection which troubled the councell to find out a way how the queen might be supplyed; and att the same time to defray the charges of the armies, and navy, and of the court, and other publique charges; and that it would require much time before these things were brought to a conclusion.
My approximate reconstruction of the small exchange as it was in French:
Christine: «J'ai envoyé Ballentine; n'est-il pas venu vous le dire?»
Whitelocke: «Il ne pensait pas que j'étais digne d'être parlé, mais il a dit à l'un de mes disciples que je pourrais entrer.»
Christine: «Ballentine est un sot et un imbécile.»
The Swedish translation thereof (my own):
Kristina: »Jag skickade Ballentine; kom han icke och berättade för Er?«
Whitelocke: »Han ansåg mig inte värdig att bli talad med, utan sade till en av mina anhängare att jag skulle komma in.«
Kristina: »Ballentine är en tok och en dåre.«
Above: Kristina.
Above: Bulstrode Whitelocke.
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