Source:
A journal of the Swedish ambassy, in the years M.DCC.LIII. and M.DCC.LIV., volume 1, pages 437 to 439, Bulstrode Whitelocke, 1772
The ball:
The queen sent the master of the ceremonies to Whitelocke to invite him this evening to a ball att court, which was ordained in favour of the compte de Montecuculi. Whitelocke, being ready to intertaine all opportunities of waiting on the queen, came to the roome appointed, where two seats were placed on the right hand of the chayre of state, the first for Whitelocke, and the next for Montecuculi.
By this meanes Whitelocke had the opportunity that the queen would discourse with him att this time: she was pleased to mention to him the ship brought into Dover, wherof the syndick of Gothenbergh complained, and the imprisonement of the marriners; which, the queen said, was no friendly dealing.
Whitelocke answeared, that he could not believe this report, butt supposed there was some mistake or misinformation in it; that her subjects seldome came to Dover; that if any of them were brought thither by capers, they would have justice done them in England: he said also, that he understood some great lords in this kingdome had shares in that ship, and made complaints, as they were informed; that he had heard that the master of that ship was a Hollander, and her lading of contraband goods, wheruppon she might be taken by a caper: butt if it should be made appear that the ship belonged to her majesty's subjects, and had done nothing contrary to the known rules of state of the councell of England, he did not doubt butt that she would be freed; and that this week he would write to the common-wealth in England very effectually about this matter; which the queen desired him to doe, and sayd, that if such things were practised, it would be impossible to agree so well uppon a peace between the two nations. By many of these passages which were blown up by the Dutch, Danes, and French in this court, Whitelocke was putt to many difficulties; butt God brought him over all of them in the conclusion.
Att this balle there was rare musicke, and excellent dauncing by the queen herselfe, and by her ladyes and courtiers; in the latter end wherof, the queen called for Montecuculi to come to her, where she invested him with the order of knighthood of Amaranta, which ceremony was thus performed.
The compte, kneeling down before the queen, held up his hands between the queen's hands: she declared his duety in that order, to maintaine and defend virtue, and the honor of virtuous ladyes, to indeavour to correct vice, to performe honorable actions, to keep his faith inviolable, with divers the like matters relating to honor and virtuous performances; which the compte promised to observe.
Then the queen putt uppon his right shoulder, and tyed under his left arme, a scarfe of crimson taffata, with a broade silver fringe; and the jewell of the order hunge in the scarfe, which was about the compasse of halfe a crown: it was made of goulde, a rownd wreath wrought and enamelled like to lawrell, and in the midst therof two great A A thus reversed, sett thicke with diamonds, the two A A for the first and last letters of Amaranta; and about the wreathe was written in Italian, dulchi nella memoria, sweet is the memory, that is, of a certain noble and famous great lady named Amaranta, who was an eminent pattern and example of the highest honor and virtue, in memory of whom this order was instituted.
The queen herselfe is soveraigne of the order; the companions of it made by her were the prince Palatin, and his brother prince Adolphe, the king of Poland, the duke of Brandenburgh, the Landtsgrave of Hesse, the Spanish resident, the compte de Montecuculi, and divers other great lords; and afterwards, Whitelocke was honored also by the queen to be made a knight of this order.
Her majesty weares the jewell of the order under her left breast, tyed with crimson ribon; and the knights weare it in a crimson scarfe or ribbon, and sometimes in a chayne of gold, as they themselves please.
Above: Kristina.
Above: Bulstrode Whitelocke.
Above: Raimondo Montecuccoli.
Above: The Order of Amarante.
Above: The Order of Amarante. Photo courtesy of Robert Prummel at Wikimedia Commons.
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