Source:
Memoirs of John Evelyn, volume 3, page 37, published by William Bray, 1827
The diary entry:
23 Sept. Came to my house some German strangers and Sigr Pietro a famous musitian, who had ben long in Sweden in Queene Christina's Court; he sung admirably to a guitar, and had a perfect good tenor and base, and had set to Italian composure many of Abraham Cowley's pieces, which shew'd extremely well. He told me that in Sweden the heate in some part of summer was as excessive as ye cold in winter; so cold, he affirm'd, that the streetes of all the townes are desolate, no creatures stirring in them for many moneths, all the inhabitants retiring to their stoves. He spake high things of that romantic Queene's learning and skill in languages, the majestie of her behaviour, her exceeding wit, and that the histories she had read of other countries, especialy of Italy and Rome, had made her despise her owne. That the real occasion of her resigning her crowne was the noblemen's importuning her to marrie, and the promise which the Pope had made her of procuring her to be Queene of Naples, which also caus'd her to change her religion; but she was cheated by his crafty Holiness, working on her ambition; that the reason of her killing her secretary at Fontaine Beleaue was his revealing that intrigue with the Pope. But after all this I rather believe it was her mad prodigality and extreame vanity, which had consum'd those vast treasures the greate Adolphus, her father, had brought out of Germany during his [campaigns] there and wonderfull successes; and that if she had not voluntarily resign'd, as foreseeing the event, the Estates of her kingdom would have compell'd her to do so.
Above: Kristina.
Above: John Evelyn.
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