Source:
A journal of the Swedish ambassy, in the years M.DCC.LIII. and M.DCC.LIV., volume 1, pages 418 to 421, by Bulstrode Whitelocke, 1772
The diary entry:
An audience was desired by Whitelocke from the queen, and att the same time she sent Grave Tott to Whitelocke to invite him to the audience of the Muscovia envoyé...
Whitelocke spake with the queen touching his treaty, and after that showed her a letter which he had prepared to send to the chancellor to quicken him in the treaty; butt said he would not send it if any thing therin were displeasing to her majesty. The queen read it. ...
The queen commended the letter, and said, she thought it would be to good purpose to send it, only she excepted against a clause in it, that Whitelocke will be ready to meet the chancellor when he pleaseth, which, the queen said, was too lowe for the ambassador to write to the chancellor; wheruppon Whitelocke mended that part, and sent the letter ...
The queen read some english with Whitelocke, and tooke pains to learne; when Whitelocke took his leave, she invited him to come agayne in the evening to heare her musicke. ...
In the evening Whitelocke went againe to court, as the queen had invited him, and was brought into her bedchamber, and divers of his gentlemen admitted in likewise to heare her majesty's musicke, which was very rare, and performed by divers Italian eunuches, and others, her servants, and by Madame de la Bar, a french woman, and her brother, who sang rarely well.
Besides Whitelocke, there was in the chamber Piementelle, the Compte de Montecuculi, and another Italian Compte, and many of her court. The queen was in a very good humor, and taking Whitelocke by the hand, she ledde him to a lady in the roome, whom they called La Belle Comptesse, the fayre countesse, the wife of Grave Jacob de la Garde: the queen sayd to Whitelocke, "discourse with this my lady, my bed-fellowe, and tell me if her inside be not as beautifull as her outside."
Whitelocke discoursing with her, found it so; and great modesty, virtue, and witt, accompanying her excellent beauty and behaviour.
The queen pulled off the countesse's gloves, and gave one of them to Whitelocke for a favour; the other she tore in four pieces, and distributed them to Piementelle, the Italians, and to Grave Tott. In recompense of the glove, Whitelocke sent to the belle comptesse a douzen payre of english white gloves, which are in much esteem in this countrey.
The Italian Compte de Montecuculi saluted Whitelocke with great civility, and he returned the like respects agayne.
With modernised spelling:
An audience was desired by Whitelocke from the Queen, and at the same time she sent Grave Tott to Whitelocke to invite him to the audience of the Muscovia envoyé...
Whitelocke spake with the Queen touching his treaty, and after that showed her a letter which he had prepared to send to the Chancellor to quicken him in the treaty, but said he would not send it if anything therein were displeasing to Her Majesty. The Queen read it. ...
The Queen commended the letter and said she thought it would be to good purpose to send it, only she excepted against a clause in it, that Whitelocke will be ready to meet the Chancellor when he pleaseth, which the Queen said was too low for the Ambassador to write to the Chancellor; wherupon Whitelocke mended that part and sent the letter ...
The Queen read some English with Whitelocke and took pains to learn; when Whitelocke took his leave, she invited him to come again in the evening to hear her music. ...
In the evening Whitelocke went again to court, as the Queen had invited him, and was brought into her bedchamber, and diverse of his gentlemen admitted in likewise to hear Her Majesty's music, which was very rare and performed by divers Italian eunuchs and others, her servants, and by Madame de la Barre, a French woman, and her brother, who sang rarely well.
Besides Whitelocke, there was in the chamber Pimentel, the comte de Montecuccoli, and another Italian comte, and many of her court. The Queen was in a very good humour, and, taking Whitelocke by the hand, she led him to a lady in the roome, whom they called la belle comtesse, — the fair countess, — the wife of Grave Jakob de la Gardie. The Queen said to Whitelocke: "Discourse with this my lady, my bedfellow, and tell me if her inside be not as beautiful as her outside."
Whitelocke, discoursing with her, found it so; and great modesty, virtue, and wit accompanying her excellent beauty and behaviour.
The Queen pulled off the Countess's gloves and gave one of them to Whitelocke for a favour; the other she tore in four pieces and distributed them to Pimentel, the Italians, and to Grave Tott. In recompense of the glove, Whitelocke sent to the belle comtesse a dozen pair of English white gloves, which are in much esteem in this country.
The Italian comte de Montecuccoli saluted Whitelocke with great civility, and he returned the like respects again.
_-_Nationalmuseum_-_18075.tif.jpg)
Above: Kristina.
Above: Chancellor Axel Oxenstierna.
Above: Ebba Sparre.
Above: Antonio Pimentel.
Above: Raimondo Montecuccoli.
Above: Claes Tott.
.jpg)
Above: Bulstrode Whitelocke.
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