Kristina and Ebba... (Select compilation)

Sources:

A journal of the Swedish ambassy, in the years M.DCC.LIII. and M.DCC.LIV., volume 1, by Bulstrode Whitelocke, published in 1772

Handlingar rörande Skandinaviens historia, volume 15, published by A. Wiborgs Förlag, 1830

Johan Ekeblads bref 1: Från Kristinas och Cromwells hof, published by Nils Sjöberg, 1911

Le opere del Raimondo Montecuccoli, volume 3: opere minori d'argomento militare e politico; diari i viaggio e memorie, published by Andrea Testa, 2000

Pet. Dan. Huetii, episcopi Abrincensis, commentarius de rebus ad eum pertinentibus, by Bishop Pierre Daniel Huet, published by Henri du Sauzet, 1718

Riksarkivet: K 89; Utgångna och ingångna skrivelser; Drottning Kristina d. y. (Christina Alexandra); Svenska drottningars arkivaliesamlingar i riksarkivet; Kungliga arkiv

Riksarkivet: K 90; Utgångna och ingångna skrivelser; Drottning Kristina d. y. (Christina Alexandra); Svenska drottningars arkivaliesamlingar i riksarkivet; Kungliga arkiv

Above: Kristina.

Above: Ebba Sparre.

Posted for the first day of Pride Month! 🏳️‍🌈 ~

Note: I am still looking out for things about or mentioning Ebba, so this is not a full compilation.

The quotes (I have modernised the spelling for easier reading; with English translations):

Johan Ekeblad's letter to his father Christoffer Ekeblad, dated January 15/25 (Old Style), 1651:

"Av Stockholm, den 15 januari 1651.

... Igår vart dansat hos Hans Kungliga Höghet som sedvanligt (bal kallas det). Landgreven fick buketten till att giva bal härnäst. ...

Dessa undertecknade hava representerat personerna som uti denna balleten nämnas, nämligen:

... Uti den andra ingången är Diana representerad genom Hennes Majestät själv med några utav hovdamerna, vilka här varda nymfer kallade.

Uti den 3:e är Venus genom hovjungfrun Ebba Sparre representerad, vilken 3 utav Wachtmeisterens små döttrar med sig haver, tillika med Cupido, vilken är en fransysk lutenists son, Béthune benämnd. ...

Uti den 5:e i staden för Apollo dansar Hans Furstliga Nåde hertig Adolf med Dianam, vilken är drottningen. ...

Uti den 10:e ingången representerar återigen mademoiselle Sparre gudinnan Venus med flera nymfer, vilka äro hofjungfrurna. ...

Den 12:e är Venus åter inne med Æsculapius, vilken er Svante Banér, hovstallmästaren.

Uti den 13:e representerar hovmarskalkens grevinna Pallas tillika med Diana, Hennes Majestät. ..."

("Stockholm, January 15, 1651.

... Yesterday there was a dance by His Royal Highness as usual (it's called a ball). The Landgrave got the bouquet to give the ball next. ...

These written hereunder have represented the persons mentioned in this ballet, namely:

... In the second entrance Diana is represented by Her Majesty herself with some of the ladies of the court, who are here called nymphs.

In the 3rd, Venus is represented by the court lady Ebba Sparre, who has 3 of Wachtmeister's little daughters with her, as well as Cupid, who is the son of a French lutenist, named Béthune. ...

In the 5th, in the role of Apollo, His Princely Grace Duke Adolf dances with Diana, who is the Queen. ...

In the 10th entrance, Mademoiselle Sparre again represents the goddess Venus with several nymphs, who are the court maidens. ...

In the 12th, Venus is again inside with Æsculapius, who is Svante Banér, the Master of the Court Stables.

In the 13th the Court Marshal's countess represents Pallas; together with Diana, Her Majesty. ...")

—

From Pierre Daniel Huet's memoirs, anecdote happened in 1652 or 1653:

"... Colloquia narrabat mihi Salmasius, toto hoc anno, quem Holmiæ transegerat apud Christinam reginam, se podagrâ oppressum decubuisse, sibique supervenisse aliquando reginam, cum temporis et doloris fallendi causâ libellum legeret, perfacetum quidem, at subturpiculum, cujus auctorem ferunt franciscum Beroaldum Vervillam, præfixo hoc titulo, Rei faciendæ ratio; se eum diligenter inter stragula occultasse, ne manus injiciens regina obscœna lectione offenderetur; nec ejus tamen omnia circumspicientis argutum et curiosum oculum effugisse; atque illam arrepto statim et aperto libello, et perlectis saltuatim versibus aliquot subrisisse ad jocosas nequitias, et vocatæ ad se Sparræ, nobili et formosæ puellæ, quam habebat in deliciis, certos quosdam indicasse libri locos, quos sibi prælegi vellet ab ea, quantumvis renitente, multoque pudore ac rubore suffusa, solutis in magnos cachinnos omnibus adstantibus."

("Saumaise told me that during the whole year he had spent in Stockholm at Queen Kristina's court, he had been kept in bed by gout. The Queen having come to see him one day, a day on which, to divert his pain, he read Le Moyen de Parvenir, a very dirty book, but pleasant, it is said, by Beroalde de Verville. He hastened to slip the book under his sheets, lest the Queen should seize it and be shocked by this obscene reading. But this movement had not escaped the furtive and inquisitive eyes of Her Majesty. She seized the book, opened it, read a few lines, and laughed at the mischievous jokes she saw there. Calling then her favourite, Mademoiselle Sparre, a noble and beautiful young girl, she showed her some passages and ordered her to read them. It was necessary to obey. She blushed to the whites of her eyes, but the audience was bursting with laughter.")

—

Johan Ekeblad's letter to his father Christoffer Ekeblad, dated January 10/20 (Old Style), 1653:

"Av Stockholm, den 10 januari 1653.

... Jag vill höra upp med de onyttiga hovostadigheter och låta min käre farkär veta att igår, som var den 10 hujus, stod greve Jakobs bröllop på slottet med den sköna Sparren med stor prakt.

Förleden 3 kungadag blev det spelet hållet på slottet huru alla gudarna voro till gäst hos herdarna och herdinnorna. Det haver varit mycket vackert att se på och hava de lekt allt intill klockan 7 om morgonen. Rikshovmästaren Ulfeldt var Jupiter eller den förnämste av gudarna, den spanske envoajén var Mars och den polske kanslern Bacchus, vilken kom inåkande på en stor tunna, och blev dragen med en hisklig stor stop i handen full med vin. Drottningen och hertig Adolf voro med hela hovfolket klädda i herdekläder. ..."

("From Stockholm, January 10, 1653.

... I want to put an end to the useless court stuff and let my dear Father know that yesterday, which was the 10th of this month, Count Jakob's wedding took place in the castle with the beautiful Sparre with great splendour.

The other day, on Epiphany, a play was held at the castle where all the gods were guests of the shepherds and shepherdesses. It was very beautiful to watch, and they played until 7 o'clock in the morning. The Court Steward Ulfeldt was Jupiter or the foremost of the gods, the Spanish envoy was Mars, and the Polish chancellor Bacchus, who came riding in on a large barrel, and was drawn with a very large goblet in his hand full of wine. The Queen and Duke Adolf were with all the courtiers dressed in shepherd's clothing. ...")

—

Johan Ekeblad's letter to his father Christoffer Ekeblad, dated June 15/25 (Old Style), 1653:

"Stockholm, den 15 juni 1653.

... Greve Jakob, som tillförne var överste över det fransosregimentet, är nu uti Hans Furstliga Nådes hertig Adolfs ställe Rikskammarherre bleven och skall logera på slottet, efter hans grevinna Ebba Sparre uti tjänst hos Hennes Majestät är. ..."

("Stockholm, June 15, 1653.

... Count Jakob, who was previously colonel of the French regiment, has now become Grand Master of the Chamber in place of His Royal Grace Duke Adolf, and will reside at the castle, as his Countess, Ebba Sparre, is in Her Majesty's service. ...")

—

Ebba Brahe's letter to her son Count Magnus de la Gardie, January 1654:

"Högvälborne Greve, hjärtans allerkäraste son,

... Sist låter jag min käre son kärlig[en] förnimma att Ebba Sparre har sagt att min Kristina drottningen vill inte se mig. Jag skall inte bjuda mig för hennes ögon. Men jag tror det aldrig att det har varit hennes ord, utan de som inte gärna se min sons gemål och jag skall få komma till Hennes Majestät. Gud löner allt i sin tid. Gud låte mig kunna vara i allting tålig. Jag är försäkra[d] Gud löner vad mig oförtjänt sker. Ebba har Hennes Majestät sökt nådig avsked, tacka[t] henne för var dag hon har varit hos henne, önskat henne alltid måtte gå så väl som hon gärna såge. Bad hälsa mig och lät tacka mig som så länge har viljat låta henne bliva hos henne. Jag väntar henne imorron hit och förrän jag reser vill jag på en natt komma till min allerkäraste son och taga avsked. ..."

("Well-Born Count, my dearly beloved son,

... Finally, I lovingly let my dear son know that Ebba Sparre has said that my Queen Kristina does not want to see me. I must not offer myself before her eyes. But I don't believe that those were her words, but the words of those who do not like to see my son's wife, and I shall be allowed to come to Her Majesty. God rewards everything in His time. God grant that I may be patient in everything. I am assured that God will compensate me for what happens to me undeservedly. Ebba has asked Her Majesty for gracious leave, she has thanked her for every day she has been with her, she wished that it always goes as well with her as she would gladly see. She asked her to greet me and thanked me for letting her stay with her for so long. I am expecting her here tomorrow, and before I leave I want to come to my dearly beloved son one night and say goodbye. ...")

—

Count Raimondo Montecuccoli's diary, dated January 28/February 7 (New Style), 1654:

"Alli 7 [febbraio]. ... Li discorsi della regina sono argutissimi, faceti e per lo più amorosi. ... Ella dice d'esser innamorata della bella contessa; io replico non esser ciò maraviglia, poiché l'amore nasce dal simile. Ella soggiunge: «Signore, quest'è buono per gli Italiani.»"

"[February] 7. ... The Queen's discourses are very witty, facetious and mostly amorous. ... She said she is in love with the beautiful Countess; I replied that it is no wonder, as love is born from the similar. She added: 'Signor, this is good for the Italians.'")

—

Raimondo Montecuccoli's diary, January 31/February 10 (New Style), 1653:

"Alli 10 [febbraio]. La mattina scrivo. Il dopo desinare la regina va in slitta ed a me viene anche dato una slitta di Corte, nella quale conduco la bella contessa di casa Sparre, moglie del conte Jacopo de la Gardie. ... Alle 8 ore di notte si fa un ballo particolare, dal quale non entrano se non quelli nominati della regina, che sono sette dame e sette cavalieri, e fra essi io ho la bella contessa; nel discorso la regina dice il motto: «Questa gente non è barbara!» Alle 12 ore si finisce il ballo e si va a casa."

("[February] 10. I wrote in the morning. After luncheon the Queen went [out] by sleigh, and I was also given a sleigh from the court, in which I led the beautiful Countess of the house of Sparre, wife of Count Jakob de la Gardie. ... At 8 o'clock at night a private dance was held, to which only those named by the Queen entered, which are seven ladies and seven cavaliers, and among them I had the beautiful Countess; in her discourse the Queen said the witticism: 'These people are not barbarians!' At 12 o'clock the dance finished and we went home.")

—

Bulstrode Whitelocke's diary, February 8/18 (Old Style), 1654:

"... 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 diverse 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."

—

Raimondo Montecuccoli's diary, February 20/March 2 (New Style), 1654:

"Alli 2 [marzo]. ... il Pimentel ed io entriamo colla regina in carrozza sin a mezza strada, e quivi si pigliano le slitte, ed io conduco la bella contessa. ..."

("[March] 2. ... Pimentel and I entered the carriage with the Queen halfway, and there they took the sleighs, and I led the beautiful Countess. ...")

—

Bulstrode Whitelocke's diary, March 7/17 (Old Style), 1654:

"The Queen sent one of her servants to invite Whitelocke to take the air with her in the fields; and being come to the castle, she excused her not being yet ready to confer with him upon his articles as she had promised, but told him that she had ordered something to be written down on that subject to show to him.

She took him into her coach, where was the belle comtesse, the comte Gabriel Oxenstierna, Prince Adolf, Pimentel, Montecuccoli, Tott, and Whitelocke. The Queen was very merry, and they were full of cheerful discourse. ..."

—

Kristina to Ebba, year 1655:

"Mon bonheur serait sans second s'il m'était permis de le partager avec vous et si vous étiez témoin de ma félicité. Je vous jure que je serais digne de l'envie des dieux si je pouvais jouir du bien de vous voir. Mais puisque je désespère si justement de ce bonheur, il faut que vous me donniez au moins la satisfaction de croire quen quelqu'endroit du monde que je me trouve, je conserverai éternellement le souvenir de votre mérite et que j'emporterai au de-là des monts, la tendresse que je vous ai toujours portée. Conservez-moi du moins votre souvenir, et ne troublez pas la douceur de la félicité dont je jouis par un injuste oubli de la personne du monde qui vous honore et estime le plus. Adieu, Belle. Souvenez-vous de votre Christine.

J'oubliais de vous dire que je me porte parfaitement bien, que je reçois ici mille honneurs, et que j'y suis bien avec tout le monde, excepté avec le prince de Condé, que je ne vois jamais qu'à la comédie et aux concerts. Mes occupations sont de bien manger, bien dormir, étudier un peu, causer, rire et danser, voir les comédies françaises, italiennes, espagnoles, et à passer le temps fort agréablement. Enfin je n'écoute plus des sermons, tous les orateurs je méprise. Après ce que dit Salomon, tout le reste n'est que sottise, car chacun doit vivre content en mangeant, buvant et chantant."

("My happiness would be second to none if I were allowed to share it with you and if you could be witness to my happiness. I swear to you that I would be worthy of the envy of the gods if I could enjoy the good of seeing you. But since I so justly despair of this happiness, you must at least give me the satisfaction of believing that wherever in the world I may find myself, I will eternally preserve the memory of your merit and that I will take the tenderness that I have always had for you and carry it with me over the mountains. Preserve your memory for me, at least, and do not disturb the sweetness of the felicity which I enjoy by an unjust forgetting of the person in the world who honours and esteems you the most. Farewell, Belle. Remember your Kristina.

I forgot to tell you that I am doing perfectly well, that I receive a thousand honours here, and that I get along well with everyone, except with the Prince de Condé, whom I never see except at the comedy and at concerts. My occupations are to eat well, sleep well, study a little, talk, laugh and dance, see French, Italian and Spanish comedies, and pass the time very pleasantly. Finally, I no longer listen to sermons, I despise all orators. After what Solomon says, all the rest is nonsense, for all must live contentedly in eating, drinking and singing.")

—

Kristina to Ebba, dated January 6/16 (Old Style), 1656:

"Que je serais heureuse s'il m'était permis de vous voir, Belle, mais je suis condamnée du sort à vous aimer et à vous estimer sans vous voir jamais; et cette envie que les astres portent aux félicités humaines empêche que je ne sois parfaitement heureuse, puisque je ne le puis être, étant eloignée de vous. Ne doutez pas de cette vérité, et croyez qu'en quelque lieu du monde que je me trouve, vous y avez une personne qui vous est entièrement acquise, comme je l'ai toujours été. Mais est-il possible, Belle, que vous vous souvenez encore de moi? Vous suis-je encore aussi chère comme je l'étais autrefois? Ne me suis-je pas trompée lorsque je me suis persuadée que j'étais la personne du monde que vous aimiez le mieux? Ha, si cela est, ne me detrompez pas; laissez-moi plutôt mon erreur, et ne m'enviez point la félicité imaginaire que me donne l'opinion d'être cherie de la plus aimable personne du monde. Conservez-moi, s'il se peut, ce bien; et ne souffrez pas que ni le temps, ni l'absence me privent de la satisfaction d'être aimée de vous; et croyez que quoi q'uil puisse arriver, je ne cesserai jamais d'être à vous. Adieu, Belle, adieu! Je vous embrasse un million de fois.

Christine.

De Rome, le 6 janvier 1656."

("How happy I would be if I were allowed to see you, Belle, but I am condemned by fate to love and esteem you without ever seeing you; and this envy that the stars have for human happiness prevents me from being perfectly happy, since I cannot be so, as I am far away from you. Do not doubt this truth, and believe that wherever I am in the world, you have a person who is entirely yours, as I have always been. But is it possible, Belle, that you still remember me? Am I still as dear to you as I once was? Was I not mistaken when I persuaded myself that I was the person in the world you loved best? Oh, if that is, don't undeceive me; but leave me my error, and do not envy me the imaginary happiness that the opinion of being dear to the most amiable person in the world gives me. Preserve for me, if possible, this good; and do not allow time or absence to deprive me of the satisfaction of being loved by you; and believe that whatever may happen, I will never cease to be yours. Farewell, Belle, farewell! I kiss you a million times.

Kristina.

From Rome, January 6, 1656.")

—

Kristina to Ebba, March 27/April 6 (Old Style), 1657:

"De Pesaro, le 27 mars 1657.

Madame,

Vous avez trop de connaissance de vous-même pour n'être pas persuadée qu'en quelqu'endroit du monde que je sois, vous y faites toujours une partie de mon souvenir, et que le temps n'a pas de pouvoir sur l'amitié que je vous ai jurée. Celui qui vous rendra ce billet me sera témoin auprès de vous que je fais toujours justice à votre mérite et à votre beauté. Après avoir [vu] dans le plus beau et le plus poli pays du monde tout ce qu'il y a le charmant et de beau en notre sexe, je soutiens avec plus de hardiesse que jamais qu'il n'y a personne qui osât vous disputer l'avantage que vous emportez sur tout ce qu'il y a de plus aimable au monde. Dites-nous après cela si l'on se peut consoler quand on est condamné à une absence eternelle. Mais si je suis assurée de ne vous revoir jamais, je suis aussi assurée de vous aimer toujours, et vous êtes cruelle si vous en doutez. Une amitié qui est l'éprouve de 3 ans d'absence ne vous doit être suspecte; et si vous n'avez oublié le droit que vous avez sur moi, il vous souviendra qu'il y a déjà douze ans que je suis en possession d'être aimée de vous. Et, enfin, qui je suis à vous d'une manière qu'il est impossible que vous puissiez me perdre? et ce ne sera jamais qu'avec la vie, que je cesserai de vous aimer. Le sieur Baladrier vous portera de mes nouvelles, et pour moi je vous dis cela de plus particulier que je serais aujourd'hui la plus heureuse princesse du monde s'il m'était permis de vous avoir pour témoin de mes félicités, et si je pouvais espérer un jour la satisfaction de vous être utile. Si cette occasion se présente, faites état du pouvoir que vous avez sur moi; et soyez assurée qu'il n'y aura que l'impossibilité qui me dispensera de vous servir. Adieu. Vivez heureuse, et souvenez-vous de moi. Je vous embrasse un million de fois et vous prie d'être persuadée que je vous aime de tout mon cœur.

Christine.

Mes compliments à tous mes amis et amies. Assurez-les de ma part que si je n'ai pas pour tout la même tendresse que [j'ai] pour vous, je ne laisserai pas d'avoir pour eux la même constance."

("From Pesaro, March 27, 1657.

Madame,

You have too much knowledge of yourself not to be persuaded that, wherever I am in the world, you are always a part of my memory there, and that time has no power over the friendship that I have sworn to you. Whoever returns this note to you will bear witness to me that I always do justice to your merit and your beauty. After having seen in the most beautiful and the most polite country in the world all that is charming and beautiful in our sex, I maintain with more boldness than ever that there is no one who would dare to dispute with you the advantage you have over all the loveliest things in the world. Tell us after that if one can be consoled when one is condemned to an eternal absence. But if I am sure never to see you again, I am also sure to love you always, and you are cruel if you doubt this. A friendship which is tested by 3 years of absence should not be suspicious to you; and if you have not forgotten the right you have over me, you will remember that I have been loved by you for twelve years already. And, finally, who am I to you in a way that it is impossible for you to lose me? and it will only ever be with my life that I will stop loving you. Lord Baladrier will bring you my news, and as for me, I tell you the most particular thing: that I would be the happiest princess in the world today if I were allowed to have you as a witness to my felicity, and if I could hope one day for the satisfaction of being useful to you. If this opportunity ever presents itself, state the power you have over me; and rest assured that only impossibility will exempt me from serving you. Farewell. Live happily, and remember me. I kiss you a million times and beg you to be persuaded that I love you with all my heart.

Kristina.

My compliments to all my friends, men and women. Assure them on my behalf that if I do not have the same tenderness for them all that I have for you, I shall not fail to have the same constancy for them.")

—

Kristina's letter to King Karl XI, dated December 13/23 (Old Style), 1660:

"Stormäktigste Konung,

Älsklige Käre Herr Son,

Ibland andra vilka Eders Kungliga Majestäts kungliga nåde och ynnest jag synnerligen gärna förvärvade samt vilkas välgång jag med särdeles flit gärna inklinerar och åstundar att befordra, är förnämligast grevinnan välborna fru Ebba Sparre, som mig högeligen bedit haver Eders Kungliga Majestät på hennes vägnar kärligen att ansöka det henne icke allenast allodialiteten uppå det hallandska godset för de 12,000 riksdaler som hon så rättmätigen att fordra haver nådigst måtte förunnas, utan ock, där det skånska godset Kronan igen hemfalla skulle, välbemälte grevinna då däremot med ett likmätigt vederlag, evarest Eders Kungliga Majestät det ock bekvemt fölle, ihågkommas måtte.

Nu kan fuller vara att denna hennes begäran, förmedelst allodialiteten, kan förorsaka någon diffikultet, likväl enär man konsidererar de ringa villkor varuti välbemälte grevinna för denna tid sig befinner, därjämte hennes salige mans märkliga kvaliteter och förtjänster, jämväl att hans efterlåtna änka så mycket mera syntes väl skola ackommoderas, som hennes man helt oförmodligen uti Riksens tjänst, honom genom döden är förlustig gjord vorden, så hoppas jag de konsiderationer skola dem man eljest hava kunde icke allenast överväga, utan ock vara kapabla henne de konditioner att giva som hon så ödmjukligen av Eders Kungliga Majestät åstundar, vilka skäl jag för min person en mycket kärlig bön konjungerar, med försäkran att den nåd som Eders Kungliga Majestät henne grevinnan i denna måtto varder bevisandes skall såväl av mig som henne med ett tacksamt och ödmjukt hjärta alltid erkännas, och i synnerhet hos mig bliva räknat ibland de många obligationer som Eders Kungliga Majestät jag eljest skyldigen är, förmedelst vilka jag ock städse mig ombeflita skall att stadigen vara och förbliva

Eders Kungliga Majestäts

affektionerade moder

Kristina Alexandra.

Stockholm, den 13 decembris 1660.

J. Stropp."

("Most Powerful King,

My dearly beloved Lord Son,

Among others for whom I have particularly gladly acquired royal grace and favour, and whose prosperity I with particular diligence gladly incline and endeavour to promote, it is most prominently the Countess, the well-born Lady Ebba Sparre, who has humbly begged me to request to Your Royal Majesty on her behalf that you should not only graciously grant the allodiality of the Hallandic estate for the 12,000 riksdalers which she so rightfully claimed, but also, if the Scanian estate should once again fall to the Crown, that Your Royal Majesty should then remember the aforementioned Countess then in return with a commensurate consideration, wherever it would be convenient for Your Royal Majesty.

Now, it may certainly be that this request of hers, by means of the allodiality, may cause some difficulty; yet when one considers the poor conditions in which the aforementioned Countess finds herself in at this time, and also the remarkable qualities and merits of her late husband, as well as that his bereaved widow well seemed so much more likely to be accommodated, as she was rendered destitute by the quite unforeseen death of her husband in the service of the Realm, so I hope that the considerations that one would have otherwise could not only consider, but also be able to give her the conditions that she so humbly wishes from Your Royal Majesty's, to which reasons I conjoin a very loving prayer for my person, with the assurance that the grace which Your Royal Majesty will show to the Countess in this measure shall be always acknowledged by both me and her with a grateful and humble heart, and it shall especially be counted by me among the many obligations which I otherwise owe to Your Royal Majesty, by means of which I shall also make an effort to constantly be and remain

Your Royal Majesty's

affectionate mother

Kristina Alexandra.

Stockholm, December 13, 1660.

J. Stropp.")