Source:
A journal of the Swedish ambassy, volume 2, pages 122 to 127, by Bulstrode Whitelocke, published in 1772
The diary entry:
Lagerfeldt, Berkman, and the syndick of Gothenbergh, after dinner with Whitelocke, discoursed and advised him touching his departure.
Lagerfeldt said, he believed the queen would give Whitelocke audience on Friday next; before which time her presents would not be ready for Whitelocke and his company: he said also, that he heard the prince intended to be in this town within a few dayes, and if it should be so, then it would be better for Whitelocke to stay heer, and expect his comming hither to salute him heer, then to goe out of his way so farre as to the prince's court; in which matter, Whitelocke said, he would intreat the queen's advice.
Lagerfeldt said further, that the queen had commaunded some copper to be brought to Stockholme, and to be putt aboard the shop where Whitelocke was to be imbarqued, or in some other ship as he should appoint; it being a present intended for him by the queen. ...
Mons. Woolfeldt visited Whitelocke, and, among other discourses, related to him the story of himselfe and his lady, which was to this effect, by his and other's relation.
This gentleman was of a noble family and extraction in Denmarke, grew into great favour with the last king, whose daughter, by a second wife, he marryed; and the present king, her brother, made him vice-roy of Norway, governor of the isle of Zeland, and of the Sundt, and a senator of the kingdome, and great master of Denmarke; and he had bin imployed thirteen times as an ambassador.
His lady, the daughter and sister of a king, was of excellent comelines of person and behaviour, humbly knowing her distance; of a sweet disposition, and of rare parts both of mind and body; especially deserving prayse for her high and entire affection to her husband, who, notwithstanding his great parts and abilities, and the many perils he had undergone in the service of his king and countrey, yett, after all, by the whisperings and false suggestions of back-biters, his ennemies, was traduced to the king, for being too much a friend to the peoples liberty, and an opposer of the king's absolute power: butt, beyond all (as some gave it out), that he was too familiar with one of the king's mistrisses; so it was, that the king tooke high displeasure against him. Parasites tooke the occasion to please the king, by invectives against one under a clowde; his parts attracted envy, and his merits were too great for any other recompence butt his owne ruine.
To avoyd the king's wrath and his ennemies malice, and to preserve his life, which was aymed to be taken away with his fortune, he was compelled to flye from his countrey, and seeke his security in forein parts.
His lady, though a tender modest woman, though the sister of the king regnant, high in his favour, and the interest of her alliance; though pressingly inticed to cast off her affection to her husband; though unacquainted with any hardships; yett so intire was her conjugall love and piety, that, rather then part with her husband, she would leave all her relations and pleasures of a court, and her deare countrey, and putt herselfe (though with child) into the disguise of a page, to attend him in his flight as his servant.
It may be imagined, that such a servant was not unkindly used; butt the greatest trouble was, that, being on ship-board to crosse the Baltick sea, the poore page whispered the master, that she had a longing desire to some cherryes, which she saw in the towne as they came to the ship: heer was the difficulty, if her lord did not goe on shore and procure some cherryes for the page, it might cost her life; if he did goe on shoare, and, in the meane time, the ship should goe off, he and his page would be parted, and his own life indaungered. It was reason and honor that perswaded him, rather to hazard his own then such a page's life; therfore, having effectually dealt with the master of the ship for a little stay, he soon found out a pretence to goe on shore, and neglected not to hasten back againe with his provision of cherryes, and to find out a way of distributing a large share of them to her that longed for them. After which, they happily sett sayle and arrived in Sweden, where, by articles between the two crownes, those in his condition have sanctuary and protection.
In the afternoon Whitelocke went to court, where he mett with Canterstein, who excused himselfe, that he had not yett brought to Whitelocke the queen's letters of full power to her commissioners, which, he said, the queen had signed two dayes before, and that he had bin sicke, otherwise he had delivered them before this time. Whitelocke asked him, if his re-credentialls were prepared? he said, they were ready for the queen to signe when she pleased, and that nothing in his charge concerning Whitelocke should receive any delay by his occasion. Whitelocke gave him thanks for his care, and promised his remuneration.
This being May-day, Whitelocke, according to the invitation he had made to the queen, putt her in mind of it, that, as she was his mistris, and this May-day, he was, by the custome of England, to waite uppon her to take the aier, and to treate her with some little collation, as her servant.
The queen said, the weather was very cold, yett she was very willing to beare him company after the english mode.
With the queen were Woolfeldt, Tott, and five of her ladyes. Whitelocke brought them to his collation, which he had commanded his servants to prepare in the best manner they could, and altogether after the english fashion.
Att the table with the queen sate La Belle Comtesse, the countesse Gabriel Oxenstierne, Woolfeldt, Tott, and Whitelocke; the other ladyes sate in another roome. Their meate was such fowle as could be gotten, dressed after the english fashion, and with english sawces, creames, puddings, custards, tarts, tansies, english apples, bon chrêtien peares, cheese, butter, neats tongues, potted venison, and sweet meats, brought out of England, as his sacke and claret also was; his beere was also brewed, and his bread made by his own servants in his house, after the english manner; and the queen and her company seemed highly pleased with this treatment: some of her company said, she did eate and drinke more att it then she used to doe in three or four dayes att her own table.
The intertainment was as full and noble as the place would afford, and as Whitelocke could make it, and so well ordered and contrived, that the queen said, she had never seen any like it: she was pleased so farre as to play the good huswife, as to inquire, how the butter could be so fresh and sweet and yett brought out of England? Whitelocke, from his cookes, satisfyed her majesty's inquiry; that they putt the salt butter into milke, where it lay all night, and the next day it would eate fresh and sweet as this did, and any butter new made; and commended her majesty's good huswifry; who, to expresse her contentment in this collation, was full of pleasantnes and gaity of spirit, both in supper-time and afterwards: among other frollickes, she commaunded Whitelocke to teach her ladyes the english salutation; which, after some pretty defences, their lips obeyed, and Whitelocke most readily.
She highly commended Whitelocke's musicke of the trumpets, which sounded all supper time, and her discourse was all of mirth and drollery, wherin Whitelocke indeavoured to answear her; and the rest of the company did their parts.
It was late before she returned to the castle, whither Whitelocke waited on her; and she discoursed a little with him about his buisnes, and the time of his audience, and gave him many thankes for his noble treatment of her and her company.
With modernised spelling:
Lagerfeldt, Berkman, and the syndic of Gothenburg, after dinner with Whitelocke, discoursed and advised him touching his departure.
Lagerfeldt said he believed the Queen would give Whitelocke audience on Friday next, before which time her presents would not be ready for Whitelocke and his company. He said also that he heard the Prince intended to be in this town within a few days, and if it should be so, then it would be better for Whitelocke to stay here, and expect his coming hither to salute him here than to go out of his way so far as to the Prince's court, in which matter Whitelocke said he would entreat the Queen's advice.
Lagerfeldt said further that the Queen had commanded some copper to be brought to Stockholm and to be put aboard the shop where Whitelocke was to be embarked, or in some other ship as he should appoint, it being a present intended for him by the Queen. ...
Monsieur Ulfeldt visited Whitelocke and, among other discourses, related to him the story of himself and his lady, which was to this effect, by his and other's relation.
This gentleman was of a noble family and extraction in Denmark, grew into great favour with the last king, whose daughter, by a second wife, he married; and the present King, her brother, made him viceroy of Norway, governor of the isle of Zealand and of the Sund, and a senator of the kingdom, and Great Master of Denmark; and he had been employed thirteen times as an ambassador.
His lady, the daughter and sister of a king, was of excellent comeliness of person and behaviour, humbly knowing her distance, of a sweet disposition, and of rare parts both of mind and body, especially deserving praise for her high and entire affection to her husband, who, notwithstanding his great parts and abilities, and the many perils he had undergone in the service of his king and country, yet, after all, by the whisperings and false suggestions of backbiters, his enemies, was traduced to the King for being too much a friend to the people's liberty and an opposer of the King's absolute power.
But, beyond all (as some gave it out), that he was too familiar with one of the King's mistresses, so it was that the King took high displeasure against him. Parasites took the occasion to please the King by invectives against one under a cloud. His parts attracted envy, and his merits were too great for any other recompense but his own ruin.
To avoid the King's wrath and his enemies' malice, and to preserve his life, which was aimed to be taken away with his fortune, he was compelled to fly from his country and seek his security in foreign parts.
His lady, though a tender modest woman, though the sister of the King regnant, high in his favour, and the interest of her alliance, though pressingly enticed to cast off her affection to her husband, though unacquainted with any hardships, yet so entire was her conjugal love and piety that, rather than part with her husband, she would leave all her relations and pleasures of a court and her dear country, and put herself (though with child) into the disguise of a page to attend him in his flight as his servant.
It may be imagined that such a servant was not unkindly used, but the greatest trouble was that, being on shipboard to cross the Baltic Sea, the poor page whispered the master that she had a longing desire to some cherries which she saw in the town as they came to the ship. Here was the difficulty: if her lord did not go onshore and procure some cherries for the page, it might cost her life. If he did go onshore and, in the meantime, the ship should go off, he and his page would be parted, and his own life endangered. It was reason and honour that persuaded him rather to hazard his own than such a page's life; therefore, having effectually dealt with the master of the ship for a little stay, he soon found out a pretense to go onshore and neglected not to hasten back again with his provision of cherries, and to find out a way of distributing a large share of them to her that longed for them. After which they happily set sail and arrived in Sweden, where, by articles between the two Crowns, those in his condition have sanctuary and protection.
In the afternoon Whitelocke went to court, where he met with Canthersten, who excused himself that he had not yet brought to Whitelocke the Queen's letters of full power to her commissioners, which, he said, the Queen had signed two days before, and that he had been sick, otherwise he had delivered them before this time.
Whitelocke asked him if his recredentials were prepared. He said they were ready for the Queen to sign when she pleased and that nothing in his charge concerning Whitelocke should receive any delay by his occasion. Whitelocke gave him thanks for his care and promised his remuneration.
This being May Day, Whitelocke, according to the invitation he had made to the Queen, put her in mind of it that, as she was his mistress, and this May Day, he was, by the custom of England, to wait upon her to take the air and to treat her with some little collation, as her servant.
The Queen said the weather was very cold, yet she was very willing to bear him company after the English mode.
With the Queen were Ulfeldt, Tott, and five of her ladies. Whitelocke brought them to his collation, which he had commanded his servants to prepare in the best manner they could, and altogether after the English fashion.
At the table with the Queen sat la belle comtesse, the countess Gabriel Oxenstierna, Ulfeldt, Tott, and Whitelocke; the other ladies sat in another room. Their meat was such fowl as could be gotten, dressed after the English fashion, and with English sauces, creams, puddings, custards, tarts, tansies, English apples, bon chrétien pears, cheese, butter, neats' tongues, potted venison, and sweetmeats brought out of England, as his sack and claret also was. His beer was also brewed, and his bread made by his own servants in his house, after the English manner, and the Queen and her company seemed highly pleased with this treatment. Some of her company said she did eat and drink more at it than she used to do in three or four days at her own table.
The entertainment was as full and noble as the place would afford and as Whitelocke could make it, and so well-ordered and contrived that the Queen said she had never seen any like it. She was pleased so far as to play the good housewife, as to enquire how the butter could be so fresh and sweet and yet brought out of England. Whitelocke, from his cooks, satisfied Her Majesty's enquiry: that they put the salt butter into milk, where it lay all night, and the next day it would eat fresh and sweet as this did, and any butter new-made, and commended Her Majesty's good housewifery, who, to express her contentment in this collation, was full of pleasantness and gaiety of spirit, both in suppertime and afterwards.
Among other frolics, she commanded Whitelocke to teach her ladies the English salutation, which, after some pretty defenses, their lips obeyed, and Whitelocke most readily.
She highly commended Whitelocke's music of the trumpets, which sounded all suppertime, and her discourse was all of mirth and drollery, wherein Whitelocke endeavoured to answer her; and the rest of the company did their parts.
It was late before she returned to the castle, whither Whitelocke waited on her; and she discoursed a little with him about his business and the time of his audience and gave him many thanks for his noble treatment of her and her company.
Above: Kristina.
Above: Corfitz Ulfeldt and his wife Leonora Christina Ulfeldt.
Above: Ebba Sparre, la belle comtesse.
.jpg)
Above: Bulstrode Whitelocke.
Notes: Countess Gabriel Oxenstierna = Brita Kurck, the wife of Gabriel Gabrielsson Oxenstierna.
neats' tongues = beef or ox tongues (neat is an archaic English word for bull or cow).
sack = a variety of light-coloured dry wine from Spain or the Canary Islands; or any strong white wine from southern Europe; sherry.
No comments:
Post a Comment