Peder Juel's letter to Peder Charisius, dated December 13/23 (Old Style), 1653

Source:

Bidrag til Dronning Christinas, det svenske Hofs og Corfitz Ulfeldts Historie, i Aarene 1651-1655, af Peder Juul's utrykte Breve til Charisius, article by Christian Molbech in Historisk tidsskrift, volume 5, pages 362 to 363, published by Den Danske Historiske Forening, 1844

https://books.google.com/books?id=hZBvHpda3WkC&newbks=1&newbks_redir=0&dq=Historisk+tidsskrift,+V&source=gbs_navlinks_s

The letter:

Den 13de Decbr. "Dronningen fortryder fast, at hun de Hollænderes Gods haver arresteret, siden hun seer, hvad rumeur det der haver givet." — "Det er vel vist, at Mr. Chanut er god Svensk, og i sin Omgængelse heel circumspect; men saa veed han vel Dronningens onde naturel og inclination imod os og Holland. Han haver altid giort Demonstration at være min Ven, og corresponderet med mig, naar han var i Frankrig." — "Jeg havde for to Dage siden Audience hos Dronningen; da blandt andet begierede jeg, at om Whitlocke skulde ville begiere her noget, som kunde være Hans Maj. eller Hans Maj.s Allierede til prejudice, at det ham ikke maatte bevilges; hvorudi Dronningen amplissimis verbis gav mig Satisfaction, og jeg troer vel, om Dronningen ikke overtales af Cantzeler Oxenstierne, at hun ikke skal forandre sin Opinion at observere Neutraliteten saa længe som Hollænderne kan være Englænderne bastant, og vi udi Danmark blive armerede. Whitlocke reiser for det meste kun to Miil om Dagen, saa han ikke saa snart skal komme hid. Han haver sendt en af sine Folk forud hid, at indkiøbe, hvis han til sin Huusholdning behøver. Den samme beklager sig at være tre Gange overfalden paa Gaden om Aftenen; hvorfor ham er medgiven en Soldat, som altid skal følge ham. — Grev Magni Gemal og Moder haver nogenlunde modereret Dronningens colere mod ham; dog kunde de ikke obtinere, at maatte komme og staae Fadder i Forgaars til sin Broders Grev Jacobs Søn, som Dronningen holdt."

With modernised spelling:

Den 13. december. "Dronningen fortryder fast, at hun de hollænderes gods haver arresteret, siden hun ser, hvad rumeur det der haver givet." — "Det er vel vist, at Monsieur Chanut er god svensk, og i sin omgængelse hel cirkumspekt; men så ved han vel dronningens onde naturel og inklination imod os og Holland. Han haver altid gjort demonstration at være min ven, og korresponderet med mig, når han var i Frankrig." — "Jeg havde for to dage siden audience hos dronningen; da blandt andet begærede jeg, at om Whitelocke skulle ville begære her noget, som kunne være Hans Majestæt eller Hans Majestæts allierede til præjudice, at det ham ikke måtte bevilges; hvorudi dronningen amplissimis verbis gav mig satisfaktion, og jeg tror vel, om dronningen ikke overtales af kansler Oxenstierna, at hun ikke skal forandre sin opinion at observere neutraliteten så længe som hollænderne kan være englænderne bastant, og vi udi Danmark blive armerede.

Whitelocke rejser for det meste kun to mil om dagen, så han ikke så snart skal komme hid. Han haver sendt en af sine folk forud hid, at indkøbe, hvis han til sin husholdning behøver. Den samme beklager sig at være tre gange overfalden på gaden om aftenen, hvorfor ham er medgiven en soldat, som altid skal følge ham. — Grev Magni gemal og moder haver nogenlunde modereret dronningens colère mod ham; dog kunde de ikke obtinere, at måtte komme og stå fadder i forgårs til sin broders grev Jakobs søn, som dronningen holdt."

English translation (my own):

December 13. "The Queen greatly regrets that she has arrested the Dutchmen's goods, as she sees what turmoil it has caused." — "It is evident that Monsieur Chanut is a good Swede and quite circumspect in his dealings; but then he knows the Queen's evil nature and inclination towards us and Holland. He has always made a show of being my friend, and he corresponded with me when he was in France." — "Two days ago I had an audience with the Queen; when, among other things, I requested that if Whitelocke should wish to request anything here which could be to the prejudice of His Majesty or His Majesty's allies, that it should not be granted to him; to which the Queen, in most ample terms, gave me satisfaction, and I think, if the Queen is not persuaded by Chancellor Oxenstierna, that she will not change her opinion of observing neutrality as long as the Dutch can be sufficient against the English and we in Denmark can be armed.

Whitelocke usually only travels two miles a day, so he will not be coming here anytime soon. He has sent one of his men ahead here to buy what he needs for his household. The same complains about being assaulted three times in the street in the evening, which is why he is granted a soldier who must always accompany him. — Count Magnus's wife and mother have fairly moderated the Queen's anger against him; however, they could not obtain the right for him to come and be godfather the day before yesterday to his brother Count Jakob's son, whom the Queen held."

Above: Kristina.

Above: Bulstrode Whitelocke.

Above: Chancellor Axel Oxenstierna.

Above: Magnus Gabriel de la Gardie with his wife and Kristina's cousin and foster sister, Marie Euphrosyne of Pfalz-Zweibrücken.

Above: Ebba Brahe, Magnus' mother.

Note: Count Jakob Kasimir de la Gardie, Magnus' brother, and Countess Ebba Sparre, Magnus' sister-in-law and Kristina's favourite lady-in-waiting and lover, had had their first child, Jakob de la Gardie, on November 30/December 10 (Old Style), 1653. Sadly, he passed away sometime in 1655, when he was one or two.