Excerpt from Algernon Sidney's letter to his father Robert Sidney, 2nd Earl of Leicester, dated September 8/18, 1660

Source:

Letters and memorials of State in the reigns of Queen Mary, Queen Elizabeth, King James, King Charles the First, part of the reign of King Charles the Second, and Oliver's usurpation, volume 2, pages 696 to 697, published by Arthur Collins, 1746

https://books.google.com/books?id=-PoiAQAAMAAJ&newbks=1&newbks_redir=0&dq=queene+christina&source=gbs_navlinks_s

The letter excerpt:

My Lord,

... I left the Queene Christiana [sic], at Hamburgh, with a Designe of going into Sweeden, before the Time of the Diet, which is to beginne the 22 of this Moneth, at Stockholme: She is thought to haue great Designes, of which euery one iudges according to their Humour; some thinks shee will pretend to the Crowne, others that she would be contented with the Regency; and theire doth not want thoes that say shee is employed from Rome, to sowe Diuisions in Sweden, and to make use of the Prince Adolph his Discontent, others to marry him. I haue conuersed a good Deale with hir, and doe not belieue a Word of all this. Shee hath a great Aversion to the Prince Adolph, thinks him not to be trusted with any Thing, nor capable of any great Businesse. When shee resigned the Crowne, shee did publiquely Aduise the Senate, not to admitte that Prince unto the Crowne, in Case his Brother should dye without Sonns, he being unfit for Gouernement, of an euill Nature, and of Understanding noe Wayes able to beare such a Weight; upon which, by an Act of the Senate, confirmed by the succeeding Diet, it was declared that the Crowne should descend only to the Heires Males of the Kings Boddy, and thoes failing, the Power of Election to reuert unto the Senate and Diet. This is the Obstruction unto Prince Adolph his Pretention to be Constable, least, that he hauing the Power of the Militia in his hands, might either attempt sommething to the Preiudice of the young King, or if he died, strengthen his owne Pretentions. Notwithstanding this he did write to the Queene Christina, earnestly endeauouring to engage hir, and offering great Seruices, if shee would Favour him. The Contents of this Letter weare reported to me, and I saw the Answeare, which if he is not absolutely out of his Witts, will take from him, all Hope of Aduantage from hir. A Day or tow before I came from Hamburgh, talking with hir of the Opinions People had of hir Pretentions to the Crowne, or Regency; she told me plainely, there was but one Place for hir in Sweden, and hauing resigned that, she could neither pretend againe unto it, nor content hir self with any other. I doe not belieue this barely because shee sayd it (for I am in this Yeares Employment, growne much lesse credulous then I was) but because the impossibility of effecting any Thing is soe plaine, that shee whoe hath a great Deale of Wit, and as good Councell as any is perhaps in Europe, can not but see it. For besides the Auersion that is to hir Religion, and the littell Appearance that the iealous Sweeds would giue Credite to her Change, if she left it, the Senate and Nobility like noe Gouernment soe well, as while the Kings are in Minority; for now they haue the Power in their owne Hands, whereas before they depended upon the Will of a King, and will more hardly be brought to innouate any Thing perhaps, then when theire last King was liuing. Theise and many other Reasons, doe conuince me, that hir only Businesse is to procure of the Diet, the Settlement of hir yearely Reuenue of two-hundred Thousand Dollers, reserued at hir Resignation, of which for theis last fower Yeeres she receaued but the tenth Part; and this being done, to returne to Rome, wheare shee hath great Designes, of which I may speake more heareafter; and their shee intends to liue and dye. The French Ambassador hath Order to serue hir as much as he can, and shee hath been perswaded to stay at Hamburgh, untill he could haue an Answeare to the Letters he writ to Stockholme, concerning hir Reception; which Caution was very necessary; for though all the principall Persons of the Senate, owe theire Fortunes to hir; no Man can undertake, that if shee should goe thither with out somme Engagement for hir Security, shee may not passe the rest of hir Life in some Castle of Sweden, instead of hir Palace at Rome. ...

Al. Sydney.

Frankfort upon Maine,

Sept. 8, 1660.

With modernised spelling:

My lord,

... I left the Queen Kristina at Hamburg with a design of going into Sweden before the time of the Diet, which is to begin the 22 of this month at Stockholm. She is thought to have great designs, of which everyone judges according to their humour. Some thinks she will pretend to the Crown, others that she would be contented with the regency; and there doth not want those that say she is employed from Rome to sow divisions in Sweden and to make use of the Prince Adolf his discontent, others to marry him.

I have conversed a good deal with her and do not believe a word of all this. She hath a great aversion to the Prince Adolf, thinks him not to be trusted with anything nor capable of any great business. When she resigned the Crown, she did publicly advise the Senate not to admit that prince unto the Crown, in case his brother should die without sons, he being unfit for government, of an evil nature, and of understanding no ways able to bear such a weight; upon which, by an act of the Senate, confirmed by the succeeding Diet, it was declared that the Crown should descend only to the heirs males of the King's body, and those failing, the power of election to revert unto the Senate and Diet.

This is the obstruction unto Prince Adolf his pretention to be constable, lest that he, having the power of the militia in his hands, might either attempt something to the prejudice of the young King, or if he died, strengthen his own pretentions. Notwithstanding this, he did write to the Queen Kristina, earnestly endeavouring to engage her and offering great services if she would favour him. The contents of this letter were reported to me, and I saw the answer, which, if he is not absolutely out of his wits, will take from him all hope of advantage from her.

A day or two before I came from Hamburg, talking with her of the opinions people had of her pretentions to the Crown or regency, she told me plainly there was but one place for her in Sweden and, having resigned that, she could neither pretend again unto it nor content herself with any other. I do not believe this barely because she said it (for I am in this year's employment grown much less credulous than I was), but because the impossibility of effecting anything is so plain that she, who hath a great deal of wit and as good counsel as any is perhaps in Europe, cannot but see it. For, besides the aversion that is to her religion, and the little appearance that the jealous Swedes would give credit to her change if she left it, the Senate and nobility like no government so well as while the kings are in minority, for now they have the power in their own hands, whereas before they depended upon the will of a king and will more hardly be brought to innovate anything perhaps than when their last king was living.

These and many other reasons do convince me that her only business is to procure of the Diet the settlement of her yearly revenue of two hundred thousand dollars reserved at her resignation, of which for these last four years she received but the tenth part; and, this being done, to return to Rome, where she hath great designs, of which I may speak more hereafter; and there she intends to live and die.

The French ambassador hath order to serve her as much as he can, and she hath been persuaded to stay at Hamburg until he could have an answer to the letters he writ to Stockholm concerning her reception; which caution was very necessary, for, though all the principal persons of the Senate owe their fortunes to her, no man can undertake that if she should go thither without some engagement for her security, she may not pass the rest of her life in some castle of Sweden instead of her palace at Rome. ...

Algernon Sidney.

Frankfurt upon Main, September 8, 1660.

French translation (my own):

Monseigneur,

... J'ai laissé la reine Christine à Hambourg avec le projet de partir pour la Suède avant la Diète qui doit commencer le 22 de ce mois à Stockholm. On lui prête de grands projets, dont chacun juge selon son humeur. Les uns pensent qu'elle prétendra à la couronne, les autres qu'elle se contentera de la régence; et il ne manque pas de gens qui disent qu'elle est employée de Rome pour semer la division en Suède et profiter du mécontentement du prince Adolphe, les autres pour l'épouser.

J'ai beaucoup parlé avec elle et je ne crois pas un mot de tout cela. Elle a une grande aversion pour le prince Adolphe, pense qu'il n'est pas digne de confiance en rien et qu'il n'est pas capable d'aucune grande affaire. Lorsqu'elle a résigné de la Couronne, elle a publiquement conseillé au Sénat de ne pas admettre ce prince à la couronne, au cas où son frère mourrait sans fils, car il était inapte au gouvernement, d'une nature mauvaise et ne comprenant pas les moyens de supporter un tel fardeau; en conséquence, par un acte du Sénat, confirmé par la Diète suivante, il fut déclaré que la couronne ne devait revenir qu'aux héritiers mâles du corps du roi, et que ceux qui lui manquaient, le pouvoir d'élection reviendrait au Sénat et à la Diète.

C'est ce qui empêche le prince Adolphe de prétendre être connétable, de peur qu'ayant le pouvoir de la milice entre ses mains, il ne tente quelque chose au préjudice du jeune roi, ou s'il mourait, ne renforce ses propres prétentions. Malgré cela, il écrivit à la reine Christine, s'efforçant sérieusement de s'engager et offrant de grands services si elle le favorisait. Le contenu de cette lettre m'a été rapporté, et j'ai vu la réponse qui, s'il n'est pas complètement dérangé, lui enlèvera tout espoir d'avantage de sa part.

Un jour ou deux avant mon départ de Hambourg, je lui ai parlé de l'opinion qu'on avait de ses prétentions à la Couronne ou à la régence. Elle m'a dit clairement qu'il n'y avait qu'une place pour elle en Suède et qu'ayant démissionné de celle-ci, elle ne pouvait plus y prétendre ni se contenter d'une autre. Je ne le crois pas seulement parce qu'elle l'a dit (car je suis devenu beaucoup moins crédule que je ne l'étais dans mon emploi de cette année), mais parce que l'impossibilité de faire quoi que ce soit est si évidente qu'elle, qui a beaucoup d'esprit et aussi bon conseil que quiconque en Europe, ne peut s'empêcher de le voir. Car, outre l'aversion qu'elle éprouve pour sa religion, et le peu d'apparence que les Suédois jaloux accorderaient à son changement si elle la quittait, le Sénat et la noblesse n'aiment aucun gouvernement aussi bien que pendant que les rois sont en minorité, car ils ont maintenant le pouvoir entre leurs mains, alors qu'auparavant ils dépendaient de la volonté d'un roi et seront peut-être plus difficilement amenés à innover quoi que ce soit que du vivant de leur dernier roi. 

Ces raisons et bien d'autres me convainquent que sa seule affaire est d'obtenir de la Diète le règlement de son revenu annuel de deux cent mille dalers réservé à sa démission, dont elle n'a reçu pendant ces quatre dernières années que la dixième partie; et, cela fait, de retourner à Rome, où elle a de grands projets, dont je parlerai plus loin; et c'est là qu'elle entend vivre et mourir.

L'ambassadeur de France a reçu l'ordre de la servir autant qu’il le pourra, et elle a été persuadée de rester à Hambourg jusqu’à ce qu’il puisse avoir une réponse aux lettres qu’il a écrites à Stockholm concernant sa réception; cette précaution était très nécessaire, car, bien que tous les principaux personnages du Sénat lui doivent leur fortune, personne ne peut s'engager à ce que si elle s'y rende sans quelque engagement pour sa sécurité, elle ne puisse passer le reste de sa vie dans quelque château de Suède au lieu de son palais de Rome. ...

Algernon Sidney.

Francfort-sur-le-Main, 8 septembre 1660.

Swedish translation (my own):

Min herre,

... Jag lämnade Drottning Kristina i Hamburg med en plan att gå in i Sverige före riksdagens tid, som ska börja den 22 denna månad i Stockholm. Hon anses ha stora dessänger, som alla bedömer efter sitt humör. Vissa tror att hon kommer att låtsas för kronan, andra att hon skulle vara nöjd med förmyndarregeringen; och där vill inte de som säger att hon är anställd från Rom för att så splittringar i Sverige och använda prins Adolfs missnöje, andra skall gifta sig med honom.

Jag har talat en hel del med henne och tror inte ett ord av allt detta. Hon har en stor motvilja mot prins Adolf, menar att han inte är att lita på någonting och inte heller är kapabel till någon större verksamhet. När hon avgick från Kronan, rådde hon offentligt Rådet att inte erkänna den prinsen för Kronan, ifall hans bror skulle dö utan söner, eftersom han var olämplig för regeringen, av ond natur och att han inte förstår några sätt som kan bära en sådan vikt; varpå det genom Rådets akt, stadfäst av den efterföljande Riksdagen, förklarades, att Kronan endast skulle nedkomma till konungens manliga livsarvingarna, och om de icke fanns till, valmakten att återgå till Rådet och Riksdagen.

Detta är ett hinder för prins Adolf att han utger sig för att vara riksmarsk, så att han, med milisens makt i sina händer, antingen skulle försöka något till den unge konungens skada, eller om han dog, stärka sina egna föreställningar. Trots detta skrev han till drottning Kristina och strävade uppriktigt efter att engagera sig och erbjöd stora tjänster om hon ville gynna honom. Innehållet i detta brev rapporterades till mig, och jag såg svaret, som, om han inte är absolut från vettet, kommer att ta ifrån honom allt hopp om fördel från henne.

En dag eller två innan jag kom från Hamburg och talade med henne om de åsikter folk hade om hennes anspråk på Kronan eller förmyndarregeringen, berättade hon tydligt för mig att det bara fanns en plats för henne i Sverige och efter att ha sagt upp det kunde hon inte heller pretendera igen till det eller nöjer sig med någon annan. Jag tror inte på detta bara för att hon sade det (för jag är i årets anställning mycket mindre lättrogen än jag var), utan för att omöjligheten att åstadkomma någonting är så tydlig att hon, som har en stor kvickhet och lika gott råd som finns kanske i Europa, kan inte annat än se det. För förutom den motvilja som är mot hennes religion och det lilla utseende som de avundsjuka svenskarna skulle ge honor åt hennes förändring om hon lämnade den, tycker Rådet och adeln ingen regering så bra som medan konungarna är i minoritet, för nu har de makten i sina egna händer, medan de tidigare var beroende av en konungs vilja och knappast kommer att förmås att förnya något kanske än när deras siste konung levde.

Dessa och många andra skäl övertygar mig att hennes enda sak är att av Riksdagen skaffa avräkningen av hennes årliga inkomster av tvåhundratusen daler reserverade vid hennes avsägelse, av vilka hon för dessa fyra sista år erhöll endast den tionde delen; och när detta görs, för att återvända till Rom, där hon har stora dessänger, som jag kan tala mer om härefter; och där tänker hon leva och dö.

Den franske ambassadören har befallt att betjäna henne så mycket han kan, och hon har blivit övertalad att stanna i Hamburg tills han kunde få svar på de brev han skrev till Stockholm angående hennes mottagande; denna försiktighet var mycket nödvändig, ty även om alla de främsta personerna i Rådet är skyldiga henne sina förmögenheter, kan ingen man åta sig att om hon skulle gå dit utan något engagemang för sin säkerhet, så kanske hon inte klarar resten av sitt liv i något Sveriges slott istället för hennes palats i Rom. ...

Algernon Sidney.

Frankfurt am Main, den 8 september 1660.

Above: Kristina.

Above: Adolf Johan.

Above: Robert Sidney, 2nd Earl of Leicester.

Above: Algernon Sidney.

Notes: "some thinks" = some think, some are of the opinion of.

"engage her" = engage herself.

writ = wrote.