Abraham de Wicquefort on Antonio Pimentel's arrival in Stockholm and the favours Kristina showed him, in 1652

Sources:

L'ambassadeur et ses fonctions, volume 1, pages 69 to 70, by Abraham de Wicquefort, 1682 (1715 edition)

https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_8wUIAAAAQAAJ/page/68/mode/2up?q=Suede

The embassador and his functions, page 37, by Abraham de Wicquefort, translated by John Digby, 1716

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

The account:

Sur l'avis qu'on eut à Stocolm en l'an 1652. qu'Antoine Pimentel estoit arrivé aux Dales de la part du Roy d'Espagne, le Comte de la Garde, qui avoit ordre de le faire recevoir, en l'absence de la Reine, envoya au-devant de lui deux carosses à six chevaux, avec quelques officiers de la Maison, pour le defrayer & pour l'amener à l'hostel de la Reine Mere, que l'on avoit meublé pour son logement. La Reine estant de retour à Stocolm, ayant appris que Pimentel n'avoit que la qualité d'Envoyé, ne fut pas fort satisfaite des honneurs qu'on lui avoit faits. Elle dit, que puisqu'il n'avoit qu'un caractere du second ordre, il ne falloit point envoyer au-devant de lui, ni le defrayer: toutefois, puisqu'on avoit commencé, qu'il falloit achever: & on continua de le traitter jusques au troisiéme jour aprés sa premiere audience. L'intention de la Reine estoit de le faire défrayer pendant tout le sejour qu'il auroit fait en Suede, s'il eust eu le caractere d'Ambassadeur. Ce Ministre Espagnol acquit un si grand pouvoir sur l'esprit de cette Princesse, qu'il en effaça mesme le souvenir de l'amitié, qu'elle avoit promise, & qu'elle devoit à la France. Elle le fit loger dans le Chasteau, sous son appartement, & donnoit des nuits entieres à sa conversation. A l'entrée de l'Ambassadeur d'Angleterre son carosse suivit immediatement celui de la Reine, & preceda ceux des Senateurs & des Officiers de la Couronne. Lorsqu'il prit son audience de congé, il voulut qu'on lui amenast les carosses de la Cour, bien qu'il eust si peu de chemin à faire, que la teste des chevaux du postillon avançoient jusques au grand escalier, devant que le carosse commençast à rouler. Pimentel estoit homme de merite; mais il y eut un peu d'ostentation en cette rencontre, & il faut croire, qu'il vouloit faire voir, que si la France faisoit des conquestes en Flandre, l'Espagne en faisoit aussi de trés-considerables en Suede. Ces honneurs excessifs ne sont point deus aux Ministres du second ordre, & ne peuvent pas plaire aux Maistres, qui doivent desirer, qu'il y ait quelque reserve pour le Caractere Representant. ...

With modernised spelling:

Sur l'avis qu'on eut à Stockholm en l'an 1652 qu'Antoine Pimentel était arrivé aux Dales de la part du roi d'Espagne, le comte de la Gardie, qui avait ordre de le faire recevoir en l'absence de la reine, envoya au-devant de lui deux carrosses à six chevaux avec quelques officiers de la maison pour le défrayer et pour l'amener à l'hôtel de la reine-mère, que l'on avait meublé pour son logement.

La reine étant de retour à Stockholm, ayant appris que Pimentel n'avait que la qualité d'envoyé, ne fut pas fort satisfaite des honneurs qu'on lui avait faits. Elle dit que puisqu'il n'avait qu'un caractère du second ordre, il ne fallait point envoyer au-devant de lui, ni le défrayer; toutefois, puisqu'on avait commencé, qu'il fallait achever, et on continua de le traiter jusqu'au troisième jour après sa première audience.

L'intention de la reine était de le faire défrayer pendant tout le séjour qu'il aurait fait en Suède s'il eut eu le caractère d'ambassadeur. Ce ministre espagnol acquit un si grand pouvoir sur l'esprit de cette princesse qu'il en effaça même le souvenir de l'amitié qu'elle avait promise et qu'elle devait à la France. Elle le fit loger dans le château, sous son appartement, et donnait des nuits entières à sa conversation. A l'entrée de l'ambassadeur d'Angleterre, son carrosse suivit immédiatement celui de la reine et précéda ceux des sénateurs et des officiers de la Couronne.

Lorsqu'il prit son audience de congé, il voulut qu'on lui amenât les carrosses de la cour, bien qu'il eût si peu de chemin à faire que la tête des chevaux du postillon avançaient jusqu'au grand escalier, devant que le carrosse commençât à rouler.

Pimentel était homme de mérite, mais il y eut un peu d'ostentation en cette rencontre, et il faut croire qu'il voulait faire voir que si la France faisait des conquêtes en Flandre, l'Espagne en faisait aussi de très considérables en Suède. Ces honneurs excessifs ne sont point dus aux ministres du second ordre et ne peuvent pas plaire aux maîtres, qui doivent désirer qu'il y ait quelque réserve pour le caractère représentant. ...

Swedish translation (my own):

På det i Stockholm år 1652 inkomna inrådan att Antonio Pimentel ankommit till Dalarö för Spaniens konungs räkning, sände greve de la Gardie, som hade order att låta mottaga honom i drottningens frånvaro, två sexhästars karosser till möta honom med några tjänstemän i hushållet för att defrajera honom och föra honom till drottningmoderns hostel, som hade inretts för hans logi.

Drottningen, efter att ha återvänt till Stockholm, efter att ha fått veta att Pimentel endast hade egenskapen av sändebud, var inte särskilt nöjd med den heder som hade tilldelats honom. Hon sade att eftersom han bara hade en karaktär av andra ordningen, var det inte nödvändigt att skicka honom för att möta honom, inte heller att defrajera hans utgifter; men eftersom det hade börjat, var det nödvändigt att avsluta, och man fortsatte att traktera honom till tredje dagen efter hans första audiens.

Drottningens avsikt var att få honom defrajerad under hela den vistelse han skulle ha gjort i Sverige om han varit ambassadör. Denne spanske minister fick så stor makt över denna prinsessans sinne att han till och med raderade minnet av den vänskap hon hade utlovat och som hon var skyldig Frankrike. Hon lät inkvartera honom på slottet, under sitt appartemang, och ägnade hela nätter åt hans samtal. Vid ingången till den engelske ambassadören följde hans vagn omedelbart drottningens och föregick rådsherrarnas och Kronans officerares.

När han tog sin avskedsaudiens, ville han att hovkarosserna skulle föras till honom, fastän han hade så litet avstånd att gå att huvudena på postiljonens hästar avancerade ända till den stora trappan innan karossen började rulla.

Pimentel var en man av förtjänst, men det fanns en liten prålig i denna renkonter, och man måste tro att han ville visa att om Frankrike gjorde erövringar i Flandern, så gjorde Spanien också mycket betydande sådana i Sverige. Dessa överdrivna utmärkelser beror inte på ministrar av andra ordningen och kan inte behaga deras herrar, som måste önska att det finns en viss reserv för den representativa karaktären. ...

English translation (by Digby):

... Upon advice at Stockholm in the Year 1652, that Anthony Pimentel was arriv'd at the Dales on the part of the King of Spain, the Count de la Gardie, who had Orders to take care of his Reception in the Queen's Absence, sent two Coaches with six Horses each to meet him, as also some Officers of the Household to defray his Charges, and bring him to the Queen Mother's Palace which was fitted up for him. The Queen, being return'd to Stockholm, understanding that Pimentel had only the Quality of Envoy, was not well pleas'd with the Honours which had been done him. She said, that since he had only the Character of the second Order, they ought not to have sent to meet him, nor defray his Expences: however since the thing was begun it ought to be pursu'd; and he was treated to the third Day after his first Audience. The Queen's Intention was to defray him all the time he should stay in Sweden, if he had had the Character of Embassador. This Spanish Minister got so great an Ascendant over the Mind of this Princess, that he even blotted out the very Remembrance of the Friendship she had promis'd, and really ow'd to France. She lodg'd him in the Castle, under her own Appartment, and bestow'd whole Nights upon his Conversation. At the Entry of the English Embassador, his Coach immediately follow'd the Queens, and preceded that of the Senators and Officers of the Crown. When he took his Audience of Leave, he insisted upon having the Coaches of the Crown, tho' at the same time he had so little way to go, that the Heads of the Postilion's Horses reach'd as far as the great Staircase, before the Coach began to move. Pimentel was a Man of Merit, but here was a little Ostentation on this Occasion, and we must think he had a mind to shew, that if France made Conquests in Flanders, Spain also made considerable ones in Sweden. These excessive Honours are not due to Ministers of the second Order; and cannot be pleasing to their Masters, who ought to desire there should be something reserv'd to the representing Character. ...

With modernised spelling:

... Upon advice at Stockholm in the year 1652 that Anthony Pimentel was arrived at the Dales on the part of the King of Spain, the Count de la Gardie, who had orders to take care of his reception in the Queen's absence, sent two coaches with six horses each to meet him, as also some officers of the household to defray his charges and bring him to the Queen Mother's palace which was fitted up for him.

The Queen, being returned to Stockholm, understanding that Pimentel had only the quality of envoy, was not well-pleased with the honours which had been done him. She said that since he had only the character of the second order, they ought not to have sent to meet him, nor defray his expenses; however, since the thing was begun, it ought to be pursued, and he was treated to the third day after his first audience.

The Queen's intention was to defray him all the time he should stay in Sweden if he had had the character of ambassador. This Spanish minister got so great an ascendant over the mind of this princess that he even blotted out the very remembrance of the friendship she had promised and really owed to France. She lodged him in the castle, under her own apartment, and bestowed whole nights upon his conversation. At the entry of the English ambassador, his coach immediately followed the Queen's and preceded that of the senators and officers of the Crown.

When he took his audience of leave, he insisted upon having the coaches of the Crown, though at the same time he had so little way to go that the heads of the postillion's horses reached as far as the great staircase before the coach began to move.

Pimentel was a man of merit, but here was a little ostentation on this occasion, and we must think he had a mind to shew that if France made conquests in Flanders, Spain also made considerable ones in Sweden. These excessive honours are not due to ministers of the second order and cannot be pleasing to their masters, who ought to desire there should be something reserved to the representing character. ...

English translation (my own):

On the advice received in Stockholm in the year 1652 that Antonio Pimentel had arrived at Dalarö on behalf of the King of Spain, the Count de la Gardie, who had orders to have him received in the Queen's absence, sent two six-horse carriages to meet him with some officers of the household to defray him and to take him to the Queen Mother's hostel, which had been furnished for his accommodation.

The Queen, having returned to Stockholm, having learned that Pimentel had only the quality of envoy, was not very satisfied with the honours that had been done him. She said that since he had only a character of the second order, it was not necessary to send to meet him, nor to defray his expenses; however, since it had been begun, it was necessary to finish, and one continued to treat him until the third day after his first audience.

The Queen's intention was to have him defrayed during the whole stay he would have made in Sweden if he had been an ambassador. This Spanish minister acquired such great power over the mind of this princess that he even erased the memory of the friendship she had promised and which she owed to France. She had him lodged in the castle, under her apartment, and devoted whole nights to his conversation. At the entrance of the English ambassador, his carriage immediately followed that of the Queen and preceded those of the senators and officers of the Crown.

When he took his audience of leave, he wanted the court carriages to be brought to him, although he had so little distance to go that the heads of the postillion's horses advanced as far as the grand staircase before the carriage began to roll.

Pimentel was a man of merit, but there was a little ostentation in this rencontre, and it must be believed that he wanted to show that if France was making conquests in Flanders, Spain was also making very considerable ones in Sweden. These excessive honours are not due to ministers of the second order and cannot please their masters, who must desire that there be some reserve for the representative character. ...

Above: Kristina.

Above: Antonio Pimentel.

Above: Abraham de Wicquefort.