Excerpt from Bulstrode Whitelocke's diary entry, dated May 21/31 (Old Style), 1654

Source:

A journal of the Swedish ambassy, volume 2, pages 235 to 236, by Bulstrode Whitelocke, published in 1772

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The diary entry excerpt:

... Att Ubsale, Whitelocke was carryed to see the queen's garden, which scarce deserved that name, being only a piece of ground of about four or five acres, paled in, according to the manner of their paling, and had in it a few hedges, which, in the latter end of May, uppon the thawe, began to appeare a little green; butt for flowers or fruit trees, there were none, except a few ordinary tulippes.

This putt Whitelocke in mind to inquire, if the queen had a better garden heer att Stockholme, where her residence usually was; the Swedes excused the meanness of the garden att Ubsale, bicause the court was seldome there, butt heer they commended the garden, and offered Whitelocke the favour to see it: he went about seven a'clocke this evening to view it, and to walke in the queen's garden heer.

It was neer unto his lodging, butt att a distance from the castle; it is about six or seven acres of ground, incompassed with a pale, on which they bestow timber enough in the posts and rayles: and the pales are not sett upright one by another, butt, crossewise, one uppon another, between two great postes, with rivets for the pales to be putt into, and so to fall down one uppon the other; and the pales are two inches thick or more, made of firre timber, and the posts and rayles of oake.

This garden was distinguished into walkes, not well kept, nor gravelled, butt most of them green: few flowers were to be seen there, though more then att Ubsale, and most of these were tulippes, not extraordinary. The sides of the walkes were sett with elme trees, and the like, butt no fruit trees were there, nor are they common in this cold countrey; only (as they informed Whitelocke) in some places they have a few trees of plummes, and smalle cherryes, and of apples; butt he saw none, in regard of the season, nor doe many persons in these parts delight in gardens, or in planting fruits or flowers, this climate not incouraging therunto; yett heer were great boxes of wood with orange trees, cittron trees, and mirtle trees, very young, planted in them; how they thrived, was not much visible.

With modernised spelling:

... At Uppsala, Whitelocke was carried to see the Queen's garden, which scarce deserved that name, being only a piece of ground of about four or five acres, paled in, according to the manner of their paling, and had in it a few hedges, which, in the latter end of May, upon the thaw, began to appear a little green; but for flowers or fruit trees, there were none, except a few ordinary tulips.

This put Whitelocke in mind to enquire if the Queen had a better garden here at Stockholm, where her residence usually was. The Swedes excused the meanness of the garden at Uppsala, because the court was seldom there, but here they commended the garden and offered Whitelocke the favour to see it. He went about seven o'clock this evening to view it, and to walk in the Queen's garden here.

It was near unto his lodging, but at a distance from the castle. It is about six or seven acres of ground, encompassed with a pale, on which they bestow timber enough in the posts and rails; and the pales are not set upright one by another, but, crosswise, one upon another, between two great posts, with rivets for the pales to be put into, and so to fall down one upon the other; and the pales are two inches thick or more, made of fir timber, and the posts and rails of oak.

This garden was distinguished into walks, not well-kept, nor gravelled, but most of them green. Few flowers were to be seen there, though more than at Uppsala, and most of these were tulips, not extraordinary. The sides of the walks were set with elm trees and the like, but no fruit trees were there, nor are they common in this cold country. Only (as they informed Whitelocke) in some places they have a few trees of plums, and small cherries, and of apples; but he saw none, in regard of the season, nor do many persons in these parts delight in gardens or in planting fruits or flowers, this climate not encouraging thereunto. Yet here were great boxes of wood with orange trees, citron trees, and myrtle trees, very young, planted in them. How they thrived was not much visible.

Above: Kristina.

Above: Bulstrode Whitelocke.