Excerpt from Francis Mortoft's diary entry of February 7/17 (New Style), 1659

Source:

Francis Mortoft: His book, being his travels through France and Italy, 1658-1659, pages 137 to 138, by Francis Mortoft, published by the Hakluyt Society, 1925

https://books.google.com/books?id=-jItAAAAMAAJ&newbks=1&newbks_redir=0&dq=regina+cristina+di+svezia&source=gbs_navlinks_s

The diary entry excerpt:

February the 17th, wee went againe to the Corso to take notice of some more of there follyes; which are to continue for 8 dayes, and then begins the lent, in which tyme they doe pennance for all those follyes that they are now guilty off. Two Jewes ran this day, naked, onely they had some thing about there middles to hide Nature, that the Whores might not see all. There being Multitudes of them here, In Windowes this day and all the other dayes of the Carnival, which were so well knowne, that hardly A Gentleman a horsebacke, or a foole on foote, passed by any of them, but threw hand fuls of sugar plumbs at them, which they seemed to be much pleased with. ...

The Queen of Swedland honourd this place twice with her presence, having the last day of the Carnivall the two Barbarins, Franciscus and Carlo, with her in her Coach, which was not very usuall. ...

With modernised spelling:

February the 17th, we went again to the Corso to take notice of some more of their follies, which are to continue for 8 days, and then begins the Lent, in which time they do penance for all those follies that they are now guilty of.

Two Jews ran this day naked, only they had some thing about their middles to hide nature, that the whores might not see all, there being multitudes of them here in windows this day and all the other days of the Carneval, which were so well-known that hardly a gentleman a-horseback or a fool on foot passed by any of them, but threw handfuls of sugarplums at them, which they seemed to be much pleased with. ...

The Queen of Swedeland honoured this place twice with her presence, having the last day of the Carneval the two Barberins, Franciscus and Carlo, with her in her coach, which was not very usual. ...

Above: Kristina.

Note: "Jews were forced to run every day during the Carnival, being first well supplied with wine. This degrading spectacle was continued until 1668, when Clement IX put an end to it."