Sources:
Histoire des intrigues galantes de la reine Christine de Suede: et de sa cour, pendant son sejour à Rome, pages 95 to 101, by Christian Gottfried Franckenstein, 1697; original at the Bavarian State Library (Bayerische Staatsbibliothek)
The history of the intrigues & gallantries of Christina, Queen of Sweden, and of her court whilst she was at Rome faithfully render'd into English from the French original, pages 82 to 86, translated by Philip Hollingworth, 1697; original at the University of Michigan Library (1927 edition in second link; original at the University of California, Berkeley)
Above: Kristina.
The account:
Le Marquis Delmonte n'eût donc qu'un pied de nez, à cause de la fuite du Chymiste Anglois, mais il avoit plusieurs ressources, & il étoit acoûtumé de longue main à vivre de rapine. La charge de Capitaine du Quartier de la Reine étoit pour lui une mine intarissable, qui lui fournissoit journellement de nouveaux moyens d'avoir de l'argent, mais le jeu absorboit tout. Quand il étoit endette il paroissoit devant la Reine avec un air melancolique, afin qu'elle lui demandât le sujet de sa tristesse, il lui faisoit entendre alors, avec une adresse admirable, qu'il avoit perdu au jeu; elle voyoit le plus souvent qu'il la joüoit, neantmoins elle lui donnoit des billets de 30 à 40 pistolles, plus où moins, selon les conjonctures; car la Reine se reservoit une certaine somme par mois, pour ses menus plaisirs, & il lui venoit quelque fois de certains fonds de Suede, qu'elle retenoit en son particulier, pour en faire ses liberalitez; mais elle ne les distribuoit pas souvent selon le merite des gens, & à proportion du service qu'elle en retiroit, au contraire elle donnoit presque toûjours par caprice & sans distinction. Le Marquis ayant fait venir sa femme & ses enfans à Rome, avec le Marquis Mario son frere, Il auroit bien eu de la peine à faire subsister sa nombreuse famille, sans son industrie, parce qu'il avoit fort peu de fonds de son patrimoine, & il ne tiroit de la Reine qu'une paye de trente écus par mois. Il est vray que les autres avantages que lui faisoit cette Princesse valoient bien autant, car elle lui payoit le loüage de son hôtel, lui entretenoit un carrosse, & elle lui avoit fait avoir plusieurs franchises, & exemptions des droits d'entrée, & autres. Le Marquis voulant se meubler aux depens des duppes qui se retiroient au quartier de la Reine, eût mille intrigues avec les Juifs, mais il seroit ennuieux de raconter les histoires arrivées pour tromper ceux qui avoient à faire à lui. Je raconteray seulement avec qu'elle adresse il attrapa de bons tableaux sans debourcer un sou: Il y avoit un tailleur qu'on appelloit le Liegeois qui n'avait pas beaucoup d'esprit, mais qui étoit homme de bien; Il avoit eu quelque commerce avec des peintres Flamans qui étoient habiles en leur art, dont il avoit tiré de bons tableaux fort estimez parce que c'étoit des originaux, en leur fournissant des habits, le loüage de la maison, & quelque peu d'argent comptant. Il avoit acheté une petite maison à la longara dans la franchise de la Reine, & cette maison étoit accompagnée d'un petit jardin bien cultivé, rempli de fleurs & de fruits, entr'autres de beaux orangers, & citronniers dans des caisses. Enfin c'étoient les delices de ce pauvre homme. Le Marquis voulant lui faire une avanie, s'avisa de demander cette maison au nom de la Reine, pour y loger un Gentilhomme Suedois qui étoit un de ses Receveurs, lequel se trouvoit alors à Rome. Le Liegeois refusa d'abord cette demande, mais étant menacé d'être maltraité, il presenta un placet à la Reine, qui n'y eut aucun égard, au contraire elle le força à donner le plus bel appartement de sa maison au Suedois. Le Marquis l'alloit voir souvent, & les fleurs, & les fruits du jardin. Cela outroit le pauvre proprietaire, qui pour se redimer de cette vexation, s'alla jetter aux pieds du Marquis, lequel lui promit qu'il feroit deloger le Suedois, pourvû qu'il lui prétât trois ou quatre de ses tableaux pour les faire copier. «Non seulement copier, mais je vous les donne de bon cœur Monsieur», dit le Tailleur, «je vous demande seulement vôtre protection.» Le Marquis en l'embrassant, lui promit ce qu'il voulut, & fit deloger le Suedois, qui aussi bien étoit sur son depart pour le pais. Par cette ruse le Marquis Delmonte eût 4 tableaux originaux, qui pouvoient valoit [sic] douze ou quinze pistolles la piéce, & quelque tems aprés il lui en demanda quatre autres seulement pour les copier, avec promesse de les rendre, ce qu'il n'exécuta jamais, parce qu'à force de diférer, le Liegeois vint à mourir, & ses heritiers ne les ont jamais pû retirer, car quelque tems aprés le Marquis Delmonte fit un voyage en Suede, où il demeura long tems, & à son retour, il allegua la prescription, & ne voulut plus en entendre parler. Mais dans le tems qu'il paroit ses chambres des tableaux du Tailleur Liegeois, il songeoit à remplir sa cave de bon vin sans rien dépenser. Un certain fripon nommé Gaspard, Menuisier de son metier, qui avoit besoin de la protection du Marquis, l'acheta au prix de 80 Barils d'excellent vin sans mettre la main à la bource, ni l'un ni l'autre. Il étoit ami d'un Suisse de la Reine, nommé Melchior, qui étoit le sergent lequel tenoit cabaret à la Longara où il faisoit un grand debit à cause des Refugiez, & autres mechantes gens qui se retiroient dans la franchise de la Reine, pour ne point payer leurs dettes, ou pour eviter le châtiment de leurs crimes. Melchior qui étoit aussi fripon que Gaspard, s'en alla avec ses Camarades dans les villages à l'entour de Rome où sont les meilleurs vignobles du pais latin, tels que Frascati, Albano, Gensano, Tivoli, & autres, où ils achetérent 300 Barils de vin à une demie pistole la piece rendu à Rome, en donnant quelque peu d'argent à compte, pour mieux couvrir leur fourbe. Le Marquis comme nous avons dit, eût 80 Barils du meilleur vin qui étoit celui d'Albano, Gaspard en eût une vingtaine de Barils, & Melchior eût le reste pour le revendre en detail. Trois ou quatre mois se passérent sans que les marchands se doutassent de rien; à la fin, ils vinrent à Rome demander leur payement, on leur donna d'abord de belles paroles, pour tirer les choses en longueur, car à force de les remettre, on esperoit de leur faire prendre patience: Enfin ils s'adressérent au Cardinal Azolin qui haussa les epaules, & leur conseilla de presenter un placet à la Reine, ce qu'ils firent aprés avoir perdu bien du tems, parce qu'elle n'étoit pas souvent visible. Le Cardinal qui auroit souhaité de leur rendre justice, les favorisoit auprés de la Reine, qui renvoya le placet au Marquis Delmonte, lui ordonnant qu'en qualité de Capitaine du quartier, il donnât satisfaction à ces pauvres marchands. C'étoit le rendre juge en sa propre cause, aussi il ne leur donna que de bonnes paroles en les amusant par des remises affectées, & quand il faisoit venir les debiteurs en leur presence seulement par forme, tantôt ils nioient la dette, & tantôt ils chicannoient sur le prix, & sur la qualité du vin, pretendans d'avoir été trompez. Enfin le plus hardi des marchands presenta un placet au Pape, & le Marquis l'ayant sçû, persuada à la Reine de ne plus écouter ces gens-là puisqu'ils lui faisoient l'affront de recourir à une autre justice qu'à la sienne. Un second placet presenté au Pape, fut cause que sa Sainteté ordonna au Gouverneur de Rome de faire bonne justice. En effet le menuisier étant sorti hors du quartier de la Reine fut mis en prison, mais étant insolvable, il en sortit au bout de trois mois en prenant le bonnet verd, les meubles du Suisse furent exécutez & vendus par la permission de la Reine, & il fut obligé de servir un an sans gages, cela joint avec quelque argent que la Reine donna par charité, car elle entrevit la friponnerie, les marchands furent payez tant bien que mal.
With modernised spelling:
Le marquis del Monte n'eut donc qu'un pied de nez, à cause de la fuite du chimiste anglais, mais il avait plusieurs ressources, et il était accoutumé de longue main à vivre de rapine. La charge de capitaine du quartier de la reine était pour lui une mine intarissable qui lui fournissait journellement de nouveaux moyens d'avoir de l'argent, mais le jeu absorbait tout.
Quand il était endetté, il paraissait devant la reine avec un air mélancolique, afin qu'elle lui demandât le sujet de sa tristesse. Il lui faisait entendre alors, avec une adresse admirable, qu'il avait perdu au jeu. Elle voyait le plus souvent qu'il la jouait; néanmoins elle lui donnait des billets de 30 à 40 pistoles, plus où moins, selon les conjonctures, car la reine se réservait une certaine somme par mois pour ses menus plaisirs, et il lui venait quelquefois de certains fonds de Suède qu'elle retenait en son particulier pour en faire ses libéralités. Mais elle ne les distribuait pas souvent selon le mérite des gens et à proportion du service qu'elle en retirait. Au contraire, elle donnait presque toujours par caprice et sans distinction.
Le marquis ayant fait venir sa femme et ses enfants à Rome avec le marquis Mario son frère, il aurait bien eu de la peine à faire subsister sa nombreuse famille sans son industrie, parce qu'il avait fort peu de fonds de son patrimoine, et il ne tirait de la reine qu'une paie de trente écus par mois. Il est vrai que les autres avantages que lui faisait cette princesse valaient bien autant, car elle lui payait le louage de son hôtel, lui entretenait un carrosse, et elle lui avait fait avoir plusieurs franchises et exemptions des droits d'entrée et autres.
Le marquis, voulant se meubler aux dépens des dupes qui se retiraient au quartier de la reine, eut mille intrigues avec les Juifs, mais il serait ennuyeux de raconter les histoires arrivées pour tromper ceux qui avaient à faire à lui. Je raconterai seulement avec qu'elle adresse il attrapa de bons tableaux sans débourser un sou.
Il y avait un tailleur qu'on appelait le Liégeois, qui n'avait pas beaucoup d'esprit, mais qui était homme de bien. Il avait eu quelque commerce avec des peintres flamands qui étaient habiles en leur art, dont il avait tiré de bons tableaux fort estimés parce que c'était des originaux en leur fournissant des habits, le louage de la maison et quelque peu d'argent comptant.
Il avait acheté une petite maison à la Longara, dans la franchise de la reine, et cette maison était accompagnée d'un petit jardin bien cultivé, rempli de fleurs et de fruits, entre autres de beaux orangers et citronniers dans des caisses. Enfin, c'étaient les délices de ce pauvre homme.
Le marquis, voulant lui faire une avanie, s'avisa de demander cette maison au nom de la reine pour y loger un gentilhomme suédois qui était un de ses receveurs, lequel se trouvait alors à Rome. Le Liégeois refusa d'abord cette demande, mais, étant menacé d'être maltraité, il présenta un placet à la reine, qui n'y eut aucun égard. Au contraire, elle le força à donner le plus bel appartement de sa maison au Suédois. Le marquis l'allait voir souvent, et les fleurs et les fruits du jardin.
Cela outrait le pauvre propriétaire, qui, pour se rédimer de cette vexation, s'alla jeter aux pieds du marquis, lequel lui promit qu'il ferait déloger le Suédois, pourvu qu'il lui prêtât trois ou quatre de ses tableaux pour les faire copier.
«Non seulement copier, mais je vous les donne de bon cœur, Monsieur», dit le tailleur. «Je vous demande seulement votre protection.»
Le marquis, en l'embrassant, lui promit ce qu'il voulut et fit déloger le Suédois, qui aussi bien était sur son départ pour le pays. Par cette ruse le marquis del Monte eût 4 tableaux originaux, qui pouvaient valoir douze ou quinze pistoles la pièce, et quelque temps après il lui en demanda quatre autres seulement pour les copier, avec promesse de les rendre — ce qu'il n'exécuta jamais, parce qu'à force de différer, le Liégeois vint à mourir, et ses héritiers ne les ont jamais pu retirer, car quelque temps après le marquis del Monte fit un voyage en Suède, où il demeura longtemps, et à son retour il allégua la prescription et ne voulut plus en entendre parler.
Mais dans le temps qu'il parait ses chambres des tableaux du tailleur liégeois, il songeait à remplir sa cave de bon vin sans rien dépenser. Un certain fripon, nommé Gaspard, menuisier de son metier, qui avait besoin de la protection du marquis, l'acheta au prix de 80 barils d'excellent vin sans mettre la main à la bource, ni l'un ni l'autre.
Il était ami d'un Suisse de la reine, nommé Melchior, qui était le sergent lequel tenait cabaret à la Longara, où il faisait un grand débit à cause des réfugiés et autres méchantes gens qui se retiraient dans la franchise de la reine pour ne point payer leurs dettes ou pour éviter le châtiment de leurs crimes.
Melchior, qui était aussi fripon que Gaspard, s'en alla avec ses camarades dans les villages à l'entour de Rome, où sont les meilleurs vignobles du pays latin, tels que Frascati, Albano, Genzano, Tivoli et autres, où ils achetèrent 300 barils de vin à une demie pistole la pièce rendu à Rome, en donnant quelque peu d'argent à compte pour mieux couvrir leur fourbe.
Le marquis, comme nous avons dit, eut 80 barils du meilleur vin, qui était celui d'Albano; Gaspard en eut une vingtaine de barils; et Melchior eut le reste,bpour le revendre en détail. Trois ou quatre mois se passèrent sans que les marchands se doutassent de rien; à la fin, ils vinrent à Rome demander leur paiement. On leur donna d'abord de belles paroles, pour tirer les choses en longueur, car, à force de les remettre, on espérait de leur faire prendre patience.
Enfin ils s'adressèrent au cardinal Azzolin, qui haussa les épaules et leur conseilla de présenter un placet à la reine, ce qu'ils firent après avoir perdu bien du temps, parce qu'elle n'était pas souvent visible. Le cardinal, qui aurait souhaité de leur rendre justice, les favorisait auprès de la reine, qui renvoya le placet au marquis del Monte, lui ordonnant qu'en qualité de capitaine du quartier, il donnât satisfaction à ces pauvres marchands — c'était le rendre juge en sa propre cause. Aussi il ne leur donna que de bonnes paroles en les amusant par des remises affectées, et quand il faisait venir les débiteurs en leur presence seulement par forme, tantôt ils niaient la dette et tantôt ils chicanaient sur le prix et sur la qualité du vin, prétendants d'avoir été trompés.
Enfin le plus hardi des marchands présenta un placet au pape, et le marquis, l'ayant su, persuada à la reine de ne plus écouter ces gens-là, puisqu'ils lui faisaient l'affront de recourir à une autre justice qu'à la sienne. Un second placet, présenté au pape, fut cause que Sa Sainteté ordonna au gouverneur de Rome de faire bonne justice.
En effet, le menuisier, étant sorti hors du quartier de la reine, fut mis en prison; mais, étant insolvable, il en sortit au bout de trois mois en prenant le bonnet-verd. Les meubles du Suisse furent exécutés et vendus par la permission de la reine, et il fut obligé de servir un an sans gages. Cela, joint avec quelque argent que la reine donna par charité, car elle entrevit la friponnerie. Les marchands furent payés tant bien que mal.
Swedish translation (my own):
Markisen del Monte fick alltså bara ett litet bakslag, på grund av den engelske kemistens flykt, men han hade flera resurser, och han hade länge varit van att leva på plundring. Befattningen som kapten för drottningens kvarter var för honom en outtömlig gruva som dagligen försåg honom med nya medel att skaffa pengar, men spelandet absorberade allt.
När han var i skuld, framträdde han inför drottningen med en melankolisk känsla, så att hon kunde fråga honom orsaken till hans sorg. Han fick henne sedan att förstå, med beundransvärd adress, att han hade förlorat på spel. Hon såg oftast att han lekte henne; likväl skulle hon ge honom sedlar på 30 till 40 pistoler, mer eller mindre enligt konjunkturerna, emedan drottningen varje månad avsatt en viss summa för sina små nöjen, och ibland kom det till henne några medel från Sverige, som hon förvarade privat för att använda för sina frikostigheter. Men hon delade inte ofta ut dem efter människors förtjänster och i proportion till den tjänst hon fick av dem. Tvärtom gav hon nästan alltid nyckfullt och utan åtskillnad.
Markisen hade fört sin fru och sina barn till Rom med markisen Mario, hans bror, och han skulle ha haft stora svårigheter att försörja sin stora familj utan sin industri, ty han hade mycket lite pengar från sin egendom och han tog bara ut en lön på trettio écus i månaden från drottningen. Det är sant att de andra fördelarna som denna prinsessa gav honom var lika mycket värda, eftersom hon betalade honom hyran av hans vandrarhem, höll en kaross åt honom och hon hade givit honom åtskilliga franchiserätter och befrielser från inresa och andra plikter.
Markisen, som ville inreda sig själv på bekostnad av duperna som drog sig tillbaka till drottningens kvarter, hade tusen intriger med judarna, men det skulle vara tråkigt att återge de historier som kom upp för att lura dem som hade att göra med honom. Jag kommer bara att berätta den skicklighet med vilken han förvärvade goda målningar utan att spendera en sou.
Det fanns en skräddare som hette Liégeois, som inte var särskilt slug, men som var en god man. Han hade en del kontakt med flamländska målare som var skickliga i sin konst, av vilka han hade producerat fina målningar som var högt värderade, eftersom de var original, genom att förse dem med kläder, hyra av huset och lite kontanta pengar.
Han hade köpt ett litet hus vid Longara, i drottningens kvarter, och detta hus hade en liten, välodlad trädgård, fylld med blommor och frukter, inklusive vackra apelsinträd och citronträd i lådor. Kort sagt, detta var den här fattige mannens njutningar.
Markisen, som ville förolämpa honom, fick för sig att begära detta hus i drottningens namn för att hysa en svensk herre som var en av hennes förvaltare och då befann sig i Rom. Liégeoisen avslog först denna begäran, men hotad med misshandel, lämnade han in en petition till drottningen, som inte brydde sig om den. Tvärtom tvingade hon honom att ge det vackraste appartemanget i sitt hus till svensken. Markisen gick ofta för att se honom och trädgårdens blommor och frukter.
Detta upprörde den stackars ägaren, som för att befria sig från denna plåga gick och kastade sig för markisens fötter, som lovade honom att han skulle få svensken bortförd, förutsatt att han lånade honom tre eller fyra av sina målningar för att kopiera dem.
»Inte bara för att kopiera, utan jag ger dem villigt till Er, min herre«, sade skräddaren. »Jag ber bara om Ert beskydd.«
Markisen, när han omfamnade honom, lovade honom vad han ville ha och lät avlägsna svensken, som också var på väg att resa till landet. Genom denna list hade markis del Monte fyra originalmålningar, som kunde vara värda tolv eller femton pistoles vardera, och en tid senare bad han honom om fyra andra, bara för att kopiera dem, med ett löfte om att återlämna dem — vilket han aldrig gjorde, eftersom liégeoisen på grund av dröjsmålet dog, och hans arvingar kunde aldrig återfå dem, eftersom markis del Monte en tid senare gjorde en resa till Sverige, där han stannade länge, och vid sin återkomst åberopade han preskriptionstiden och ville inte höra mer om det.
Men vid den tidpunkt då hans rum var fyllda med målningar av skräddaren från Liège, tänkte han fylla sin källare med gott vin utan att spendera något. En viss skurk vid namn Gasparo, snickare till yrket, som behövde markisens beskydd, köpte åt honom 80 tunnor utmärkt vin utan att lägga handen i börsen, varken den ena eller den andra.
Han var vän till en av drottningens schweizare, vid namn Melchior, som var sergeanten och som höll en kabaré på Longara, där han gjorde många affärer på grund av flyktingarna och andra onda människor som drog sig tillbaka till drottningens kvarter för att undvika att betala sina skulder eller för att undvika straff för sina brott.
Melchior, som var lika mycket av en skurk som Gasparo, begav sig med sina kamrater till byarna runt Rom, där de bästa vingårdarna i det latinska landet finns, såsom Frascati, Albano, Genzano, Tivoli och andra, där de köpte 300 tunnor vin för en halv pistole vardera levererade till Rom, och gav lite pengar i förskott för att bättre täcka sitt bedrägeri.
Markisen hade, som vi sagt, 80 tunnor av det bästa vinet, vilket var från Albano; Gasparo hade omkring 20 tunnor; och Melchior hade resten för att sälja det vidare i detaljhandeln. Tre eller fyra månader förflöt utan att köpmännen misstänkte något; slutligen kom de till Rom för att begära sin betalning. Till en början fick de fina ord för att dra ut på tiden, eftersom man, genom att skjuta upp dem, hoppades få dem att vara tålmodiga.
Slutligen vände de sig till kardinal Azzolino, som ryckte på axlarna och rådde dem att lämna in en petition till drottningen, vilket de gjorde efter att ha slösat bort mycket tid, eftersom hon inte ofta var synlig. Kardinalen, som gärna ville göra dem rättvisa, gynnade dem hos drottningen, som skickade petitionen till markisen del Monte och beordrade honom, som kvarterskapten, att ge gottgörelse till dessa stackars köpmän — detta för att få honom att döma i sin egen sak. Så han gav dem bara vänliga ord, roade dem med påhittade penningförsändelser, och när han bara förde gäldenärerna inför dem som en formell fråga, förnekade de ibland skulden och ibland gnällde de om vinets pris och kvalitet och påstod sig ha blivit lurade.
Slutligen överlämnade den djärvaste av köpmännen en petition till påven, och markisen, som fått kännedom om detta, övertalade drottningen att inte längre lyssna på dessa människor, ty de förolämpade henne genom att tillgripa en annan form av rättvisa än hennes egen. En andra petition, som överlämnades till påven, ledde till att Hans Helighet beordrade Roms guvernör att skipa god rättvisa.
Visserligen sattes snickaren, efter att ha lämnat drottningens kvarter, i fängelse; men eftersom han var insolvent, lämnade han efter tre månader och tog den gröna bonnetten på sig. Schweizarens möbler tillverkades och såldes med drottningens tillstånd, och han tvingades avtjäna ett år utan lön. Detta, tillsammans med några pengar som drottningen gav av välgörenhet, eftersom hon förutsåg skurkskapet. Köpmännen fick både bra och dålig lön.
English translation (by Hollingworth):
The Marquis Del Monte lost a Gudgeon, by the English flight, but he had many other Supplies, being accustom'd to live upon Rapine. The Charge of Captain of the Queens Quarter or Barrier, furnish'd him continually with new Means of getting Money; But Play swallow'd up all. When he was in Debt he would appear before the Queen with a Melancholy Air, and she demanding the reason of his Sadness, he would tell her with admirable Address, That he had lost at Play. She saw him thus oftner than he really had Play'd, and would give him Bills from thirty to forty Pistols, more or less, according as it happened. For the Queen reserv'd a certain Sum per Month, for small Uses, and sometimes she had certain Funds out of Sweden, which she kept in private to be liberal with, upon occasion. But she did not so often distribute them according to Peoples Merits, and in proportion to the Services done her, but almost always by Fancy, and without distinction. The Marquis had caus'd his Wife and Children to come to Rome, with the Marquis Mario his Brother, and he would have found a great difficulty to maintain so numerous a Family, without his Industry, because he had but very small Funds from his own Patrimony, and no more than thirty Crowns a Month from the Queen. 'Tis true that the other Advantages which he had from this Princess came to as much more, for she paid the Hire of his Lodgings, kept him a Coach, gave him also many Priviledges and Exemptions of Customs of Goods, and many other things.
This Marquis who had a mind to furnish his House at the Expence of such as retir'd into the Queens Quarter, had a thousand Intrigues with the Jews; and it would be tedious to reckon up all the Stories of the Cheats he put upon them.
I will only mention one, whereby he got a great many good Pictures, without disbursting one Farthing. He had a Taylor, whom they call'd the Liegeois, as being of the Country of Liege, who had not much Wit, though he was a Man of Substance. He had an Acquaintance with some Flemish Painters, who were able Men at their Art, from whom he had very valuable Pictures, because they were Originals, for Cloaths, the Hire of his House, and a little ready Money. He had bought a little House at Langara, within the Queen's Jurisdiction, or Franchises, and it had a little Garden well Cultivated, full of Flowers and Fruits; and among other things, with fine Oranges and Limons in Vessels of Earth, which were the delight of this poor Man. The Marquiss went to him, and demanded this House in the Queen's Name, to lodge a Swedish Gentleman in, who was one of the Queen's Receivers, and was then at Rome. The Liegeois at first refused this Demand; but being threatned with ill Treatment, he presented a Petition to the Queen, who had no regard at all to it, but on the contrary, forc'd him to give the Swede the best Room in his House. The Marquiss went to see him often, and the Flowers and Fruits in his Garden.
This pierced the poor Proprietor to the Quick; and to redeem himself out of this Vexation, he threw himself at the Marquiss's Feet, who promised him to Dislodge the Swede, provided he would lend him four of his best Pictures to take Copies of. "You shall not only Copy them", said the Taylor, "but I will give you the Originals with all my heart, provided you will grant me your Protection." The Marquiss Embracing him, promised him he would, and Dislodged the Suede, who was however just upon his departure out of the Country. By this Trick, the Marquiss got four Original Pictures, which might be worth about 12 or 14 Pistols a piece; and sometime after, he desir'd four more, only to Copy, which he promis'd to restore, without performance, deferring it so long till the Liegeois died; and his Heirs could never regain them: For not long after, the Marquiss Del Monte made a Voyage into Sueden, where he staid a long time, and at his return alledg'd Prescription, and would never hear them talk'd of any more.
At the same time he was preparing his Chambers for the Taylor's Pictures, he contriv'd to fill his Cellar with good Wine for nothing. There was a cheating Rogue named Gaspar, a Joyner by Trade, who wanted the Marquiss's Protection, which he bought to the Price of 80 Barrels of excellent Wine, and it cost nothing either to the one or the other. He had a Friend, one of the Queen's Suisses, call'd Melchior, who was a Serjeant, and kept a Cabaret or place to sell Wine at Langara, where he had a good Trade by the Refugees and other wicked People, who retir'd into the Queen's Franchises, because they would not pay their Debts, or to avoid Punishment for their Crimes. Melchior, who was as great as Cheat as Gaspar, went with his Comerade, into the Villages about Rome, where the best Wines in the Country grow, as at Frescati, Albano, Gensamo, Tivoli, and others, where they bought 300 Barrels of Wine, at half a Pistol a Piece to be paid in Rome, paying only a little Money in Earnest, to cover the Cheat. The Marquiss, as we have said before, had 80 Barrels of the best Wine Albano afforded; Gaspar had twenty Barrels, and Melchior the rest to sell by Retail. And the Merchants doubted nothing for three or four Months, but afterward came to Rome to demand Payment. At first they gave them good words, to draw the thing at length, and hop'd to tire them by sending them so often back without doing any thing. They Addressed themselves to Cardinal Azzolini, who shrugg'd up his Shoulders, and advis'd them to present a Petition to the Queen, which they did, but they lost a great deal of time, because the Queen was very often not to be seen. The Cardinal, who was willing to have Justice done, favour'd them all he could with the Queen. She sent the Petition to the Marquiss Del Monte, and order'd him, as Captain of the Queen's Quarter, to see Satisfaction given to these poor Merchants. This was to make him Judge of his own Cause; and he ordered it accordingly, for he gave them nothing but good Words, and appointed several days of Payment, one after another: At last for Form sake, he called the Debtors before him, in the presence of the Creditors; sometimes they denied the Debt, and sometimes quarrel'd with the Price, and the Quality of the Wine, pretending they had been Cheated. At last, one of the boldest of the Merchants presented a Petition to the Pope; and the Marquiss understanding it, perswaded the Queen not to hear them, because they had Affronted him, in recurring to another Justice besides his own. Upon a second Petition to the Pope, his Holiness ordered the Governor of Rome to see good Justice done; and thereupon the Joyner was taken out of the Queen's Quarter, and put into Prison, but being insolvent, he came out at three Months end, by listing himself for a Soldier. The Goods of the Swisse were Seiz'd in Execution, and sold by the Queen's Permission; and he was oblig'd to serve a Year without Wages. So that with this and some Money the Queen gave in Charity, the Merchants were paid some well, some ill, and some scarce any at all.
With modernised spelling and punctuation for easier reading:
The Marquis del Monte lost a gudgeon by the English flight, but he had many other supplies, being accustomed to live upon rapine. The charge of captain of the Queens quarter, or barrier, furnished him continually with new means of getting money; but play swallowed up all.
When he was in debt, he would appear before the Queen with a melancholy air, and, she demanding the reason of his sadness, he would tell her with admirable address that he had lost at play. She saw him thus oftener than he really had played and would give him bills from thirty to forty pistoles, more or less, according as it happened. For the Queen reserved a certain sum per month for small uses, and sometimes she had certain funds out of Sweden, which she kept in private to be liberal with upon occasion. But she did not so often distribute them according to people's merits and in proportion to the services done her, but almost always by fancy and without distinction.
The Marquis had caused his wife and children to come to Rome, with the Marquis Mario, his brother; and he would have found a great difficulty to maintain so numerous a family without his industry, because he had but very small funds from his own patrimony and no more than thirty crowns a month from the Queen. 'Tis true that the other advantages which he had from this princess came to as much more, for she paid the hire of his lodgings, kept him a coach, gave him also many privileges and exemptions of customs of goods and many other things.
This Marquis, who had a mind to furnish his house at the expense of such as retired into the Queen's quarter, had a thousand intrigues with the Jews; and it would be tedious to reckon up all the stories of the cheats he put upon them. I will only mention one, whereby he got a great many good pictures without disbursing one farthing.
He had a tailor whom they called the Liégeois, as being of the country of Liège, who had not much wit, though he was a man of substance. He had an acquaintance with some Flemish painters who were able men at their art, from whom he had very valuable pictures, because they were originals, for clothes, the hire of his house, and a little ready money.
He had bought a little house at Longara, within the Queen's jurisdiction, or franchises, and it had a little garden, well-cultivated, full of flowers and fruits and, among other things, with fine oranges and lemons in vessels of earth, which were the delight of this poor man.
The Marquis went to him and demanded this house in the Queen's name to lodge a Swedish gentleman in, who was one of the Queen's receivers and was then at Rome. The Liégeois at first refused this demand; but, being threatened with ill treatment, he presented a petition to the Queen, who had no regard at all to it, but, on the contrary, forced him to give the Swede the best room in his house. The Marquis went to see him often, and the flowers and fruits in his garden.
This pierced the poor proprietor to the quick; and, to redeem himself out of this vexation, he threw himself at the Marquis' feet, who promised him to dislodge the Swede, provided he would lend him four of his best pictures to take copies of.
"You shall not only copy them", said the tailor, "but I will give you the originals with all my heart, provided you will grant me your protection."
The Marquis, embracing him, promised him he would and dislodged the Swede, who was, however, just upon his departure out of the country. By this trick, the Marquis got four original pictures, which might be worth about 12 or 14 pistoles apiece; and sometime after he desired four more only to copy, which he promised to restore, without performance, deferring it so long till the Liégeois died, and his heirs could never regain them; for not long after, the Marquis del Monte made a voyage into Sweden, where he stayed a long time and, at his return, alleged prescription and would never hear them talked of any more.
At the same time he was preparing his chambers for the tailor's pictures, he contrived to fill his cellar with good wine for nothing. There was a cheating rogue named Gaspard, a joiner by trade, who wanted the Marquis' protection, which he bought to the price of 80 barrels of excellent wine, and it cost nothing either to the one or the other.
He had a friend, one of the Queen's Swisses, called Melchior, who was a sergeant and kept a cabaret or place to sell wine at Longara, where he had a good trade by the refugees and other wicked people who retired into the Queen's franchises because they would not pay their debts, or to avoid punishment for their crimes.
Melchior, who was as great as cheat as Gaspard, went with his comrade, into the villages about Rome, where the best wines in the country grow, as at Frascati, Albano, Genzamo [sic], Tivoli and others, where they bought 300 barrels of wine at half a pistol apiece to be paid in Rome, paying only a little money in earnest to cover the cheat.
The Marquis, as we have said before, had 80 barrels of the best wine Albano afforded; Gaspar had twenty barrels; and Melchior the rest to sell by retail. And the merchants doubted nothing for three or four months, but afterward came to Rome to demand payment. At first they gave them good words, to draw the thing at length, and hoped to tire them by sending them so often back without doing anything.
They addressed themselves to Cardinal Azzolini, who shrugged up his shoulders and advised them to present a petition to the Queen, which they did; but they lost a great deal of time, because the Queen was very often not to be seen. The Cardinal, who was willing to have justice done, favoured them all he could with the Queen. She sent the petition to the Marquis del Monte and ordered him, as captain of the Queen's quarter, to see satisfaction given to these poor merchants. This was to make him judge of his own cause, and he ordered it accordingly, for he gave them nothing but good words and appointed several days of payment, one after another. At last, for form's sake, he called the debtors before him in the presence of the creditors; sometimes they denied the debt and sometimes quarreled with the price and the quality of the wine, pretending they had been cheated.
At last, one of the boldest of the merchants presented a petition to the Pope; and the Marquis, understanding it, persuaded the Queen not to hear them, because they had affronted him in recurring to another justice besides his own. Upon a second petition to the Pope, His Holiness ordered the governor of Rome to see good justice done; and thereupon the joiner was taken out of the Queen's quarter and put into prison; but, being insolvent, he came out at three months' end, by listing himself for a soldier.
The goods of the Swiss were seized in execution and sold by the Queen's permission, and he was obliged to serve a year without wages, so that with this and some money the Queen gave in charity, the merchants were paid some well, some ill, and some scarce any at all.
English translation (my own):
The Marquis del Monte thus only had a slight setback, because of the flight of the English chemist, but he had several resources, and he had long been accustomed to living by plunder. The position of captain of the Queen's quarter was for him an inexhaustible mine which daily provided him with new means of obtaining money, but gambling absorbed everything.
When he was in debt, he would appear before the Queen with a melancholy air, so that she might ask him the cause of his sadness. He would then make her understand, with admirable address, that he had lost at gambling. She saw most often that he was playing her; nevertheless, she would give him notes of 30 to 40 pistoles, more or less, according to the conjunctures, because the Queen set aside a certain sum each month for her little pleasures, and sometimes some funds came to her from Sweden that she kept privately to use for her liberalities. But she did not often distribute them according to people's merit and in proportion to the service she received from them. On the contrary, she almost always gave capriciously and without distinction.
The Marquis having brought his wife and children to Rome with the Marquis Mario, his brother, he would have had great difficulty in supporting his large family without his industry, because he had very little funds from his estate, and he only drew a salary of thirty écus a month from the Queen. It is true that the other advantages that this princess gave him were worth just as much, because she paid him the rent of his hostel, kept a carriage for him, and she had given him several franchises and exemptions from entry and other duties.
The Marquis, wanting to furnish himself at the expense of the dupes who retired to the Queen's quarter, had a thousand intrigues with the Jews, but it would be boring to recount the stories that came up to deceive those who had to deal with him. I will only relate the skill with which he acquired good paintings without spending a sou.
There was a tailor called the Liégeois, who was not very clever, but who was a good man. He had some dealings with Flemish painters who were skilled in their art, from whom he had produced good paintings which were highly valued, because they were originals, by providing them with clothes, the renting of the house, and a little ready money.
He had bought a little house on the Longara, in the Queen's franchise, and this house came with a small, well-cultivated garden, filled with flowers and fruits, including beautiful orange trees and lemon trees in crates. In short, these were the delights of this poor man.
The Marquis, wanting to insult him, took it into his head to request this house in the Queen's name to accommodate a Swedish gentleman who was one of her receivers, who was then in Rome. The Liégeois initially refused this request, but, being threatened with mistreatment, he presented a petition to the Queen, who took no notice of it. On the contrary, she forced him to give the most beautiful apartment in his house to the Swede. The Marquis often went to see him, and the flowers and fruits of the garden.
This outraged the poor owner, who, to redeem himself from this vexation, went to throw himself at the feet of the Marquis, who promised him that he would have the Swede removed, provided he lent him three or four of his paintings to copy them.
"Not only to copy them, but I willingly give them to you, my Lord", said the tailor. "I only ask for your protection."
The Marquis, in embracing him, promised him what he wanted and had the Swede removed, who was also about to leave for the country. By this ruse the Marquis del Monte had 4 original paintings, which could be worth twelve or fifteen pistoles each, and some time later he asked him for four others only to copy them, with a promise to return them — which he never did, because by dint of delaying, the Liégeois died, and his heirs were never able to retrieve them, because some time later the Marquis del Monte made a journey to Sweden, where he remained for a long time, and on his return he alleged the statute of limitations and did not want to hear any more of it.
But at the time when his rooms were filled with paintings by the tailor from Liège, he was thinking of filling his cellar with good wine without spending anything. A certain rogue named Gasparo, a carpenter by trade, who needed the Marquis' protection, bought for him 80 barrels of excellent wine without putting his hand in the purse, neither the one nor the other.
He was a friend of one of the Queen's Swisses, named Melchior, who was the sergeant, who kept a cabaret at the Longara, where he did a lot of business because of the refugees and other wicked people who retired to the Queen's franchise to avoid paying their debts or to avoid punishment for their crimes.
Melchior, who was as much of a rogue as Gasparo, went with his comrades to the villages around Rome, where the best vineyards in the Latin land are, such as Frascati, Albano, Genzano, Tivoli and others, where they bought 300 barrels of wine at half a pistole each delivered to Rome, giving a little money on account to better cover their deceit.
The Marquis, as we have said, had 80 barrels of the best wine, which was from Albano; Gasparo had about 20 barrels; and Melchior had the rest, to resell it at retail. Three or four months passed without the merchants suspecting anything; at last, they came to Rome to ask for their payment. At first, one gave them fine words, to drag things out, because, by dint of putting them off, one hoped to make them be patient.
Finally they addressed themselves to Cardinal Azzolino, who shrugged his shoulders and advised them to present a petition to the Queen, which they did after wasting a lot of time, because she was not often visible. The Cardinal, who would have wished to do them justice, favoured them with the Queen, who sent the petition to the Marquis del Monte, ordering him, as captain of the quarter, to give satisfaction to these poor merchants — this was to make him judge in his own cause. So he gave them only kind words, amusing them with affected remittances, and when he brought the debtors into their presence only as a matter of form, sometimes they denied the debt and sometimes they quibbled about the price and the quality of the wine, claiming to have been deceived.
Finally, the boldest of the merchants presented a petition to the Pope, and the Marquis, having learned of this, persuaded the Queen to no longer listen to these people, since they were insulting her by resorting to another form of justice than her own. A second petition, presented to the Pope, led His Holiness to order the governor of Rome to do good justice.
Indeed, the carpenter, having left the Queen's quarters, was put in prison; but, being insolvent, he left after three months, taking the green bonnet. The Swiss' furniture was executed and sold with the Queen's permission, and he was obliged to serve a year without wages. This, together with some money that the Queen gave out of charity, for she foresaw the roguery. The merchants were paid both well and badly.
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