Sources:
Historia della Sacra Real Maestà di Cristina Alessandra Regina di Svetia, pages 44 to 53, by Count Galeazzo Gualdo Priorato, 1656; original at the Getty Research Institute
The history of the sacred and Royal Majesty of Christina Alessandra Queen of Swedland, &c., book 2, translated by John Burbury, 1658; original at the University of Michigan Library
Above: Kristina.
The account:
Alli 2. alloggiò in Rodembourg Terra picciola dello stesso Lunebourg, alli tre al villaggio di Barembourg, & alli 4. a Myndem Città forte, e considerabile, situata sopra il fiume Vesser principale di quella Ptouincia [sic]. Il giorno seguente si condusse ad Osnabruch Città grande, e celebre per il congresso, che vi si fece vltimamente de Plenipotentiarij, e Ministri de Principi Protestanti, per i trattati della pace generale di Germania, spettante al Vescouo, che n'è Principe sourano. Alli sei pàsso à Munster pur Città rinomata, per la conferenza, e pace sudetta stabilitaui dalli Mediatori, e dalli Plenipotentiarij di tutti i Principi della Christianita.
La mattina seguente Sua Maestà prima di partire, volse vedere il Collegio de' Padri Gesuiti da lei stimati, & amati come soggetti di gran virtù, e dottrina, e qui mentre andaua osseruando le cose più curiose, benche fosse conosciuta da vno di que' Religiosi, che n'haueua il ritratto assai ben fatto, e somigliante, e che raffiguraua in lei i cõtrasegni datigli da vn suo fratello, che staua in Hambourg, ad ogni modo non fece motiuo alcuno, per non offendere il gusto, ch'haueua questa Principessa di non esser scoperta.
Partendo da Munster si fermò la notte de' 7. nel Villaggio di Ensened, & alli 8. a Deuenter Piazza principale del Dominio della Republica di Olanda, doue andò à vedere di passaggio vn certo Granouio Huomo da lei molto stimato come gran litterato. Alli 9. si trasferi in Amesfort, doue lo stesso giorno gionse anche la Corte di Sua Maestà alla quale fece intendere per vno de' suoi aiutanti di camera, che senza far alcuna sembianza di conoscerla, douesse continuar il suo viaggio, & in vece di tirare secondo il primo ordine verso Amsterdam à drittura s'incaminasse in Anuersa.
All'auuiso, ch'hebbero gli stati d'Olanda, che la Regina, partita di Suetia, s'era incaminata alla volta da' Paesi Bassi, diedero ordine per tutto il Dominio loro, che si stasse sulle guardie, e sù gli apparecchi per riceuerla, con gl'honori douuti; Mà Sua Maestà passo per Deuenter, per Amesfort, per Vtrech, e per altri luoghi senza esser conosciuta, benche vi fosse per tutto attesa.
La notte delli 10. stette in vn villaggio vicino alla Piazza di Gorcum, e la mattina seguente, passando per detta Piazza assai forte sopra il fiume Vahal si condusse à Breda, fortezza altre tanto principale della Brabantia, quanto nelle passate guerre rinomata. Alli 12. Agosto terminò il suo viaggio in Anuersa, entrandoui priuatamente col prender alloggio in casa di Don Garzia d'Yliano Portughese, soggetto di più ricchi, e principali di quella famosa Città.
Il giorno seguente sopragionta dalla sua Corte, si vestì da Donna, e riceuè la visita da Don Baltassar Marcadero Castellano della Cittadella soggetto di chiara fama, e di sommo valore; poi di mano in mano da Magistrati della Città, e da gli altri più cospicui Signori di quella nobilissima patria.
Concorsero tutti con egual curiosità, & ossequio à vederla, & abbagliandosi nello splendore di doti, e prerogatiue si rare, non poteuano con maggior applauso riconoscerla, che con quello d'vna affettuosa, e riuerente ammirazione. La folla de Cittadini fù per alcuni giorni si grande, che con stento grandissimo, si potè transitare per le contrade alla di lei habitazione contigue.
In questo tempo l'Arciduca, il Principe di Condè, il Duca di Lorena, il Conte di Fuensaldagna con tutti gli altri Principi, e Grandi destinati alla direzione, e commando dell'armi di Fiandra si trouauano in campo sotto l'importantissima Città d'Arras, valorosamente difesa da Francesi, e cõ grand'impulso, e vigore combattuta da gli Spagnuoli. E benche non mancasse il Cardinal Mazzarino d'ogni maggior diligenza, & attenzione, per portarui il necessario soccorso, era nondimeno si alta la confidenza di quella ne Capitani di Spagna, che già s'erano persuasi d'illustrar l'arriuo di questa Gran Regina, con vna si gloriosa vittoria.
Con tali sensi dunque, continuando quell'espugnatione, mandorono tutti trè i sudetti Principi persone espresse ad assicurarla, ch'essi sbrigatisi frà pochi giorni da quella Piazza, sarebbero comparsi a riuerirla, con le presenze loro, come all'hora faceuano col cuore, tutto ripieno di quella gioia, che sentiuano del felice arriuo di Sua Maestà.
Il Conte di Buquoi Grande di Spagna, e Caualier di gran portata, essendo stato destinato da Sua Maestà Cattolica suo Ambasciatore straordinario a complire con la Regina, otto giorni doppo, ch'ella fù arrivata in Anuersa sodisfece molto bene alla proprie cõmissioni con Sua Maestà, & essa lo accolse con dimonstrationi di stima proportionata al merito di lui, & alla grandezza di chi lo mandaua.
Ma intanto, hauendo il Cardinale raccolto l'esercito Francese, e disposti gli ordini cosi proprij della sua finissima intelligenza, come protetti dalla sua felice fortuna, rotta, e superata la circonuallazione, benche da tutti stimata impenetrabile, liberò la cadente Città, con grandissima gloria, e beneficio della Corona di Francia. Ritornò dunque a Bruselles S. A. Imperiale alli otto di Settembre, & il giorno seguente, si trasferì in Anuersa a complire con Sua Maestà di presenza, come haueua prima fatto con lettere. Fù riceuuto dalla Regina a piedi della scala, lo condusse alle sue stanze, lo fece sedere dirimpetto a se in vna sedia eguale, lo trattò sempre col titolo di Altezza, e lo accompagnò pur sin al fondo delle medesime scale, con reciproca sodisfattione, parlando sempre in lingua Italiana. L'Arciduca stette vn giorno in Anuersa, e l'altro ritornorsene a Brusselles.
Terminata la Campagna, anche il Principe di Condè s'incaminò per riuerirla. Egli come primo Principe del sangue Reale di Francia pretendeua d'esser riceuuto, e trattato dalla Regina con le forme, e prerogatiue pratticate da lei con l'Arciduca. Però spinse auanti il Presidente Viola vno de principali Frondori del Parlamento di Parigi, e di più costanti seguaci del suo partito, acciò visitasse sua Maestà, e procurasse di scoprire l'intenzione di lei circa il suo riceuimento. Egli riportò che Sua Maestà lo haurebbe trattato nella forma douuta a Principi della sua qualità. Non si contentò il Viola di queste parole generali, ma volse penetrare più auanti, insistendo di pretendere gli stessi honori fatti all'Arciduca. Onde Sua Maestà offesasi forse della difidenza, che mostraua verso gli auuedimenti della sua generosa discretezza, prese risolutione di contenersi su i rigori senza vsar con quel Principe gli atti di quell'humanità de quali sarebbe state liberale, come poi se ne dichiarò, se il detto Principe non hauesso voluto pretenderli per obligo. Non potendo dunque il Viola spuntar il suo negotiato nella maniera dal Prencipe pretesa finalmente si trouò per temperamento, che S. A. andasse a vederla priuatamente come fece, trattato nel modo che s'vsa con Caualieri priuati.
Vennero poi il Duca Francesco di Lorena (da Sua Maestà riceuuto pure priuatamente) Il Conte di Fuensaldagna, e diuersi altri Grandi di Spagna, che furono trattati nella forma, che vsa cõ loro il Rè Cattolico, facendoli coprire. Il tamburetto, ch'è vna sedia minore, solita concedersi dalle Regine alle Principesse di gran conditione, fù dato alle Duchesse di Ascot, di Auray, & alla Principessa di Ligny, tutte Dame Fiamenghe, ch'andarono a riuerirla, essendo tutte mogli di Grandi di Spagna.
Il Rè d'Inghilterra, mandò pure il Conte di Nortuuick a congratularsi seco, l'Elettore di Brandembourg, inuiò il Conte Mauritio di Nassau, & altri. Anche la Principessa di Condè, inuiò vn suo Gentilhuomo a passare con Sua Maestà i douuti complimenti.
Mentre la Regina dimorò in Anuersa si trattenne sempre in essercitij nobili, passando tall'hora il tempo nel godere di alcune rappresentationi morali, e sopra tutto nel prendere conoscimento di molti virtuosi, che d'ogni parte concorreuano per ossequirla, e rendersi noti à Sua Maestà.
Soprauennero poi dall'Haya incognite la Regina di Boemia già moglie dell'Elettor Palatino, e sorella del Rè Carlo Primo d'Inghilterra, la Principessa Elisabetta figl[i]uola di lei, e la Principessa d'Oranges, solo per vederla come fecero alla commedia, non volendo esser conosciute, forse per non obligarsi a visitarla senza riceuere i trattamenti, che pretendeuano. Andò poi diuerse volte Sua Maestà a vedere la casa Professa, & il Collegio de Padri Gesuiti, e quiui gli fù rappresentato il Thyeste di Seneca com'ella stessa haueua desiderato, & vn'altr'opera intitolata il Manasse.
Mentre si tratteneua in Anuersa, l'Imperatore mandò a complir con lei, il Conte Raimondo Montecuccoli suo Generale della Caualleria, soggetto di rare conditioni, e di celebre fama. Il detto Conte era stato poco prima in Suetia, con titolo di Gentilhuomo inuiatoui dall'Imperatore, per ratificare la buona corrispondenza di Sua Maestà Cesarea con quella Corona, & insieme la franchiggia di vn reciproco commertio. Fù riceuuto da lei il Montecuccoli con termini benigni, dichiarandosi ella molt'obligata alla bontà di Cesare dell'honore, che gli faceua. Rispose alle lettere con i douuti concetti, e rimandò questo Caualiere a Vienna colmo di contentezza.
Alli 17. Agosto andò Sua Maestà incognita a Brusselles, & allogiò in casa di Madama di Pimentel; vidde non solo il Palazzo; ma anche due volte il Collegio de Padri Gesuiti, & in esso quella bella, e gran libraria in cui fece spiccare il suo gran sapere, e la grandissima cognitione, ch'haueua de' libri più rari, e delle scienze più graui. Si fermò in Brusselles quattro giorni, e vi visitò il Conuento delle Monache Carmelitane scalze di Santa Teresia, le Dame, ò Religiose di Berlaymont Monasterio principale di Fiandra, & il Collegio nobilissimo delle Canonichesse di Viuelles [sic]. Ritornata che fù ella in Anuersa venne da Olanda a riuerirla il Signor di Chenut Ambasciator di Francia all'hora presso quei Stati. Fù egli già come si è detto Ambasciatore del Rè Christianissimo presso di lei in Suetia, onde fù da Sua Maestà trattato con ogni maggior dimostrazione di affetto, e di stima, essendo da lei conosciuto per molto capace, & esperimentato ne più importanti affari.
Il Rè Cattolico già consapeuole, che la Regina si era incaminata alla volta di Fiandra, con pensiero di tratteneruisi qualche poco, rimãdò ne Paesi Bassi Don Antonio Pimentel di Prado Mastro di Campo di Fãteria Spagnuola, e Gouernator di Neuport, con titolo di suo Ambasciatore straordinario presso di questa Principessa, acciò fosse da lui assistita in tutto, come anche per honorare egli con tal dimostratione le heroiche risoluzioni di lei.
Era partito Don Antonio da Brusseles per Spagna alli 8. di Giugno 1654. portandosi colà per dar conto de suoi negotiati in Suetia, & era passato con passaporto per la Francia, incontrato, spesato, alloggiato, e regalato da Perona sino a' confini di Spagna per ordine del Cardinal Mazzarino, non tanto in riguardo de meriti d'esso Pimentel molto stimato in Francia; quanto per effetto di gratitudine del medesimo Cardinale, che nella sua ritirata di Francia in Germania fù honoreuolmente trattato ne gli stati di Spagna. La cura d'accompagnarla [sic] fu data al Sig. di Touchanprè.
Il detto Pimentel imbarcatosi in Biscaglia gionse alli 29. Ottobre in Mardich, e di là si portò poi alli 4. di Decẽbre in Anuersa: andò alla sua prima audienza con nobilissimo corteggio, essendo egli Cauaglier tutto splendido, e generoso, oltre all'affabilità, e cortesia sua naturale. Quì si fermò la Regina sin che fossero pronti in Brusselles gli apparecchi per il suo riceuimento, che doueua esser sontuosissimo cunforme a gli ordini, ch'il Rè Cattolico haueua dato espressamẽte all'Arciduca, & a gli altri suoi Ministri, i quali non mancarono d'eseguire pontualmente la generosa mẽte di Sua Maestà.
Mentre si tratteneua la Regina in Anuersa, passò di là il Conte Todt, mandato dal Rè di Suetia alla Corte di Francia. Questo ministro per ordine del medesimo Rè, fù a complir con Sua Maestà, e lo fece con espressioni proportionate a quella gratitudine, che doueua il padrone di lui ad vna ben grande, non ordinaria beneficenza.
Giunse pur anche in tanto da Parigi in Anuersa il Conte Pontus della Garda, e passando à riuerir Sua Maestà fù da lei ritenuto qualche tempo, come fù per anche da lei fermato il Sig. Palpitzky, che risedendo in Francia per la Corona di Suetia, hebbe ordine dal suo Rè di assisterla e seruirla. Ella rimandò in Suetia il Conte di Stemberg, per render il cõplimento al Rè, e per concertare quanto occorreua per i suoi appanaggi.
Finalmente essendosi aprontato il tutto per riceuerla in Brusselles, l'Arciduca alli 13. Decembre, si trasferì in Anuersa à fargline l'inuito in nome del Rè Cattolico, ritornandosene il dì seguente à Brusselles, oue restò apuntato, che la Regina, partendo da Anuersa alli 23. giongesse la medesima sera, e così seguì.
With modernised spelling:
Alli 2 alloggiò in Rodenberg[o], terra picciola dello stesso Luneburg[o], alli tre al villaggio di Barenburg[o], ed alli 4 a Minden, città forte e considerabile, situata sopra il fiume Weser, principale di quella provincia. Il giorno seguente si condusse ad Osnabrück, città grande e celebre per il Congresso che vi si fece ultimamente de plenipotentiari e ministri de principi protestanti per i trattati della pace generale di Germania, spettante al vescovo che n'è principe sovrano. Alli sei passo a Münster, pur città rinomata per la conferenza e pace sudetta stabilitavi dalli mediatori e dalli plenipotentiari di tutti i principi della cristianità.
La mattina seguente Sua Maestà prima di partire, volse vedere il Collegio de' padri gesuiti, da lei stimati ed amati come soggetti di gran virtù e dottrina, e qui mentre andava osservando le cose più curiose, benché fosse conosciuta da uno di que' religiosi, che n'aveva il ritratto assai ben fatto e somigliante, e che raffigurava in lei i contrasegni datigli da un suo fratello, che stava in Amburg[o], ad ogni modo non fece motivo alcuno, per non offendere il gusto ch'aveva questa principessa di non esser scoperta.
Partendo da Münster si fermò la notte de' 7 nel villaggio di Enschede ed alli 8 a Deventer, piazza principale del dominio della Reppublica di Olanda, dove andò a vedere di passaggio un certo Gronovio, uomo da lei molto stimato come gran litterato. Alli 9 si trasferi in Amersfoort, dove lo stesso giorno giunse anche la corte di Sua Maestà alla quale fece intendere per uno de' suoi aiutanti di camera che, senza far alcuna sembianza di conoscerla, dovesse continuar il suo viaggio, ed in vece di tirare secondo il primo ordine verso Amsterdam a drittura s'incaminasse in Anversa.
All'avviso ch'ebbero gli stati d'Olanda che la regina, partita di Svezia, s'era incaminata alla volta da' Paesi Bassi, diedero ordine per tutto il dominio loro che si stasse sulle guardie e su gli apparecchi per riceverla con gl'onori dovuti; ma Sua Maestà passò per Deventer, per Amersfoort, per Utrecht e per altri luoghi senza esser conosciuta, benché vi fosse per tutto attesa.
La notte delli 10 stette in un villaggio vicino alla piazza di Gorkum, e la mattina seguente, passando per detta piazza assai forte sopra il fiume Waal, si condusse a Breda, fortezza altre tanto principale della Brabanzia, quanto nelle passate guerre rinomata. Alli 12 agosto terminò il suo viaggio in Anversa, entrandovi privatamente col prender alloggio in casa di don Garzia d'Ylláno, portoghese, soggetto di più ricchi e principali di quella famosa città.
Il giorno seguente, sopraggiunta dalla sua corte, si vestì da donna e riceve la visita da don Baldassar Mercadero, castellano della cittadella, soggetto di chiara fama e di sommo valore; poi di mano in mano da magistrati della città e dagli altri più cospicui signori di quella nobilissima patria.
Concorsero tutti con egual curiosità ed ossequio a vederla, ed, abbagliandosi nello splendore di doti e prerogative si rare, non potevano con maggior applauso riconoscerla che con quello d'una affettuosa e riverente ammirazione. La folla de cittadini fu per alcuni giorni si grande che, con stento grandissimo, si pote transitare per le contrade alla di lei abitazione contigue.
In questo tempo l'arciduca, il principe di Condé, il duca di Lorena, il conte di Fuensaldaña, con tutti gli altri principi e grandi destinati alla direzione e comando dell'armi di Fiandra, si trovavano in campo sotto l'importantissima città d'Arras, valorosamente difesa da' francesi e con grand'impulso e vigore combattuta dagli spagnuoli. E, benché non mancasse il cardinal Mazzarino d'ogni maggior diligenza ed attenzione per portarvi il necessario soccorso, era nondimeno si alta la confidenza di quella ne capitani di Spagna che già s'erano persuasi d'illustrar l'arrivo di questa gran regina con una sì gloriosa vittoria.
Con tali sensi dunque, continuando quell'espugnazione, mandorono tutti tre i sudetti principi persone espresse ad assicurarla ch'essi sbrigatisi fra pochi giorni da quella piazza, sarebbero comparsi a riverirla con le presenze loro, come all'ora facevano col cuore tutto ripieno di quella gioia che sentivano del felice arrivo di Sua Maestà.
Il conte de Buquoy, grande di Spagna e cavalier di gran portata, essendo stato destinato da Sua Maestà Cattolica suo ambasciatore straordinario a complire con la regina otto giorni dopo ch'ella fu arrivata in Anversa, soddisfece molto bene alla proprie commissioni con Sua Maestà, ed essa lo accolse con dimonstrazioni di stima proporzionata al merito di lui ed alla grandezza di chi lo mandava.
Ma intanto, avendo il cardinale raccolto l'esercito francese e disposti gli ordini cosi propri della sua finissima intelligenza come protetti dalla sua felice fortuna, rotta e superata la circonvallazione, benché da tutti stimata impenetrabile, liberò la cadente città con grandissima gloria e beneficio della Corona di Francia.
Ritornò dunque a Bruxelles Sua Altezza Imperiale alli otto di settembre, ed il giorno seguente si trasferì in Anversa a complire con Sua Maestà di presenza, come aveva prima fatto con lettere. Fu ricevuto dalla regina a piedi della scala, lo condusse alle sue stanze, lo fece sedere dirimpetto a se in una sedia eguale, lo trattò sempre col titolo di Altezza, e lo accompagnò pur sin al fondo delle medesime scale con reciproca soddisfazione, parlando sempre in lingua italiana. L'arciduca stette un giorno in Anversa, e l'altro ritornarsene a Bruxelles.
Terminata la campagna, anche il principe di Condé s'incaminò per riverirla. Egli come primo principe del sangue reale di Francia pretendeva d'esser ricevuto e trattato dalla regina con le forme e prerogative pratticate da lei con l'arciduca. Però spinse avanti il presidente Violet, uno de principali frondori del Parlamento di Parigi, e di più costanti seguaci del suo partito, acciò visitasse Sua Maestà e procurasse di scoprire l'intenzione di lei circa il suo ricevimento. Egli riportò che Sua Maestà lo avrebbe trattato nella forma dovuta a principi della sua qualità.
Non si contentò il Viole di queste parole generali, ma volse penetrare più avanti, insistendo di pretendere gli stessi onori fatti all'arciduca. Onde Sua Maestà, offesasi forse della diffidenza che mostrava verso gli avvedimenti della sua generosa discretezza, prese risoluzione di contenersi sui rigori senza usar con quel principe gli atti di quell'umanità de quali sarebbe state liberale, come poi se ne dichiarò, se il detto principe non avesso voluto pretenderli per obbligo. Non potendo dunque il Viole spuntar il suo negoziato nella maniera dal prencipe pretesa, finalmente si trovò per temperamento che Sua Altezza andasse a vederla privatamente, come fece, trattato nel modo che s'usa con cavalieri privati.
Vennero poi il duca Francesco di Lorena (da Sua Maestà ricevuto pure privatamente), il conte di Fuensaldaña, e diversi altri grandi di Spagna, che furono trattati nella forma che usa con loro il re cattolico, facendoli coprire. Il tamburetto, ch'è una sedia minore, solita concedersi dalle regine alle principesse di gran condizione, fu dato alle duchesse di Arschot, di Aumale, ed alla principessa di Ligne, tutte dame fiamenghe ch'andarono a riverirla, essendo tutte mogli di grandi di Spagna.
Il re d'Inghilterra mandò pure il conte di Norwich a congratularsi seco; l'elettore di Brandeburg[o] inviò il conte Maurizio di Nassau; ed altri. Anche la principessa di Condé inviò un suo gentiluomo a passare con Sua Maestà i dovuti complimenti.
Mentre la regina dimorò in Anversa si trattenne sempre in esercizi nobili, passando tall'ora il tempo nel godere di alcune rappresentazioni morali, e sopra tutto nel prendere conoscimento di molti virtuosi che d'ogni parte concorrevano per ossequirla e rendersi noti a Sua Maestà.
Sopravennero poi dall'Aia incognite la regina di Boemia, già moglie dell'elettor palatino e sorella del re Carlo primo d'Inghilterra, la principessa Elisabetta, figliuola di lei, e la principessa d'Orange, solo per vederla come fecero alla comedia, non volendo esser conosciute, forse per non obbligarsi a visitarla senza ricevere i trattamenti che pretendevano. Andò poi diverse volte Sua Maestà a vedere la casa professa ed il Collegio de' padri gesuiti, e quivi gli fu rappresentato il Thyeste di Seneca, com'ella stessa aveva desiderato, ed un'altr'opera, intitolata il Manasse.
Mentre si tratteneva in Anversa, l'imperatore mandò a complir con lei il conte Raimondo Montecuccoli, suo generale della cavalleria, soggetto di rare condizioni e di celebre fama. Il detto conte era stato poco prima in Svezia, con titolo di gentiluomo inviatovi dall'imperatore, per ratificare la buona corrispondenza di Sua Maestà Cesarea con quella Corona ed insieme la franchiggia di un reciproco commercio. Fu ricevuto da lei il Montecuccoli con termini benigni, dichiarandosi ella molt'obbligata alla bontà di Cesare dell'onore che gli faceva. Rispose alle lettere con i dovuti concetti e rimandò questo cavaliere a Vienna colmo di contentezza.
Alli 17 agosto andò Sua Maestà incognita a Bruxelles ed allogiò in casa di Madama di Pimentel; vide non solo il palazzo, ma anche due volte il Collegio de' padri gesuiti ed in esso quella bella e gran libraria, in cui fece spiccare il suo gran sapere e la grandissima cognizione ch'aveva de' libri più rari e delle scienze più gravi.
Si fermò in Bruxelles quattro giorni e vi visitò il convento delle monache carmelitane scalze di Santa Teresia, le dame, o religiose, di Berlaymont monasterio, principale di Fiandra, ed il Collegio nobilissimo delle canonichesse di Nivelles.
Ritornata che fu ella in Anversa, venne da Olanda a riverirla il signor di Chanut, ambasciator di Francia all'ora presso quei Stati. Fu egli già, come si è detto, ambasciatore del re cristianissimo presso di lei in Svezia, onde fu da Sua Maestà trattato con ogni maggior dimostrazione di affetto e di stima, essendo da lei conosciuto per molto capace ed esperimentato ne' più importanti affari.
Il re cattolico, già consapevole che la regina si era incaminata alla volta di Fiandra, con pensiero di trattenervisi qualche poco, rimandò ne Paesi Bassi don Antonio Pimentel di Prado, mastro di campo di fanteria spagnuola e governator di Nieuwpoort, con titolo di suo ambasciatore straordinario presso di questa principessa, acciò fosse da lui assistita in tutto, come anche per onorare egli con tal dimostrazione le eroiche risoluzioni di lei.
Era partito don Antonio da Bruxelles per Spagna alli 8 di giugno 1654, portandosi colà per dar conto de suoi negoziati in Svezia, ed era passato con passaporto per la Francia, incontrato, spesato, alloggiato e regalato da Perona sino a' confini di Spagna per ordine del cardinal Mazzarino, non tanto in riguardo de meriti d'esso Pimentel molto stimato in Francia; quanto per effetto di gratitudine del medesimo cardinale che nella sua ritirata di Francia in Germania, fu onorevolmente trattato negli Stati di Spagna. La cura d'accompagnarlo fu data al signor di Touchanpré.
Il detto Pimentel, imbarcatosi in Biscaglia, giunse alli 29 ottobre in Mardyck e di là si portò poi alli 4 di dicembre in Anversa. Andò alla sua prima udienza con nobilissimo corteggio, essendo egli cavalier tutto splendido e generoso, oltre all'affabilità, e cortesia sua naturale. Qui si fermò la regina sinché fossero pronti in Bruxelles gli apparecchi per il suo ricevimento che doveva esser sontuosissimo conforme agli ordini ch'il re cattolico aveva dato espressamente all'arciduca ed agli altri suoi ministri, i quali non mancarono d'eseguire pontualmente la generosa mente di Sua Maestà.
Mentre si tratteneva la regina in Anversa, passò di là il conte Tott, mandato dal re di Svezia alla corte di Francia. Questo ministro, per ordine del medesimo re, fu a complir con Sua Maestà e lo fece con espressioni proportionate a quella gratitudine che doveva il padrone di lui ad una ben grande, non ordinaria beneficenza.
Giunse pur anche in tanto da Parigi in Anversa il conte Pontus della Garda, e passando a riverir Sua Maestà, fu da lei ritenuto qualche tempo, come fu per anche da lei fermato il signor Palbitzki, che, risedendo in Francia per la Corona di Svezia, ebbe ordine dal suo re di assisterla e servirla. Ella rimandò in Svezia il conte di Steinberg per render il complimento al re e per concertare quanto occorreva per i suoi appanaggi.
Finalmente, essendosi aprontato il tutto per riceverla in Brusselles, l'arciduca, alli 13 dicembre, si trasferì in Anversa a fargline l'invito in nome del re cattolico, ritornandosene il dì seguente a Bruxelles, ove restò apuntato che la regina, partendo da Anversa alli 23, giungesse la medesima sera e così seguì.
French translation (my own):
Le 2 elle logea à Rodenberg, petite ville de cette même Lunebourg, le 3 au village de Barembourg, et le 4 à Minden, ville forte et considérable, située au-dessus du fleuve Weser, le principal de cette province. Le lendemain elle se rendit à Osnabrück, grande ville célèbre par le congrès qui s'y tint récemment des plénipotentiaires et ministres des princes protestants pour les traités de la paix générale de l'Allemagne, appartenant à l'évêque, qui est le prince souverain. Le 6 elle passa à Münster, ville aussi renommée par la conférence et ladite paix établies là par les médiateurs et plénipotentiaires de tous les princes de la chrétienté.
Le lendemain matin, avant de partir, Sa Majesté voulut voir le Collège des pères jésuites, qu'elle estimait et aimait comme étant de grande vertu et de grande science, et ici, tandis qu'elle observait les choses les plus curieuses, quoiqu'elle fût connue d'une de ces religieuses, qui avait un portrait d'elle très bien fait et ressemblant, et qui représentait en elle les signes que lui avait donnés son frère, qui était à Hambourg, en tout cas il ne s'excusa point, pour ne pas offenser le plaisir que cette princesse avait de n'être pas découverte.
En quittant Münster, elle s'arrêta dans la nuit du 7 au village d'Enschede, et le 8 à Deventer, chef-lieu de l'État de la République de Hollande, où elle alla voir en passant un certain Gronovius, homme qu'elle estimait beaucoup comme un grand homme de lettres. Le 9, elle se transporta à Amersfoort, où arriva le même jour la cour de Sa Majesté, à laquelle elle fit entendre par un de ses aides de chambre que, sans prétendre la connaître, il continuerait sa route, et qu'au lieu d'aller, selon le premier ordre, vers Amsterdam, il partirait directement pour Anvers.
Lorsque les États de Hollande apprirent que la reine, ayant quitté la Suède, se dirigeait vers les Pays-Bas, ils donnèrent ordre dans tous leurs États de faire la garde et de se préparer à la recevoir avec les honneurs qui lui étaient dus; mais Sa Majesté passa par Deventer, Amersfoort, Utrecht et autres lieux sans être reconnue, quoiqu'elle fût attendue partout.
La nuit du 10, elle demeura dans un village près du lieu-dit Gorcum, et le lendemain matin, passant par ladite place très forte au-dessus de la rivière Wahal, elle se rendit à Bréda, forteresse aussi principale que celle de Brabant, et renommée dans les guerres passées. Le 12 août, elle termina son voyage à Anvers, y entrant secrètement en prenant logement dans la maison de don Garcia d'Yllán, portugais, sujet des plus riches et des plus importants de cette fameuse ville.
Le lendemain, arrivant à l'improviste de sa cour, elle s'habilla en femme et reçut la visite de don Balthazar Mercader, châtelain de la citadelle, personnage de grande renommée et de grande valeur; puis peu à peu celle des magistrats de la ville et des autres seigneurs les plus remarquables de ce très noble pays.
Ils accoururent tous pour la voir avec une curiosité et un respect égaux, et, éblouis par la splendeur de ces dons et de ces prérogatives si rares, ils ne purent la reconnaître qu'avec un plus grand applaudissement qu'avec une admiration affectueuse et respectueuse. La foule des citoyens fut si nombreuse pendant quelques jours qu'il fut difficile de traverser les rues adjacentes à son logement.
En ce temps-là, l'archiduc, le prince de Condé, le duc de Lorraine et le comte de Fuensaldaña, avec tous les autres princes et grands préposés à diriger et à commander les armes de Flandre, étaient en campagne sous la très importante ville d'Arras, qui était vaillamment défendue par les Français et que les Espagnols combattaient avec beaucoup d'ardeur et de vigueur. Et, quoique le cardinal Mazarin ne manquât pas de la plus grande diligence et de la plus grande attention pour apporter les secours nécessaires, sa confiance dans les capitaines d'Espagne était néanmoins si grande qu'ils s'étaient déjà persuadés d'illustrer l'arrivée de cette grande reine par une si glorieuse victoire.
C'est donc avec ces sentiments, continuant l'expugnation, que les trois princes susdits envoyèrent des personnes exprès pour l'assurer qu'étant partis en toute hâte de cet endroit dans quelques jours, ils paraîtraient la révérer de leur présence, comme ils le faisaient alors avec leurs cœurs remplis de la joie qu'ils ressentaient à l'heureuse arrivée de Sa Majesté.
Le comte de Buquoy, grand d'Espagne et cavalier de grand rang, ayant été nommé par Sa Majesté catholique pour être son ambassadeur extraordinaire auprès de la reine huit jours après son arrivée à Anvers, s'acquitta fort bien de sa commission auprès de Sa Majesté, et elle le reçut avec des démonstrations d'estime proportionnées à son mérite et à la grandeur de celui qui l'envoyait.
Mais cependant le cardinal ayant rassemblé l'armée française et disposé les ordres propres à sa très belle intelligence et protégés par son heureuse fortune, ayant rompu et vaincu la circonvallation, quoique regardée de tous comme impénétrable, il libéra la ville croulante avec la plus grande gloire et le plus grand bénéfice de la Couronne de France.
Son Altesse Impériale revint à Bruxelles le 8 septembre, et le lendemain il se rendit à Anvers pour présenter ses respects à Sa Majesté en personne, comme il l'avait fait auparavant par lettres. Il fut reçu par la reine au bas de l'escalier, elle le conduisit dans son appartement, le fit asseoir en face d'elle sur une chaise semblable, lui adressa toujours le titre d'Altesse, et l'accompagna jusqu'au bas du même escalier avec une mutuelle satisfaction, parlant toujours en italien. L'archiduc resta un jour à Anvers et le lendemain revint à Bruxelles.
La campagne terminée, le prince de Condé se mit aussi à la révérer. Comme premier prince du sang royal de France, il exigea d'être reçu et traité par la reine avec les formes et les prérogatives qu'elle avait pratiquées auprès de l'archiduc. Cependant, il engagea le président Viole, l'un des principaux frondeurs du Parlement de Paris et l'un des plus constants partisans de son parti, à se rendre auprès de Sa Majesté et à tâcher de découvrir ses intentions sur sa réception. Il lui rapporta que Sa Majesté le traiterait dans les formes dues aux princes de sa qualité.
Viole ne se contenta pas de ces paroles générales, mais voulut pénétrer plus avant, et insista pour demander les mêmes honneurs que ceux rendus à l'archiduc. Sur quoi Sa Majesté, peut-être offensée de la défiance qu'il montra envers la prévoyance de sa généreuse discrétion, résolut de se contenir avec les rigueurs sans user envers ce prince des actes de cette humanité dont elle aurait été libérale, comme elle le déclara plus tard, si ledit prince n'avait pas voulu les exiger par obligation. Aussi, Viole ne pouvant mener sa négociation de la manière désirée par le prince, il fut enfin convenu que Son Altesse irait la voir en particulier, comme il le fit, traitée de la manière qui est d'usage avec les cavaliers particuliers.
Puis vinrent le duc François de Lorraine (reçu lui aussi en privé par Sa Majesté), le comte de Fuensaldaña et plusieurs autres grands d'Espagne, qui furent traités à la manière dont le roi catholique les traite, les faisant couvrir. Le tabouret, petite chaise ordinairement offerte par les reines aux princesses de grande condition, fut donné aux duchesses d'Arschot, d'Aumale et à la princesse de Ligne, toutes flamandes qui allèrent lui rendre hommage, car elles étaient toutes épouses de grands d'Espagne.
Le roi d'Angleterre envoya aussi le comte de Norwich pour le féliciter; l'électeur de Brandebourg envoya le comte Maurice de Nassau; et d'autres. La princesse de Condé envoya aussi un de ses gentilshommes pour transmettre les compliments dus à Sa Majesté.
Pendant que la reine séjournait à Anvers, elle se livrait toujours à de nobles exercices, passant quelquefois son temps à se délecter de quelques représentations morales, et surtout à faire la connaissance de plusieurs hommes vertueux qui de toutes parts accouraient pour lui présenter leurs respects et se faire connaître de Sa Majesté.
Puis vinrent la reine de Bohême, ancienne épouse de l'électeur palatin et sœur du roi Charles Ier d'Angleterre, la princesse Élisabeth, sa fille, et la princesse d'Orange, de La Haye, inconnues, seulement pour la voir comme elles l'avaient fait à la comédie, ne voulant pas être connues, peut-être pour ne pas être obligées de lui rendre visite sans recevoir le traitement qu'elles désiraient. Puis Sa Majesté alla plusieurs fois voir la maison professe et le Collège des pères jésuites, et on y joua pour elle Thyeste de Sénèque, comme elle l'avait elle-même désiré, et un autre opéra, intitulé Manassé.
Pendant son séjour à Anvers, l'empereur envoya auprès d'elle le comte Raymond Montecuccoli, son général de cavalerie, personnage d'une rare condition et d'une grande renommée. Le comte s'était rendu peu auparavant en Suède, avec le titre de gentilhomme envoyé par l'empereur, pour ratifier la bonne correspondance de Sa Majesté Impériale avec cette Couronne et, par la même occasion, la franchise d'un commerce réciproque. Montecuccoli fut reçue par elle avec bienveillance, se déclarant très reconnaissante de la bienveillance de l'empereur pour l'honneur qu'il lui faisait. Elle répondit aux lettres avec les égards qui s'imposaient et renvoya ce cavalier à Vienne, pleine de satisfaction.
Le 17 août, Sa Majesté se rendit inconnue à Bruxelles et logea chez Madame Pimentel. Elle vit non seulement le palais, mais aussi deux fois le Collège des pères jésuites et cette belle et grande bibliothèque, où elle déploya ses vastes connaissances et la très grande connaissance qu'elle possédait des livres les plus rares et des sciences les plus graves.
Elle s'arrêta à Bruxelles pendant quatre jours et visita le couvent des Carmélites Déchaussées de Sainte-Thérèse, les dames ou religieuses du monastère de Berlaymont, le principal de Flandre, et le très noble collège des chanoinesses de Nivelles.
A son retour à Anvers, Monsieur Chanut, alors ambassadeur de France auprès de ces États, vint de Hollande lui présenter ses respects. Il avait déjà été, comme on l'a dit, ambassadeur du Roi Très Chrétien auprès d'elle en Suède, où il fut traité par Sa Majesté avec la plus grande affection et la plus grande estime, étant connu d'elle comme très capable et expérimenté dans les affaires les plus importantes.
Le roi catholique, sachant déjà que la reine était partie pour les Flandres, avec l'intention d'y séjourner quelque temps, renvoya aux Pays-Bas don Antoine Pimentel de Prado, maître du camp d'infanterie espagnol et gouverneur de Nieuport, avec le titre de son ambassadeur extraordinaire auprès de cette princesse, afin qu'elle fût assistée par lui en toutes choses, et aussi pour honorer ses résolutions héroïques par cette démonstration.
Don Antoine avait quitté Bruxelles pour l'Espagne le 8 juin 1654, s'y rendant pour rendre compte de ses négociations en Suède, et avait traversé la France avec un passeport, accueilli, payé, logé et offert par Perona jusqu'aux frontières de l'Espagne par ordre du cardinal Mazarin, non pas tant à cause des mérites de Pimentel lui-même, qui était très estimé en France, mais plutôt par reconnaissance de ce même cardinal qui, dans sa retraite de France en Allemagne, avait été honorablement traité dans les États d'Espagne. Le soin de l'accompagner fut confié au seigneur de Touchanpré.
Ledit Pimentel, s'étant embarqué en Biscaye, arriva le 29 octobre à Mardyck, et de là, il se rendit le 4 décembre à Anvers. Il se rendit à sa première audience avec un très noble cortège, étant un cavalier très splendide et généreux, outre son affabilité et sa courtoisie naturelles. La reine s'y arrêta jusqu'à ce que les préparatifs de sa réception à Bruxelles fussent terminés, laquelle devait être des plus somptueuses, conformément aux ordres que le roi catholique avait expressément donnés à l'archiduc et à ses autres ministres, qui ne manquèrent pas d'exécuter ponctuellement la générosité de Sa Majesté.
Pendant que la reine séjournait à Anvers, le comte Tott, envoyé par le roi de Suède à la cour de France, passa par là. Ce ministre, par ordre du même roi, vint faire des compliments à Sa Majesté, et il le fit avec des expressions proportionnées à la reconnaissance que son maître devait à une bienfaisance très grande et peu ordinaire.
Le comte Pontus de la Gardie arriva aussi à Anvers de Paris. Lorsqu'il alla présenter ses respects à Sa Majesté, elle le retint quelque temps, tout comme le seigneur Palbitzki, qui, résidant en France pour la Couronne de Suède, avait reçu l'ordre de son roi de l'assister et de la servir. Elle renvoya le comte Steinberg en Suède pour présenter ses respects au roi et organiser ses apanages.
Enfin, lorsque tout fut prêt pour la recevoir à Bruxelles, l'archiduc, le 13 décembre, se rendit à Anvers pour l'inviter au nom du roi catholique, revenant le lendemain à Bruxelles, où il fit en sorte que la reine, partant d'Anvers le 23, arrivât le soir même, et c'est ce qui arriva.
Dutch/Flemish translation (my own):
Op de 2e logeerde ze in Rodenberg, een klein stadje in hetzelfde Lüneburg, op de 3e in het dorp Barenburg, en op de 4e in Minden, een sterke en aanzienlijke stad, gelegen boven de rivier de Wezer, de belangrijkste van die provincie. De volgende dag ging ze naar Osnabrück, een grote stad die beroemd was om het congres dat daar onlangs werd gehouden van de gevolmachtigden en ministers van de protestantse vorsten voor de verdragen van de algemene vrede van Duitsland, met betrekking tot de bisschop, die de soevereine vorst is. Op de 6e ging ze naar Münster, ook een stad die beroemd was om de conferentie en de genoemde vrede die daar werd gesloten door de bemiddelaars en gevolmachtigden van alle vorsten van het christendom.
De volgende morgen, voor ze vertrok, wilde Hare Majesteit het College van de paters Jezuïeten zien, die ze hoogachtte en liefhad als zijnde van grote deugd en geleerdheid, en hier, terwijl ze de meest merkwaardige dingen opmerkte, hoewel ze bekend was bij een van die religieuzen, die een portret van haar had dat heel goed en aardig was, en die in haar de tekenen voorstelde die hem waren gegeven door zijn broeder, die in Hamburg was, in ieder geval maakte hij geen excuses, om het genoegen dat deze prinses had om niet ontdekt te worden, niet te kwetsen.
Toen ze Münster verliet, stopte ze op de avond van de 7e in het dorp Enschede, en op de 8e in Deventer, de hoofdplaats van het domein van de Republiek Holland, waar ze in het voorbijgaan een zekere Gronovius ging zien, een man die ze zeer hoog achtte als een groot man van letters. Op de 9e verplaatste zij zich naar Amersfoort, waar op dezelfde dag ook het hof van Hare Majesteit arriveerde, waaraan zij door een van haar vleugeladjudanten te verstaan gaf dat hij, zonder enige schijn van haar te hebben gekend, zijn reis zou voortzetten en in plaats van, overeenkomstig het eerste bevel, naar Amsterdam te gaan, rechtstreeks naar Antwerpen zou vertrekken.
Toen de Staten van Holland vernamen dat de Koningin, na Zweden te hebben verlaten, op weg was naar de Nederlanden, gaven zij in hun gehele gebied bevel de wacht te houden en zich met gepaste eerbewijzen voor haar ontvangst voor te bereiden; maar Hare Majesteit passeerde Deventer, Amersfoort, Utrecht en andere plaatsen zonder herkend te worden, hoewel zij overal werd verwacht.
In de nacht van de 10e verbleef ze in een dorp bij de plaats Gorkum, en de volgende morgen, door de genoemde zeer sterke plaats boven de rivier de Waal, ging ze naar Breda, een vesting die net zo belangrijk was als die van Brabant, en beroemd in vroegere oorlogen. Op 12 augustus beëindigde ze haar reis in Antwerpen, waar ze privé binnenkwam door onderdak te nemen in het huis van don Garcia d'Yllán, een Portugees, onderdaan van de rijkste en belangrijkste van die beroemde stad.
De volgende dag kwam ze onverwachts van haar hof aan, kleedde zich als vrouw en kreeg bezoek van don Balthazar Mercader, kastelein van de citadel, een man van grote faam en aanzien. Daarna volgden geleidelijk ook de magistraten van de stad en de andere meest vooraanstaande heren van dat zeer nobele vaderland.
Ze stroomden allemaal toe om haar te zien met evenveel nieuwsgierigheid en eerbied, en, verblind door de pracht van zulke zeldzame geschenken en voorrechten, konden ze haar niet met groter applaus herkennen dan dat van liefdevolle en eerbiedige bewondering. De menigte burgers was enkele dagen zo groot dat het slechts met grote moeite mogelijk was om door de straten te komen die aan haar verblijfplaats grensden.
Op dit moment waren de Aartshertog, de Prins van Condé, de Hertog van Lotharingen en de graaf Fuensaldaña, met alle andere prinsen en grootheden die waren aangesteld om de wapens van Vlaanderen te leiden en te bevelen, in het veld onder de zeer belangrijke stad Atrecht, die dapper werd verdedigd door de Fransen en waar met grote stuwkracht en kracht om werd gevochten door de Spanjaarden. En hoewel kardinaal Mazarin niet de grootste ijver en aandacht ontbeerde om de nodige hulp te bieden, was zijn vertrouwen in de kapiteins van Spanje niettemin zo groot dat ze zichzelf er al van hadden overtuigd om de aankomst van deze grote koningin te illustreren met zo'n glorieuze overwinning.
Met deze gevoelens gingen alle drie bovengenoemde prinsen door met het uitwissen van de zaak en stuurden expresmensen om haar te verzekeren dat zij, nu zij binnen een paar dagen van die plek waren vertrokken, haar met hun aanwezigheid zouden vereren, zoals zij dat destijds ook deden met hun harten vervuld van de vreugde die zij voelden bij de gelukkige aankomst van Hare Majesteit.
Graaf de Buquoy, een edelman van Spanje en een ridder van hoge rang, werd door Zijne Katholieke Majesteit aangesteld als zijn ambassadeur extraordinarie om de Koningin te ontvangen acht dagen na haar aankomst in Antwerpen. Hij vervulde zijn opdracht tegenover Hare Majesteit zeer goed, en zij ontving hem met blijk van achting in verhouding tot zijn verdiensten en de grootheid van degene die hem had gestuurd.
Maar in de tussentijd had de Kardinaal het Franse leger verzameld en de bevelen opgesteld die pasten bij zijn grote intelligentie en die beschermd werden door zijn gelukkige fortuin. Hij had de omwalling, die door iedereen als ondoordringbaar werd beschouwd, doorbroken en overwonnen en de in verval geraakte stad bevrijd met de grootste glorie en voordelen voor de Franse Kroon.
Zijne Keizerlijke Hoogheid keerde op 8 september terug naar Brussel en de volgende dag ging hij naar Antwerpen om Hare Majesteit persoonlijk zijn eer te bewijzen, zoals hij eerder per brief had gedaan. Hij werd door de Koningin ontvangen aan de voet van de trap, ze leidde hem naar haar vertrekken, liet hem tegenover haar zitten in een soortgelijke stoel, sprak hem altijd aan met de titel Hoogheid en vergezelde hem tot beneden aan dezelfde trap met wederzijdse tevredenheid, altijd sprekend in het Italiaans. De Aartshertog bleef één dag in Antwerpen en de volgende dag keerde terug naar Brussel.
Toen de campagne ten einde was, besloot de Prins van Condé haar ook te vereren. Als eerste prins van koninklijke bloede van Frankrijk eiste hij dat hij door de Koningin werd ontvangen en behandeld met de vormen en voorrechten die zij met de Aartshertog had beoefend. Hij drong er echter bij President Viole, een van de voornaamste frondeurs van het Parlement van Parijs en een van de meest trouwe volgelingen van zijn partij, op aan om Hare Majesteit te bezoeken en te proberen haar bedoelingen met betrekking tot zijn ontvangst te ontdekken. Hij meldde dat Hare Majesteit hem zou trakteren op de manier die past bij prinsen van zijn kwaliteit.
Viole was niet tevreden met deze algemene woorden, maar wilde verder doordringen en eiste dezelfde eerbewijzen als aan de Aartshertog. Waarop Hare Majesteit, misschien beledigd door de argwaan die hij toonde tegenover het vooruitziende oog van zijn genereuze discretie, besloot zich in te houden met de strengheid zonder tegenover die prins de daden van die menselijkheid te gebruiken waarmee zij, zoals zij later verklaarde, vrijgevig zou zijn geweest als de genoemde Prins ze niet uit verplichting had willen eisen. Daarom, omdat Viole zijn onderhandeling niet op de door de Prins gewenste manier kon uitvoeren, werd uiteindelijk in overleg besloten dat Zijne Hoogheid haar privé zou gaan bezoeken, zoals hij deed, getrakteerd op de manier die gebruikelijk is bij privé-cavaliers.
Toen kwamen hertog François van Lotharingen (ook privé ontvangen door Hare Majesteit), de graaf Fuensaldaña en verschillende andere grandes van Spanje, die werden behandeld op de manier die de katholieke koning met hen doet, namelijk met bedekking. De taboeret, een kleine stoel die gewoonlijk door koninginnen aan vorstinnen van hoge stand wordt gegeven, werd gegeven aan de hertoginnen van Arschot, van Aumale en aan de prinses de Ligne, allemaal Vlaamse dames die haar hun respect kwamen betuigen, aangezien ze allemaal echtgenotes waren van grandes van Spanje.
De koning van Engeland stuurde ook de graaf van Norwich om hem te feliciteren; de keurvorst van Brandenburg stuurde graaf Maurits van Nassau; en anderen. De prinses de Condé stuurde ook een van haar heren om de verschuldigde complimenten aan Hare Majesteit door te geven.
Terwijl de koningin in Antwerpen verbleef, gaf ze zich voortdurend over aan nobele uitingen. Soms bracht ze de tijd door met het luisteren naar morele voorstellingen, maar bovenal maakte ze kennis met de vele deugdzame mannen die van alle kanten naar haar toestroomden om haar hun eer te bewijzen en zich aan Hare Majesteit bekend te maken.
Vervolgens kwamen de koningin van Bohemen, de voormalige echtgenote van keurvorst van de Palts en zuster van koning Karel I van Engeland, prinses Elisabeth, haar dochter, en de prinses van Oranje, incognito uit Den Haag, om haar te zien zoals ze dat bij de komedie deden. Ze wilden niet bekend worden, misschien om haar niet te hoeven bezoeken zonder de behandeling te krijgen die ze wensten. Hare Majesteit bezocht vervolgens verschillende keren het professenhuis en het College van de paters jezuïeten, en daar werd voor haar Seneca's Thyeste opgevoerd, zoals ze zelf had gewenst, en een andere opera, getiteld Manasse.
Terwijl ze in Antwerpen verbleef, stuurde de keizer graaf Raimondo Montecuccoli, zijn generaal van de cavalerie, een man met uitzonderlijke omstandigheden en grote faam, om haar te ontmoeten. De genoemde graaf was kort daarvoor in Zweden geweest, met de titel van edelman die door de keizer daarheen was gestuurd, om de goede correspondentie van Zijne Keizerlijke Majesteit met die Kroon te bekrachtigen en tegelijkertijd de goedkeuring van een wederzijdse handel. Montecuccoli werd door haar met welwillende woorden ontvangen en verklaarde zich zeer dankbaar aan de keizer voor de eer die hij haar bewees. Ze beantwoordde de brieven met de gepaste consideratie en stuurde deze ridder vol tevredenheid terug naar Wenen.
Op 17 augustus ging Hare Majesteit incognito naar Brussel en verbleef in het huis van mevrouw Pimentel. Ze zag niet alleen het paleis, maar ook tweemaal het College van de paters jezuïeten en daarin de prachtige en grote bibliotheek, waarin ze haar grote kennis tentoonspreidde en de zeer grote kennis die ze bezat van de zeldzaamste boeken en de meest ernstige wetenschappen.
Ze verbleef vier dagen in Brussel en bezocht het klooster van de ongeschoeide karmelietessen van de heilige Theresia, de dames of nonnen van het Berlaymontklooster, het belangrijkste klooster in Vlaanderen, en het meest nobele College van kanunnikessen van Nijvel.
Toen ze terugkeerde naar Antwerpen, kwam monsieur Chanut, de toenmalige Franse ambassadeur in die Staten, uit Holland om haar de eer te bewijzen. Hij was, zoals gezegd, al ambassadeur van de Allerchristelijke Koning bij haar in Zweden geweest, waar hij door Hare Majesteit met de grootste genegenheid en achting werd behandeld, omdat zij hem kende als zeer bekwaam en ervaren in de belangrijkste zaken.
De katholieke koning, die er reeds van op de hoogte was dat de koningin naar Vlaanderen was vertrokken met de bedoeling daar een tijdje te blijven, zond daarom Don Antonio Pimentel de Prado, commandant van het Spaanse infanteriekamp en gouverneur van Nieuwpoort, terug naar Nederland met de titel van zijn ambassadeur extraordinarie voor deze prinses, opdat zij door hem in alles zou worden bijgestaan en ook om haar heldhaftige voornemens met deze demonstratie te eren.
Don Antonio was op 8 juni 1654 vanuit Brussel naar Spanje vertrokken om verslag uit te brengen over zijn onderhandelingen in Zweden. Hij was met een paspoort door Frankrijk gereisd, waar hij door Perona werd ontvangen, betaald, ondergebracht en als geschenk werd gegeven tot aan de Spaanse grenzen in opdracht van kardinaal Mazarin, niet zozeer vanwege de verdiensten van Pimentel zelf, die in Frankrijk hoog werd aangeschreven, maar eerder uit dankbaarheid van dezelfde kardinaal die tijdens zijn terugtocht van Frankrijk naar Duitsland eervol werd behandeld in de Spaanse Staten. De zorg om hem te begeleiden werd toevertrouwd aan heer de Touchanpré.
De genoemde Pimentel, die in Biskaje was ingescheept, arriveerde op 29 oktober in Mardijk en vertrok van daaruit op 4 december naar Antwerpen. Hij ging naar zijn eerste audiëntie met een zeer nobele stoet, en was, naast zijn natuurlijke vriendelijkheid en hoffelijkheid, een zeer voortreffelijke en edelmoedige ridder. Hier hield de koningin halt totdat de voorbereidingen voor haar ontvangst in Brussel gereed waren, die zeer weelderig zou zijn, overeenkomstig de bevelen die de katholieke koning uitdrukkelijk had gegeven aan de aartshertog en zijn andere ministers, die de edelmoedige wil van Zijne Majesteit stipt ten uitvoer brachten.
Terwijl de koningin in Antwerpen verbleef, kwam graaf Tott, door de koning van Zweden naar het Franse hof gestuurd, langs. Deze minister kwam, in opdracht van dezelfde koning, Hare Majesteit complimenteren, en hij deed dat met betuigingen die in verhouding stonden tot de dankbaarheid die zijn meester verschuldigd was aan een zeer grote, en niet gewone, weldaad.
Graaf Pontus de la Gardie arriveerde ook vanuit Parijs in Antwerpen. Toen hij Hare Majesteit de laatste eer ging bewijzen, hield ze hem enige tijd vast, net als heer Palbitzki, die in Frankrijk verbleef namens de Zweedse Kroon en van zijn koning opdracht had gekregen haar bij te staan en te dienen. Ze stuurde graaf Steinberg terug naar Zweden om de koning de laatste eer te bewijzen en de nodige regelingen te treffen voor haar goederen.
Toen ten slotte alles gereed was om haar in Brussel te ontvangen, ging de aartshertog op 13 december naar Antwerpen om haar namens de katholieke koning uit te nodigen. De volgende dag keerde hij terug naar Brussel, waar hij ervoor zorgde dat de koningin op 23 december uit Antwerpen vertrok en diezelfde avond nog zou aankomen; en zo geschiedde.
Swedish translation (my own):
Den 2 logerade hon i Rodenberg, en liten stad i samma Lüneburg, den 3 i byn Barenburg och den 4 i Minden, en stark och ansenlig stad belägen ovanför floden Weser, den främsta i denna provins. Följande dag åkte hon till Osnabrück, en stor stad känd för den kongress som nyligen hölls där av de protestantiska furstarnas befullmäktigade och ministrar för fördragen om den allmänna freden i Tyskland, som gäller biskopen, som är den suveräne prinsen. Den 6 gick hon till Münster, också en stad känd för konferensen och den nämnda freden som upprättades där av alla kristenhetens alla furstars medlare och befullmäktigade.
Nästa morgon, innan hon lämnade, ville Hennes Majestät se jesuitfädernas Kollegium, som hon aktade och älskade som varande av stor dygd och lärdom, och här, medan hon iakttog de mest märkliga saker, fastän hon var känd för en av de religiösa, som hade ett porträtt av henne mycket välgjort och liknande, och som i henne representerade de tecken som gavs honom av hans broder, som var i Hamburg, i alla fall gjorde han ingen ursäkt, för att inte förolämpa nöjet som denna prinsessa hade genom att inte bli upptäckt.
När hon lämnade Münster stannade hon natten till den 7 i byn Enschede och den 8 i Deventer, huvudorten för Republiken Hollands herravälde, dit hon i förbigående besökte en viss Gronovius, en man hon högt uppskattade som en stor lettré. Den 9 förflyttade hon sig till Amersfoort, dit även samma dag Hennes Majestäts hov anlände, dit hon av en av sina adjutanter lät förstå att han, utan att göra någon förevändning att känna henne, skulle fortsätta sin resa, och i stället för att gå, enligt första ordern, mot Amsterdam, borde han ge sig av direkt mot Antwerpen.
När Hollands Ständer fick veta att drottningen, efter att ha lämnat Sverige, var på väg till Nederländerna, gav de order över hela sitt välde att hålla vakt och förbereda hennes mottagande med vederbörlig heder; men Hennes Majestät gick genom Deventer, Amersfoort, Utrecht och andra platser utan att bli igenkänd, fastän hon väntades överallt.
Natten den 10 vistades hon i en by nära platsen Gorkum, och följande morgon, då hon passerade genom den nämnda mycket starka platsen ovanför floden Waal, begav hon sig till Breda, en fästning lika viktig som den i Brabant, och känd i tidigare krig. Den 12 augusti avslutade hon sin resa i Antwerpen och gick in där privat genom att ta en logis i don Garcia d'Ylláns hus, en portugis, föremål för den rikaste och viktigaste av den berömda staden.
Följande dag, då hon oväntat anlände från sitt hov, klädde hon sig till kvinna och fick besök av don Baltasar Mercader, kastellan av citadellet, en människa av stor berömmelse och stort värde; sedan småningom från stadens magistrater och från de andra förträffligaste herrarna i det där mycket ädla fosterlandet.
De flockades alla för att se henne med lika nyfikenhet och respekt, och förblända av prakten av sådana sällsynta gåvor och prerogativer, kunde de inte känna igen henne med större applåder än den av tillgivna och vördnadsfulla beundran. Skaran av borgare var under några dagar så stor att det endast med stor svårighet var möjligt att passera genom gatorna i anslutning till hennes logi.
Vid denna tidpunkt befann sig ärkehertigen, prinsen de Condé, hertigen av Lothringen och greve Fuensaldaña, med alla andra furstar och stormän som utsetts att leda och befalla Flanderns vapen, på fältet under den mycket viktiga staden Arras, som försvarades tappert av fransmännen och som kämpades för med stor drivkraft och kraft av spanjorerna. Och fastän kardinal Mazarin inte saknade den största flit och uppmärksamhet för att bringa den nödvändiga hjälpen, var hans förtroende för Spaniens kaptener likväl så högt att de redan hade övertalat sig själva att illustrera denna stora drottnings ankomst med en så härlig seger.
Med dessa känslor sände därför alla tre ovannämnda furstar, under fortsatt utvisningen, uttryckliga personer för att försäkra henne om att de, efter att ha skyndat sig från den platsen om några dagar, skulle synas vörda henne med sin närvaro, som de gjorde den gången med deras hjärtan fyllda av den glädje de kände vid Hennes Majestäts lyckliga ankomst.
Greven de Buquoy, en grande av Spanien och en kavaljer av hög rang, efter att ha utsetts av Hans Katolska Majestät till sin ambassadör extraordinarie för att träffa drottningen åtta dagar efter hennes ankomst till Antwerpen, tillfredsställde hans uppdrag till Hennes Majestät mycket väl, och hon tog emot honom med demonstrationer av aktning i proportion till hans förtjänst och storheten hos honom som sänt honom.
Men emellertid, efter att kardinalen hade samlat den franska armén och ordnat beställningarna både anpassade till hans mycket fina intelligens och skyddade av sin lyckliga fortun, efter att ha brutit och övervunnit omrängningen, även om han av alla ansågs vara ogenomtränglig, befriade han den sönderfallande staden med den största ära och nytta för Frankrikes Krona.
Hans Kejserliga Höghet återvände till Bryssel den 8 september, och följande dag begav han sig till Antwerpen för att personligen hylla Hennes Majestät, som han tidigare gjort genom brev. Han togs emot av drottningen vid foten av trappan, hon ledde honom till sina rum, fick honom att sitta mittemot henne i en liknande stol, tilltalade honom alltid med titeln Höghet och följde honom till botten av samma trappa med ömsesidig tillfredsställelse, talande alltid italienska. Ärkehertigen stannade en dag i Antwerpen, och nästa dag återvände han till Bryssel.
När kampanjen avslutades, gav sig prins de Condé också ut för att reverera henne. Som den första prinsen av Frankrikes kungliga blod krävde han att bli mottagen och behandlad av drottningen med de former och privilegier som hon hade utövat med ärkehertigen. Han uppmanade dock president Viole, en av de främsta frondörerna i Parlamentet i Paris, och en av de mest ständiga anhängarna av hans parti, att besöka Hennes Majestät och försöka upptäcka hennes avsikter med hans mottagande. Han rapporterade att Hennes Majestät skulle traktera honom i formen som tillkom furstar av hans kvalitet.
Viole nöjde sig inte med dessa allmänna ord utan ville tränga in längre och insisterade på att kräva samma utmärkelser som gavs till ärkehertigen. Varpå Hennes Majestät, kanske förolämpad av den misstanke som han visade mot förutseendet av hans generösa diskretion, beslöt sig för att behärska sig med strängheten utan att mot den prinsen använda den mänsklighetens handlingar som hon skulle ha varit liberal med, som hon senare förklarade, om nämnde prinsen inte hade velat kräva dem med förpliktelse. Eftersom Viole därför inte kunde genomföra sin förhandling på det sätt som prinsen önskade, befanns det slutligen genom överenskommelse att Hans Höghet skulle gå för att se henne privat, som han gjorde, trakterad på det sätt som är brukligt med privata kavaljerer.
Sedan kom hertig François av Lothringen (också mottagen privat av Hennes Majestät), greve Fuensaldaña och flera andra grander i Spanien, som behandlades på det sätt som den katolske konungen använder med dem, och lät täcka dem. Taburetten, som är en liten stol som vanligtvis ges av drottningar till furstinnor av stort skick, gavs till hertiginnorna av Arschot, av Aumale, och till prinsessan de Ligne, alla flamländska damer som gick för att hylla henne, ty de alla var hustrur till grander i Spanien.
Konungen av England sände också greven av Norwich för att gratulera honom; kurfursten av Brandenburg sände greve Moritz av Nassau; med flera. Prinsessan de Condé skickade också en gentleman till henne för att passera komplimangerna med Hennes Majestät.
Medan drottningen vistades i Antwerpen ägnade hon sig alltid åt ädla övningar, ibland fördrev hon tiden med att njuta av några moraliska representationer, och framför allt med att bekanta sig med många dygdiga män som från alla håll strömmade till för att visa henne sin respekt och göra sig kända för Hennes Majestät.
Sedan kom drottningen av Böhmen, före detta maka till kurfursten av Pfalz och syster till konung Karl I av England, prinsessan Elisabeth, hennes dotter och prinsessan av Oranien, från Haag, inkognito, bara för att se henne som de gjorde vid komedien, utan att vilja bli kända, kanske för att inte vara tvungna att besöka henne utan att få den behandling de önskade. Sedan besökte Hennes Majestät flera gånger det professhuset och jesuitfädernas kollegium, och där framfördes för henne Senecas Thyeste, som hon själv hade önskat, och en annan opera med titeln Manasse.
Medan hon vistades i Antwerpen, sände kejsaren greve Raimondo Montecuccoli, sin kavallerigeneral, en person av sällsynt härkomst och stor ryktbarhet, för att träffa henne. Nämnde greve hade varit i Sverige kort tidigare, med titeln gentleman ditsänd av kejsaren, för att bekräfta Hans Kejserliga Majestäts goda korrespondens med kronan och samtidigt rätten till en ömsesidig handel. Montecuccoli mottogs av henne med välvilliga ordalag och förklarade sig mycket tacksam mot kejsarens vänlighet för den ära han visade henne. Hon besvarade breven med vederbörlig hänsyn och skickade denna kavaljer tillbaka till Wien full av tillfredsställelse.
Den 17 augusti reste Hennes Majestät inkognito till Bryssel och inkvarterades i madam Pimentels hus. Hon såg inte bara palatset, utan också två gånger jesuitfädernas Kollegium och där det vackra och stora biblioteket, där hon visade upp sin stora kunskap och den mycket stora kunskap hon hade om de sällsyntaste böckerna och de allvarligaste vetenskaperna.
Hon stannade till i Bryssel i fyra dagar och besökte klostret för de barfota karmelitnunnorna i Saint Therese, damerna, eller nunnorna, i Berlaymont-klostret, det viktigaste i Flandern, och det ädlaste Kanonisskollegiet i Nivelles.
När hon återvände till Antwerpen kom monsieur Chanut, den dåvarande franske ambassadören i dessa Stater, från Holland för att visa henne hans respekt. Han hade redan, som sagts, varit den allerkristligaste konungens ambassadör hos henne i Sverige, där han behandlades av Hennes Majestät med den största demonstration av tillgivenhet och aktning, ty hon kände honom för att vara mycket duglig och erfaren i de viktigaste angelägenheterna.
Den katolske konungen, som redan var medveten om att drottningen hade rest till Flandern med avsikt att stanna där en liten tid, sände tillbaka till Nederländerna don Antonio Pimentel de Prado, befälhavare för det spanska infanterilägret och guvernör i Nieuwpoort, med titeln sin ambassadör extraordinarie gentemot denna prinsessa, så att hon skulle bistås av honom i allt, och även för att hedra hennes heroiska beslut med denna demonstration.
Don Antonio hade lämnat Bryssel för Spanien den 8 juni 1654, för att redogöra för sina förhandlingar i Sverige, och hade rest med pass genom Frankrike, mött, betalat för, inkvarterat och givits som gåva av Perona upp till Spaniens gränser på order av kardinal Mazarin, inte så mycket på grund av Pimentels egna förtjänster, som var högt aktad i Frankrike; utan snarare av tacksamhet från samme kardinal som, under sin reträtt från Frankrike till Tyskland, behandlades hedersamt i Spaniens Stater. Omsorgen om att följa med honom anförtroddes herr de Touchanpré.
Nämnde Pimentel, efter att ha gått ombord i Biscaya, anlände den 29 oktober till Mardyck, och därifrån reste han den 4 december till Antwerpen. Han gick till sin första audiens med en ytterst ädel kortege, en mycket praktfull och generös kavaler, utöver sin naturliga vänlighet och artighet. Här stannade drottningen tills förberedelserna för hennes mottagning var klara i Bryssel, som skulle bli ytterst överdådig i enlighet med de order som den katolske konungen uttryckligen hade givit ärkehertigen och hans andra ministrar, vilka inte försummade att punktligt utföra Hans Majestäts generösa sinnelag.
Medan drottningen vistades i Antwerpen, passerade greve Tott, sänd av Sveriges konung till Frankrikes hov. Denne minister kom på order av samme konung för att ge Hennes Majestät komplimanger, och han gjorde det med uttryck som stod i proportion till den tacksamhet som hans herre var skyldig en mycket stor, och inte vanlig, välgörenhet.
Greve Pontus de la Gardie anlände också till Antwerpen från Paris, och när han gick för att visa sin respekt för Hennes Majestät, kvarhöll hon honom en tid, liksom herr Palbitzki, som, resident i Frankrike för Sveriges Krona, hade order från sin konung att bistå och tjäna henne. Hon skickade greve Steinberg tillbaka till Sverige för att visa sin respekt för konungen och ordna vad som nödigades för hennes gods.
Slutligen, när allt var klart för att ta emot henne i Bryssel, begav sig ärkehertigen den 13 december till Antwerpen för att bjuda in henne i den katolske konungens namn, och återvände följande dag till Bryssel, där han ordnade så att drottningen, som lämnade Antwerpen den 23, skulle anlända samma kväll, och så skedde det.
English translation (by Burbury; I have corrected some typos):
On the second [of August] she lay in Rodembourg, a little Towne of the said Duke of Lunebourg, on the third at the Village of Barembourg, and on the fourth at Mindem, a strong and considerable City, seated on the river Wesser the chiefe of that Province. The day after she went to Osnabruck, a great and famous City for the meeting there lately of the plenipotentiaryes, and ministers of the Protestant Princes, for the treatyes of the generall peace of Germany, belonging to the Bishop, the soveraigne Prince of that place. On the sixth she Came to Munster, a City renown'd for the conference, and peace aforesaid, established there by the mediatours and plenipotentiaryes of all the Christian Princes.
The next morning her Majesty before she departed, desir'd to see the Colledge of the Iesuits esteem'd and lov'd by her, as persons of great vertue and learning, and here while her Majesty went veiwing the things of greatest Curiosity, although she was knowne by one of that Company, who had her picture by him, which was not ill done, and resembled her, he observing too in her, the countersignes given him by a Brother of the Society, yet he made no matter of it, not to hinder the pleasure she took in not being discover'd.
Her Majestie departing from Munster on the seventh day, lay that night in the village of Ensened, and on the eighth at Deventer, a principall fortress of the dominion of the Republique of Holland, where she saw, as she pass'd by, one Mr. Granovius, a man for his great learning, much esteemed by her. On the ninth she went to Amesfort, where arriv'd too the same day, the traine of her Majestie, to whom she gave order, by one of the Groomes of her Chamber, that without making shew of knowing her Majestie, they should keep on their journey, and instead of bending towards Amsterdam, according to the first order, go directly to Antwerp.
The States of Holland receiving advice, that the Queen gone from Swedland, came towards the low Countryes, gave order throughout all their Dominions, they should stand on their guardes, and be ready to receive her with due honours. But her Majestie pass'd through Deventer, Amesfort, Vtrecht, and other places; without being knowne, though, she was expected every where there.
On the tenth at night she lay in a Village near Gorcum, and passing the next day through the towne, indifferently strong, on the river Wahal, she came to Breda, a fortresse as famous in Brabant, as renown'd in the warres past, on the twelfth of August she ended her journey in Antwerp, entering there privately, and lodging in the house of Don Garzia Doyliano, a Portuguese, one of the richest and cheifest of that famous, City.
The day after overtaken by her traine, she put on womens cloathes, and received the visit of Don Balthasar Marcadero, the Commander of the Citadell, a person of clear fame, and great valour, afterwards in order by the Magistrates of the City, and the rest or [sic] the principal Gentlemen of that noble Countrey.
All flock'd to see her with equall Curiosity and respect, and dazled with the splendour of her rare endowments and prerogatives, were not able to veiw her with greater applause, than that of an affectionate, and reverent admiration. The throngs of the Cityzens were for some dayes so great, that they could hardly passe up and downe in the streets, that were neare to her Court.
In the meane time the Arch-Duke, the Prince of Conde, the Duke of Lorraine, and the Earle of Fuensaledagna, with the rest of the Princes, and Grandees, design'd for the direction and Command of the Army in Flanders, were all in the field, beseiging the most important City of Arres, very valiantly defended by the French, and invaded by the Spaniards with great earnestness and vigour. And though Cardinall Mazarine was most diligent & intent to supply it with all necessaryes, yet so great was the confidence of the Spanish Commanders, that they verily believed, to welcome this great Queen, with so glorious a victory.
With thoughts of this kind, continuing that seige, all the said three Princes, sent persons expressly to assure her, that they within few dayes, disengag'd from that fortress would come and waite upon her with their presence, as they did then with their hearts, replenisht with joy for the happy arrivall of her Majestie.
The Earle of Ruquoy, a Grandee of Spaine and a Gentleman of much worth, design'd by his Catholique Majestie, extraordinary Ambassadour to complement the Queen, eight dayes after her arrivall in Antwerp, gave a very good account to her Majestie of his Commission, and was receiv'd by her, with many demonstrations of esteem proportionable to his merit, and the greatness of the sender,
But in the meane time, the Cardinall having gather'd together the French Army, and disposed the orders, where no less his refined understanding, and conduct, than good fortune appear'd, the circumvallation being broken, and gain'd, which by all was thought impenetrable, free'd the tottering City, to the very great glory, and benefit of the Crowne of France. His imperiall Highness retur[n]'d then to Bruxelles, on the eighth of September, and the next day went to Antwerp, to complement her Majestie in his person, as he had done before with his letters. The Queen receiv'd him, at the foot of the staires, conducted him to her lodgings, made him sit downe [over] against her, in such another chaire, gave him alwayes the title of Highness, and accompany'd him to the bottome of the same staires, with reciprocal satisfaction, still speaking in Italian. The Arch-Duke stay'd in Antwerp one day, and return'd the next to Bruxells.
When the Army was retyr'd into the garrisons, the Prince of Conde, likewise went to wait on her Majestie, who, as the first Prince of the royall blood of France, pretended the Queen should receive, and treat him, with the formes and prerogatives, she had us'd with the Arch-Duke. He therefore sent before, the President Viola, one of the cheife slingers of the Parliament of Paris, and the constantest follower of his party, to visit her, and discover her intention about his reception, who related her Majestie would treat him, in the forme due to Princes of his quality. Viola was not satisfi'd with these generall words, but would sound her farther, insisting to pretend the same honours done to the Arch-Duke. Whereupon the Queen offended, perhaps at the diffidence, he seemed to have of her warie, and generous discreetness, resolv'd to hold her owne, refusing the Prince those acts of Civility, of which, as she afterwards declar'd, she would have been liberall, if he had not pretended to them, as his due. Viola then unable to compass the business, in the manner pretended by the Prince, found at last this expedient, that his Highness should go visit her privately, as he did, being treated like a private Cavalier.
Francis Duke of Lorraine came afterwards (received too privately by her Majestie) the Earle of Fuensaldagna, and diverse other Grandees of Spaine, who had their reception, in the forme us'd to them by the Catholique King, causing them to be covered. The tamburet, which is a less seat, granted usually by Queenes to Princesses of great quallity, was given to the Dutchesses of Ascot, of Auray, and the Princess of Ligni, all Ladyes of Flanders, who went to waite upon her, being married to Grandees of Spaine.
The King of Scots sent likewise the Earle of Norwich, to congratulate her arrivall, and the Elector of Brandembourg, Count Maurice, of Nassau, and others. The Princess too of Conde sent her Gentleman, to passe all due complements with her Majestie.
While the Queen stayd in Antwerp, she still employ'd her selfe in noble entertainements, sometimes passing her time in seing some morall representations, and cheifly in taking notice of many vertuous persons, who flockt from all parts, to waite upon her Majestie, and be knowne to her.
From the Hague came conceal'd the Queen of Bohemia, marry'd heretofore to the Prince Elector Palatine, and sister to Charles the first King of England, with Princess Elizabeth her daughter, and the princess of Orange, and onely to see her, as they did, at a Comedy, they being unwilling to be knowne, not to be oblig'd perhaps, to give her a visit, without a returne of the reception, they pretended. Her Majestie went often to see the house of the, Professed, and the Colledge of the Iesuits, where she saw represented Thyestes in Seneca, as she had desir'd, and another play intituled Manasses.
During her stay in Antwerp, the Emperour sent to complement her, Earle Raymund Montecucoli, his Generall of the Horse, a person of rare parts, & eminent fame. The said Earle had been in Swedland, a little before, with the title of Gentleman sent thither by the Emperour, to ratify the good correspondence of his Imperiall Majestie with that Crowne, as likewise the freedom of a reciprocall commerce. She receiv'd Montecucoli kindly, declaring her selfe much oblig'd to the goodness of Cesar, for the honour he did her, whose letters she answer'd with all due respect, remanding this Gentleman to Vienna, with all satisfaction.
On the seventeenth of August her Majestie went concealed to Bruxells, and lay in the house of Madame Pimentel. She not onely saw the palace, but twice too the Colledge of the Iesuits, and thei[r] faire and great library, where she shewed her great learning, and the very great knowledge she had of rare bookes, and grave sciences. She stai'd foure dayes in Bruxells, and visited there the Monastery, of the Carmelite discalceat Nunns, of the order of St. Teresa, the Ladyes, or religious of Berlaymont, the principall Monastery of Flanders, and the most noble Colledge of the Canonesses of Nivelles.
When she was return'd to Antwerp, Mounsieur De Chenut, the then French Ambassadour to the States of Holland, came thence to waite upon her. He had been before, as we said Ambassadour of the most Christian King to her Majestie in Swedland, so as he was treated by her; with the greatest demonstrations of affection, and esteeme being knowne by her Majestie to be of great abilityes, and experience, in affaires of greatest moment.
The Catholique King now inform'd, the Queen was gone towards Flanders, with the thoughts of staying there some little time, remanded into the low Countreys, Don Antony Pimentel Diprado, master of the camp of the Spanish foot, and Governour of Newport, with the title of extraordinary Ambassadour to this Princess to assist her in all things, as likewise to honour, with such a demonstration, her heroique resolutions[.]
Don Antony, departed from Bruxells for Spaine, on the eighth of June. 1654. going thither to give an account of his negotiations in Swedland, and pass'd with a passeport through France, being mett, defray'd, lodged, and all his charges borne, by order of Cardinall Mazarine, not so much in regard of his merits, though he was much esteemed in France, as in token of the said Cardinalls gratitude, who in his retreat out of France into Germany, was honourably treated in the Spanish Dominions. The care of accompanying him, was committed to Monsieur De Touchanpre,
The said Pimentel, embarquing at Biscaglia, arriv'd at Mardick on the twenty ninth of October, and from thence went towards Antwerp, whither he came on the fourth of December. He went to his first audience with a most noble traine, being a Gentleman very splendid and generous, and naturally affable and courteous. Here the Queen stay'd till all things were prepar'd for her reception in Bruxells, which was to be sumptuous, according to the orders the Catholique King had given expressly unto the Arch-Duke, and the rest of his ministers, who fayl'd not of punctually fulfilling the generous minde of his Majestie.
While the Queen remained in Antwerp, Earle Todt pass'd by there, sent by the King of Swedland to the Court of France, who by order of his King, was to complement her Majestie, which he did with expressions, corresponding with the gratitude, that was due from his master, for so great, and extraordinary a benefit.
In the meane time Count Pontus Della Garda arriv'd too from Paris in Antwerp, and going to wait on her Majestie, was detain'd awhile by her, as likewise Monsieur Pallpitzky, who resident in France for the Crown of Swedland, had order from his King, to assist her and serve her; she remanded into Swedland the Earle of Shemberg, to return the Kings complement, and come to some agreement about the lands appointed for her maintenance.
When all things in fine were in readiness for her Majesties reception in Bruxells on the 13. of December, the Arch-Duke came to Antwerp, to invite her to Bruxells, in the name of the King of Spaine, he himself returning thither the day after, where 'twas appointed, the Queen leaving Antwerp on the 23. should arrive the same Evening, as she did.
With modernised spelling for easier reading:
On the second [of August] she lay in Rodenburg, a little town of the said Duke of Lüneburg, on the third at the village of Barenburg, and on the fourth at Minden, a strong and considerable city seated on the river Weser, the chief of that province. The day after she went to Osnabrück, a great and famous city for the meeting there lately of the plenipotentiaries and ministers of the Protestant princes for the treaties of the general peace of Germany, belonging to the Bishop, the sovereign prince of that place. On the sixth she came to Münster, a city renowned for the conference and peace aforesaid, established there by the mediators and plenipotentiaries of all the Christian princes.
The next morning, Her Majesty, before she departed, desired to see the College of the Jesuits, esteemed and loved by her as persons of great virtue and learning; and here, while Her Majesty went viewing the things of greatest curiosity, although she was known by one of that Company, who had her picture by him, which was not ill-done and resembled her, he observing too in her the countersigns given him by a brother of the Society, yet he made no matter of it, not to hinder the pleasure she took in not being discovered.
Her Majesty, departing from Münster on the seventh day, lay that night in the village of Enschede and on the eighth at Deventer, a principal fortress of the dominion of the Republic of Holland, where she saw, as she passed by, one Mr. Gronovius, a man for his great learning, much esteemed by her. On the ninth she went to Amersfoort, where arrived too the same day the train of Her Majesty, to whom she gave order, by one of the grooms of her chamber, that, without making shew of knowing Her Majesty, they should keep on their journey, and instead of bending towards Amsterdam, according to the first order, go directly to Antwerp.
The States of Holland, receiving advice that the Queen gone from Swedeland came towards the Low Countries, gave order throughout all their dominions, they should stand on their guards and be ready to receive her with due honours. But Her Majesty passed through Deventer, Amersfoort, Utrecht and other places without being known, though she was expected everywhere there.
On the tenth, at night, she lay in a village near Gorkum, and passing the next day through the town, indifferently strong, on the river Waal, she came to Breda, a fortress as famous in Brabant as renowned in the wars past. On the twelfth of August she ended her journey in Antwerp, entering there privately and lodging in the house of Don Garcia d'Ylláno, a Portuguese, one of the richest and chiefest of that famous city.
The day after, overtaken by her train, she put on women's clothes and received the visit of Don Baltasar Mercadero, the commander of the citadel, a person of clear fame and great valour, afterwards in order by the magistrates of the city and the rest of the principal gentlemen of that noble country.
All flocked to see her with equal curiosity and respect and, dazzled with the splendour of her rare endowments and prerogatives, were not able to view her with greater applause than that of an affectionate and reverent admiration. The throngs of the citizens were for some days so great that they could hardly pass up and down in the streets that were near to her court.
In the meantime, the Archduke, the Prince of Condé, the Duke of Lorraine and the Earl of Fuensaldaña, with the rest of the princes and grandees designed for the direction and command of the army in Flanders, were all in the field, besieging the most important city of Arras, very valiantly defended by the French and invaded by the Spaniards with great earnestness and vigour. And though Cardinal Mazarin was most diligent and intent to supply it with all necessaries, yet so great was the confidence of the Spanish commanders that they verily believed to welcome this great queen with so glorious a victory.
With thoughts of this kind, continuing that siege, all the said three princes sent persons expressly to assure her that they within few days disengaged from that fortress would come and wait upon her with their presence, as they did then with their hearts, replenished with joy for the happy arrival of Her Majesty.
The Earle of Buquoy, a grandee of Spain and a gentleman of much worth, designed by His Catholic Majesty extraordinary ambassador to compliment the Queen eight days after her arrival in Antwerp, gave a very good account to Her Majesty of his commission and was received by her with many demonstrations of esteem proportionable to his merit and the greatness of the sender.
But in the meantime, the Cardinal having gathered together the French army and disposed the orders, where no less his refined understanding and conduct than good fortune appeared, the circumvalation being broken and gained, which by all was thought impenetrable, freed the tottering city, to the very great glory and benefit of the Crown of France.
His Imperial Highness returned then to Brussels on the eighth of September and the next day went to Antwerp to compliment Her Majesty in his person, as he had done before with his letters. The Queen received him at the foot of the stairs, conducted him to her lodgings, made him sit down [over] against her in such another chair, gave him always the title of Highness, and accompanied him to the bottom of the same stairs with reciprocal satisfaction, still speaking in Italian. The Archduke stayed in Antwerp one day and returned the next to Brussels.
When the Army was retired into the garrisons, the Prince of Condé likewise went to wait on Her Majesty, who, as the first prince of the royal blood of France, pretended the Queen should receive and treat him with the forms and prerogatives she had used with the Archduke. He therefore sent before the President Viole, one of the chiefe slingers of the Parliament of Paris and the constantest follower of his party, to visit her and discover her intention about his reception, who related Her Majesty would treat him in the form due to princes of his quality.
Viole was not satisfied with these general words, but would sound her farther, insisting to pretend the same honours done to the Archduke. Whereupon the Queen offended, perhaps, at the diffidence he seemed to have of her wary and generous discreetness, resolved to hold her own, refusing the Prince those acts of civility of which, as she afterwards declared, she would have been liberal if he had not pretended to them as his due. Viole, then, unable to compass the business in the manner pretended by the Prince, found at last this expedient: that His Highness should go visit her privately, as he did, being treated like a private cavalier.
Francis, Duke of Lorraine, came afterwards (received, too, privately by Her Majesty), the Earl of Fuensaldaña, and diverse other grandees of Spain, who had their reception in the forme used to them by the Catholic King, causing them to be covered. The tabouret, which is a less seat granted usually by queens to princesses of great quality, was given to the Duchesses of Arschot, of [Aumale], and the Princess of Ligne, all ladies of Flanders who went to wait upon her, being married to grandees of Spain.
The King of Scots sent likewise the Earl of Norwich to congratulate her arrival, and the Elector of Brandenburg Count Maurice of Nassau, and others. The Princess, too, of Condé sent her gentleman to pass all due compliments with Her Majesty.
While the Queen stayed in Antwerp, she still employed herself in noble entertainments, sometimes passing her time in seeing some moral representations, and chiefly in taking notice of many virtuous persons, who flocked from all parts to wait upon Her Majesty and be known to her.
From The Hague came concealed the Queen of Bohemia, married heretofore to the Prince Elector Palatine, and sister to Charles the First, King of England, with Princess Elisabeth, her daughter, and the Princess of Orange, and only to see her, as they did, at a comedy, they being unwilling to be known, not to be obliged, perhaps, to give her a visit without a return of the reception they pretended. Her Majesty went often to see the house of the professed, and the College of the Jesuits, where she saw represented Thyestes in Seneca, as she had desired, and another play entitled Manasses.
During her stay in Antwerp, the Emperor sent to compliment her Earl Raymond Montecuccoli, his general of the horse, a person of rare parts and eminent fame. The said Earl had been in Swedeland a little before, with the title of gentleman sent thither by the Emperor to ratify the good correspondence of His Imperial Majesty with that Crown, as likewise the freedom of a reciprocal commerce. She received Montecuccoli kindly, declaring herself much obliged to the goodness of Cesar for the honour he did her, whose letters she answered with all due respect, remanding this gentleman to Vienna with all satisfaction.
On the seventeenth of August Her Majesty went concealed to Brussels and lay in the house of Madame Pimentel. She not only saw the palace, but twice too the College of the Jesuits and their fair and great library, where she shewed her great learning and the very great knowledge she had of rare books and grave sciences.
She stayed four days in Brussels and visited there the monastery of the Carmelite Discalceate nuns, of the order of Saint Teresa, the ladies, or religious, of Berlaymont, the principal monastery of Flanders, and the most noble College of the canonesses of Nivelles.
When she was returned to Antwerp, Monsieur de Chanut, the then French ambassador to the States of Holland, came thence to wait upon her. He had been before, as we said, ambassador of the Most Christian King to Her Majesty in Swedeland, so as he was treated by her with the greatest demonstrations of affection and esteem, being known by Her Majesty to be of great abilities and experience in affairs of greatest moment.
The Catholic King, now informed the Queen was gone towards Flanders with the thoughts of staying there some little time, remanded into the Low Countries Don Anthony Pimentel de Prado, master of the camp of the Spanish foot and governor of Newport, with the title of extraordinary ambassador to this princess to assist her in all things, as likewise to honour with such a demonstration her heroic resolutions.
Don Anthony departed from Brussels for Spain on the eighth of June 1654, going thither to give an account of his negotiations in Swedeland, and passed with a passport through France, being met, defrayed, lodged and all his charges borne by order of Cardinal Mazarin, not so much in regard of his merits, though he was much esteemed in France, as in token of the said Cardinal's gratitude, who, in his retreat out of France into Germany, was honourably treated in the Spanish dominions. The care of accompanying him was committed to Monsieur de Touchanpré,
The said Pimentel, embarking at Biscaglia, arrived at Mardyck on the twenty-ninth of October and from thence went towards Antwerp, whither he came on the fourth of December. He went to his first audience with a most noble train, being a gentleman very splendid and generous and naturally affable and courteous. Here the Queen stayed till all things were prepared for her reception in Brussels, which was to be sumptuous, according to the orders the Catholic King had given expressly unto the Archduke and the rest of his ministers, who failed not of punctually fulfilling the generous mind of His Majesty.
While the Queen remained in Antwerp, Earl Tott passed by there, sent by the King of Swedeland to the court of France, who, by order of his King, was to compliment Her Majesty, which he did with expressions corresponding with the gratitude that was due from his master for so great and extraordinary a benefit.
In the meantime, Count Pontus de la Garda arrived too from Paris in Antwerp, and, going to wait on Her Majesty, was detained a while by her, as likewise Monsieur Palbitzki, who, resident in France for the Crown of Swedeland, had order from his King to assist her and serve her. She remanded into Swedeland the Earl of [Steinberg] to return the King's compliment and come to some agreement about the lands appointed for her maintenance.
When all things in fine were in readiness for Her Majesty's reception in Brussels on the 13th of December, the Archduke came to Antwerp to invite her to Brussels in the name of the King of Spain, he himself returning thither the day after, where 'twas appointed, the Queen leaving Antwerp on the 23, should arrive the same evening, as she did.
English translation (my own):
On the 2nd she lodged in Rodenberg, a small town of the same Lüneburg, on the 3rd in the village of Barenburg, and on the 4th in Minden, a strong and considerable city, situated above the river Weser, the principal one of that province. The following day she went to Osnabrück, a large city famous for the Congress that was recently held there of the plenipotentiaries and ministers of the Protestant princes for the treaties of the general peace of Germany, pertaining to the Bishop, who is the sovereign prince. On the 6th she passed to Münster, also a city renowned for the conference and the said peace established there by the mediators and plenipotentiaries of all the princes of Christendom.
The next morning, before leaving, Her Majesty wanted to see the College of the Jesuit fathers, whom she esteemed and loved as being of great virtue and learning, and here, while she was observing the most curious things, although she was known to one of those religiouses, who had a portrait of her very well done and like, and who represented in her the signs given to him by his brother, who was in Hamburg, in any case he made no excuse, so as not to offend the pleasure that this princess had in not being discovered.
Leaving Münster, she stopped on the night of the 7th in the village of Enschede, and on the 8th in Deventer, the main place of the dominion of the Republic of Holland, where she went to see in passing a certain Gronovius, a man she greatly esteemed as a great man of letters. On the 9th she transferred herself to Amersfoort, where on the same day Her Majesty's court also arrived, to which she made it understood by one of her aides-de-chambre that, without making any pretence of knowing her, he should continue his journey, and instead of going, according to the first order, towards Amsterdam, he should set off straight for Antwerp.
When the States of Holland learned that the Queen, having left Sweden, was on her way to the Netherlands, they gave orders throughout their dominions to keep guard and prepare for her reception with due honours; but Her Majesty passed through Deventer, Amersfoort, Utrecht and other places without being recognised, although she was expected everywhere.
On the night of the 10th she stayed in a village near the place Gorkum, and the following morning, passing through the said very strong place above the river Waal, she went to Breda, a fortress as principal as that of Brabant, and renowned in past wars. On August 12 she ended her journey in Antwerp, entering there privately by taking lodging in the house of Don Garcia d'Yllán, a Portuguese man, subject of the richest and most important of that famous city.
The following day, arriving unexpectedly from her court, she dressed as a woman and received a visit from Don Baltasar Mercader, castellan of the citadel, a person of great fame and great value; then gradually from the magistrates of the city and from the other most conspicuous lords of that most noble country.
They all flocked to see her with equal curiosity and respect, and, dazzled by the splendour of such rare gifts and prerogatives, they could not recognise her with greater applause than that of affectionate and reverent admiration. The crowd of citizens was for some days so great that only with great difficulty was it possible to pass through the streets adjacent to her lodging.
At this time the Archduke, the Prince de Condé, the Duke of Lorraine and the Count Fuensaldaña, along with all the other princes and grandees appointed to direct and command the arms of Flanders, were in the field under the very important city of Arras, valiantly defended by the French and fought with great impetus and vigour by the Spanish. And, although Cardinal Mazarin did not lack the greatest diligence and attention to bring the necessary aid, his confidence in the captains of Spain was nevertheless so high that they had already persuaded themselves to illustrate the arrival of this great queen with so glorious a victory.
With these feelings, therefore, continuing the expugnation, all three of the above-mentioned princes sent express persons to assure her that they, having hastened from that place in a few days, would appear to revere her with their presence, as they did at that time with their hearts filled with the joy they felt at Her Majesty's happy arrival.
The Count de Buquoy, a grandee of Spain and a cavalier of great rank, having been appointed by His Catholic Majesty as his ambassador extraordinary to meet the Queen eight days after her arrival in Antwerp, satisfied his commission to Her Majesty very well, and she received him with demonstrations of esteem proportionate to his merit and the greatness of him who sent him.
But in the meantime, the Cardinal having gathered the French army and arranged the orders both proper to his very fine intelligence and protected by his happy fortune, having broken and overcome the circumvallation, although considered by all to be impenetrable, he liberated the crumbling city with the greatest glory and benefit to the Crown of France.
His Imperial Highness returned to Brussels on September 8, and the following day he went to Antwerp to pay his respects to Her Majesty in person, as he had done before by letters. He was received by the Queen at the foot of the stairs, she conducted him to her rooms, made him sit opposite her in a similar chair, always addressed him with the title of Highness, and accompanied him to the bottom of the same stairs with mutual satisfaction, always speaking in Italian. The Archduke stayed one day in Antwerp, and the next day he returned to Brussels.
The campaign being ended, the Prince de Condé also set out to revere her. As the first prince of the royal blood of France, he demanded to be received and treated by the Queen with the forms and prerogatives she had practiced with the Archduke. However, he urged President Viole, one of the principal frondeurs of the Parliament of Paris, and one of the most constant followers of his party, to visit Her Majesty and try to discover her intentions regarding his reception. He reported that Her Majesty would treat him in the form due to princes of his quality.
Viole was not satisfied with these general words, but wanted to penetrate further, insisting on demanding the same honours given to the Archduke. Whereupon Her Majesty, perhaps offended by the diffidence that he showed towards the foresight of his generous discretion, resolved to contain herself with the rigours without using towards that prince the acts of that humanity with which she would have been liberal, as she later declared, if the said Prince had not wanted to demand them by obligation. Therefore, Viole not being able to carry out his negotiation in the manner desired by the Prince, it was finally found by agreement that His Highness should go to see her privately, as he did, treated in the manner that is customary with private cavaliers.
Then came Duke François of Lorraine (also received privately by Her Majesty), the Count Fuensaldaña, and several other grandees of Spain, who were treated in the manner that the Catholic King uses with them, having them covered. The tabouret, which is a small chair usually given by queens to princesses of great condition, was given to the Duchesses of Arschot, of Aumale, and to the Princess de Ligne, all Flemish ladies who went to pay their respects to her, as they were all wives of grandees of Spain.
The King of England also sent the Earl of Norwich to congratulate him; the Elector of Brandenburg sent Count Moritz of Nassau; and others. The Princess de Condé also sent a gentleman of hers to pass the due compliments with Her Majesty.
While the Queen stayed in Antwerp, she always indulged in noble exercises, sometimes passing the time in enjoying some moral representations, and above all in making the acquaintance of many virtuous men who from all parts flocked to pay their respects to her and make themselves known to Her Majesty.
Then came the Queen of Bohemia, former wife of the Elector Palatine and sister of King Charles I of England, the Princess Elisabeth, her daughter, and the Princess of Orange, from The Hague, incognito, only to see her as they did at the comedy, not wanting to be known, perhaps so as not to be obliged to visit her without receiving the treatment they desired. Then Her Majesty went several times to see the professed house and the College of the Jesuit Fathers, and there was performed for her Seneca's Thyeste, as she herself had desired, and another opera, entitled Manasse.
While she was staying in Antwerp, the Emperor sent Count Raimondo Montecuccoli, his general of the cavalry, a person of rare conditions and great fame, to meet with her. The said Count had been in Sweden shortly before, with the title of gentleman sent there by the Emperor, to ratify the good correspondence of His Imperial Majesty with that Crown and at the same time the franchise of a reciprocal trade. Montecuccoli was received by her with benign terms, declaring herself much obliged to the Emperor's kindness for the honour he was doing her. She answered the letters with the due considerations and sent this cavaliere back to Vienna full of contentment.
On August 17, Her Majesty went incognito to Brussels and lodged in the house of Madame Pimentel. She saw not only the palace, but also twice the College of the Jesuit Fathers and in it that beautiful and large library, in which she displayed her great knowledge and the very great knowledge she had of the rarest books and the gravest sciences.
She stopped in Brussels for four days and visited the convent of the Discalced Carmelite nuns of Saint Teresa, the ladies, or nuns, of the Berlaymont monastery, the principal one in Flanders, and the most noble College of the canonesses of Nivelles.
When she returned to Antwerp, Monsieur Chanut, the French ambassador at that time to those States, came from Holland to pay his respects. He had already been, as has been said, the ambassador of the Most Christian King to her in Sweden, where he was treated by Her Majesty with the greatest demonstration of affection and esteem, being known by her to be very capable and experienced in the most important affairs.
The Catholic King, already aware that the Queen had set out for Flanders, with the intention of staying there a little while, sent back to the Netherlands Don Antonio Pimentel de Prado, master of the Spanish infantry camp and governor of Nieuwpoort, with the title of his ambassador extraordinary to this princess, so that she would be assisted by him in everything, and also to honour her heroic resolutions with this demonstration.
Don Antonio had left Brussels for Spain on June 8, 1654, going there to give an account of his negotiations in Sweden, and had passed with a passport through France, met, paid for, lodged and given as a gift by Perona up to the borders of Spain by order of Cardinal Mazarin, not so much because of the merits of Pimentel himself, who was highly esteemed in France; but rather out of gratitude from the same Cardinal who, in his retreat from France to Germany, was honourably treated in the States of Spain. The care of accompanying him was given to Lord de Touchanpré.
The said Pimentel, having embarked in Biscay, arrived on October 29 in Mardyck, and from there he went on December 4 to Antwerp. He went to his first audience with a most noble cortège, being a very splendid and generous cavalier, in addition to his natural affability and courtesy. Here the Queen stopped until the preparations for her reception were ready in Brussels, which was to be most sumptuous in accordance with the orders that the Catholic King had expressly given to the Archduke and his other ministers, who did not fail to punctually carry out His Majesty's generous mind.
While the Queen was staying in Antwerp, Count Tott, sent by the King of Sweden to the Court of France, passed by. This minister, by order of the same King, came to pay compliments to Her Majesty, and he did so with expressions proportionate to the gratitude which his master owed to a very great, and not ordinary, beneficence.
Count Pontus de la Gardie also arrived in Antwerp from Paris, and when he went to pay his respects to Her Majesty, she detained him for a while, as did Lord Palbitzki, who, residing in France for the Crown of Sweden, had orders from his King to assist and serve her. She sent Count Steinberg back to Sweden to pay his respects to the King and to arrange what was necessary for her appanages.
Finally, when everything was ready to receive her in Brussels, the Archduke, on December 13, went to Antwerp to invite her in the name of the Catholic King, returning the following day to Brussels, where he made arrangements that the Queen, leaving Antwerp on the 23rd, should arrive that same evening, and so it happened.
Notes: diffidence = distrust, suspicion.
The Earl of Norwich = either George Goring, 1st Earl of Norwich (1585-1663) or his eldest son, George Goring, Lord Goring (1608-1657).
The Princess de Condé = Claire Clémence de Maillé-Brézé (1628-1694).
The Queen of Bohemia = Elizabeth Stuart (1596-1662).
Princess Elisabeth = Elisabeth of Bohemia and the Palatinate (1618-1680).
The Princess of Orange = Amalia of Solms-Braunfels (1602-1675).
The professed house in Antwerp = St. Charles Borromeo Church, a Roman Catholic church in central Antwerp, Belgium, located on the Hendrik Conscienceplein. It was built between 1615 and 1621 as the Jesuit church of Antwerp and was closed in 1773. In 1779 it was rededicated to Saint Charles Borromeo (1538-1584). The church was formerly known for 39 ceiling pieces by Peter Paul Rubens that were lost in a fire when lightning struck the church on July 18, 1718.
Madame Pimentel = Antonio Pimentel's wife, Isabelle Charlotte d'Aubremont, daughter of Gaspard-Antoine d'Aubremont (died 1657), the governor of Terramunda (Dendermonde/Termonde), and his wife Marie Lambertine d'Enghien. They had a daughter together, Maria Lambertina Pimentel.
The monastery Kristina visited was either the Discalced Carmelite monastery of Brussels which existed from 1610 to 1796, or the other Discalced Carmelite monastery in Brussels, which existed from 1607 to 1785. The Discalced Carmelites were established by Saint Teresa of Ávila (1515-1582), a Carmelite nun as well as a prominent Spanish mystic and religious reformer active during the Counter-Reformation.
The Convent of the Ladies of Berlaymont was founded in Brussels in 1625 by Marguerite de Lalaing (1574-1650) and her husband Florent de Berlaymont (born circa 1550, died 1626) as a monastery of Augustinian canonesses. The nuns were expropriated in 1794 due to the Austrian and French governments hardening their policies towards religious orders, and the convent has been rebuilt and continued elsewhere. Today the original site is occupied by the Berlaymont office building, which houses the headquarters of the European Commission, the executive branch of the European Union (EU).
Nivelles Abbey is a former Imperial Abbey of the Holy Roman Empire, founded in 640 A.D. by Itta of Metz (592-652), the widow of Pepin of Landin (born circa 580, died 640), with her daughter Gertrude of Nivelles (born 628, died 659). It was dedicated to Gertrude herself (who is venerated as a saint in the Catholic and Eastern Orthodox traditions) and belonged to the orders of Benedictine nuns and Canonesses Regular. The abbey was suppressed in 1794, 1,154 years after its founding, after the armies of the First French Republic invaded the Duchy of Brabant. Although damaged during German bombing raids during World War Two, the old abbey church, built in the 11th century (finished in 1049), still stands and was restored to its 11th and 13th century forms after the war.
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