Excerpts from King Christian IV of Denmark's letter to Peder Vibe, dated May 3/13 (Old Style), 1641

Source:

Nogle Efterretninger om den svenske Enkedronnings, Maria Eleonore's, Undvigelse til Danmark og Ophold der i Aarene 1640 til 1645, correspondences included by Laurids Engelstoft for Det skandinaviske Litteraturselskabs Skrifter, syvende Aargang: 1811, pages 79 to 80, published by the Scandinavian Literature Society, 1811; original at Oxford University; backup copy without parts of the page clipped out is at the New York Public Library

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The letter excerpts:

Vdaff dyn siiste haffuer jeg forstanden, huorledis ded med Drosten y Suerrigs Election er tylgangen. Att Chanseleren inted gerne seer Nogen y Regeringen huos siig uden syne Egne, derpaa er inted at thuyffle. Och skal man erfahre, att samme Election skal tage paa hans Helbred, aldenstund den samme uaar hannem saa megiid ymod. Ded er mig kierdt, at ded er gangen som ded er, huylckiid du under Haanden kandt lade Drosten forstaa. Dii maa skamme dem, att dii tracterer deris Dronnings Frumoder, som dii gör. Hindis Herre uar all Verden for sneeuer, och nu maa hun leffue aff andriis Naade. ...

Aff Köben. Slott, den 3 Maj Anno 1641.

Christian.

With modernised spelling:

Udaf din sidste haver jeg forstanden, hvorledes det med drosten i Sveriges elektion er tilgangen. At kansleren intet gerne ser nogen i regeringen hos sig uden sine egne, derpå er intet at tvivle; og skal man erfare, at samme elektion skal tage på hans helbred, aldenstund den samme var hannem så meget imod.

Det er mig kært, at det er gangen som det er, hvilket du under hånden kant lade drosten forstå. De må skamme dem, at de trakterer deres dronnings frue moder, som de gør. Hendes herre var al verden for snæver, og nu må hun leve af andres nåde. ...

Af Københavns slot, den 3. maj anno 1641.

Christian.

French translation (my own):

D'après votre dernière lettre, j'ai compris comment s'est déroulée l'élection du drost en Suède. Il ne fait aucun doute que le chancelier n'apprécie la présence d'aucun membre de son gouvernement, hormis ses proches; et on constatera que cette même élection aura des conséquences néfastes sur sa santé, malgré son opposition farouche.

Il m'est cher que les choses se soient passées ainsi, et vous pouvez le faire savoir en secret au drost. Ils devraient avoir honte de traiter ainsi la mère de leur reine. Le monde était trop étroit pour son seigneur, et maintenant elle doit vivre de la grâce d'autrui. …

Du château de Copenhague, le 3 mai 1641.

Christian.

English translation (my own):

From your last letter I have understood how it has gone with the election of the Steward in Sweden. That the Chancellor does not like to see anyone with him in his government except his own relations, there is no doubt about that; and one will find that the same election will take its toll on his health, even though he was so much against it.

It is dear to me that this is the way it has gone, which you can let the Steward know in secret. They should be ashamed that they treat their Queen's lady mother as they do. The world was too narrow and small for her lord, and now she has to live on the grace and mercy of others. ...

From Copenhagen Castle, May 3, 1641.

Christian.

Above: Maria Eleonora.

Above: Per Brahe.

Above: Axel Oxenstierna.

Above: Peder Vibe.

Above: King Christian IV of Denmark.

Note: Per Brahe the Younger (1602-1680) had been elected as Grand Steward of the Realm (Riksdrotsen) on April 14/24 (Old Style), 1641. His predecessor, Gabriel Gustafsson Oxenstierna (born 1587), had passed away on November 27/December 7 (Old Style), 1640, at 53 years old, and had held the office since June 13/23 (Old Style), 1634, his own predecessor being Magnus Brahe (1564-1633).