Sources:
Christina, Queen of Sweden, pages 248 to 251, by Francis William Bain, 1890; original at the University of Connecticut Library
Pierre Hector Chanut's letter of November 3/13 (New Style), 1654 to Kristina is here:
Kristina's reply letter to him, written November 24/December 4 (New Style), 1654, is here:
His reply letter to her, written December 25, 1654/January 4, 1655 (New Style), is here:
The account:
... On August 6, she came to Munster, and went next day to visit the Jesuits' college there. A letter written by one of the Reverend Fathers gives an account of it. She was shown over the church, library, and precincts, jesting with the Father on the morals of the Order, in that they were all things to all men. Just before going, being offered a cup of wine, she accepted it, and poured it away on the ground, saying, "I am no great wine-bibber", and departed, much pleased with her entertainment: next morning she sent them 100 ducats. One of the Jesuits, who had her portrait, discovered her, in spite of the big hat, large boots, black wig, and sword on thigh, which announced the young man, but said nothing at the time. Thence passing through Holland incognita, in spite of the wish of the States to receive her magnificently, she arrived at Antwerp on August 12, and assumed her own dress.
Among those who came to see her here was the Archduke Leopold; "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." But her hero Condé sending to demand the same ceremony as that shown to the Archduke, she was annoyed and refused it; whereupon he would not come at all. It is said that he did come incognito in the crowd one day, and on Christina's recognising him, withdrew, remarking only, when she would have detained him, "All or nothing!" Meeting him one day as if by accident, Christina exclaimed, "Cousin, who would have believed, ten years ago, that we were destined to meet like this?" From the Hague came secretly the Queen of Bohemia, Elizabeth, the friend of Descartes [sic], with her daughter, "only to see her, as they did, at a comedy", as well as other notables; she passed her time in receiving visits, frequenting the theatres, and making tours to neighbouring colleges and libraries. To the admonition of the Senate she wrote back, refusing politely to be guided by their well-meant advice.
While she was at Antwerp, circumstances not fully known to us brought about an awkward misunderstanding between her and her old friend Chanut. She had wished to see him; accordingly, he came from the Hague, where he was ambassador, and was well received. After he returned, the report spread that his visit had not been one of mere courtesy, but that its object was to invite Christina to try and make peace between Spain and France. Chanut wrote to her, to ask her to deny this rumour publicly. Whether it was that there really had been some such talk, (Chanut, for instance, wrote to a friend, to say that the Queen was by no means such a Spaniard as was given out,) or whether she suspected the rumours were designed to injure her with Spain; or finally, wished to conciliate the Spaniards, she refused; telling him "that for all answer to his letter, which he was trying to give weight to by publishing copies, she would say only that all it contained was baseless; ... the French were well known to be hindering the peace; the Spaniards were waiting patiently, even though they might have to wait till the French grew more modest; and neither the cunning, nor the boasting of France would terrify them; the King of France would one day find that peace was his truest policy." Chanut wrote back a letter of surprise and remonstrant apology for his country; and laid the correspondences before the Court of Sweden, to which France had complained. King Charles contented himself with announcing he had taken no part in the business, and did not understand it, as, indeed, neither can we.
Above: Kristina.
Notes: The quarrel between Kristina and the Prince de Condé happened after Kristina arrived at Brussels, not Antwerp.
The Queen of Bohemia was Elizabeth Stuart (1596-1662), the oldest and only surviving daughter of King James VI and I (1566-1625) and Anne of Denmark (1574-1619), and the widowed wife of Friedrich V, Elector Palatine and King of Bohemia (1596-1632). Her daughter and Descartes' friend was Elisabeth of Bohemia and the Palatinate (1618-1680).
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