Corrado Ricci on Kristina's life in Italy, part 2

Sources:

Cristina di Svezia in Italia, article written by Corrado Ricci for Nuova antologia di scienze, lettere ed arti, volume 41 (125), pages 25 to 29, published by the Direction of Nuova antologia, 1892; original at the Bavarian State Library

https://books.google.com/books?id=wr6lJEO7mjkC&newbks=1&newbks_redir=0&dq=regina+cristina+di+svezia&source=gbs_navlinks_s

Roma, visioni e figure: con 29 illustrazioni, pages 137 to 142, by Corrado Ricci, 1925; original at Cornell University

https://books.google.com/books?id=j31oPsGNy5IC&newbks=1&newbks_redir=0&dq=regina+cristina+di+svezia&source=gbs_navlinks_s

The article:

I preparativi in Roma erano proceduti con sollecitudine, essendosi lo stesso pontefice adoperato perchè tutto procedesse con attività ed ordine. Compiuta era la carrozza adorna di pitture e di statue dorate, secondo il disegno del Bernini.

Che importava se le spese crescevano e l'erario si esauriva e la peste tornava a serpeggiare? Cristina entrò in Roma per Porta Portese la sera del 20 dicembre, e, seguita da una lunga fiaccolata, andò nel quartiere d'Innocenzo VIII, alla Torre dei Venti. Infinita era la gente accorsa per assistere a quel modo veramente nuovo d'entrare in incognito!

Un agente di Savoia scriveva a Torino che dopo la visita al papa, Cristina si sarebbe ritirata al palazzo Farnese «dove sarà spesata con tutta la famiglia dalla Camera Apostolica per lo spazio di tre mesi che dice volersi trattenere in questa città, se però non le assegnerà a tale effetto, per detto tempo, mille scudi il giorno, come più comunemente si crede oltre il donativo fattole dalla S. S. di una carrozza (quella disegnata dal Bernini) con sei bellissimi corsieri, di una lettiga e di una sedia di velluto turchino, coperta di trine d'argento, con tutti i finimenti compagni».

Finalmente si presentò al papa, al quale dopo tre inchini, baciò il piede e le mani. Egli la sollevò garbatamente e la fece sedere in una sedia reale di velluto cremisi. Tutto ciò, ripetiamo, sempre in incognito, chè l'ingresso solenne in Roma, il trionfo, lo spettacolo coreografico fu solo il 26.

Mentre, di buon mattino, la cavalcata cominciava a mettersi in ordine alla villa Giulia, una pioggia dirotta cadde su Roma. Si pensava già a rimettere la festa quando un bel raggio di sole illuminò la città, e il cielo a poco a poco si schiarì. In breve le strade furono piene d'una folla curiosa, fitta, rumorosa. Cristina non si fece aspettare. «Elle parut comme une Impératrice victorieuse et une conquerante, marchant en triomphe d'une manière glorieuse et superbe.» Il Claretta raccoglie che «aveva una sottana ed un giustacuore di colore sul bigio ricamato d'oro. Una mantelletta nera le copriva gli omeri, forse per celare il difetto di una spalla. Aveva in testa un cappello a larghe falde attorniato da un cordone d'oro». L'inviato di Savoia dice che Cristina cavalcò su sella da donna, mentre l'Arckenholtz trovò ch'era vestita da Amazzone con piume diffuse al cappello e montava su cavallo bianco come un uomo.

Questo il Lilliecorna [sic], al seguito della regina in Fiandra e in Italia, conferma nel suo rapporto a Carlo Gustavo, aggiungendo che le dame romane «étoient surprises de voir la Reine assise à cheval comme un cavalier, portant des culottes chamarées» e si persuasero solo quando seppero ch'ella avea cuore ed abitudini d'eroina, e che sparava cannoni senza batter palpebra. Del resto, quello di cavalcare maschilmente era l'uso costante di Cristina e ne fanno fede gli scritti dei signori di Limiers e di Meiern, il quale ultimo aggiunse anzi che non c'era ragione a maravigliarsi perchè, a' suoi tempi, anche le dame inglesi facevano lo stesso. E la regina per giunta, in molte altre cose metteva tratti virili, e nemmeno facea grande stima delle donne. A Roma, infatti, non dimostrò loro troppo buona accoglienza; le trattò freddamente rispondendo appena al saluto, e passando.

Eppure Girolamo Graziani, già noto per aver pubblicato da un lustro La conquista di Granata, induceva la sua Musa a falsare, in un ritratto di Cristina, i caratteri fisici e morali, lodandola per bellissima e per femminilmente delicata e sentimentale. Alberto Bally, che la vide a Parigi, dettò: «Est fort petite, un peu boiteuse, mal faite de corps, et de visage fort brun... Elle marche à grands pas, s'arrête peu et a la voix fort grosse.» Pareva un maschio, e sapeva di parerlo, e lo diceva. Quando le dame francesi le furono intorno con certa sollecitudine per baciarla, esclamò: «Quelle fureur ont ces Dames à me baiser? Est-ce à cause que je ressemble à un homme?» — Nullameno la carne bruna, anzi fosca di lei, coperta d'una lieve ma fitta lanugine, il profilo risoluto, aspro quasi, di quel volto singolare, dalle sopracciglia troppo arcuate, dal naso troppo lungo, alla bocca larga e al mento sottile ed arguto; in fine, la sua voce baritonale e certe angolosità e durezze di gesto non distoglievano il letterato adulatore dallo scrivere:

«Nevi di Svezia in paragon cedeste

de la mano e del seno al bel candore,

e in paragon de l'aureo crin perdeste

miniere d'India il prezioso onore.

Voi porpore a' suoi labbri e voi men belle

ai suoi begli occhi impallidite, o stelle.»

Superbo quell'aureo crine! Una parrucca gialla sopra il capo spelato ch'ella faceva radere grottescamente! — Vere ciurmerie poetiche compensate in qualche guisa dal celebre e tardo epigramma:

«À sa jupe courte et légère

à son pourpoint, à son collet,

au chapeau chargé d'un plumet,

au ruban ponceau, qui pendoit

et par devant et par derrière,

à sa mine galante et fière

d'Amazone et Avanturière:

à ce né de Consul Romain;

à cette fierté d'héroine,

à ce grand œil tendre et hautain:

soudain je reconnus Christine.

Christine des arts le maintien,

Christine qui céda pour rien

et son roïaume et votre Eglise:

qui connut tout et crut rien;

que le saint Père canonise,

que damnent les Luthérien,

que la gloire immortalise!»

Discesa presso la gradinata di San Pietro salì alla funzione.

L'indomani il papa la trattenne a desinare, in un tavolino poco distante dal suo e un po' più basso, servita da don Antonio della Cueva, dal marchese Bentivoglio e dal conte Francesco Santinelli. Calata nel pomeriggio a visitare le reliquie di San Pietro, passò sul tardi fra le torcie, dalla Torre dei Venti al palazzo Farnese, dove si mostrò ammirata dell'appartamento che le era destinato.

Il papa aveva fatto provvedere a tutto. La cantina era fornita di vini prelibati, e la dispensa, di prosciutti, di cera, di zucchero e cose simili. Ma con lei entrò il disordine, chè alcuni de' suoi servi rubarono sino dei mobili e tagliaron pezzi d'arazzo e fregi e levarono rami dal tetto.

Cristina vi ricevette presto la visita del papa e di molti cardinali con cerimoniale che sarebbe troppo lungo descrivere. Ella certamente si teneva in contegno per quanto poteva, ma la sua natura bizzarra ad ora ad ora prorompeva in atti che, se non indispettivano, imbarazzavano però Sua Santità. Com'era doloroso per lui dover rinunciare alla speranza, nutrita da principio, ch'ella avrebbe vissuta una vita di riserbo, quasi monacale, e sarebbe stata esempio di sobrietà e di virtù in quella Roma dove purtroppo i religiosi erano i primi a fomentare e a nutrire gli scandali!

Non tardava infatti Cristina, scrivendo alla contessa di Sparre, a far un ben triste ritratto della città eterna: «O bella contessa, ci sono statue, obelischi, palazzi sontuosi; ma non ci sono uomini!» [sic]

In una visita a Castel Sant'Angelo lasciò un fondo ai trombettieri perchè suonassero sinfonie all'aurora di ogni dì. Era un uso comune in altre città e da lei forse ammirato in Bologna, come anche era un uso del tempo quello di visitare monasteri ed ospedali. Assai più di queste bazzecole, doveva dunque seccare al nuovo pontefice veder come la nuova cattolica s'abbandonasse spietatamente ai divertimenti del carnevale, che per ciò appunto fu detto il carnevale della regina, e, durante il quale, si corsero undici pallii e si fecero infinite feste da ballo.

Ma l'atto di cui allora più si parlò, fu l'istituzione della sua Accademia Reale, che poi divenne l'Arcadia, nel palazzo Riario, dove più di due secoli e mezzo prima avea subito Caterina Sforza.

All'antica principessa austera, risoluta, dal forte senno politico, subentrava ora la donna del seicento, bizzarra, incostante, solo in una cosa paragonabile all'altra, nel coraggio. — La nuova Accademia surse per tutta iniziativa di Cristina, la quale diede subito norme sane come quelle di bandire la satira personale e i panegirici a lei. Anche dovevano entrarvi uomini ragguardevoli soltanto; ma ella stessa v'introdusse i Santinelli spadroneggianti oramai — in ispecie Francesco — nella sua corte. Essi però sapevano ballare e vestivano elegantemente, due cose che molta parte della nobiltà, anche oggi, apprezza più dell'ingegno.

English translation (my own):

The preparations in Rome had proceeded with solicitude, with the Pontiff himself ensuring that everything progressed efficiently and in an orderly manner. The carriage, adorned with paintings and gilded statues, had been completed according to Bernini's design.

What did it matter if expenses were rising, the treasury was depleted, and the plague was spreading again? Kristina entered Rome through Porta Portese on the evening of December 20, and, followed by a long torchlight procession, went to the district of Innocent VIII, to the Tower of the Winds. An immense crowd had gathered to witness this truly novel way of entering incognito!

An agent from Savoy wrote to Turin that after her visit to the Pope, Kristina would retire to the Palazzo Farnese, "where she and her entire family will be provided for by the Apostolic Chamber for the three months she intends to stay in this city, unless, however, she is assigned a sum of one thousand scudi a day for that period, as is more commonly believed, in addition to the gift given to her by His Holiness of a carriage (the one designed by Bernini) with six beautiful horses, a litter, and a chair of deep blue velvet, covered with silver lace, with all the matching furnishings."

Finally, she presented herself to the Pope, to whom, after three bows, she kissed his foot and hands. He graciously lifted her up and had her sit in a royal chair of crimson velvet. All this, we repeat, was done incognito, since the solemn entry into Rome, the triumph, and the choreographed spectacle only took place on the 26th.

While, early in the morning, the cavalcade was beginning to assemble at Villa Giulia, a torrential rain fell on Rome. They were already considering postponing the festivities when a beautiful ray of sunshine illuminated the city, and the sky gradually cleared. Soon the streets were filled with a curious, dense, and noisy crowd. Kristina did not keep them waiting. "Elle parut comme une Impératrice victorieuse et une conquerante, marchant en triomphe d'une manière glorieuse et superbe." ["She appeared like a victorious Empress and a conqueress, marching in triumph in a glorious and superb manner."] Claretta notes that "she wore a skirt and a bodice of a greyish colour embroidered with gold. A black cape covered her shoulders, perhaps to conceal a defect in one shoulder. On her head she wore a wide-brimmed hat surrounded by a gold cord." The envoy from Savoy says that Kristina rode on a woman's saddle, while Arckenholtz found that she was dressed like an Amazon, with feathers on her hat, and rode a white horse like a man.

This is confirmed by Lilliecrona, who accompanied the Queen to Flanders and Italy in her suite, in his report to Karl Gustav, adding that the Roman ladies "étoient surprises de voir la Reine assise à cheval comme un cavalier, portant des culottes chamarées" ["were surprised to see the Queen sitting on horseback like a cavalier, wearing richly brocaded breeches"], and were only persuaded when they learned that she had the heart and habits of a heroine, and that she fired cannons without batting an eyelid. Moreover, riding in a masculine style was Kristina's constant practice, as evidenced by the writings of Messieurs Limiers and Meiern, the latter of whom added that there was no reason to be surprised because, in his time, even English ladies did the same. And the Queen, furthermore, displayed virile traits in many other things and did not even hold women in high esteem. In Rome, in fact, she did not show them much good reception; she treated them coldly, barely responding to their greetings, and passing them by.

Yet Girolamo Graziani, already known for having published La conquista di Granata five years earlier, induced his Muse to distort, in a portrait of Kristina, her physical and moral characteristics, praising her as beautiful and femininely delicate and sentimental. Albert Bailly, who saw her in Paris, wrote: "Est fort petite, un peu boiteuse, mal faite de corps, et de visage fort brun... Elle marche à grands pas, s'arrête peu et a la voix fort grosse." ["She is very short, slightly lame, poorly built in her body, and has a very brown face... She walks with long strides, rarely stops, and has a very deep voice."]

She looked like a man, and she knew she looked like one, and she said so. When the French ladies surrounded her with a certain eagerness to kiss her, she exclaimed: "Quelle fureur ont ces Dames à me baiser? Est-ce à cause que je ressemble à un homme?" ["What fury these ladies have to kiss me! Is it because I look like a man?"] —

Nevertheless, her dark, even swarthy complexion, covered with a light but thick down, the resolute, almost harsh profile of that singular face, with its overly arched eyebrows, overly long nose, wide mouth and thin, sharp chin; finally, her baritone voice and certain angularities and harshness of gesture did not deter the flattering literatus from writing:

"Nevi di Svezia in paragon cedeste

de la mano e del seno al bel candore,

e in paragon de l'aureo crin perdeste

miniere d'India il prezioso onore.

Voi porpore a' suoi labbri e voi men belle

ai suoi begli occhi impallidite, o stelle."

["Snows of Sweden, you yield in comparison

to the beautiful whiteness of her hand and breast,

and in comparison to her golden hair,

mines of India, you lose your precious honour.

You purples, pale before her lips, and you,

less beautiful stars, grow dim before her lovely eyes."]

That golden hair was superb! A yellow wig on her bald head, which she had grotesquely shaved! — True poetic trickery, compensated in some way by the famous and belated epigram:

"À sa jupe courte et légère

à son pourpoint, à son collet,

au chapeau chargé d'un plumet,

au ruban ponceau, qui pendoit

et par devant et par derrière,

à sa mine galante et fière

d'Amazone et Avanturière:

à ce né de Consul Romain;

à cette fierté d'héroine,

à ce grand œil tendre et hautain:

soudain je reconnus Christine.

Christine des arts le maintien,

Christine qui céda pour rien

et son roïaume et votre Eglise:

qui connut tout et crut rien;

que le saint Père canonise,

que damnent les Luthérien,

que la gloire immortalise!"

["By her short, light skirt,

by her pourpoint, by her collar,

by the hat adorned with a feather,

by the poppy-red ribbon that hung

both in front and behind,

by her gallant and proud bearing

of an Amazon and Adventuress;

by that face of a Roman Consul;

by that heroic pride,

by that large, tender, and haughty eye;

suddenly I recognised Kristina.

Kristina, the embodiment of the arts,

Kristina, who gave away for nothing

both her kingdom and your Church:

who knew everything and believed nothing;

whom the Holy Father canonises,

whom the Lutherans condemn,

whom glory immortalises!"]

She descended the steps of St. Peter's and proceeded to the function.

The next day, the Pope invited her to dine at a little table not far from his own and slightly lower, served by Don Antonio de la Cueva, the Marquis Bentivoglio, and Count Francesco Santinelli. In the afternoon, she went to visit the relics of Saint Peter, and later, by torchlight, she went from the Tower of the Winds to the Palazzo Farnese, where she showed her admiration for the apartment that had been destined for her.

The Pope had made sure everything was provided for. The cellar was stocked with fine wines, and the pantry with prosciutto hams, wax, sugar, and similar provisions. But with her arrival came disorder, as some of her servants stole even furniture, cut pieces from tapestries and friezes, and removed beams from the roof.

Kristina soon received a visit from the Pope and many cardinals, with a ceremonial that would be too long to describe. She certainly contained herself as best she could, but her bizarre nature occasionally burst forth in actions that, if not offended, at least embarrassed His Holiness. How painful it was for him to have to abandon the hope, which he had initially cherished, that she would live a life of restraint, almost monastic, and would be an example of sobriety and virtue in that Rome where, unfortunately, the religious were the first to foment and encourage scandals!

Indeed, Kristina did not hesitate to paint a very sad portrait of the Eternal City when writing to the Countess Sparre: "Oh, beautiful Countess, there are statues, obelisks, magnificent palazzi; but there are no men!" [sic]

During a visit to Castel Sant'Angelo, she left a sum of money for the trumpeters to play symphonies at dawn every day. This was a common custom in other cities and perhaps one she admired in Bologna, just as it was also customary at the time to visit monasteries and hospitals. Much more than these trifles, however, what must have annoyed the new Pope was seeing how the new Catholic convert ruthlessly indulged in the revelries of Carnevale, which for this very reason was called the Queen's Carnevale, and during which eleven horse races were held and countless balls took place.

But the act that was most talked about at the time was the establishment of her Royal Academy, which later became the Arcadia, in the Palazzo Riario, where Caterina Sforza had resided more than two and a half centuries earlier.

The austere, resolute, and politically astute princess of old was now replaced by the woman of the seventeenth century, bizarre and inconstant, comparable to the former only in her courage. — The new Academy arose entirely through Kristina's initiative, and she immediately established sound rules, such as banning personal satire and panegyrics addressed to herself. Only distinguished men were to be admitted; but she herself introduced the Santinelli brothers, who by then held sway in her court — especially Francesco. However, they knew how to dance and dressed elegantly, two things that a large part of the nobility, even today, values more than intelligence.

Above: Kristina.

Above: Corrado Ricci, painted by Ettore Tito in 1913.

Note: Palazzo Riario is the old name for the Palazzo Corsini alla Lungara.

Faith Compton Mackenzie on Kristina's return to Rome and on the conclave that ultimately elected Cardinal Emilio Bonaventura Altieri as Pope Clement X

Source:

The Sibyl of the North: The Tale of Christina, Queen of Sweden, pages 233 to 244, by Faith Compton Mackenzie, 1931; original scan at the Universal Digital Library

https://archive.org/details/sibylofthenortht008021mbp/page/n247/mode/2up

The account:

CHAPTER XVI

THE CONCLAVE

THERE was ample consolation for the barren Hamburg years awaiting Christina in Rome. At Narni Azzolino met her, and she had evidently taken more trouble about her appearance than on her last entry into the city. She wore an innocente, a long, excessively feminine garment, of purple velvet embroidered with gold, a yellow wig, a huge black feather in her hat, and a cape trimmed with point de Venise. The Pope's state coach with an escort of Swiss and other Guards conveyed her to the Quirinal, where she was received by His Holiness in an hour's audience. And again she was accorded that signal honour which marked her first arrival in Rome thirteen years ago. She dined with the Pope. That no woman was ever permitted to eat in the presence of His Holiness, whether she were empress, queen or relation of the Sovereign Pontiff, was one of the rules most strictly observed by the Vatican.

One does not hear of a sermon being preached at this repast as at the other. It was the meeting of old friends, and there were so many matters which both had at heart that conversation must have flowed easily. That Ottoman problem which was always at the back of Christina's mind — here at last was a Pope who was passionately interested in it. A union of Christian Europe against the Turk! Had not Christina aimed at that when she sent Gualdo forth on his fruitless eighteen months' tour seven years ago?

And now it seemed that Clement IX was actually accomplishing it, inspiring harmony in the jangling nations under his authority. Morosini of Venice, who had for two years been valiantly defending the last outpost of Christianity, Candia, against the invader, was being supported now by the Duke of Beaufort from France, by Vivonne and his galleys, by the ships of the Holy See and the Knights of Malta under the Pope's brother, Vincenzo Rospigliosi, and by an army of seven thousand men of France. This was the news which Clement had for Christina as they dined together that November day.

A grant of twelve thousand crowns a year from the Pope was only one among many blessings that came to Christina in the waning of 1669. Palazzo Riario greeted her as one is greeted by a home that has shared vividly in great happiness. As she entered the Palace her countenance was alight; she looked "plump, pink and white, and enchanted with her return". Perhaps those dead years in Hamburg were worth while after all, to contrast with the glowing autumnal garden which had so fantastically grown up in these two years. The Vigna Farnese terrace no longer intruded, and the lemon trees still carried their shapely fruit.

Best of all her blessings was the honour done to the beloved Azzolino. He was the most powerful man in Rome — the trusted servant of His Holiness. He had arrived; one day, she dreamed, he would be Pope, but not too soon.

Meanwhile, life was splendid in the Golden Age of Rome. Noble diversions filled the days and nights. The ugly shadow of nepotism which had hung so blackly over the pontificate of Alexander VII was gone. There were certain offices which went by tradition to the Pope's relations, but there was no enriching of the Rospigliosi family at the expense of the Holy See. Clement IX combined the best kind of worldliness with a generous integrity probably unique in his day. The social life of Rome had never been more brilliant. One day there was the magnificent entry of an ambassador, another a pageant or the promotion of a cardinal, among the public festivals, while the private entertainments were on a scale never surpassed. Every night there was the opera, at which Christina was constantly seen in her gorgeous box. She was responsible for the introduction of female sopranos, who enchanted Rome with their singing and beautiful clothes. In her box a constant visitor was Cardinal Odescalchi, who, when he came into power some years later, changed his ideas and dealt severely with the theatre, and female singers were heard no more at the opera.

Every evening the bells of Rome rang, reminding the faithful to pray for the gallant defenders of Candia. The Pope himself never ceased to pray for the cause which meant, literally, life itself to him.

Alas, for the human element which defies Divine interference! The foolish Duke of Beaufort had no sooner arrived on the scene than he rushed his troops into action, in spite of the entreaties of Morosini, with disastrous results. A concerted attack a month later ended in tragedy, and two hundred heads of French leaders, including Beaufort's, were paraded before the Grand Vizier. The French, discouraged, and impatient of the prudent Venetians, deserted their allies and set sail for home. Vincenzo Rospigliosi, helpless without the French, was also obliged to retire. The news was slow in reaching Rome. It was six weeks before, on October 13, Clement IX heard of the tragedy. The deep anxiety he had been suffering all through the summer was now made manifest. At the shock of the news he collapsed, and less than a fortnight later he was seized by apoplexy.

He lingered through November, and[,] well aware that his end was approaching, he held a convocation in his room, with thirty-six cardinals round his bed, gave the purple to half a dozen prelates, and finally spoke a Latin discourse in which he begged them to elect his successor without discord or self-interest, to the glory of God. He deplored his own failure, and it was clear that his mind was unceasingly occupied with the tragedy of Candia. He sent for Christina a few days before he died and bade her a tender farewell. She left his presence in tears, and indeed the death of this good man was a most bitter blow for the Church, and for Christina and Azzolino a misfortune incalculable.

No time was wasted by the factions at the Vatican as soon as the illness of the Pope was known to be fatal. The most active of all was Azzolino. His manœuvres at the last Conclave had been astonishingly successful. He had managed so skillfully that both the French and Spanish parties had given him the credit of having worked for the election of Rospigliosi in their favour. Both factions were, for once, entirely satisfied, and the escadron had issued from the Conclave with its colours flying.

The coming Conclave was of enormous importance to Azzolino. He had immediately selected Cardinal Vidoni as the desirable successor to Clement IX. Vidoni came from a noble but not princely house in Cremona, and had been nuncio to John Casimir in Poland. He was acknowledged to be just and honourable and a man learned in affairs. There were those who feared his justice might degenerate into severity, the last quality to be tolerated in a Pope, but there was a strong general feeling in his favour.

As soon as the funeral ceremonies of Clement IX were over, the Vatican was invaded by Bernini's workmen, who transformed the whole of the first floor into a network of little cells in which the cardinals should be immured until the Pope be elected. The distribution of cells, like the entire business of the Conclave, was supposed to be under Divine guidance, but we find Azzolino conveniently placed in cell 18, which looked out on the Borgo Nuovo, where Christina was eagerly working for him in Palazzo d'Inghilterra, which she had taken in order to be within the precincts of the Vatican and so free to exchange notes without interference. In cell 19 was Ottoboni, Azzolino's principal friend and one of the live wires of the escadron, and in No. 20, singularly enough, was Vidoni himself. Cardinal Flavio Chigi was also indulged, for he was in No. 59, which not only faced south-west, but looked out on the piazza of St. Peter's[,] where he could watch his horses at their daily exercise. He had been made cardinal when he was twenty-one by his uncle, Alexander VII, and was remarkable for his equipages, his kennels, and his peculiar tastes.

Chigi was now thirty-four, and leader of a powerful faction which included Vidoni, Azzolino's choice for the Papacy. Christina said of this faction that it contained twenty-two men and twenty-five Popes. Of the twenty-five members of it, all coveted the tiara, but three of them were not, she considered, men. These three were Flavio, his cousin Sigismondo, and a Tuscan cardinal, Nini.

The two Crown factions were led by d'Este, Barberini and de Retz for France, and by the de Medicis for the Spaniards. Then there was the Rospigliosi faction, and finally the escadron volant, also called the Pamphili, of which Azzolino was the acknowledged leader. Pamphili was no longer cardinal, being married to the famous and beautiful Princess Rossano, but he and his wife were active in the work of the escadron. Much too active, Christina thought. This princess had known Azzolino before he met Christina, and rumour said it was not only poetry that he had dedicated to her in the past. However this might be, an annoying incident occurred when Clement IX lay dying. Some of the escadron cardinals paid a call on Vidoni, who was spending a little leisure at Frascati, and afterwards took him to visit the Princess Rossano. When he was presented to her, someone said:

"This is the future Pope."

When Christina heard of this[,] she was justly annoyed. The first principle of making a Pope was that no one should know whom anyone else was backing. That someone should have announced Vidoni as the coming Pope before the escadron had begun its stealthy campaign on his behalf, was exasperating. It did not, however, prevent Christina from throwing herself with more than her usual zest into the novel excitement of a conclave. Because Azzolino had, temporarily, it was to be hoped, lost his official quarters in the Vatican, she took the house on the Borgo Nuovo for him for three years. It eventually became his permanent residence until he died. Here she set up her work-room, from which she was in constant communication with Azzolino, sometimes writing as many as four long notes a day, and sometimes, when there was a lull in the correspondence, walking in the little garden of the new house, whence she could see the barred window of cell No. 18, where the beloved was weaving his invisible threads so cautiously — so dexterously, she fondly thought.

She had been among the friends who visited the cells on the last day before the Conclave, on the 20th of December[,] when the gates were to clang on the outer world until the Pope was chosen. An excellent law of the Middle Ages to guard against abuses was no longer in force. By this the members of the Conclave, strictly secluded as now, were given their food through a carefully guarded window, and, if the Pope were not elected in three days, only one course was allowed. After five days bread and water was the only fare, with a little wine. Things were not so severe now, but they were bad enough. Clement IX had chosen an unseasonable time to die. The Vatican was never comfortable in winter, and the cells, inadequately warmed with unwholesome braziers, were not at all to the taste of the cardinals, accustomed as most of them were to luxurious living. Food, too, if it was not actually handed through a window, was, however, richly and pompously presented, generally half cold. One cardinal quite definitely refused to occupy his cell, and that was Ludovisi, a member of the escadron, to whom laziness was a point of honour. This was so well known that his cell, No. 60, had not even been furnished.

Under the somewhat meagre circumstances it was natural that a half-bottle of wine or a few dozen oysters might well turn the scale in a delicate manœuvre. An excellent claret played a lively part in the Conclave. Cardinal Medici writes to the head of his family:

"Bouillon and Retz tell me that they have gained new life from Your Highness's claret. Please send me some more. I will distribute it by the bottle, for unless I give it to them decanted the conclavists will take to tippling."

Vidoni was one of the first to be tempted with oysters and claret. He was genuinely shocked by this, especially as it was Lent, and immediately went to Azzolino for advice. This was, that to keep on good terms with the tempter, it would be best to accept a half-bottle of claret a day. "With these people, it's the only thing to do", he said.

One does not hear what Vidoni did about it, but he is scandalized by the eating and drinking that goes on. "Think what the Protestants will say", he writes.

When Christina said good-bye to Azzolino on that last day[,] she also visited the cell, next door, of Vidoni, and inaugurated her career of duplicity with the remark, made in ringing tones to be heard by as many as possible:

"Here at any rate is one who will not be Pope!"

A trifle overdone this. Crude and Nordic. Later on, when she had had more experience of Latin diplomacy, she took to heart Azzolino's advice, which was to tell the truth in order not to be believed. "It is", he wrote to her, "the art of arts."

The problem of electing a new Pope was a hard one. To begin with, no one must have any ambition to be Pope. Everyone papable must, naturally, wait for Divine guidance to direct the Conclave. There were no candidates; there were "subjects". Then each faction must scrupulously conceal from the others the secret of its choice, but as soon as the Pope was elected it was absolutely essential to have been responsible for that election.

Azzolino, though he was next door to Vidoni, never entered his cell, and was never seen speaking to him. They exchanged notes at night, and Azzolino took the trouble to translate Christina's long notes from French into Italian for the benefit of his subject. Christina, on her side, when she was not in her work-room in Borgo Nuovo, was giving audiences to the French and Spanish Ambassadors, the Duc de Chaulnes and the Marquis d'Astorga, and most of the notable people interested in the Conclave. The Riario became the centre of intrigue, and her business was, with as much mystery as possible, to convince all her visitors, whatever faction they favoured, that Azzolino was Pope-maker, and to him alone would be the credit, whoever was elected. The atmosphere inside and outside the Vatican was indeed so heavily charged with intrigue and mystery that it looked as though the cardinals would be immured for ever. The weeks went by, and one by one the subjects were juggled with and excluded by vote. If Vidoni were elected[,] there was no doubt that Azzolino would be re-established and more powerful than ever, therefore Chigi, who had favoured Vidoni until he suspected that Azzolino did too, looked round for another subject for his party. Already D'Elci, the most papable of his own faction, had been excluded, and he at last confided in his own people that he would seek a subject elsewhere. When Azzolino heard this[,] he decided upon a daring ruse which was, in fact, scarcely worthy of his intelligence nor a good example of the "art of arts".

He wrote a note to Christina saying that, for all he had apparently been working in favour of Vidoni, the very opposite was the case. Vidoni, he wrote, was the strongest of Chigi's candidates, and for that reason most to be feared. As to whom the *escadron* was truly favouring — ah! that would be known to all in good time. Meanwhile, Christina would please go on giving the impression that Vidoni was his favourite, which was the best way of getting him excluded.

This note, written on the 25th of February, he carefully dropped so that a servant of Chigi should pick it up, and it was, as he had hoped, taken straight to the Cardinal. But Chigi was not at all taken in by it, and the only result of the trick was to prejudice him still more against Vidoni. There was another unfortunate incident of the same kind. When D'Elci and Bonvisi had been excluded after an enormous amount of intrigue and disappointment, there was a strong move in favour of Odescalchi, so strong that by the 16th of March there was little doubt that he would be elected; so little that the luxurious Ludovisi actually visited his cell, in spite of the cold, which was regarded as a sure sign that the end was near.

Now Odescalchi was one of the papables whom Azzolino had completely neglected throughout the Conclave. Not a word or sign to him of favour or friendship. This must be remedied at once. An inspiration came indirectly from Cardinal de Retz, who was said to have congratulated Odescalchi upon his approaching election. A note should be written to Odescalchi in the same tone, and what could be more effective than the statement that he, Azzolino, had advised de Retz to pay that little compliment, thereby convincing Odescalchi that the leader of the escadron had been working secretly for him all the time, and that his apparent indifference was but a mask to hide the truth?

An excellent idea, but unfortunately, as this was the first note Azzolino had written to Odescalchi, the servant of that cardinal, suspecting a mistake, as of course it had no direction on the outside, handed it to the servant of Cardinal Bouillon in the cell next door, with whom Azzolino was in constant communication. Bouillon read it and passed it on to de Retz, and the result was not pleasant for Azzolino. Apart from the de Retz invention, which was trivial and foolish, the impression made on these two friends of his was that he had been working against them secretly in favour of Odescalchi. Azzolino was decidedly losing ground in Vatican politics. And in the end Odescalchi had only seven votes in the scrutiny of March 20.

The discomfort of the Bernini cells and the intense cold soon began to tell upon the immured cardinals. Fever and bronchitis laid many of them low, and even Azzolino, one of the youngest and strongest, was shut in his cell for several days with a violent cold. When he was better he sent a note to Christina telling her so, and her joy at hearing it was surpassed by the fact that he had written the two letters "S. M." at the head of it. S. M. — Sua Maesta? It meant more than that, and no one but themselves will ever know what it did mean, but on Christina those two initials had a magical effect:

"But under what happy influence did you give me that glorious reminder of my past felicity? Am I mistaken, and do the letters 'S. M.' no longer mean what they used to mean? If I could describe to you the joy the sight of them gave me, you would think me somehow worthy of that title, which is dearer to me than Queen of the Universe. But I cannot be worthy of it, since you have deprived me of it. Do what you please; I am yours so absolutely that you cannot without injustice and horrible cruelty doubt that I deserve 'S. M.'".

In his answer he gave her "S. M." again, but for the rest of the Conclave he was discreet, and begged her to be the same. Business and sentiment were so carelessly interwoven that it became impossible to show her letters to his friends. He asks her to separate from "other things" the affairs of the Conclave.

These affairs went on all through Lent. Easter came, and Christina retired for a week to the Carmelite convent in Lungara[,] as was her habit. This time she said she would not have objected to a slightly deaf confessor. The cardinals, still imprisoned, were engaged solely in their religious observances. But soon they were busy again, with their secret votes and daily scrutinies, and now it was spring in Rome, and the cells were warmer, and everyone hoped the end would soon come.

It came in the last days of April, and a shattering end it was for Azzolino. It was incredible! De Retz had been plotting with Chigi and Rospigliosi to such purpose that the future Pope was already decided upon without the slightest reference to Azzolino. A very old gentleman, Cardinal Altieri, had been chosen. His principal recommendation was that he was eighty years of age. The news was brought to him in his cell, and he broke down and begged with tears to be allowed to die in peace, crying that he was too old and not capable of what would be expected of him. He clung to the bed he was sitting on when the conclavists came to carry out the custom of pillaging his cell. He was then seized and led kindly but forcibly to the Sistine Chapel, where the vote was made. Still the old man protested, and only after an hour's persuasion would he consent to wear the Papal insignia.

The election was announced to the waiting crowd, the smoke from the voting papers rose to the skies, the barriers that had shut out the world for over four months fell, and the first to kiss the Pope's toe was Christina herself. Her bearing, of course, was brave, but her heart was sore for the man she loved.

Reams of paper and gallons of ink! The usual reckless expenditure of energy and enthusiasm, and, as always, disillusion at the end.

"Mon Dieu", she had written to Azzolino when the cabals were at their thickest, "si vous pouviez profiter de tout ce desordre pour vous même!"

But he had failed. Flavio Chigi had beaten him in the "art of arts".

Above: Kristina.

Above: Cardinal Decio Azzolino.

Above: Pope Clement IX.

Above: Pope Clement X.

Above: Faith Compton Mackenzie.

Note: Candia is the old name for the Greek island of Crete.

Baron Carl Bildt on Kristina's visit to Assisi on December 3/13 (New Style), 1655

Source:

Anteckningar från Italien af en svensk diplomat, pages 158 to 160, by Baron Carl Bildt, 1896; original at Oxford University (digitised January 27, 2025)

https://books.google.com/books?id=7pJQ1piH4EkC&newbks=1&newbks_redir=0&dq=andreas+galdenblad&source=gbs_navlinks_s

The account:

Ungefär tre hundra år senare [efter heliga Birgitta] — det var den 13 december 1655 — kom drottning Kristina till Assisi. Redan vid Spello, halfvägs från Foligno, mottogs hon af biskopen, kardinal Rondanini, med flera vagnar, pager och lakejer i sammet, lansryttare och kyrassierer, perukprydda kavaljerer, tal, krus och komplimanger. Drottningen stannade först vid Portiunculan, nu en ståtlig kupolkrönt dôm, som Pius V låtit Vignola resa öfver den heliges anspråkslösa, kära kapell och som fått namnet S. Maria degli Angeli. Där inne lyste det grant af den gryende barock-tidens förgyllningar och snirklar, äkta jesuiterstil, just i Kristinas smak. Hälsad af muskötsalvor, fortsatte hon därifrån uppför kullen till Assisis murar, där guvernören var henne till mötes med magistraten, mera kavaljerer och mera tal. Tåget gick vidare till S. Francesco-kyrkan, där han hörde mässan sjungas med präktig musik och besåg alla relikerna. Giottos fresker ägnade hon ingen uppmärksamhet; de voro ej på modet, och Kristina, ett sant barn af sitt sekel, hade i bedömande af konst ej mycken själfständighet. Nya salvor, kanondunder denna gång, och drottningen steg åter upp i sin af två mulåsnor burna bärstol för att begifva sig till sitt kvarter i Palazzo Giacobilli, där Assisis förnäma damer uppvaktade henne. En stor bankett gafs till Kristinas ära, men endast de förnämsta gästerna, bland dem Pimentelli, fingo plats i palatset. De öfriga fingo äta i klostret, där tio rikt utstyrda rum iordningställts åt dem.

Efter middagen drog sig Kristina tillbaka till sina rum och sysselsatte sig — gissa med hvad? Jo, hon skickade efter krokanerna, som varit på bordet, och granskade noga de mästerverk, sockerbageriet frambragt. Där voro de fyra hufvuddygderna i socker, Pallas, Apollo med en förgylld vase, Kristina själf, som höll Tiden fången, klippor, kolonner, heroer, harpyor, allt i socker, smickrets och sliskighetens triumf. Så noga hade drottningen redan under måltiden betraktat figurerna, att hon märkte, att det fattades en, och lät skicka efter den. Det lönade mödan, ty det var Odödligheten.

Sedan detta var förrättadt, hade Kristina intet mer att göra i Assisi utan steg upp i sin bärstol och återvände till Foligno, följd till Portiunculan af kardinal-biskopen och hans granna eskort. — Sådant var Gustaf Adolfs dotters besök vid Francescos graf.

English translation (my own):

About three hundred years later [after Saint Birgitta] — it was December 13, 1655 — Queen Kristina came to Assisi. Already at Spello, halfway from Foligno, she was received by the bishop, Cardinal Rondanini, with several carriages, pages and footmen in velvet, lancers and cuirassiers, cavaliers adorned with wigs, speeches, frills and compliments.

The Queen stopped first at the Portiuncula, now a stately domed cathedral, which Pius V had Vignola build over the Saint's modest, dear chapel and which has been named Santa Maria degli Angeli. Inside it shone brightly with the gilding and scrollwork of the dawning Baroque era, true Jesuit style, just to Kristina's taste. Greeted by musket salvos, she continued from there up the hill to the walls of Assisi, where the governor met her with the magistrate, more cavaliers and more speeches.

The train went on to the Church of Saint Francis, where she heard the Mass sung with splendid music and looked at all the relics. She paid no attention to Giotto's frescoes; they were not in fashion, and Kristina, a true child of her century, had not much independence in judging art. New salutes, cannon fire this time, and the Queen again mounted her litter, borne by two mules, to go to her quarters in the Palazzo Giacobilli, where the noble ladies of Assisi courted her.

A great banquet was given in Kristina's honour, but only the most distinguished guests, among them Pimentel, were allowed a place in the palazzo. The rest had to eat in the cloister, where ten richly furnished rooms had been prepared for them.

After dinner, Kristina retired to her rooms and occupied herself with — guess what? Well, she sent for the pièces montées that had been on the table and carefully examined the masterpieces the sugar bakery had produced. There were the four cardinal virtues in sugar, Pallas, Apollo with a gilded vase, Kristina herself, holding Time captive, rocks, columns, heroes, harpies, all in sugar, the triumph of flattery and sloppiness. The Queen had already examined the figures so carefully during the meal that she noticed that one was missing and had it sent for. It was worth the effort, for it was Immortality.

After this was done, Kristina had nothing more to do in Assisi, but got into her litter and returned to Foligno, followed to the Portiuncula by the Cardinal-Bishop and his close escort. — Such was the visit of Gustav Adolf's daughter to Francis' tomb.

Above: Kristina.

Above: Baron Carl Bildt.

Note: A pièce montée is a kind of decorative confectionery centerpiece in an architectural or sculptural form used for formal banquets and made of such ingredients as "confectioner's paste", nougat, marzipan and spun sugar. Although the ingredients are typically edible, their purpose is mainly decorative, and they are often not meant to be consumed.

Excerpt from Thomas Bartholin's letter to Pierre Bourdelot, dated May 17/27 (New Style), 1652

Sources:

Thomæ Bartholini epistolarum medicinalium, à doctis vel ad doctos scriptarum, volume 2, pages 470 to 469, by Thomas Bartholin, 1740

https://books.google.com/books?id=8u0GAAAAcAAJ&newbks=1&newbks_redir=0&dq=thomas+bartholinus+epistolae&source=gbs_navlinks_s

Isaac Vossius and his Circle: His Life until his Farewell to Queen Christina of Sweden, 1618-1655, page 378 and footnotes 150 and 151, by F. F. Blok, 2021

The letter excerpt:

In magna gloriæ parte reputo, tantæ Reginæ placuisse mea studia & anatomicos labores, quibus defungor. ... Opuscula Ingrassiæ & Sylvatici, de aquæ potu post sumptum medicamentum, ex Bibliotheca Fuireniana brevi faxo ut habeas. Magna tua prudentia potum frigidæ recte suadet in biliosis & calore æstuantibus, ut acrimonia calidi pharmaci obtundatur in ventriculo. Hoc consilio ægrotanti Siciliæ Proregi Johanni de Vega, post sumtum pharmacum, Ingrassias aquæ frigidæ librani unam cum pauco saccharo dedit, unde & felicem medicamenti successum procuravit, & vas idem argenteum, ex quo frigida propinata, pretii aureorum quinquaginta, obtinuit. Majora Tibi augoror, si consilio eventus responderit. ... Hisce Vale, Vir acutissime, mihique favere perge. Hafniæ 27. Maj. 1652.

T.

Thomas Bartholinus.

With modernised spelling:

In magna gloriæ parte reputo, tantæ reginæ placuisse mea studia et anatomicos labores, quibus defungor. ...

Opuscula Ingrassiæ et Sylvatici, de aquæ potu post sumptum medicamentum, ex Bibliotheca Fuireniana brevi faxo ut habeas. Magna tua prudentia potum frigidæ recte suadet in biliosis et calore æstuantibus, ut acrimonia calidi pharmaci obtundatur in ventriculo. Hoc consilio ægrotanti Siciliæ proregi Johanni de Vega, post sumtum pharmacum, Ingrassias aquæ frigidæ librani unam cum pauco saccharo dedit, unde et felicem medicamenti successum procuravit, et vas idem argenteum, ex quo frigida propinata, pretii aureorum quinquaginta, obtinuit. Majora tibi augoror, si consilio eventus responderit. ... Hisce vale, vir acutissime, mihique favere perge. Hafniæ, 27 maii 1652.

Tuus

Thomas Bartholinus.

French translation (my own):

Je considère comme une grande partie de ma gloire qu'une si grande reine ait été satisfaite de mes études et des travaux anatomiques dans lesquels je les accomplis. ...

Je vous ferai parvenir sous peu les brochures d'Ingrassia et de Sylvaticus sur la façon de boire de l'eau après avoir pris des médicaments, de la bibliothèque de Fuiren. Votre grande prudence recommande à juste titre une boisson froide aux personnes souffrant de biliosité et de chaleur, afin que l'âcreté du médicament chaud puisse s'émousser dans l'estomac. Dans ce but, après avoir pris le médicament, on donna au vice-roi sicilien malade Jean de Vega une livre d'eau froide avec un peu de sucre, ce qui lui permit d'utiliser avec succès le médicament, et il obtint également un récipient en argent d'où fut versée la boisson froide, d'une valeur de cinquante pièces d'or. Je prévois de plus grandes choses pour vous si le résultat correspond à votre plan. ... Adieu, homme très perspicace, et continuez à me soutenir. Copenhague, le 27 mai 1652.

Votre

Thomas Bartholin.

Danish translation (my own; using the archaic formal 2nd person pronouns "I/Eder" rather than the modern "De/Deres"):

Jeg betragter det som en stor del af min herlighed, at så stor en dronning har været tilfreds med mine studier og det anatomiske arbejde, jeg udfører dem i. ...

Jeg vil snart stille brochurerne af Ingrassia og Sylvaticus til rådighed for Eder om at drikke vand efter at have taget medicin, fra Fuirens bibliotek. Eder store forsigtighed anbefaler med rette en kold drik til dem, der lider af galde og varme, så den varme medicins skarphed kan sløves i maven. Med denne plan gav man, efter at have taget medicinen, den syge sicilianske vicekonge Juan de Vega et pund koldt vand med lidt sukker, hvorved man sikrede lægemidlets vellykkede brug, og han fik også et sølvkar, hvorfra den kolde drik blev hældt, til en værdi af halvtreds guldstykker. Jeg forudser større ting for Eder, hvis resultatet svarer til Eder plan. ... Farvel, mest akutte mand, og fortsæt med at støtte mig. København, den 27. maj 1652.

Eder

Thomas Bartholin.

Swedish translation (my own):

Jag anser att det är en stor del av min ära att en så stor drottning har varit nöjd med mina studier och det anatomiska arbete jag utför dem i. ...

Jag kommer snart att göra tillgängliga för Er broschyrerna av Ingrassia och Sylvaticus om att dricka vatten efter att ha tagit medicin, från Fuirens bibliotek. Er stora försiktighet rekommenderar med rätta en kall dryck för dem som lider av galla och hetta, så att den heta medicinens skarphet kan dämpas i magen. Med denna plan gav man, efter att ha tagit medicinen, den sjuke sicilianske vicekonungen Juan de Vega ett pund kallt vatten med litet socker, varigenom läkemedlets framgångsrika användning säkerställdes, och han erhöll också ett silverkärl, ur vilket den kalla drycken hälldes, värt femtio guldstycken. Jag förutser större saker för Er om resultatet motsvarar Er plan. ... Farväl, mest akute man, och fortsätt att stödja mig. Köpenhamn, den 27 maj 1652.

Er

Thomas Bartholin.

English translation (my own):

I consider it a great part of my glory that so great a queen has been pleased with my studies and the anatomical labours in which I perform them. ...

I will soon make available to you the pamphlets by Ingrassia and Sylvaticus on the drinking of water after taking medicine, from Fuiren's library. Your great prudence rightly recommends a cold drink for those suffering from biliousness and heat, so that the acridity of the hot medicine may be dulled in the stomach. With this plan, after taking the medicine, one gave the sick Sicilian viceroy Juan de Vega a pound of cold water with a little sugar, thereby ensuring the successful use of the medicine, and he also obtained a silver vessel from which the cold drink was poured, worth fifty gold pieces. I foresee greater things for you if the outcome corresponds to your plan. ... Farewell, most acute man, and continue to support me. Copenhagen, May 27, 1652.

Your

Thomas Bartholin.

Above: Kristina.

Above: Pierre Bourdelot.

Above: Thomas Bartholin.

Notes: Ingrassia and Sylvaticus were Sicilian doctors in the 16th century.

Juan de Vega y Enríquez, 1st Count of Grajal (1507-1558), was the viceroy of Sicily.

Excerpts from Pierre Bourdelot's letter to Thomas Bartholin, dated May 8/18 (New Style), 1652

Sources:

Thomæ Bartholini epistolarum medicinalium, à doctis vel ad doctos scriptarum, volume 2, pages 468 to 469, by Thomas Bartholin, 1740

https://books.google.com/books?id=8u0GAAAAcAAJ&newbks=1&newbks_redir=0&dq=thomas+bartholinus+epistolae&source=gbs_navlinks_s

Isaac Vossius and his Circle: His Life until his Farewell to Queen Christina of Sweden, 1618-1655, page 377 and footnote 148, by F. F. Blok, 2021

The letter excerpts:

Dum multa de Te Smæ Reginæ retuli, muneris illud mei fuit. Id debebam veritati, non amicitiæ. Gaudet Regina habere in vicina Virum in Anatomicis sectionibus sic insignem. Virtus tua, de qua mirifica dixit Regina Professoribus Upsaliensibus, fuit incentivum ipsorum animis, qui jam sedulo sectioni animantium incumbunt. ... Tota in me medicorum contumelia, ab aquæ potu Reginæ præscripto. Illa, dum huc accessi, erat mera bilis, quæ jam restinguitur aquæ potu, balneo & somno, juxta præscriptum divini senis. ... Holmiæ 18 Maji 1652.

With modernised spelling:

Dum multa de te serenissimæ reginæ retuli, muneris illud mei fuit. Id debebam veritati, non amicitiæ. Gaudet regina habere in vicina virum in anatomicis sectionibus sic insignem. Virtus tua, de qua mirifica dixit regina professoribus upsaliensibus, fuit incentivum ipsorum animis, qui jam sedulo sectioni animantium incumbunt. ...

Tota in me medicorum contumelia, ab aquæ potu reginæ præscripto. Illa, dum huc accessi, erat mera bilis, quæ jam restinguitur aquæ potu, balneo et somno, juxta præscriptum divini senis. ... Holmiæ, 18 maii 1652.

French translation (my own; I cannot tag it as such due to character limits in the tags):

Si j'ai dit à la sérénissime reine beaucoup de choses sur vous, c'était mon devoir. Je le devais à la vérité, non à l'amitié. La reine est ravie d'avoir à ses côtés un homme aussi distingué dans les sections anatomiques. Votre vertu, dont la reine a parlé merveilleusement aux professeurs d'Upsal, a été un stimulant pour leurs esprits, qui se consacrent maintenant avec diligence à l'étude des animaux. ...

Les médecins ont pour moi un mépris entier à cause de l'eau que j'ai prescrite à la reine de boire. Ce qui n'était que de la bile quand je suis venu ici est maintenant éteint depuis qu'elle boit de l'eau, se baigne et dort, selon la prescription de ce divin vieillard. ... Stockholm, le 18 mai 1652.

Danish translation (my own; using the archaic formal 2nd person pronouns "I/Eder" rather than the modern "De/Deres"; I cannot tag it as such due to character limits in the tags):

Mens jeg har fortalt den durchlauchtigste dronning mange ting om Eder, var det min pligt. Det skyldte jeg sandheden, ikke venskab. Dronningen glæder sig over at have en mand, der er så fornem i anatomiske sektioner i hendes nærhed. Eder dyd, som dronningen har talt vidunderligt om til professorerne i Uppsala, har været et incitament for deres sind, som nu flittigt er viet til studiet af dyr. ...

Lægerne har en hel foragt for mig på grund af det vand, jeg har ordineret dronningen at drikke. Hvad der blot var galde, da jeg kom her, er nu slukket, nu hvor hun drikker vand, bader og sover, efter den guddommelige gamlings ordination. ... Stockholm, den 18. maj 1652.

Swedish translation (my own):

Även om jag har berättat många saker för den durchlauchtigaste drottningen om Er, var det min plikt. Jag var skyldig sanningen, inte vänskapen. Drottningen är glad över att ha en man som är så framstående i anatomiska sektioner i hennes närhet. Er dygd, om vilken drottningen har talat underbart till professorerna i Uppsala, har varit ett incitament för deras sinnen, som nu flitigt ägnas åt studier av djur. ...

Läkarna har ett helt förakt för mig på grund av vattnet jag har ordinerat drottningen att dricka. Det som bara var galla när jag kom hit nu släcks nu när hon dricker vatten, badar och sover, enligt den gudomlige gamlingens ordination. ... Stockholm, den 18 maj 1652.

English translation (my own):

While I have told the Most Serene Queen many things about you, that was my duty. I owed that to truth, not friendship. The Queen is delighted to have a man so distinguished in anatomical sections in her vicinity. Your virtue, of which the Queen has spoken wonderfully to the professors of Uppsala, has been an incentive to their minds, which are now diligently devoted to the study of animals. ...

The doctors have an entire contempt for me because of the water I have prescribed the Queen to drink. What was mere bile when I came here is now quenched by her drinking water, bathing and sleeping, according to the prescription of that divine old man. ... Stockholm, May 18, 1652.

Above: Kristina.

Above: Thomas Bartholin.

Above: Pierre Bourdelot.

Notes: Mr. Fuiren = Dr. Thomas Fuiren (1623-1675), a Danish physician and naturalist.

"That divine old man" = Hippocrates (c. 460 B.C.-c. 370 B.C.), an Ancient Greek physician and philosopher of the classical period who is considered one of the most outstanding figures in the history of medicine.

Pierre Bourdelot's report and assessment of Kristina's health and prescriptions for a healthier diet and lifestyle, written and presented probably in March 1652 (he arrived in Stockholm in late February)

Sources:

Mémoires concernant Christine, reine de Suède, volume 4, pages 408 to 412 (appendix no. XXXVI), compiled and edited by Johan Arckenholtz, 1760; original at the University of Michigan

https://books.google.com/books?id=BbRMAAAAMAAJ&newbks=1&newbks_redir=0&dq=memoires+concernant+christine+1760&source=gbs_navlinks_s

Riders Dictionarie, by John Rider and Francis Holyoke, 1606

https://books.google.com/books?id=ZNFaAAAAcAAJ&newbks=1&newbks_redir=0&dq=empyrema&source=gbs_navlinks_s

Queen Christina, page 61; pages 83 to 84; pages 167 to 168, by Georgina Masson, 1968 (1974 edition)

Christine de Suède: Un roi exceptionnel, page 85; page 99, by Bernard Quilliet, 1982

The 4,500th post to this blog!

The report:

Consilium pro tuendâ valetudine Serenissimæ Reginæ.

Etsi videatur esse supervacaneum jam profligati morbi historiam in medium referre coram Serenissimâ Reginâ Virisque Medicis, qui ipsus valetudini redintegrandæ operam dederunt, referendam tamen esse putavi, aut quia minùs accuratè antehàc fuerit enarrata, aut fortè nunquam scripto mandata. Itaque ex re esse omninò arbitror, si à me conscribatur diligenter morbus ille diuturnus, quem feliciusne dicam magis ex arte fuerim adortus, & cujus præsidiis Medicis faciliùs cesserit, ita etiam ut si denuò Serenissima Regina recidivam pateretur, quod absit, vel aliis Medicit uteretur quàm qui nunc adsunt, inter illos posset constare de illius temperamento, varid partium intemperie, humorum indole, morbosisque symptomatibus que illam exercuerunt.

Serenissima Regina temperamento calido & sicco fervidissimis humoribus, acri ingenio prædita, vigiliis, curis, & improbo labore calorem & siccitatem partium sic adauxit, ut illæ qualitates naturæ modum excesserint, nec non etiam pravis eduliis tantam humorum sarcinam collegit, ut corpus evaserit in cacochymum & dyscraton, undè omnium ferè functionum læsio: ruit enim primùm appetitus, neque ulteriùs vigere poterat, quod (cum alvina regio multo humore atrabilari scateret) ejus portio in ventriculum reflua sic ipsum infecit, ut officii tæderet. Alvus erat pigra cum aridissimis excrementis, calore nempe ustulatorio omne humidum depopulanti: palmo cordis laborabat, à tetro halitu humoris atrabilarii, putris, in cavis hepatis contenti: deliquium animi patiebatur, dum erat insignis gradus putredinis, humoris cor ferientis malignâ suâ expiratione, quæ etiam expiratio dum appelleret ad cerebri membranas, vigilias, curas & mœrorem inducebat: & acerbissimis doloribus in hypochondrio sinistro torquebatur, qui acrimoniam & uredinem humoris eo loci contenti denotabant. Sed & totum corpus occupabat ille humor, quod colligere erat ex atris cataminiis, & ex nigro sanguine, à quo tanquam ab atramento, nigrescebant indusia, si quandò vulnus aliquod leve, ab assiculâ cuti fuisset inflictum, gingivæ ipsæ putres, laxæ, nigro sanguine turgidæ, humorum caracterem & morem satis superque testabantur: sicut tempus (antequàm prodirent ipsa menstrua) per octiduum laboriosum & febrile: aderat perpetua eaque spontanea corporis lassitudo, quæ singula loquebantur insignem corporis cachexiam, quæ ut nullum sinebat diem abire immunem à febre, quem non etiam fecisset terrificum aliquo symptomate calamitoso, puta, animi deliquio, vel motu corporis convulsivo; sic ab annis septem omnia erant in perniciem valetudinis Serenissimæ Reginæ comparata, ut febris, quæ vix intermittebat, sic ferè omne humidum in corpore siccissimo & calidissimo depopulata, ita ut quæ erat hectica cum cachexiâ, jam ad secundum gradum pervenisse videretur; Impotentia illa dormiendi, prostratus ille appetitus, summa virium imbecillitas, tanta denique rerum omnium calamitas me terruit, ita ut ferè satiùs duxerim, si manus ab opere tanto abstinerem; sed ut vidi Serenissimam Reginam esse bono animo, consilii Medici capacem, & quæ strenuè sanitatis redintegrationi vellet incumbere, tantus fuit ausus, ut nec imtemperiei altissimæ, nec tot malè feriatis symptomatis, neque tantæ morbi perennitati cedendum esse crediderim, neque etiam omnia adeò conclamata putavi, quin ea possint intra annum emendari, resarciri, & in integrum restitui.

His itaque artibus contumacissimum morbum gnaviter aggressus sum, victum præscripsi, qui corpus refrigeraret & humectaret, bonosque succos pravorum in locum reponeret, cibos proposui cuchymos & eupeptos, elixos potiùs quàm assos, ita ut offis plurimûm uteretur, abstineret omninò à salsis, piperatis, fumo induratis, butyrosis & pinguibus, multo potu se prolueret, vel algidæ, aut decoctorum contemperantium, quæ cum pomis, limonibus, malis aurantiis & syrupis convenientibus conficienda curavi; addidi plerumque hordeum & semina 4 frigida majora contuja. Substitui etiam decoctum aqueum carnis vitulinæ, cum crystallo minerali ad aliquot grana diluto: Curavi his in hebdomade, ut alvus blando enemate salveretur, & semel in mense duceretur sanguis ad ℥viii, quàm fuerit ille retorridus niger & piceus omnes testabuntur; sed cujus conditionis fuerint humores educti cathartico semel in mense assumto vix credibile est, ita nigri, ita acres, ut argenteæ pelvi ferruginem, plumbeumque colorem statim inurerent, sed ita sævi, ut torminibus atrocissimis intestina cruciarent, anumque dilaniarent, ad quæ sedanda, potus plurimus decocti hordei, aquæ vitulinæ, vel emulsionum fuit institutus: Hisce præsidiis, temporibus solitis, vel crebriùs in usum revocatis, factum est, ut post quatuor menses desævire & mitescere visa fuerint, quæ gravissima erant symptomata, non ampliùs ab eo tempore deliquit animo Regina, jamque labra, quæ fuerant sicca & fissa, cutis quæ fuerat aspera & lentiginosa novam mollitudinem sibi comparabant, humoribus benigniorem indolem induentibus, neque recurrebat pro more lateris ille dolor importunus, recreatisque, ab assumtis eduliis cum appetitu, facultatibus, somnus unâ vel alterâ horâ longior factus & pacatior (naturæ in gratiam redeuntis signum) ejus vires mirum in modum refocillabat, jam victoria partes ipsius naturæ sequi videbatur, sed ut hostis ille infensissimus jam fusus fugatusque penitùs deleretur, ferro seu chalybe, medicatas aquas singulis diebus manè hauriendas, confecimus, quæ pondere suo latebras omnes mesenterii & lienis penetrarent, vi ecphracticâ vias abductas solverent, & humorem adustum & contumacem præpararent & edomarent. Hoc præsidii genus bonis omnibus fuit institutum, humores enim mitiores facti, corpusque magit εύροῦν & meabile omni saburræ everrendæ ansam præbuerunt, catharticis sæpiùs repetitis.

Sic Serenissima Regina ab omni humorum colluvie liberata, quæ antè languida, spontaneis lassitudinibus continebatur, mox vegeta, & abique ullo anhelitu, ut solebat, labori vel maximo indulgere cœpit; sed inter præsidio, quod omne punctum tulit, fuit Balneum aquæ tepidæ, quod sæpiùs ingressa, & per plures horas tanta benigni humoris syrrhoe totum corpus perfudit, ut cuti mollitudinem nativam cum εὑχροία redonaverit, somnum ad naturales leges revocaverit, & ventriculum suæ ditioni penitùs reddiderit: Sanguis interea frequenti præsertim phlebotomiâ frugi factus, in ipsis cataminiis minimè niger, ut apparebat antea, sed floridus vividusque conspectus est, & post annum ita mitis fuit & blandus, ut nulla tormina vel dolores, nullos cordis palmos, nullos in toto corpore motus spasmo tremulos excitaret. Sic Serenissima Regina intra annum restituta est sanitati, quâ omninò inculpata utebatur; ter enim in die comedebat, ita ut non appetitus esset sed fames, egerebat liberrimè, somnus erat placidus & longus, mens hilaris & labor indefessus, cum corporis εὑσαρκία & coloris suavitate, tantaque fuit corporis εὑεξία & alacritas per tres aut quatuor menses, ut equitationi aliisque laboribus indulgens de valetudine non modò contenderet cum validioribus, verùm etiam illos superaret: cum ecce mense Aprili, die decimâ quintâ, cataminiis justâ periodo fluentibus, apparuit febricula cum exacerbationibus sub vesperam redeuntibus, cum capitis dolore, lassitudine & dolore punctorio in hypochondrio sinistro, illæ exacerbationes non cum horrore aut rigore, sed cum intolerabilis ardore urinæ ingruebant, erantque graviores diebus imparibus, ita ut aliquandò vomitu, vigiliis, angustiâ, & palmo cordis, nec non linguæ ariditate & asperitate fuerint insignes, ab exacerbatione verò sic remissa erat febriculo, ut nullas præter sphygmicam, quæ erat irritata, facultates læderes, ita enim vires & appetitus valebant, ut omni genere ciborum uteretur, & pilâ lusoriâ corpus exerceret, sed vitebatur à prandio febris aliquantulùm augeri & ab exercitatione concitabantur spiritus, ita ut acerbiùs sub vesperam reduplicatione corriperetur: febris erat tertiana duplex continua, ad quam expugnandam diæta parcior seu tenuis eaque refrigerant & humectans in usum fuit revocata, phlebotomia fuit quater repetita & aliquot clysteres injecti, post 14um. diem deficientibus exacerbationibus propinavimus catharticum ex cassiæ extract. ℥ß sennæ oriental. ℥j Rhei elect. ʒß, devorato holo, tanta fuit atræ bilis retorridæ, acrit, mox lucidæ, & viscosæ per inferiora evacuatio, absque seri vel bilis mixturâ, ut omnes mirarentur: sed à catharsi commotio quædam febrilis suborta est cum pulsu non magno quidem sed celeri & crebro, cum calore acri & sicco per habitum corporis diffuso, cum vultûs pallore & virium imbecillitate, nec non cordis palmo frequenti; suspicio fuit plurimam atram bilem superscitem in cavis hepatis & lienis, à catharsi commotam, hanc tragœdiam movere. Sancitum itaque fuit ut humor ille acer & ferus demulceretur, hordeatis emulsionibusque cum seminibus frigidis & ipso semine papaveris albi contusis & immixtis: inficerentur quoque clysteres, emolliendis intestinis subducendisque humoribus idonei, ut illi quâ daretur portâ ruerent, præcipimus etiam ut ægra penitùs abstineret à cœnâ, & ut somno & quieti sese committeret. Itaque ubi visus est humor tepuisse beneficio diætæ præsidiorumque à nobis præscriptorum, de epicatharsi cogitavimus, cujus operâ multa bilis atra ejusdem indolis ac prior subducta est, sed sub finem sparsâ bile porraceâ & æruginosâ, ab hoc assumto solutivo recruduit aliquantulùm morbus, commotis nempè fervidissimis, ne dicam igneis spiritibus, in corpore calidissimis visceribus prædito, sed multo potu & quiete æstus ille desæviit, maximè potu aquæ chalybeatæ manè ad cyathos sex propinate. Quantùm profuerit aqua illa medicata vix credibile est. Corpori enim toti blandum calorem induxit, calorem febrilem magnâ ex parte extinxit, tum facilitate suâ frigidâ cum etiam stegnaticâ & gravi quibus datur humores sursum vergentes coërcere ipsisque frenum injicere, sed præsertim facultate solutivâ, quâ valet, multam bilem flavam meramque per inferiora deturbare, indè apyrexia. Sublato enim fomite quomodò potest incendium febrile superesse? Sed si quod sit empyrema ipsis partibus inustum, spes est fore à balneo tepidæ dilutum & deletum iri. Spirituum enim fluctus componit, humorum æstum sedat, partesque ipsas vel marasmo laborantes) contemperando suo nectare vivisco in integrum restituit; hoc præsidii genus commendo, cui nec metas pono nec tempora, erit enim illud semper opportunum, potestque suis viribus dirutam valetudinem renovare, modò cætera conspirent, maximè victûs ratio, præscripta juxta leges Medicas, habitâ ratione temperamenti, constitutionis, & morborum ante actorum, quæ, si negligatur, recidiva frequens hecticam febrem minatur.

Itaque Serenissima Regina sibi prospiciet Medicis præsidiit, statis temporibus administratis, perpetuamque hanc servabit vivendi legem. Sit aër temperatus, frigidus potiùs quàm calidus, sed nec humidum improbamus, qui habet rationem balnei, corporibus ἁραιοσαρͷοτατοῖσ incrassandis, tenuioribusque spiritibus infringendis aptissimus, eam ob rem frequentem pedum lotionem in tepidû, mox in algidâ probavi, sed improbavi focum perennem, aut quem fixis oculis intentoque animo contempletur, aut ad quem propiùs accedat, invehit enim ingentem siccitatem & spiritus incendit, quâ de causâ, ut ipsi umbra est saluberrima, sic sol flammeis suis radiis est infensissimus. Potus sit plurimus aquæ pluviæ, vel fontanæ, ptisanæ vel limonatæ, vel decocti fructuum salubrium, vel aquæ vitulinæ. Copiosus enim potus maximè frigidus & nivatus æquè ipsi convenit acsi febricitaret. Cibis utatur euchymis & eupeptis, elixis potiùs quam assis, multâ offâ, fructibus, ut fragis, pomis, pyris, malis aurantiis & aliis ejusmodi, qui validi sunt refrigerando & humectando, nec bilem generant; sed abstineat à salsis, piperatis, & fumo induratis, frixis, recoctis, & à malis oleribus, putà allio, brassicâ, & cæteris quæ caput tentant; levior sit cœna prandio, sed jentaculum sumas. Cum enim multùm laboret, fames non est toleranda, lac pressum & caseum recentem non improbamus, sed butyrum & lac cane pejora sunt & angue, ut sunt bellaria multo saccharo condita & amigdalæ quæ omnia in bilem illicò facescunt.

Somnus nocturnus laudabilis est, sed & diurnus juvat, si quandò vigiliæ nocturnæ præcesserint, debet esse longus & placidus: Et ut liberè loquar, si septem horarum somnum sibi negaverit, tandem aliquandò conqueretur natura de genii defraudatione.

Vices gerit somni quies, itaque quàm poterit à labore & agitatione corporis incessuque celeri abstineat; motus enim vehementior artus fatigat, vires frangit, spiritus inflammat & resolvit, bilem concitat & auget, & totum corpus impensilis exsiccat, undè posteà anxietas, & appetitûs dejectio, innumeraque anteà nobis in medium allata symptomata.

Curis & angoribus animi careat, necnon mœrore & tristitiâ. Illa enim animi pathemata humores recoquunt, & quemadmodum ira bilem agitat & intendit, sic curæ graves in viscerum officinis illam adurunt, idem præstant intemperata studia quæ ad oblectamentum reperta sunt, sed huic incendio tranquillitas animi & hilaritas opem ferunt.

Si hæc singula observaverit Serenissima Regina, tum demùm si alvus respondeat his aut semel in die, neque retrimenta sint arida, cataminia fluant solitis temporibus, ut par est, quanta & qualia administratis per vices remediis mox proponendis, sanitate usura est omnibus numeris absolutâ, quæ poterit in athleticam evadere.

Proponenda remedia ita facilia sunt & ad naturam accommodata, us ipsa etiam possint esse in deliciis. Nam quid jucundius balneo? Phlebotomia verò, quæ semel in mense vel alternis mensibus est celebranda, ab ipsâ Reginâ desideratur, neque grave est incommodum, si illam enema præcedat, eamque sequatur catharsis blanda, agnobis laudata, quæ repetenda est quater in anno, post catharsin aqua mineralis facticia ex limaturâ chalybis, quæ insipida est & inodora, quæ alvum solvit, ardorem extinguit, appetitum acuit & somnum conciliat, nullis nominibus est respuenda.

Omnis ferè medendi ars in hisce præsidiis pro tuendâ Serenissimæ Reginæ valetudine videtur esse posita, in his factitandis omnes Medici ad unum consentium. Itaque si Serenissima Regina erit vel mediocriter obsequens, nullum tantæ valetudinis video periculum; si verò negligentiùs se gerat in usu remediorum & victûs lege, succrescatque morbosa intemperies, humorumque præter naturam collectorum sarcina, symptomata, quæ hactenùs fuere profligata, brevi denuò prodibunt in medium, & ab illis expedire sese non poterit, nisi, tanquam ad sacram anchoram, confugiat ad aquas minerales validissimas, quæ possunt humores altiùs insitos subducere, partes detergere, viscera ipsa penitissimè refrigerare, quales sunt Spadenses, Arvernæ, Saumionenses, Nivernenses, atque etiam Forgenses. Curabo interea ut ex Galliâ hùc adducantur, scilicet, ut quæ ex illis tantæ navigationi ferendæ poterunt esse pares, in usum possint revocari. Tutius esset ut ægri ex ipsâ scaturigine aquas illas haurirent: illìc enim omnibus virtutibus, quas habent à naturâ præstantissimas, sunt instructissimæ, neque hîc carent spiritibus suis, qui intra paucos dies resolvuntur & evanescunt; sed non hæreo in hoc consilio proponendo. Non potest enim Serenissima Regina se ad hoc iter accingere, meliùs itaque sibi consulet Serenissima Regina si conservandæ valetudini studeat, vivendi legem præsidiaque Medica probet, iisque utatur; quod si fecerit, longævitate sibi vitam tranquillam & gratam, nobis verò gloriam largietur nunquam intermorituram.

Itaque ut Medici & ut clientes obsequentissimi non modò ex officio consilium proponimus, sed ut supplices precamur, ut sedulò velit studere sanitati.

BOURDELOT.

With modernised spelling:

Consilium pro tuendâ valetudine serenissimæ reginæ.

Etsi videatur esse supervacaneum jam profligati morbi historiam in medium referre coram serenissimâ reginâ virisque medicis, qui ipsus valetudini redintegrandæ operam dederunt, referendam tamen esse putavi, aut quia minus accurate antehac fuerit enarrata, aut forte nunquam scripto mandata. Itaque ex re esse omnino arbitror, si a me conscribatur diligenter morbus ille diuturnus, quem feliciusne dicam magis ex arte fuerim adortus, et cujus præsidiis medicis facilius cesserit, ita etiam ut si denuo serenissima regina recidivam pateretur, quod absit, vel aliis medicit uteretur quam qui nunc adsunt, inter illos posset constare de illius temperamento, varid partium intemperie, humorum indole, morbosisque symptomatibus que illam exercuerunt.

Serenissima regina temperamento calido et sicco fervidissimis humoribus, acri ingenio prædita, vigiliis, curis, et improbo labore calorem et siccitatem partium sic adauxit, ut illæ qualitates naturæ modum excesserint, nec non etiam pravis eduliis tantam humorum sarcinam collegit, ut corpus evaserit in cacochymum et dyscraton, unde omnium fere functionum læsio; ruit enim primum appetitus, neque ulterius vigere poterat, quod (cum alvina regio multo humore atrabilari scateret) ejus portio in ventriculum reflua sic ipsum infecit, ut officii tæderet.

Alvus erat pigra cum aridissimis excrementis, calore nempe ustulatorio omne humidum depopulanti; palmo cordis laborabat, a tetro halitu humoris atrabilarii, putris, in cavis hepatis contenti; deliquium animi patiebatur, dum erat insignis gradus putredinis, humoris cor ferientis malignâ suâ expiratione, quæ etiam expiratio dum appelleret ad cerebri membranas, vigilias, curas et mœrorem inducebat; et acerbissimis doloribus in hypochondrio sinistro torquebatur, qui acrimoniam et uredinem humoris eo loci contenti denotabant.

Sed et totum corpus occupabat ille humor, quod colligere erat ex atris cataminiis, et ex nigro sanguine, a quo tanquam ab atramento, nigrescebant indusia, si quando vulnus aliquod leve, ab assiculâ cuti fuisset inflictum, gingivæ ipsæ putres, laxæ, nigro sanguine turgidæ, humorum caracterem et morem satis superque testabantur; sicut tempus (antequam prodirent ipsa menstrua) per octiduum laboriosum et febrile; aderat perpetua eaque spontanea corporis lassitudo, quæ singula loquebantur insignem corporis cachexiam, quæ ut nullum sinebat diem abire immunem a febre, quem non etiam fecisset terrificum aliquo symptomate calamitoso, puta, animi deliquio, vel motu corporis convulsivo; sic ab annis septem omnia erant in perniciem valetudinis serenissimæ reginæ comparata, ut febris, quæ vix intermittebat, sic fere omne humidum in corpore siccissimo et calidissimo depopulata, ita ut quæ erat hectica cum cachexiâ, jam ad secundum gradum pervenisse videretur.

Impotentia illa dormiendi, prostratus ille appetitus, summa virium imbecillitas, tanta denique rerum omnium calamitas me terruit, ita ut fere satius duxerim, si manus ab opere tanto abstinerem; sed ut vidi serenissimam reginam esse bono animo, consilii medici capacem, et quæ strenue sanitatis redintegrationi vellet incumbere, tantus fuit ausus, ut nec imtemperiei altissimæ, nec tot male feriatis symptomatis, neque tantæ morbi perennitati cedendum esse crediderim, neque etiam omnia adeo conclamata putavi, quin ea possint intra annum emendari, resarciri, et in integrum restitui.

His itaque artibus contumacissimum morbum gnaviter aggressus sum, victum præscripsi, qui corpus refrigeraret et humectaret, bonosque succos pravorum in locum reponeret. Cibos proposui cuchymos et eupeptos, elixos potius quam assos, ita ut offis plurimum uteretur, abstineret omnino a salsis, piperatis, fumo induratis, butyrosis et pinguibus. Multo potu se prolueret, vel algidæ, aut decoctorum contemperantium, quæ cum pomis, limonibus, malis aurantiis et syrupis convenientibus conficienda curavi; addidi plerumque hordeum et semina 4 frigida majora contuja. Substitui etiam decoctum aqueum carnis vitulinæ, cum crystallo minerali ad aliquot grana diluto.

Curavi his in hebdomade, ut alvus blando enemate salveretur, et semel in mense duceretur sanguis ad ℥viii, quam fuerit ille retorridus niger et piceus omnes testabuntur; sed cujus conditionis fuerint humores educti cathartico semel in mense assumto vix credibile est, ita nigri, ita acres, ut argenteæ pelvi ferruginem, plumbeumque colorem statim inurerent, sed ita sævi, ut torminibus atrocissimis intestina cruciarent, anumque dilaniarent, ad quæ sedanda, potus plurimus decocti hordei, aquæ vitulinæ, vel emulsionum fuit institutus.

Hisce præsidiis, temporibus solitis, vel crebrius in usum revocatis, factum est, ut post quatuor menses desævire et mitescere visa fuerint, quæ gravissima erant symptomata. Non amplius ab eo tempore deliquit animo regina, jamque labra, quæ fuerant sicca et fissa, cutis quæ fuerat aspera et lentiginosa novam mollitudinem sibi comparabant, humoribus benigniorem indolem induentibus, neque recurrebat pro more lateris ille dolor importunus, recreatisque, ab assumtis eduliis cum appetitu, facultatibus. Somnus unâ vel alterâ horâ longior factus et pacatior (naturæ in gratiam redeuntis signum) ejus vires mirum in modum refocillabat, jam victoria partes ipsius naturæ sequi videbatur, sed ut hostis ille infensissimus jam fusus fugatusque penitus deleretur, ferro seu chalybe, medicatas aquas singulis diebus mane hauriendas. Confecimus, quæ pondere suo latebras omnes mesenterii et lienis penetrarent, vi ecphracticâ vias abductas solverent, et humorem adustum et contumacem præpararent et edomarent. Hoc præsidii genus bonis omnibus fuit institutum, humores enim mitiores facti, corpusque magit εύροῦν et meabile omni saburræ everrendæ ansam præbuerunt, catharticis sæpius repetitis.

Sic serenissima regina ab omni humorum colluvie liberata, quæ ante languida, spontaneis lassitudinibus continebatur, mox vegeta, et abique ullo anhelitu, ut solebat, labori vel maximo indulgere cœpit. Sed inter præsidio, quod omne punctum tulit, fuit balneum aquæ tepidæ, quod sæpius ingressa, et per plures horas tanta benigni humoris syrrhoe totum corpus perfudit, ut cuti mollitudinem nativam cum εὑχροία redonaverit, somnum ad naturales leges revocaverit, et ventriculum suæ ditioni penitus reddiderit.

Sanguis interea frequenti præsertim phlebotomiâ frugi factus, in ipsis cataminiis minime niger, ut apparebat antea, sed floridus vividusque conspectus est, et post annum ita mitis fuit et blandus, ut nulla tormina vel dolores, nullos cordis palmos, nullos in toto corpore motus spasmo tremulos excitaret.

Sic serenissima regina intra annum restituta est sanitati, quâ omnino inculpata utebatur. Ter enim in die comedebat, ita ut non appetitus esset sed fames, egerebat liberrime, somnus erat placidus et longus, mens hilaris et labor indefessus, cum corporis εὑσαρκία et coloris suavitate, tantaque fuit corporis εὑεξία et alacritas per tres aut quatuor menses, ut equitationi aliisque laboribus indulgens de valetudine non modo contenderet cum validioribus, verum etiam illos superaret.

Cum ecce mense aprili, die decimâ quintâ, cataminiis justâ periodo fluentibus, apparuit febricula cum exacerbationibus sub vesperam redeuntibus, cum capitis dolore, lassitudine et dolore punctorio in hypochondrio sinistro. Illæ exacerbationes non cum horrore aut rigore, sed cum intolerabilis ardore urinæ ingruebant, erantque graviores diebus imparibus, ita ut aliquando vomitu, vigiliis, angustiâ, et palmo cordis, necnon linguæ ariditate et asperitate fuerint insignes, ab exacerbatione vero sic remissa erat febriculo, ut nullas præter sphygmicam, quæ erat irritata, facultates læderes, ita enim vires et appetitus valebant, ut omni genere ciborum uteretur.

Et pilâ lusoriâ corpus exerceret, sed vitebatur a prandio febris aliquantulum augeri et ab exercitatione concitabantur spiritus, ita ut acerbius sub vesperam reduplicatione corriperetur. Febris erat tertiana duplex continua, ad quam expugnandam diæta parcior seu tenuis eaque refrigerant et humectans in usum fuit revocata. Phlebotomia fuit quater repetita et aliquot clysteres injecti. Post quattordecimum diem deficientibus exacerbationibus propinavimus catharticum ex cassiæ extract, ℥ß sennæ oriental, ℥j rhei elect, ʒß, devorato holo, tanta fuit atræ bilis retorridæ, acrit, mox lucidæ, et viscosæ per inferiora evacuatio, absque seri vel bilis mixturâ, ut omnes mirarentur.

Sed a catharsi commotio quædam febrilis suborta est cum pulsu non magno quidem sed celeri et crebro, cum calore acri et sicco per habitum corporis diffuso, cum vultus pallore et virium imbecillitate, necnon cordis palmo frequenti. Suspicio fuit plurimam atram bilem superscitem in cavis hepatis et lienis, a catharsi commotam, hanc tragœdiam movere.

Sancitum itaque fuit ut humor ille acer et ferus demulceretur, hordeatis emulsionibusque cum seminibus frigidis et ipso semine papaveris albi contusis et immixtis. Inficerentur quoque clysteres, emolliendis intestinis subducendisque humoribus idonei, ut illi quâ daretur portâ ruerent, præcipimus etiam ut ægra penitus abstineret a cœnâ, et ut somno et quieti sese committeret.

Itaque ubi visus est humor tepuisse beneficio diætæ præsidiorumque à nobis præscriptorum, de epicatharsi cogitavimus, cujus operâ multa bilis atra ejusdem indolis ac prior subducta est, sed sub finem sparsâ bile porraceâ et æruginosâ, ab hoc assumto solutivo recruduit aliquantulum morbus, commotis nempe fervidissimis, ne dicam igneis spiritibus, in corpore calidissimis visceribus prædito, sed multo potu et quiete æstus ille desæviit, maxime potu aquæ chalybeatæ mane ad cyathos sex propinate. Quantum profuerit aqua illa medicata vix credibile est.

Corpori enim toti blandum calorem induxit, calorem febrilem magnâ ex parte extinxit, tum facilitate suâ frigidâ cum etiam stegnaticâ et gravi quibus datur humores sursum vergentes coercere ipsisque frenum injicere, sed præsertim facultate solutivâ, quâ valet, multam bilem flavam meramque per inferiora deturbare, inde apyrexia. Sublato enim fomite quomodo potest incendium febrile superesse? Sed si quod sit empyrema ipsis partibus inustum, spes est fore a balneo tepidæ dilutum et deletum iri.

Spirituum enim fluctus componit, humorum æstum sedat, partesque ipsas vel marasmo laborantes, contemperando suo nectare vivisco in integrum restituit. Hoc præsidii genus commendo, cui nec metas pono nec tempora, erit enim illud semper opportunum, potestque suis viribus dirutam valetudinem renovare, modo cætera conspirent, maxime victus ratio, præscripta juxta leges medicas, habitâ ratione temperamenti, constitutionis, et morborum ante actorum, quæ, si negligatur, recidiva frequens hecticam febrem minatur.

Itaque serenissima regina sibi prospiciet medicis præsidiit, statis temporibus administratis, perpetuamque hanc servabit vivendi legem. Sit aer temperatus, frigidus potius quam calidus, sed nec humidum improbamus, qui habet rationem balnei, corporibus ἁραιοσ αρͷοτατοῖσ incrassandis, tenuioribusque spiritibus infringendis aptissimus, eam ob rem frequentem pedum lotionem in tepidû, mox in algidâ probavi. Sed improbavi focum perennem, aut quem fixis oculis intentoque animo contempletur, aut ad quem propius accedat, invehit enim ingentem siccitatem et spiritus incendit, quâ de causâ, ut ipsi umbra est saluberrima, sic sol flammeis suis radiis est infensissimus.

Potus sit plurimus aquæ pluviæ, vel fontanæ, ptisanæ vel limonatæ, vel decocti fructuum salubrium, vel aquæ vitulinæ. Copiosus enim potus maxime frigidus et nivatus æque ipsi convenit acsi febricitaret.

Cibis utatur euchymis et eupeptis, elixis potius quam assis, multâ offâ, fructibus, ut fragis, pomis, pyris, malis aurantiis et aliis ejusmodi, qui validi sunt refrigerando et humectando, nec bilem generant. Sed abstineat a salsis, piperatis, et fumo induratis, frixis, recoctis, et a malis oleribus, puta allio, brassicâ, et cæteris quæ caput tentant. Levior sit cœna prandio, sed jentaculum sumas.

Cum enim multum laboret, fames non est toleranda, lac pressum et caseum recentem non improbamus, sed butyrum et lac cane pejora sunt et angue, ut sunt bellaria multo saccharo condita et amygdalæ quæ omnia in bilem illico facescunt.

Somnus nocturnus laudabilis est, sed et diurnus juvat, si quando vigiliæ nocturnæ præcesserint, debet esse longus et placidus. Et ut libere loquar, si septem horarum somnum sibi negaverit, tandem aliquando conqueretur natura de genii defraudatione.

Vices gerit somni quies, itaque quam poterit a labore et agitatione corporis incessuque celeri abstineat. Motus enim vehementior artus fatigat, vires frangit, spiritus inflammat et resolvit, bilem concitat et auget, et totum corpus impensilis exsiccat, unde postea anxietas, et appetitus dejectio, innumeraque antea nobis in medium allata symptomata.

Curis et angoribus animi careat, necnon mœrore et tristitiâ. Illa enim animi pathemata humores recoquunt, et quemadmodum ira bilem agitat et intendit, sic curæ graves in viscerum officinis illam adurunt, idem præstant intemperata studia quæ ad oblectamentum reperta sunt, sed huic incendio tranquillitas animi et hilaritas opem ferunt.

Si hæc singula observaverit serenissima regina, tum demum si alvus respondeat his aut semel in die, neque retrimenta sint arida, cataminia fluant solitis temporibus, ut par est, quanta et qualia administratis per vices remediis mox proponendis, sanitate usura est omnibus numeris absolutâ, quæ poterit in athleticam evadere.

Proponenda remedia ita facilia sunt et ad naturam accommodata, us ipsa etiam possint esse in deliciis. Nam quid jucundius balneo?

Phlebotomia vero, quæ semel in mense vel alternis mensibus est celebranda, ab ipsâ reginâ desideratur, neque grave est incommodum, si illam enema præcedat, eamque sequatur catharsis blanda, agnobis laudata, quæ repetenda est quater in anno. Post catharsin aqua mineralis facticia ex limaturâ chalybis, quæ insipida est et inodora, quæ alvum solvit, ardorem extinguit, appetitum acuit et somnum conciliat, nullis nominibus est respuenda.

Omnis fere medendi ars in hisce præsidiis pro tuendâ serenissimæ reginæ valetudine videtur esse posita, in his factitandis omnes medici ad unum consentium. Itaque si serenissima regina erit vel mediocriter obsequens, nullum tantæ valetudinis video periculum. Si vero negligentius se gerat in usu remediorum et victus lege, succrescatque morbosa intemperies, humorumque præter naturam collectorum sarcina, symptomata, quæ hactenus fuere profligata, brevi denuo prodibunt in medium, et ab illis expedire sese non poterit, nisi, tanquam ad sacram anchoram, confugiat ad aquas minerales validissimas, quæ possunt humores altius insitos subducere, partes detergere, viscera ipsa penitissime refrigerare, quales sunt spadenses, arvernæ, saumionenses, nivernenses, atque etiam forgenses. Curabo interea ut ex Galliâ huc adducantur, scilicet, ut quæ ex illis tantæ navigationi ferendæ poterunt esse pares, in usum possint revocari.

Tutius esset ut ægri ex ipsâ scaturigine aquas illas haurirent; illic enim omnibus virtutibus, quas habent a naturâ præstantissimas, sunt instructissimæ, neque hic carent spiritibus suis, qui intra paucos dies resolvuntur et evanescunt; sed non hæreo in hoc consilio proponendo.

Non potest enim serenissima regina se ad hoc iter accingere, melius itaque sibi consulet serenissima regina si conservandæ valetudini studeat, vivendi legem præsidiaque medica probet, iisque utatur; quod si fecerit, longævitate sibi vitam tranquillam et gratam, nobis vero gloriam largietur nunquam intermorituram.

Itaque ut medici et ut clientes obsequentissimi non modo ex officio consilium proponimus, sed ut supplices precamur, ut sedulo velit studere sanitati.

Bourdelot.

French translation (my own):

Un plan pour protéger la santé de la sérénissime reine.

Bien qu'il puisse paraître superflu de raconter l'histoire de la maladie déjà éprouvée en présence de la sérénissime reine et des médecins qui se sont consacrés à lui rétablir la santé, j'ai cru nécessaire de la raconter, soit parce qu'on l'avait dit avec moins de précision auparavant, ou peut-être parce qu'il n'avait jamais été écrit. C'est pourquoi je pense qu'il serait tout à fait hors de question que je prescrive avec diligence cette maladie de longue durée que, je devrais dire plus heureusement, j'ai plus adroitement combattue et qui a été plus facilement soulagée par les soins des médecins, de sorte que même si la sérénissime reine souffrait à nouveau d'une rechute, qui est absente, ou si elle utilisait d'autres médecins que ceux qui sont actuellement présents, parmi eux, cela pourrait être constaté par son tempérament, par le temps de diverses régions, du caractère de ses humeurs et des symptômes morbides qui l'ont exercée.

La sérénissime reine, d'un tempérament chaud et sec, aux humeurs les plus ardentes et douée d'une intelligence vive, par sa vigilance, ses soins et un travail sans scrupules, a tellement augmenté la chaleur et la sécheresse des parties que ces qualités ont dépassé la mode de nature; c'est à cause de la cacochymie et de la dyscrasie que presque toutes les fonctions sont altérées, car l'appétit s'est d'abord précipité et n'a pas pu être soutenu davantage parce que (lorsque la région intestinale était parsemée de beaucoup d'humeur) une partie de celui-ci refluait dans l'estomac, de sorte que cela l'a infectée, de sorte qu'elle s'est lassée de son devoir.

Les intestins étaient engourdis par les excréments les plus secs, c'est-à-dire par la chaleur du feu qui détruisait toute humidité; la paume de son cœur travaillait, à cause de l'haleine nauséabonde du contenu suffocant et putride des humeurs des cavités du foie. Elle souffrait d'une dépravation d'esprit tandis qu'il y avait une putréfaction notable, une humeur frappant le cœur de son exhalaison maligne. Cette expiration aussi, tout en faisant appel aux membranes du cerveau, provoquait la vigilance, les soucis et le chagrin; et elle était tourmentée de douleurs atroces dans l'hypocondre gauche, qui dénotaient l'acridité et la brûlure des humeurs contenues dans cet endroit.

Mais tout le corps était occupé par cette humeur qu'il fallait recueillir des cataminis noirs et du sang noir, à partir duquel, comme de l'encre, la chemise devenait noire, si jamais quelque légère blessure avait été infligée par une petite épingle sur la peau. Les gencives elles-mêmes étaient putrides, lâches, turgescentes de sang noir; le caractère et la manière des humeurs étaient suffisamment attestés; comme les règles (avant l'apparition des menstrues elles-mêmes) furent laborieuses et fébriles pendant huit jours; il y avait cette lassitude perpétuelle et spontanée du corps, qui témoignait d'une cachexie remarquable du corps, qui semblait ne laisser passer aucun jour sans fièvre, qui n'était pas rendu terrible par quelque symptôme désastreux, par exemple un dérangement de l'esprit ou un mouvement convulsif du corps. Depuis sept ans, tout était préparé pour la destruction de la santé de la sérénissime reine, car la fièvre, qui ne cessait à peine, appauvrissait presque toute l'humidité d'un corps très sec et très chaud, de sorte que ce qui était trépidant avec la cachexie semblait déjà avoir atteint la deuxième étape.

Cette impossibilité de dormir, cet appétit prostré, cette faiblesse extrême des forces, enfin le malheur de toutes ces choses me terrifiait tellement que j'aurais presque fait mieux si j'avais gardé mes mains de tant de travail; mais comme je voyais que la sérénissime reine était d'esprit bon, capable de suivre les conseils du médecin et disposée à se consacrer énergiquement au rétablissement de sa santé, j'étais si hardi que je ne croyais pas non plus céder aux ordres du médecin, ni les intempéries, ni les symptômes de tant de blessures, ni la persistance d'une telle maladie. Je ne pensais pas non plus que tout était si bruyant qu'ils ne pourraient pas être réparés et restaurés dans leur intégralité en un an.

Avec ces arts, j'ai donc attaqué avec vigueur la maladie très contumace. J'ai prescrit un régime qui rafraîchirait et humidifierait le corps et remplacerait les bons jus à la place des mauvais. J'ai proposé des aliments comme les soupes et les ragoûts, bouillis plutôt que rôtis, de manière à ce qu'elle profite au maximum de la viande, en s'abstenant entièrement des aliments salés, poivrés, fumés, beurrés et gras. Elle doit boire beaucoup d'eau, soit froide, soit bouillie modérément, que j'ai pris soin de préparer avec des pommes, des citrons, des oranges amères et des sirops appropriés; j'ai ajouté principalement de l'orge et 4 grosses graines froides. J'ai aussi remplacé la décoction aqueuse de viande de veau, diluée avec des cristaux minéraux, par quelques grains.

J'ai pris soin d'eux pendant la semaine, de sorte que les intestins étaient guéris avec un lavement apaisant, et une fois par mois le sang était porté à 8 onces, mais l'état de ces humeurs produites par le cathartique une fois pris par mois était à peine croyable, si noir et si âcre, que les bassins d'argent fussent à la fois infestés de rouille et d'une couleur plombée. Mais elle était si affligée que les entrailles étaient tourmentées par les douleurs les plus atroces, et l'anus était déchiré. Pour calmer cela, on instituait une grande boisson, une décoction d'orge, d'eau de veau ou d'émulsions.

Grâce à cette aide, aux heures habituelles, ou lorsqu'on l'appelait à nouveau pour un usage plus fréquent, il arrivait qu'au bout de quatre mois on voyait les symptômes les plus graves s'atténuer. Depuis lors, l'esprit de la reine n'était plus troublé, et maintenant ses lèvres, qui avaient été sèches et raides, et sa peau, qui avait été rugueuse et tachetée de rousseur, ont acquis une nouvelle douceur, et ses humeurs ont pris un caractère plus doux; cette douleur importune au côté ne se reproduisait plus, comme c'était l'habitude, et les facultés étaient ravivées en prenant de la nourriture avec appétit. Son sommeil devint plus long d'une heure ou deux et plus paisible (signe du retour de la nature à la grâce), et ses forces se ranimèrent d'une étrange manière, et la victoire semblait suivre les parties de sa propre nature, mais comme si cet ennemi le plus féroce l'avait déjà été mise en déroute et mise en fuite, elle fut complètement détruite, avec du fer ou de l'acier et avec des eaux médicamenteuses qu'elle devait boire tous les matins. Nous leur faisions pénétrer par leur poids toutes les cachettes du mésentère et de la rate, et par la force ils ouvraient les passages enlevés et préparaient et consommaient l'humeur brûlée et contumace. Ce genre d'aide était instituée pour toutes les bonnes choses, car les humeurs devenaient plus douces et le corps devenait plus fluide, et ils fournissaient une saburre que chaque excavatrice balayait au moyen de laxatifs répétés et fréquents.

Ainsi la sérénissime reine, délivrée de toute la lie de ses humeurs, qui jusque-là avait été retenue par des lassitudes languissantes et spontanées, devint bientôt vive et, sans aucun essoufflement, commença, comme elle en avait l'habitude, à se livrer au travail même dans les plus grandes étendues. Mais entre les secours qui prenaient tout, il y avait un bain d'eau tiède, où elle entrait souvent, et qui, pendant plusieurs heures, imprégnait tout le corps d'une humeur de syrrhus si bienfaisante qu'elle rendait à la peau sa douceur naturelle avec une belle couleur, rendait au sommeil ses lois naturelles, et rendait complètement à l'estomac son contrôle.

Cependant, le sang, obtenu notamment par phlébotomie fréquente, n'était pas du tout noir dans les cataminis eux-mêmes, comme il le paraissait auparavant, mais la vue était fleurie et vive, et après un an, elle était si douce et si douce qu'il n'y avait pas de crampes ou de douleurs, pas de palpitations du cœur, pas de spasmes tremblants de mouvement dans tout le corps.

Ainsi, en un an, la sérénissime reine retrouva sa santé, qui était jusqu'alors totalement irréprochable. Elle mangeait trois fois par jour, de sorte qu'elle n'avait pas d'appétit, mais plutôt faim. Elle mangeait très librement, son sommeil était paisible et long, son esprit gai et son travail infatigable, avec la rondeur de son corps et la douceur de son teint; et telle fut la gaieté et l'alacrité de son corps pendant trois ou quatre mois, que, se livrant à des promenades à cheval et à d'autres travaux, elle ne se contenta pas de lutter contre les plus fortes, mais les surpassa même.

Or, voici qu'au mois d'avril, le quinzième jour, alors que la cataménie coulait juste à cette époque, une fièvre apparut, avec des exacerbations revenant le soir, avec maux de tête, fatigue et douleurs lancinantes dans l'hypochondre gauche. Ces poussées ne se produisaient pas avec horreur ou rigueur, mais avec une brûlure intolérable des urines, et elles étaient plus graves les jours impairs, de sorte qu'elles étaient parfois marquées par des vomissements, des éveils, de l'angoisse et des palpitations cardiaques, ainsi que par une sécheresse et une rugosité de la langue. Mais la fièvre était tellement soulagée par l'exacerbation qu'on ne pouvait plus endommager aucune faculté, sauf la sphygmique, qui était irrité, car sa force et son appétit étaient si forts qu'elle mangeait toutes sortes d'aliments.

Et elle exerçait son corps dans les jeux, mais elle craignait que la fièvre ne s'augmentât un peu à cause du repas et que les esprits ne soient excités par l'exercice, de sorte qu'elle serait réprimandée plus amèrement par le redoublement du soir. Il y eut une fièvre double continue tierce, pour la vaincre, on recourut à un régime plus modéré, ou à un régime léger, rafraîchissant et humidifiant. La phlébotomie fut répétée quatre fois et plusieurs lavements furent administrés. Après le quatorzième jour, lorsque les exacerbations cessèrent, nous donnâmes un extrait purgatif de casse, une once et demie de séné oriental et une once de teinture de rhubarbe, une demi-drachme. Après avoir dévoré le tout, il y eut tellement de bile noire régurgitée — qui était âcre, bientôt claire et visqueuse par l'évacuation inférieure, sans sérum ni bile mêlés — que tout le monde fut étonné.

Mais de l'agitation de la catharsis survint une certaine fièvre avec un pouls peu fort, mais rapide et fréquent, avec une chaleur vive et sèche diffusée dans les habitudes du corps, avec une pâleur du visage et une faiblesse des forces, ainsi que de fréquentes palpitations du cœur. On soupçonnait que l'excès de bile noire restée dans les cavités du foie et de la rate, agitée par la catharsis, était à l'origine de cette tragédie.

Il fut donc décidé que cette humeur amère et féroce serait adoucie, battue et mélangée à des émulsions d'orge avec des graines froides et de la graine de pavot blanc. Il faut aussi faire des lavements pour ramollir les intestins et les soumettre à des humeurs appropriées, afin qu'ils se précipitent vers le port qui leur est donné. Nous conseillons également à la malade de s'abstenir complètement de dîner et de se consacrer au sommeil et au repos.

Et ainsi, quand on vit que l'humeur avait été tempérée par le bienfait du régime prescrit par nous, nous pensâmes à une purge douce, par l'action de laquelle beaucoup de bile noire de même nature fut abaissée; mais vers la fin de la bile spasmodique, purracée et aérugineuse, la maladie revint un peu à cause de cette solution prise, c'est-à-dire lorsqu'elle fut agitée très vivement. Je ne dirais pas d'esprits ardents dans un corps possédant les viscères les plus chauds, mais elle se débarrassa de la chaleur par beaucoup de boisson et de repos, surtout en buvant six tasses d'eau calcinée le matin. C'est à peine croyable à quel point cette eau médicamenteuse lui a été bénéfique.

Il introduisit une douce chaleur dans tout le corps, éteignit en grande partie la chaleur fébrile, et aussi, par sa facilité de froid, avec ses liquides stagnants et lourds, auxquels il est donné de contrôler les liquides qui remontent et d'en saisir quelques-uns, mais surtout par sa capacité de dissolution, qui est capable de déplacer beaucoup de bile jaune et pure par les liquides inférieurs, d'où l'apyrexie. Car lorsque le combustible est retiré, comment un feu fiévreux peut-il survivre? Mais s'il y a de l'empyème non brûlé dans les parties elles-mêmes, il y a de l'espérance qu'elle soit diluée et détruite par un bain chaud.

Car il compose les ondes des esprits, calme la chaleur des humeurs, et restitue à l'ensemble les parties elles-mêmes ou celles qui souffrent de malnutrition en les équilibrant avec son nectar vivant. Je recommande ce genre de protection, pour laquelle je ne fixe ni buts ni temps, car elle sera toujours opportune, et elle peut renouveler la santé détruite par ses propres forces, tant que les autres conspirent, surtout le régime, prescrit selon les lois médicales, les habitudes selon le tempérament, la constitution et les maladies avant les actes, qui, s'ils sont négligés, menacent de fréquentes rechutes de fièvre hectique.

Et la sérénissime reine pourvoira ainsi à elle-même, elle présidera aux médecines, administrées à des temps fixes, et elle gardera cette loi perpétuelle de vie. L'air doit être tempéré, froid plutôt que chaud, mais nous ne désapprouvons pas l'air humide, qui a le caractère d'un bain et est le plus apte à épaissir et à briser les esprits plus légers. C'est pourquoi je l'ai souvent essayé comme lotion pour les pieds dans un endroit chaud.

La plupart de ses boissons devraient être de l'eau de pluie ou de source, de la tisane d'orge ou de la limonade, ou encore une décoction de fruits sains ou de l'eau de veau. Une boisson abondante, surtout froide et neigeuse, lui convient aussi bien que si elle avait de la fièvre.

Quant à la nourriture, elle doit avoir des aliments euchymiques et eupeptiques, bouillis plutôt que rôtis, et beaucoup de collations: des fruits, comme des fraises, des pommes, des poires, des oranges et d'autres choses de ce genre, qui sont forts pour refroidir et humidifier le corps et qui ne génèrent pas de bile. Mais elle doit s'abstenir d'aliments salés, poivrés, fumés, frits et bouillis et de mauvais légumes comme l'ail, le chou et autres qui tentent la tête. Son dîner devrait être plus léger que le déjeuner, mais elle devrait prendre son petit-déjeuner.

Quand elle travaille beaucoup, il ne faut pas supporter la faim. Nous ne désapprouvons pas le lait pressé et le fromage frais, mais le beurre et le lait sont pires pour un chien et un serpent, ainsi que les sucreries assaisonnées de beaucoup de sucre et d'amandes, qui transforment tout en bile immédiatement.

Dormir pendant la nuit est louable, mais dormir pendant la journée est également utile s'il est long et reposant avant qu'elle ne reste éveillée la nuit. Et, pour parler librement, si elle se prive de sept heures de sommeil, la nature finira par se plaindre de la tromperie de son génie.

Elle gère son sommeil le reste du temps à tour de rôle, de manière à s'abstenir autant que possible de travail et d'agitation du corps et de marche rapide. Car un mouvement plus violent fatigue le corps, brise les forces, enflamme et trouble l'esprit, excite et augmente la bile, et dessèche tout le corps avec impatience, d'où résultent ensuite l'anxiété, la perte d'appétit et les innombrables symptômes précédemment signalés.

Elle doit être libre de tout souci et de toute anxiété de l'esprit, ainsi que de tout chagrin et de toute tristesse. Car ces afflictions mentales rallument les humeurs; et de même que la colère excite et intensifie la bile, de même les anxiétés lourdes la brûlent dans les entrailles. Les activités intempérantes inventées pour le plaisir ont le même effet, mais la tranquillité d'esprit et la gaieté contribuent à cette brûlure.

Si la sérénissime reine observe ces détails, alors finalement, si les intestins répondent à ceux-ci ou une fois par jour et que les selles ne sont pas sèches, et si la catémenie coule aux heures habituelles, comme il convient, alors la quantité et la qualité des remèdes qui doivent être proposés sous peu, étant administrés à tour de rôle, sont d'un bénéfice absolu pour la santé à tous égards, ce qui peut conduire à l'athlétisme.

Les remèdes à proposer sont si faciles et si accommodés à la nature qu'ils peuvent même être compris dans les délices. Car quoi de plus délicieux qu'un bain? 

La phlébotomie, qui doit être pratiquée une fois par mois ou tous les deux mois, est désirée par la reine elle-même, et ce n'est pas un inconvénient grave si elle est précédée d'un lavement et suivie d'une douce catharsis, qui est louée par la noblesse et qui doit être répétée quatre fois par an. Après la catharsis, l'eau minérale faite de limaille de fer, qui est sans goût et sans odeur, qui délie les intestins, apaise la chaleur, aiguise l'appétit et favorise le sommeil, ne doit être rejetée sous aucun prétexte.

Presque tous les arts de la médecine semblent avoir été employés ici pour protéger la santé de la sérénissime reine, et tous les médecins sont d'accord pour exécuter ces opérations. Donc, si la sérénissime reine est même modérément obéissante, je ne vois aucun danger pour une si grande santé. Mais si elle se comporte plus négligemment dans l'emploi des remèdes et de la loi du régime, et si l'intempérance morbide augmente, et si le fardeau des humeurs accumulées au-delà de ce qui est naturel augmente, les symptômes jusqu'ici bannis reparaîtront bientôt, et elle ne pourra y échapper que si, comme s'accrochant à une ancre sacrée, elle recourt à boire les eaux minérales les plus puissantes, qui peuvent enlever les humeurs les plus profondément enfouies, nettoyer les parties et refroidir les viscères le plus complètement, telles que les eaux minérales de Spa, d'Auvergne, de Salmière, de Nevers et même de Forges-les-Eaux. En attendant, je veillerai à ce qu'on les fasse venir de France, surtout pour que ceux d'entre eux qui peuvent être à la hauteur d'un si grand voyage puissent être rappelés pour servir.

Il serait plus sûr pour les malades de puiser ces eaux à la source même, car là ils sont le mieux pourvus de toutes les vertus qu'ils tiennent de la nature, qui sont les plus excellentes, et là ils ne sont pas dépourvus de leurs esprits, qui se dissolvent et disparaissent en peu de jours; mais je ne persiste pas à proposer ce conseil.

Si la sérénissime reine ne peut se préparer à ce voyage, elle devrait aussi mieux s'y conseiller si elle s'efforce de conserver sa santé, approuve la loi de vie et les précautions médicales, et en use; ce qui, si elle le fait, elle s'accordera une vie paisible et agréable avec longévité, et à nous une gloire qui ne mourra jamais.

C'est pourquoi, en tant que médecins et serviteurs très obéissants, non seulement nous offrons des conseils par devoir, mais en tant que suppliants, nous prions pour qu'elle poursuive avec diligence sa santé.

Bourdelot.

Swedish translation (my own):

En plan för att skydda den durchlauchtigste drottningens hälsa.

Även om det kan tyckas överflödigt att berätta historien om den redan ansträngda sjukdomen i närvaro av den durchlauchtigste drottningen och de medicinska män som har ägnat sig åt att återställa hennes hälsa, har jag ansett det nödvändigt att berätta det, antingen för att det hade blivit berättat mindre exakt tidigare, eller kanske för att det aldrig hade skrivits ner. Och så tror jag att det vore helt uteslutet om jag flitigt skulle skriva ut den där långvariga sjukdomen, som jag lyckligtvis skulle säga jag skickligare hade fått ner, och som lättare lindrades av läkarnas omsorg, så att även om den durchlauchtigste drottningen åter skulle drabbas av ett återfall, som saknas, eller om hon skulle använda andra läkare än de som nu är närvarande, bland dem skulle det kunna utrönas av hennes temperament, av vädret från olika delar, från karaktären av hennes humör och från de sjukliga symtom som har utövat det.

Den durchlauchtigste drottningen, med ett varmt och torrt temperament, med det ivrigaste humöret och utrustad med ett skarpt intellekt, genom vaksamhet, omsorg och samvetslöst arbete, har ökat värmen och torrheten i delarna så att dessa egenskaper har överträffat naturens läge; det är från kakokymi och dyskrasi som nästan alla funktioner är nedsatta, för aptiten rusade först in och kunde inte upprätthållas längre eftersom (när tarmregionen var beströdd med mycket humör) en del av den rann tillbaka in i magen, så att den smittade av henne, så att hon blev trött på sin plikt.

Tarmarna var tröga med de torraste exkrementer, nämligen genom att eldens hetta förstörde all fuktighet; hennes hjärtas handflata arbetade, av den vidriga andedräkten från det kvävande och ruttna innehållet i humöret i leverns håligheter. Hon led av sinnesfördärv samtidigt som det fanns en anmärkningsvärd grad av förruttnelse, ett humör som slog hjärtat med sin elakartade utandning. Även denna utandning, samtidigt som den tilltalade hjärnans membran, framkallade vaksamhet, bekymmer och sorg; och hon plågades av plågsamma smärtor i det vänstra hypokondriumet, vilket betecknade det skarpa och brännande humöret som fanns på den platsen.

Men hela kroppen var upptagen av det humöret, som måste samlas ur de matt-svarta cataminis och ur det svarta blodet, från vilket, som av bläck, underklänningen blev svart, om någon gång något lätt sår hade tillfogats av en liten nål på huden. Själva tandköttet var ruttet, löst, svulstigt av svart blod, humörernas karaktär och sätt var tillräckligt framför allt vittnade; eftersom regleringen (innan själva menstruationen kom) var mödosam och febrig i åtta dagar; det var den ständiga och spontana tröttheten i kroppen, som talade om en anmärkningsvärd kakexi i kroppen, som verkade låta ingen dag gå fri från feber, vilket inte gjordes hemskt av något katastrofalt symptom, till exempel en störning av sinnet eller en konvulsiv rörelse av kroppen. Allt från sju år var förberett för att förstöra hälsan hos den durchlauchtigste drottningen, eftersom febern, som knappt upphörde, så utarmade nästan all fukt i en mycket torr och varm kropp, så att det som var hektiskt med kakexi redan verkade att ha nått det andra stadiet.

Den omöjligheten att sova, den nedsänkta aptiten, den fullständiga styrkans svaghet — kort sagt, olyckan av alla dessa saker skrämde mig så mycket att jag nästan skulle ha klarat mig bättre om jag hade hållit händerna från så mycket arbete; men eftersom jag såg att den durchlauchtigste drottningen var av ett gott sinne, kapabel att följa läkarens råd och var villig att energiskt ägna sig åt att återställa sin hälsa, var jag så djärv att jag inte heller trodde att jag skulle ge efter för hårt vädret, inte symtomen på så många sjuka sår eller en sådan sjukdoms ihållande. Jag trodde inte heller att allt var så högljutt att de inte kunde lagas, repareras och restaureras i sin helhet inom ett år.

Med dessa konster har jag därför angripit den mest gensträviga sjukdomen med kraft. Jag har ordinerat en diet som skulle kyla och fukta kroppen och ersätta de goda safterna i stället för de dåliga. Jag har föreslagit livsmedel som soppor och grytor, kokta snarare än rostade, på ett sådant sätt att hon skall göra det bästa av köttet, avstå helt från saltad, pepprad, rökt, smörig och fet mat. Hon skall dricka mycket vatten, antingen kallt eller måttligt nedkokt, vilket jag har passat på att göra med äpplen, citroner, bittra apelsiner och passande sirap; jag har tillsatt mest korn och 4 stora, kalla frön. Jag har också ersatt den vattniga kokningen av kalvkött, utspädd med mineralkristall till några korn.

Jag har tagit hand om dem under veckan, så att tarmarna läktes med ett lugnande lavemang, och en gång i månaden bragtes blodet till 8 uns, men tillståndet för dessa humörers frambringade av den kathartiska en gång tagna i månaden var knappast trovärdigt, så svarta och så stickande, att silverfatet genast var angripna av rost och blyaktig färg. Men hon var så plågad att tarmarna pinades av de mest olidliga smärtor, och ändtarmsöppningen var sliten. För att lugna detta inrättades en hel del dryck, ett avkok av korn, av kalvköttsvatten eller av emulsioner.

Med denna hjälp, vid de vanliga tiderna, eller när den kallades för att användas igen oftare, hände det att efter fyra månader sågs de allvarligaste symtomen avta. Från den tiden var drottningen inte längre bekymrad i anden, och nu fick hennes läppar, som varit torra och stela, och hennes hud, som varit sträv och fräknar, en ny mjukhet, och hennes humör fick en mer godartad karaktär; inte heller återkom den påfrestande smärtan i sidan, som det hade varit vanligt, och förmågorna återupplivades genom att äta mat med aptit. Hennes sömn blev en timme eller två längre och lugnare (ett tecken på naturens återgång till nåden), och hennes styrka återuppstod på ett märkligt sätt, och segern tycktes följa delarna av hennes egen natur, men som om den häftigaste fienden redan hade omdirigerats och förts på flykt, var den helt förstörd, med järn eller stål och med medicinerat vatten som hon skulle dricka varje dag på morgonen. Vi fick dem att penetrera alla gömställen i mesenteriet och mjälten med sin vikt, och med våld skulle de öppna de bortförda passagerna och förbereda och förtära det brända och svidande humöret. Detta slags hjälp instiftades för allt gott, för humöret blev mildare, och kroppen blev mer flytande, och de gav en saburra som skulle sopas bort av varje jordfräs genom upprepade och frekventa laxermedel.

Sålunda blev den durchlauchtigste drottningen, befriad från alla sina humörers smuts och som tidigare hållits tillbaka av tröga, spontana tröttheter, snart livlig och började utan något flåsande ägna sig åt arbete även i största utsträckningen som hon var van vid att göra. Men mellan assistenserna, som tog varje punkt, fanns ett bad med ljummet vatten, som hon ofta gick in i, och som under många timmar genomsyrade hela kroppen med en så gott humör av syrrhus att den återställde huden sin naturliga mjukhet med en vacker färg, återställde sömnen till sina naturliga lagar och återställde helt magen till sin kontroll.

Emellertid var blodet, efter att ha tagits fram särskilt genom frekvent flebotomi, inte alls svart i själva cataminis, som det såg ut förut, men synen var blommig och levande, och efter ett år var den så mild och mild att det fanns inga kramper eller smärtor, inga hjärtklappningar, inga darrande rörelsespasmer i hela kroppen.

Sålunda, inom ett år, återställdes den durchlauchtigste drottningen till sin hälsa, som brukade vara helt oklanderlig. Ty hon åt tre gånger om dagen, så att det inte fanns någon aptit utan hunger. Hon åt mycket fritt, hennes sömn var lugn och lång, hennes sinne glatt och hennes arbete outtröttligt, med kroppens fyllighet och färgens sötma; och sådan var kroppens munterhet och spänst i tre eller fyra månader, att hon, när hon ägnade sig åt ridning och annat arbete, inte bara kämpade med de starkare, utan till och med överträffade dem.

När, se, i april månad, på den femtonde dagen, när katamenien flödade just vid den perioden, uppträdde feber, med exacerbationer som återkom på kvällen, med huvudvärk, trötthet och stickande smärta i vänster hypokondrium. Dessa exacerbationer inträffade inte med fasa eller stränghet, utan med en outhärdlig sveda i urinen, och de var svårare under udda dagar, så att de ibland märktes av kräkningar, vakenhet, ångest och hjärtklappning, samt torrhet och strävhet av tungan. Men febern var så lättad från förvärringen att man inte kunde skada några förmågor förutom den sfygmiska, som var irriterad, ty hennes kraft och aptit var så stark att hon åt all slags mat.

Och hon skulle träna sin kropp i lekar, men hon var rädd att febern skulle öka lite av måltiden och att andarna skulle bli upphetsade av kroppsövningar, så att hon skulle bli tillrättavisad mer bittert av reduplicering på kvällen. Det fanns en tertiansk dubbelkontinuerlig feber, för att övervinna vilken en mer sparsam diet, eller en tunn, svalkande och fuktig sådan, återkallades att använda. Flebotomien upprepades fyra gånger och ett antal lavemang sattes in. Efter den fjortonde dagen, när exacerbationerna misslyckades, gav vi ett katartisk extrakt av kassia, ett och ett halvt uns orientalisk senna och ett uns rabarbertinktur, en halv drachm. Efter att ha förtärt det hela, var det så mycket svart galla som återuppstod — som var skarp, snart klar och trög genom den nedre evakueringen, utan serum eller galla blandat med det, — att alla blev förvånade.

Men ur katharsis agitation uppstod en viss feber med en puls ej stor, utan snabb och frekvent, med en skarp och torr hetta spridd genom kroppens vana, med blekhet i ansiktet och styrkans svaghet, samt frekvent hjärtklappning. Man misstänkte att överskottet av svart galla som fanns kvar i leverns och mjältens håligheter, upprört av katharsis, orsakade denna tragedi.

Det sanktionerades därför att detta bittra och häftiga humör skulle mjukas upp, vispas och blandas med bjuggemulsioner med kalla frön och fröet av den vita vallmo. Lavemang bör också sättas in för att mjuka upp tarmarna och dämpa dem med lämplig vätska, så att de rusar till porten som ges till dem. Vi rekommenderar också att patienten helt bör avstå från kvällsmat och att hon skall ägna sig åt sömn och vila.

Och så, när man såg, att humöret hade dämpats av nyttan av den av oss föreskrivna dieten, tänkte vi på mild tömning, genom vars verk mycket svart galla av samma natur som den förra nedbröts, men mot slutet av den krampaktiga gallan, grön som en purjolök och koppargrön, sjukdomen återkom lite från denna lösning som tagits; det vill säga när agiterad mycket hett. Jag skulle inte säga av eldiga andar i en kropp som hade de hetaste inälvorna, men hon blev av med värmen genom mycket dryck och vila, särskilt genom att dricka sex koppar chalybeatvatten på morgonen. Det är knappt att tro hur mycket det där medicinerade vattnet har gynnat henne.

Den införde en mild hetta i hela kroppen, släckte feberhettan i hög grad, och även genom sin kyla, med sina stillastående och tunga, till vilka den ges för att kontrollera de uppåtströmmande vätskorna och för att gripa några av dem, men framför allt genom sin lösningsmedelskapacitet, som är i stånd att tränga undan mycket gul och ren galla genom de lägre, därav apyrexi. För när bränslet tas bort, hur kan en febrig brand överleva? Men om det finns något empyem som är oförbränt i delarna själva, finns det hopp om att det kommer att spädas ut och förstöras av ett varmt bad.

För den sammanställer andarnas vågor, lugnar hettan från humöret och återställer till helheten själva delarna eller de som lider av undernäring genom att balansera dem med sin levande nektar. Jag rekommenderar detta slags skydd, för vilket jag inte sätter upp mål eller tider, ty det kommer alltid att vara lämpligt, och det kan förnya förstörd hälsa av sin egen kraft, så länge som de andra konspirerar, särskilt kost, föreskriven enligt den medicinska lagar, vanorna enligt temperament, konstitution och sjukdomar före gärningarna, som, om de försummas, hotar ofta återfall av hektisk feber.

Och den durchlauchtigste drottningen skall således försörja sig själv, hon skall presidera över medicinerna, administrerade vid bestämda tider, och hon skall hålla denna eviga levnadslag. Luften skall vara tempererad, kall snarare än varm, men vi ogillar inte fuktig luft, som har karaktären av ett bad och är mest lämpad för att förtjocka och bryta den tunnare spriten. Av denna anledning har jag provat det ofta som en lotion för fötterna på en varm plats.

De flesta av hennes drycker bör vara regnvatten eller källvatten, bjuggtisan eller lemonad, eller ett avkok av nyttig frukt eller kalvvatten. En riklig drink, särskilt en kall och snöig, är lika passande för henne som om hon hade feber.

När det gäller mat bör hon ha sådana som är eukymiska och eupeptiska, kokta snarare än rostade, och många mellanmål: frukter, såsom jordgubbar, äpplen, päron, apelsiner och andra sådana frukter, som är starka i att kyla och fukta kroppen och som inte genererar galla. Men hon bör avstå från salt, pepprig och rökt, stekt och kokt mat och från dåliga grönsaker som vitlök, kål och annat som frestar huvudet. Hennes kvällsmat borde vara lättare än middagsmat, men hon borde äta frukost.

När hon anstränger sig mycket är hungern inte att uthärda. Vi ogillar inte pressad mjölk och färskost, men smör och mjölk är värre för en hund och en orm, likaså sötsaker kryddade med mycket socker och mandel, som omedelbart förvandlar allt till galla.

Att sova på natten är berömvärt, men att sova på dagen är också bra om det är långt och vilsamt innan hon är uppe på natten. Och, för att tala fritt, om hon nekar sig själv sju timmars sömn, kommer naturen äntligen att klaga på bedrägeri av hennes ingenium.

Resten av tiden sköter hon i tur och ordning sin sömn, så att hon så mycket som möjligt avstår från arbete och oro i kroppen och från snabba promenader. För en häftigare rörelse tröttar kroppen, bryter kraften, uppflammar och löser upp själen, hetsar upp och ökar gallan och torkar ut hela kroppen med otålighet, varav efteråt resulterar ångest, aptitlöshet och de otaliga symtomen som tidigare förts till vår uppmärksamhet.

Hon borde vara fri från bekymmer och oro i sinnet, såväl som från sorg och sorg. För dessa mentala åkommor återuppväcka humören; och precis som ilska rör upp och intensifierar gallan, så bränner tunga oro den i inälvorna. Omständiga sysselsättningar som är uppfunna för nöjes skull gör detsamma, men sinnesro och gladlynthet hjälper till att bränna.

Om den durchlauchtigste drottningen observerar dessa detaljer, så slutligen, om tarmarna svarar på dessa eller en gång om dagen och avföringen inte är torr, och om katamenien flyter på de vanliga tiderna, vilket är lämpligt, då är kvantiteten och kvaliteten på medel som kommer att föreslås inom kort, administreras i tur och ordning, är till absolut fördel för hälsan i alla avseenden, vilket kan leda till atleticism.

De botemedel som föreslås är så lätta och anpassade till naturen att de till och med kan inkluderas i läckerheter. För vad kan vara härligare än ett bad?

Flebotomiet, som skall utföras en gång i månaden eller varannan månad, önskas av drottningen själv, och det är inte någon allvarlig olägenhet om den föregås av lavemang och följs av en mild katharsis, som prisas av adeln och skall upprepas fyra gånger om året. Efter katharsis bör mineralvatten gjort av järnspån, som är smak- och luktfritt, som lossar tarmarna, släcker värmen, skärper aptiten och främjar sömnen, inte under några omständigheter avvisas.

Nästan varje konst att helande verkar ha använts här för att skydda den durchlauchtigste drottningens hälsa, och alla läkare är eniga när de utför dessa operationer. Därför, om den durchlauchtigste drottningen ens är måttligt lydig, ser jag ingen fara för en så god hälsa. Men om hon uppträder mera försumligt i användningen av läkemedlen och kostens lag, och om den sjukliga omständigheten ökar, och om bördan av humör som samlats utöver vad som är naturligt ökar, kommer snart de symtom som hittills har förvisats igen, och hon kommer inte att kunna fly från dem om hon inte, som om hon klamrar sig fast vid ett heligt ankare, tar till att dricka det mest kraftfulla mineralvatten, som kan ta bort humöret som är djupare inbäddat, rengöra delarna och kyla själva inälvorna mest noggrant, som mineralvattnet i Spa, Auvergne, Salmière, Nevers och till och med i Forges-les-Eaux. Emellertid kommer jag att se till att de förs hit från Frankrike, särskilt för att de av dem som kan vara lika med en så stor resa kan återkallas för användning.

Det vore säkrare för de sjuka att hämta dessa vatten från själva källan, ty där är de mest välutrustade med alla de dygder som de har från naturen, som är mycket utmärkta, och här är de inte utan sin ande, som upplöses och försvinner inom några dagar; men jag envisas inte med att föreslå detta råd.

Om den durchlauchtigste drottningen inte kan förbereda sig för denna resa, så borde hon bättre råda sig själv för det om hon strävar efter att bevara sin hälsa, godkänner levnadslagen och medicinska försiktighetsåtgärder och använder dem; vilket, om hon gör det, kommer att skänka sig själv ett fridfullt och behagligt liv med lång livslängd och oss en ära som aldrig kommer att dö.

Därför, som läkare och som lydigaste tjänarna, ger vi inte bara råd av plikt, utan som bedjare ber vi att hon flitigt skall sträva efter sin hälsa.

Bourdelot.

English translation (my own):

A plan for protecting the health of the Most Serene Queen.

Although it may seem superfluous to relate the history of the already laboured disease in the presence of the Most Serene Queen and the medical men who have devoted themselves to restoring her health, I have thought it necessary to relate it, either because it had been told less accurately before, or perhaps because it had never been written down. And so I think that it would be entirely out of the question if I should diligently prescribe that long-lasting disease which, I should say more fortunately, I had more skillfully brought down, and which was more easily relieved by the cares of the physicians, so that even if the Most Serene Queen were to suffer a relapse again, which is absent, or if she would use other physicians than those who are now present, among them it might be ascertained from her temperament, from the weather of various parts, from the character of her humours, and from the morbid symptoms which have exercised it.

The Most Serene Queen, of a hot and dry temperament, with the most ardent humours and endowed with a keen intellect, by vigilance, care, and unscrupulous labour, has so increased the heat and dryness of the parts that those qualities have exceeded the mode of nature; it is from cacochymia and dyscrasy that almost all the functions are impaired, for the appetite first rushed in and could not be sustained any further because (when the intestinal region was strewn with much humour) a portion of it flowed back into the stomach, so that it infected her, so that she became weary of her duty.

The bowels were sluggish with the driest excrements, namely, by the heat of the fire destroying all moisture; the palm of her heart was labouring, from the foul breath of the suffocating and putrid contents of the humours in the cavities of the liver. She suffered from a depravity of mind while there was a notable degree of putrefaction, a humour striking the heart with its malignant exhalation. This exhalation also, while appealing to the membranes of the brain, induced vigilance, cares, and sorrow; and she was tormented with excruciating pains in the left hypochondrium, which denoted the acridity and burning of the humours contained in that place.

But the whole body was occupied by that humour, which had to be collected from the dull-black cataminis and from the black blood, from which, as if from ink, the chemise became black, if at any time some slight wound had been inflicted by a small pin on the skin. The gums themselves were putrid, loose, turgid with black blood, the character and manner of the humours were sufficiently above all testified; as the period (before the menses themselves appeared) was laborious and feverish for eight days; there was that perpetual and spontaneous weariness of the body, which spoke of a remarkable cachexia of the body, which seemed to allow no day to pass free from fever, which was not made terrible by some disastrous symptom, for example, a derangement of the mind or a convulsive movement of the body. Everything from seven years was was prepared for the destruction of the health of the Most Serene Queen, as the fever, which scarcely ceased, so depleted almost all the moisture in a very dry and hot body, so that what was hectic with cachexia seemed already to have reached the second stage.

That impossibility of sleeping, that prostrate appetite, the utter weakness of strength — in short, the calamity of all these things terrified me so much that I should almost have done better if I had kept my hands from so much work; but as I saw that the Most Serene Queen was of a good mind, capable of following the doctor's advice, and was willing to devote herself energetically to the restoration of her health, I was so bold that I neither believed that I should yield to the severe weather, nor the symptoms of so many ill-wounds, nor the persistence of such a disease. Nor did I think that everything was so clamorous that they could not be mended, repaired and restored in their entirety within a year.

With these arts, therefore, I have attacked the most contumacious disease with vigour. I have prescribed a diet which would cool and moisten the body and replace the good juices in the place of the bad ones. I have proposed foods such as soups and stews, boiled rather than roasted, in such a way that she should make the most of meat, abstain entirely from salted, peppered, smoked, buttery and fatty foods. She should drink lots of water, either cold or boiled down moderatingly, which I have taken care to make with apples, lemons, bitter oranges and suitable syrups; I have added mostly barley and 4 large, cold seeds. I have also substituted the watery boiling of veal meat, diluted with mineral crystal to a few grains.

I have taken care of them during the week, so that the bowels were healed with a soothing enema, and once a month the blood was brought to 8 ounces, but the condition of these humours brought forth by the cathartic once taken in a month is scarcely believable, so black and so acrid, that the silver basins were at once infested with rust and a leaden colour. But she was so afflicted that the bowels were tormented by the most excruciating pains, and the anus was torn. To soothe this, a great deal of drink, a decoction of barley, of veal water, or of emulsions, was instituted.

With this help, at the usual times, or when it was called to be used again more frequently, it happened that after four months the most serious symptoms were seen to subside. From that time the Queen was no longer troubled in spirit, and now her lips, which had been dry and stiff, and her skin, which had been rough and freckled, acquired a new softness, and her humours took on a more benign character; nor did that importunate pain in the side recur, as had been usual, and the faculties were revived by taking food with appetite. Her sleep became an hour or two longer and more peaceful (a sign of nature's return to grace), and her strength rekindled in a strange way, and victory seemed to follow the parts of her own nature, but as if that fiercest enemy had already been routed and put to flight, it was completely destroyed, with iron or steel and with medicated waters that she was to drink every day in the morning. We made them penetrate all the hiding places of the mesentery and spleen by their weight, and by force they would open the abducted passages and prepare and consume the burnt and contumacious humour. This kind of help was instituted for all good things, for the humours became milder, and the body became more fluxile, and they provided a saburra to be swept away by every tiller through repeated and frequent laxatives.

Thus the Most Serene Queen, freed from all the dregs of her humours, who before had been held back by languid, spontaneous lassitudes, soon became lively and without any panting began, as she was wont, to indulge in labour even to the greatest extent. But between the sieges, which took every point, was a bath of lukewarm water, which she often entered, and which for many hours permeated the whole body with such a benign humour of syrrhus that it restored to the skin its natural softness with a beautiful colour, restored sleep to its natural laws, and completely restored the stomach to its control.

In the meantime the blood, having been procured especially by frequent phlebotomy, was not at all black in the cataminis themselves, as it appeared before, but the sight was flowery and vivid, and after a year it was so mild and gentle that there were no cramps or pains, no palpitations of the heart, no trembling spasms of motion in the whole body.

Thus, within a year, the Most Serene Queen was restored to her health, which used to be completely blameless. For she ate three times a day, so that there was no appetite but hunger. She ate very freely, her sleep was peaceful and long, her mind cheerful and her labour untiring, with the plumpness of her body and the sweetness of her colour; and such was the cheerfulness and alacrity of the body for three or four months that, indulging in riding and other labours, she not only contended with the stronger ones, but even surpassed them.

When, behold, in the month of April, on the fifteenth day, when the catamenia was flowing just at that period, a fever appeared, with exacerbations returning in the evening, with headache, fatigue, and stabbing pain in the left hypochondrium. These exacerbations did not occur with horror or rigour, but with an intolerable burning of the urine, and they were more severe on odd days, so that sometimes they were marked by vomiting, wakefulness, distress and heart palpitations, as well as dryness and roughness of the tongue. But the fever was so relieved from the exacerbation that one could injure no faculties except the sphygmic, which was irritated, for her strength and appetite were so strong that she ate all kinds of food.

And she would exercise her body in games, but she was afraid that the fever would increase a little from the meal and that the spirits would be excited by the exercise, so that she would be rebuked more bitterly by reduplication in the evening. There was a tertian double continuous fever, to overcome which a more sparing diet, or a thin, cooling and moistening one, was recalled to use. The phlebotomy was repeated four times, and a number of enemas were inserted. After the fourteenth day, when the exacerbations failed, we gave a cathartic extract of cassia, an ounce and a half of oriental senna, and one ounce of rhubarb tincture, a half drachm. Having devoured the whole, there was so much black bile regurgitated — which was acrid, soon clear, and viscid through the lower evacuation, without serum or bile mixed with it, — that everyone was astonished.

But from the agitation of the catharsis a certain fever arose with a pulse not great, but rapid and frequent, with a sharp and dry heat diffused through the habit of the body, with pallour of the countenance and weakness of strength, as well as frequent palpitation of the heart. It was suspected that the excess of black bile remaining in the cavities of the liver and spleen, stirred up by the catharsis, caused this tragedy.

It was therefore sanctioned that this bitter and fierce humour should be softened, beaten and mixed with barley emulsions with cold seeds and the seed of the white poppy. Enemas should also be inserted to soften the intestines and subdue them with suitable fluids, so that they rush to the port that is given to them. We also advise that the patient should completely abstain from supper and that she should devote herself to sleep and rest.

And so, when it was seen that the humour had been tempered by the benefit of the diet prescribed by us, we thought of mild purging, by whose works much black bile of the same nature as the former was brought down, but towards the end of the spasmodic bile, purraceous and aeruginous, the disease recurred a little from this solution taken; that is, when agitated very hotly. I should not say of fiery spirits in a body possessed of the hottest viscera, but she got rid of the heat by much drink and rest, especially by drinking six cups of chalybeate water in the morning. It is scarcely believable how much that medicated water has benefited her.

It introduced a mild heat to the whole body, extinguished the febrile heat to a great extent, and also, by its facility of coldness, with its stagnant and heavy ones, to which it is given to control the upward-flowing fluids and to seize some of them, but above all by its solvent capacity, which is capable of displacing much yellow and pure bile through the lower ones, hence apyrexia. For when the fuel is removed, how can a feverish fire survive? But if there is any empyrema that is unburnt in the parts themselves, there is hope that it will be diluted and destroyed by a warm bath.

For it composes the waves of the spirits, calms the heat of the humours, and restores to the whole the parts themselves or those suffering from malnutrition by balancing them with its living nectar. I recommend this type of protection, for which I do not set goals or times, for it will always be opportune, and it can renew destroyed health by its own strength, as long as the others conspire, especially diet, prescribed according to the medical laws, the habits according to the temperament, constitution, and diseases before the acts, which, if neglected, threaten frequent relapses of hectic fever.

And the Most Serene Queen will thus provide for herself, she will preside over the medicines, administered at fixed times, and she will keep this perpetual law of living. The air should be temperate, cold rather than hot, but we do not disapprove of humid air, which has the character of a bath and is most suitable for thickening and breaking the thinner spirits. For this reason I have tried it frequently as a lotion for the feet in a warm place.

Most of her drinks should be rainwater or spring water, barley tisane or lemonade, or a decoction of wholesome fruits or veal water. A copious drink, especially a cold and snowy one, is equally suitable for her as if she had a fever.

As for food, she should have ones that are euchymic and eupeptic, boiled rather than roasted, and a lot of snacks: fruits, such as strawberries, apples, pears, oranges and other such things, which are strong in cooling and moistening the body and which do not generate bile. But she should abstain from salty, peppery, and smoked, fried and boiled foods and from bad vegetables such as garlic, cabbage and others that tempt the head. Her supper should be lighter than lunch, but she should take breakfast.

When she labours much, hunger is not to be endured. We do not disapprove of pressed milk and fresh cheese, but butter and milk are worse for a dog and a snake, as are sweetmeats seasoned with much sugar and almonds, which turn everything into bile immediately.

Sleep during the night is laudable, but sleep during the day is also helpful if it is long and restful before she stays up at night. And, to speak freely, if she denies herself seven hours' sleep, nature will at last complain of the defraudation of her genius.

She manages her sleep the rest of the time in turns, so that she abstains as much as possible from labour and agitation of the body and from rapid walking. For a more violent movement tires the body, breaks the strength, inflames and resolves the spirit, excites and increases the bile, and dries up the whole body with impatience, from which afterwards results anxiety, loss of appetite and the innumerable symptoms previously brought to our attention.

She should be free from cares and anxieties of the mind, as well as from sorrow and sadness. For those mental afflictions rekindle the humours; and just as anger stirs and intensifies bile, so heavy anxieties burn it in the workings of the viscera. Intemperate pursuits that are invented for pleasure do the same, but tranquility of mind and cheerfulness help this burning.

If the Most Serene Queen observes these details, then finally, if the bowels respond to these or once a day and the stools are not dry, and if the catamenia flows at the usual times, as is appropriate, then the quantity and quality of the remedies which are to be proposed shortly, being administered in turns, are of absolute benefit to health in all respects, which may lead to athleticism.

The remedies to be proposed are so easy and accommodated to nature that they can even be included in delights. For what could be more delightful than a bath?

Phlebotomy, which is to be performed once a month or every other month, is desired by the Queen herself, and it is not a serious inconvenience if it is preceded by an enema and followed by a gentle catharsis, which is praised by the nobility and is to be repeated four times a year. After the catharsis, mineral water made from iron filings, which is tasteless and odourless, which loosens the bowels, quenches the heat, sharpens the appetite and promotes sleep, should not be rejected under any circumstances.

Almost every art of healing seems to have been employed here to protect the health of the Most Serene Queen, and all the physicians are of one mind in carrying out these operations. Therefore, if the Most Serene Queen is even moderately obedient, I see no danger to such great health. But if she behaves more negligently in the use of remedies and the law of the diet, and if the morbid intemperance increases, and if the burden of humours collected beyond what is natural increases, the symptoms that have hitherto been banished will soon reappear, and she will not be able to escape from them unless, as if clinging to a sacred anchor, she resorts to drinking the most powerful mineral waters, which can remove the humours that are more deeply embedded, cleanse the parts, and cool the very viscera most thoroughly, such as the mineral waters of Spa, Auvergne, Salmière, Nevers, and even of Forges-les-Eaux. In the meantime, I will take care that they are brought here from France, particularly so that those of them that can be equal to such a great voyage can be recalled for use.

It would be safer for the sick to draw those waters from the spring itself, for there they are most well-equipped with all the virtues which they have from nature, which are most excellent, and here they are not without their spirits, which dissolve and disappear within a few days; but I do not persist in proposing this advice.

If the Most Serene Queen cannot prepare herself for this journey, so she should better advise herself for it if she strives to preserve her health, approves the law of living and medical precautions, and uses them; which, if she does, she will grant to herself a peaceful and pleasant life with longevity, and to us a glory that will never die.

Therefore, as physicians and as most obedient servants, we not only offer advice out of duty, but as bedesmen, we pray that she will diligently pursue her health.

Bourdelot.

Above: Kristina.

Above: Pierre Bourdelot.

Notes: cacochymia = an obsolete medical term for a vitiated state of the humours or bodily fluids.

dyscrasy = a bodily disorder; an imbalance of the humours.

hypochondrium = the upper region of the abdomen, underneath the lower ribs, each side of the epigastrium.

cachexia = a systemic wasting of muscle tissue, with or without loss of fat mass, that accompanies a chronic disease.

℥ = a pharmaceutical or apothecary unit for an ounce.

decoction = an extraction or essence of something obtained by boiling it down.

saburra = foul granular matter deposited in the alimentary canal by the decomposition of food.

catamenia = menstruation or menstrual blood.

sphygmic = of or pertaining to the circulatory pulse.

℥ß = a half ounce.

ʒß = a half drachm or dram.

purraceous = greenish in colour like a leek.

aeruginous = resembling the greenish colour of copper rust.

chalybeate water = a mineral water containing iron, used as a voguish general remedy from the 17th to 19th centuries.

apyrexia = the absence or an intermission during a bout of fever.

empyrema (correctly spelled empyema) = "a collection of corrupt matter in a mans bodie"; a collection of pus within a naturally existing anatomical cavity (as opposed to an abscess, which occurs in a newly formed cavity).

euchymic = conducive to a good state of the blood and other bodily fluids.

eupeptic = conducive to good digestion.