Martin Weibull on Pierre Hector Chanut's memoirs, part 2

Source:

Om »Mémoires de Chanut», article written by Martin Weibull for Historisk tidskrift, volume 7, pages 60 to 64, published by the Swedish Historical Union through Emil Hildebrand, 1887

https://runeberg.org/ht/1887/0068.html

The article:

Pierre Chanut, utnämd till fransk ministerresident i Sverige i september 1645, anlände till Norden samma år på senhösten. Medan hans familj och svit fortsatte färden genom Sundet direkt på Stockholm — resan hade gått till sjös från Amsterdam — stannade han sjelf i Kjöbenhavn för att sluta sig till den vid begge de nordiska hofven ackrediterade franske ambassadören, Coignet de la Thuillerie, hvilken nyss förut bemedlat freden i Brömsebro. Af honom skulle han emottaga instruktioner och af honom, då han aflade sitt afskedsbesök i Stockholm, införas i sin befattning vid svenska hofvet. Detta skedde i början af året 1646. Från 1646 i januari och intill 1649 i maj (sista brefvet till Mazarin dat. 1/5), då han erhöll tillstånd att för en kortare tid återvända till Frankrike, vistades han oafbrutet på sin post i Stockholm. Under hela denna tid aflade han regelbundna ministeriella rapporter till kardinal Mazarin och statssekreteraren Loménie de Brienne. Dessa, men endast dessa, samt på ett sätt, som snarast kan betecknas såsom en lemlästning, hafva blifvit begagnade för första delen af memoirerna under hans namn. Steg för steg, bref för bref kan man följa de alldeles godtyckligt gjorda utdragen ur dessa ministerbref.

På hemväg till Frankrike våren 1649, möttes Chanut i Holland af en ambassadörsfullmakt. Han erhöll denna dels som belöning för de tjenster han redan gjort i Sverige under den vestfaliska fredens år, dels också för att fullgöra en ny och vigtig uppgift, som ställdes till honom. Den franska politiken hade efter vestfaliska fredens afslutande uppställt till mål för sig att försona Frankrikes begge bundsförvandter i Norden, Sverige och Polen; åt Chanut öfverlemnades att på kongressen i Lübeck utföra detta svåra uppdrag. I december 1649 återkom han till Stockholm, hade 22/12 sin audiens såsom ambassadör hos drottning Kristina, daterade sitt första bref till Mazarin 25/12 och dröjde i Sverige till kongressen öppnades; först 1651 i juni afreste han till densamma. För tiden mellan dessa data har P. Linage de Vauciennes på enahanda sätt begagnat Chanuts dubbelrapporter till Mazarin och Brienne. Mellan 1649 april och december är en lucka i memoirer såväl som i korrespondans. Under denna tid uppehölls beskickningen af ambassadsekreteraren Picques. Rapporter, som denne kan hafva afgifvit, äro icke för denna tid begagnade. Picques, Sieur Picques, såsom han nämnes bredvid Monsieur Chanut, kom äfven nu att vid ambassadörens afresa till kongressen i Lübeck uppehålla ärendena i Stockholm. I december 1651 blef han nämd till fransk ministerresident i Stockholm. Ej endast från denna tidpunkt, utan alltsedan Chanuts afresa och intill hans egen 1654, är det Picques skrifvelser och ej Chanuts, som ligga till grund för memoirerna. Blott inflickas där och hvar ur Chanuts papper någon redogörelse för förloppet af kongressen i Lübeck. Dessa beröra numera föga Sverige och svenska förhållanden. Chanuts bref under denna tid äro uteslutande ställda till Brienne, och detta af det skäl, att Mazarin under dessa år och intill februari 1653 befinner sig i landsflykt. Knapt har emellertid Mazarin återvändt ur denna och återtagit ledningen af ärendena, förrän Chanut, som efter Lübeck-kongressens fullständiga upplösning stod färdig att begifva sig till sin nya ambassadörspost i Haag, emottager kardinalens order att åter begifva sig till Stockholm, om ock endast för kort tid. Det är — hvad i memoirerna ej omnämnes — de i Picques depescher framställda förhållandena i Stockholm och dennes hela förhållningssätt, som föranleda kardinalen till denna order. Chanut afreser då från Hamburg sista dagen i april 1653, daterar bref till Mazarin från Stockholm 10/5 och till drottning Kristina från Vismar 10/7. Han har således på denna mission tillbragt ungefär en månad. Hvad han från denna resa inberättat till Mazarin, sammandrages i memoirerna mycket ofullständigt på 9 sidor III, 183-191.

Efter på stället gjord undersökning om förhållandena, råder Chanut till Picques rappellerande från Stockholm och detta följer äfven efter någon tids förlopp. I november 1654 lemnar han Sverige, då Charles d'Avaugour anländer såsom ambassadör hos Karl X Gustaf.

I öfverensstämmelse med dessa förhållanden sönderfalla de s. k. Mémoires de Chanut i tvänne väsentligen olika afdelningar, den ena grundad på Chanuts, den andra på Picques depescher. Vid i detalj gående granskning visar sig, att den från Chanuts papper härrörande afdelningen (I och II 1-219) i en följd upptager omkring 647 sidor, medan den, som hvilar på Picques', omfattar omkring 747 sidor, (II, 219-453 och III). I denna senare afdelning äro dock inskjutna rörande kongressen i Lübeck omkring 130 sidor samt 9 från Chanuts vistelse i Stockholm 1653. (III 183-191). Till omfänget blifva alltså de begge afdelningarne ungefär lika. Men till halt och värde äro de så olika som de begge, från hvilka de härröra, Chanut och Picques, ty det gäller i fråga om diplomatiska papper, att allt är beroende af person. De kunna lemna de säkraste källor för historien; de kunna också lemna blott vrångbilder af förhållanden och personer. Är diplomaten en upphöjd och oafhängig karaktär, som förstår att begagna sin ställning såsom vederbör för en allsidig iakttagelse, utan att förvillas af lidelser, utan att låta sig föra bakom ljuset af intressen och intresserade, då eger han berättigade anspråk på att ega tillit hos efterverlden. Den brist, som ligger däri, att han är främling, uppväges af hans opartiskhet och oafhängighet i omdöme. Men om det brister diplomaten mognad både i år och omdöme, om osjelfständigheten är förorsakad både af karaktärens och hufvudets svagheter, om hans rapporter komma att gifva blott ett genljud af partiväsendet omkring honom, så måste hans berättelser fruktas af efterverlden lika mycket, som sqvallret fruktas af samtiden. Blott i de fall där uppgifterna kunna bestå den strängaste kritik efter kontrollering med källor af verklig tillförlitlighet ega de då vitsord. Sådant ungefär är förhållandet mellan källorna till de båda afdelningarne af de s. k. Mémoires de Chanut. Till långvarig skada för sanningen hafva dessa varit sammanfattade under samma gemensamma namn. Men med fullaste skäl bör P. Linage de Vauciennes arbete i stället uppdelas uti

1. Mémoires de Chanut (I-II, 1-219)

och

2. Mémoires de Picques (II 219-453, III).

Det är under dessa olika titlar vi vilja behandla de olika afdelningarne hvar för sig.

Att drottning Kristina med rätta nedlagt sin insaga mot Mémoires de Chanut framgår fullkomligt klart af dessa förhållanden. Det blef dock en insaga af betydelse blott för framtiden; samtiden passerade lätt förbi den. När den rättvisa förvägrades henne, som Bourdelot vid memoirernas utgifvande fordrat genom författarens bestraffning, lät hon därvid förblifva. Hon gjorde aldrig något försök till vederläggning: det låg i hennes karaktär att anse sig upphöjd öfver smädelsen och förtalet. Hvad som mest smärtat henne hade varit att Chanuts namn blifvit begagnadt för att maskera dolkstygnen, som riktats emot henne. För egen del blickade hon med förakt ned på de osanningar som kringspridts. »Ma consolation», skrifver hon, »est que ma conscience ne me reproche rien d'indigne de moi, et la Suède, Rome et tous les autres lieux de la terre où j'ai passé ma vie témoigneront un jour de la fausseté de ces calomnies. Ma gloire et ma reputation sont, Dieu merci, assez bien établies, pour ne pas craindre ces sortes de calomnies, et j'en appelle ici à la conscience de ceux mêmes qui les ont inventées; je suis sûre qu'ils ne croient pas eux-mêmes ce qu'ils disent. Le siècle où nous sommes me console: on n'y donne quartier à personne. Pour moi, je me suis accoutumée à l'ingratitude et à la perfidie du genre humain».

Hon hyste sjelf den meningen, att utgifvandet af detta memoirverk var tendensmessigt och en handling af fiendskap och hämd. Kanske hade hon ej orätt däri. I Frankrike förlät man henne ej den rol hon spelat i Roma 1670 vid Clemens X Altieris val och sedan under denne påfves pontifikat. Den bestämda mening hon hyste och äfven öppet uttalade om det för Sveriges intressen skadliga i förbundet med Frankrike 1672 stämde ej blidare. Drottning Kristinas opposition mot Frankrike hade alltid något retsamt för Ludvig XIV. Och det var ej första gången, man i Paris angrep motståndare på ett sätt sådant som detta: den falska venetianska relationen under Angelo Corrers namn hade ju några år förut visat exempel därpå. Emellertid har denna sak gjort ett djupt intryck på drottning Kristinas sinne; mer än en gång har hon läst boken omigen och på sitt vanliga sätt skrifvit anmärkningar i brädden. Kanske har hon till slut också haft tanke på att vilja rättfärdiga sig. Åtminstone tillhöra de Memoirer, hon sjelf begynt nedskrifva, åren efter utgifvandet af Mémoires de Chanut. Tyvärr ha drottningens egna Mémoires ej blifvit förda längre än till begynnelsen af hennes sjelfständiga regering.

Vi öfvergå nu till första afdelningen.

English translation (my own):

Pierre Chanut, appointed French Minister Resident in Sweden in September 1645, arrived in the Nordic countries in late autumn of the same year. While his family and suite continued their journey through the Sound directly to Stockholm — the journey had been by sea from Amsterdam — he himself stopped in Copenhagen to join the French ambassador accredited to both Nordic courts, Coignet de la Thuilerie, who had just previously brokered the peace of Brömsebro. From him he was to receive instructions and by him, when he paid his farewell visit to Stockholm, to be introduced to his position at the Swedish court. This took place at the beginning of the year 1646.

From 1646 in January and until 1649 in May (the last letter to Mazarin is dated 5/1), when he received permission to return to France for a short time, he remained continuously at his post in Stockholm. During all this time he sent regular ministerial reports to Cardinal Mazarin and the Secretary of State, Loménie de Brienne. These, but only these, and in a manner that can only be described as a mutilation, have been used for the first part of the memoirs under his name. Step by step, letter by letter, one can follow the quite arbitrarily drawn extracts from these ministerial letters.

On his way home to France in the spring of 1649, Chanut was met in Holland by an ambassador's commission. He received this partly as a reward for the services he had already rendered in Sweden during the years of the Peace of Westphalia, and partly also to fulfill a new and important task that was assigned to him. After the conclusion of the Peace of Westphalia, French policy had set itself the goal of reconciling France's two allies in the North, Sweden and Poland; Chanut was entrusted with carrying out this difficult task at the Congress of Lübeck.

In December 1649 he returned to Stockholm, had his audience as ambassador with Queen Kristina on 12/25, dated his first letter to Mazarin on 12/25 and stayed in Sweden until the Congress opened; he did not arrive for the same until 1651 in June. For the period between these dates, P. Linage de Vauciennes has consistently used Chanut's double reports to Mazarin and Brienne. Between April and December 1649 there is a gap in the memoirs as well as in the correspondence.

During this time the mission was held by the embassy secretary Picques. Reports that he may have given are not available for this period. Picques, Monsieur Picques, as he is mentioned next to Monsieur Chanut, also came to hold the affairs in Stockholm when the ambassador left for the congress in Lübeck. In December 1651 he was appointed French minister resident in Stockholm.

Not only from this time, but ever since Chanut's departure and until his own in 1654, it is Picques' writings and not Chanut's that form the basis of the memoirs. Only here and there, some account of the course of the Congress in Lübeck is interspersed from Chanut's papers. These now touch little on Sweden and Swedish conditions. Chanut's letters during this time are exclusively addressed to Brienne, and this for the reason that Mazarin during these years and until February 1653 is in exile.

However, Mazarin has hardly returned from this and resumed the management of affairs before Chanut, who, after the complete dissolution of the Congress of Lübeck, was ready to go to his new ambassadorial post in The Hague, receives the Cardinal's order to go back to Stockholm, if only for a short time. It is — which is not mentioned in the memoirs — the conditions in Stockholm described in Picques' despatches and his entire attitude that prompted the cardinal to this order.

Chanut then departs from Hamburg on the last day of April 1653, dates letters to Mazarin from Stockholm on 5/10 and to Queen Kristina from Wismar on 7/10. He has thus spent about a month on this mission. What he told Mazarin about this journey is summarised in the memoirs very incompletely on 9 pages in III, 183-191.

After investigating the situation on the spot, Chanut advises Picques to retreat from Stockholm, and this also follows after some time. In November 1654, he leaves Sweden, when Charles d'Avaugour arrives as ambassador to Karl X Gustav.

In accordance with these circumstances, the so-called Mémoires de Chanut fall into two essentially different sections, one based on Chanut's, the other on Picques' despatches. On closer examination it appears that the section originating from Chanut's papers (I and II 1-219) occupies about 647 pages in a row, while that which rests on Picques' comprises about 747 pages (II, 219-453 and III). In this latter section, however, about 130 pages are inserted concerning the Congress in Lübeck and 9 from Chanut's stay in Stockholm in 1653. (III 183-191).

In terms of scope, the two sections are therefore approximately equal. But in content and value they are as different as the two from which they originate, Chanut and Picques, for in the case of diplomatic papers everything depends on the person. They can provide the most reliable sources for history; they can also provide only distorted pictures of circumstances and people. If the diplomat is a lofty and independent character, who understands how to use his position as a means of comprehensive observation, without being misled by passions, without being led astray by interests and interested parties, then he has a legitimate claim to the trust of posterity. The deficiency that lies in his being a foreigner is compensated by his impartiality and independence of judgment.

But if the diplomat lacks maturity both in years and judgment, if his lack of independence is caused by weaknesses of character and mind, if his reports come to give only an echo of the party system around him, then his stories must be feared by posterity as much as gossip is feared by his contemporaries. Only in cases where the information can withstand the strictest criticism after checking with sources of real reliability do they then have a grade.

Such is approximately the relationship between the sources for the two sections of the so-called Mémoires de Chanut. To the long-term detriment of the truth, these have been summarised under the same common name. But with the fullest reason, P. Linage de Vaucienne's work should instead be divided into

1. Mémoires de Chanut (I-II, 1-219)

and

2. Mémoires de Picques (II, 219-453, III).

It is under these different titles that we will treat the different sections separately.

That Queen Kristina was right to lodge her complaint against the Mémoires de Chanut is perfectly clear from these circumstances. However, it was a complaint of importance only for the future; the present easily passed it by. When justice was denied her, as Bourdelot had demanded when publishing the memoirs by punishing the author, she let it remain. She never made any attempt to refute it: it was in her character to consider herself above the insult and slander. What had hurt her most was that Chanut's name had been used to mask the daggers directed against her. For her own part, she looked down with contempt on the falsehoods that had been spread.

"My consolation", she writes, "is that my conscience does not reproach me with anything unworthy of me, and Sweden, Rome and all the other places on the earth where I have spent my life will one day testify to the falsity of these calumnies. My glory and reputation are, thank God, well enough established not to fear these kinds of calumnies, and I appeal here to the conscience of those who invented them; I am sure that they themselves do not believe what they say. The century in which we live consoles me; no quarter is given to anyone. As for me, I have accustomed myself to the ingratitude and perfidy of the human race."

She herself held the opinion that the publication of this memoir work was tendentious and an act of enmity and revenge. Perhaps she was not wrong in that. In France she was not forgiven for the role she had played in Rome in 1670 at the election of Clement X Altieri and then during his papal pontificate. The definite opinion she held and even openly expressed about the harmfulness to Sweden's interests in the alliance with France in 1672 was no less agreeable. Queen Kristina's opposition to France always had something irritating for Louis XIV.

And it was not the first time that opponents had been attacked in Paris in such a way: the false Venetian relation under the name of Angelo Correr had been an example of this a few years before. However, this matter made a deep impression on Queen Kristina's mind; more than once she has read the book again and, in her usual way, has written remarks in the margins. Perhaps she finally also had in mind wanting to justify herself. At least the Memoirs she herself began to write belong to the years after the publication of the Mémoires de Chanut. Unfortunately the Queen's own Mémoires have not been carried further than the beginning of her independent reign.

We now pass to the first section.

Above: Kristina.

Above: Martin Weibull.

Abraham de Wicquefort on Jacques Picques wanting Kristina's permission to have Mass said in his house during Chanut's absence

Sources:

L'ambassadeur et ses fonctions, volume 1, book 1, section 5, pages 71 to 72, by Abraham de Wicquefort, 1682 (1715 edition)

https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_8wUIAAAAQAAJ/page/72/mode/2up?q=Suede

The embassador and his functions, page 39, by Abraham de Wicquefort, translated by John Digby, 1716

https://books.google.com/books?id=VGlUAAAAYAAJ&newbks=1&newbks_redir=0&dq=queene+christina&source=gbs_navlinks_s

The account:

... M. Piques, presentement Conseiller en la Cour des Aydes de Paris estant Agent en Suede, aprés que Chanut en fut party, pria la Reine de luy permettre de faire venir un Prestre, afin de pouvoir dire la Messe dans sa Maison; parce que depuis qu'il n'y avoit point d'Ambassadeur de France ny de Portugal à Stocolm, ny ses domestiques, ny les François & les Italiens, qui estoient au service de la Reine n'avoient plus cette consolation. La Reine dit, que Piques n'avoit point de qualité qui luy donnast cette autorité: mais que, si le Roy, son Maistre, luy en vouloit escrire un mot, elle l'asseuroit dés à present, qu'elle y consentiroit. Le Baron de Rorté & Chanut, n'estant que Residents en Suede, y avoient fait dire la Messe, mesme sans la permission de la Reine; & si hautement, que lorsqu'elle leur en fit parler; ils ne craignirent point de luy répondre que leur maison estant la maison du Roy, ils y pouvoient faire exercer leur religion. Cet Agent ne fut point estably en vertu d'une lettre de creance, mais seulement par Chanut, qui en prenant son Audience de Congé, dit à la Reine, qu'il y laissoit Piques, qui y feroit les affaires, en attendant que le Roy y envoyast un Ministre. Quelque temps aprés, Piques, ayant presenté les lettres par lesquelles le Roy luy donnoit la qualité de Resident, la Reine luy dit, qu'elle estoit bien aise de voir, que le Roy vouloit bien entretenir un Ministre auprés d'elle; parce que c'étoit une marque de son affection, & de son inclination à entretenir la bonne correspondance entre les deux Couronnes. Ce n'est pas que les Princes, auprés desquels les Agents sont employés, ne doivent avoir quelque consideration pour eux, comme la declaration des Estats de Hollande les met au nombre de ceux qui doivent joüir de la protection du Droit des Gens; mais il faut aussi que ceux qui les employent, ne se servent point de gens, qui par leur maniere de vivre basse & abjecte, fassent honte à leurs Maistres. On a veu à Paris & à la Haye des Agents, qui tenoient auberge, & logeoient en chambre garnie. Les Princes qui le souffrent, ne se peuvent pas plaindre, si on n'a point de consideration pour leurs Agents, & si on ne les distingue point d'avec les autres gens de la mesme profession.

With modernised spelling:

... M. Picques, présentement conseiller en la cour des aides de Paris, étant agent en Suède après que Chanut en fut parti, pria la reine de lui permettre de faire venir un prêtre, afin de pouvoir dire la messe dans sa maison, parce que, depuis qu'il n'y avait point d'ambassadeur de France ni de Portugal à Stockholm, ni ses domestiques, ni les Français et les Italiens qui étaient au service de la reine n'avaient plus cette consolation. La reine dit que Picques n'avait point de qualité qui lui donnât cette autorité, mais que, si le roi, son maître, lui en voulait écrire un mot, elle l'assurait dès à présent qu'elle y consentirait.

Le baron de Rorté et Chanut, n'étant que résidents en Suède, y avaient fait dire la messe même sans la permission de la reine, et si hautement que, lorsqu'elle leur en fit parler, ils ne craignirent point de lui répondre que leur maison, étant la maison du roi, ils y pouvaient faire exercer leur religion. Cet agent ne fut point établi en vertu d'une lettre de créance, mais seulement par Chanut, qui, en prenant son audience de congé, dit à la reine qu'il y laissait Picques, qui y ferait les affaires en attendant que le roi y envoyât un ministre.

Quelque temps aprés, Picques ayant présenté les lettres par lesquelles le roi lui donnait la qualité de résident, la reine lui dit qu'elle était bien aise de voir que le roi voulait bien entretenir un ministre auprès d'elle, parce que c'était une marque de son affection et de son inclination à entretenir la bonne correspondance entre les deux Couronnes.

Ce n'est pas que les princes auprès desquels les agents sont employés ne doivent avoir quelque considération pour eux, comme la déclaration des États de Hollande les met au nombre de ceux qui doivent jouir de la protection du droit des gens; mais il faut aussi que ceux qui les emploient ne se servent point de gens qui, par leur manière de vivre basse et abjecte, fassent honte à leurs maîtres. On a vu à Paris et à la Haye des agents qui tenaient auberge et logeaient en chambre garnie. Les princes qui le souffrent ne se peuvent pas plaindre si on n'a point de considération pour leurs agents et si on ne les distingue point d'avec les autres gens de la même profession.

Swedish translation (my own):

... Monsieur Picques, för närvarande rådgivare vid cour des aides i Paris, som var agent i Sverige efter att Chanut hade rest därifrån, bad drottningen att tillåta honom att ta med sig en präst för att kunna hålla mässa i hans hus, eftersom, som det fanns ingen Frankrikes eller Portugals ambassadör i Stockholm, varken hans tjänare eller de fransmän och italienare som stod i drottningens tjänst hade denna tröst längre. Drottningen sade att Picques inte hade någon egenskap som gav honom denna auktoritet, men att om konungen, hans herre, ville skriva ett ord till henne om det, försäkrade hon honom att hon skulle samtycka till det från och med nu.

Baron de Rorté och Chanut, som endast var residenter i Sverige, hade låtit hålla mässa där även utan drottningens tillstånd, och så högljutt, att de, när hon talade med dem om det, inte fruktade att svara henne det, eftersom deras hus var konungens hus, kunde de få sin religion utövad där. Denna agent upprättades inte i kraft av en kredensbrev, utan endast av Chanut, som, när han tog sin audiens, berättade för drottningen att han skulle lämna Picques där, som skulle sköta affärerna där medan han väntade på att konungen skulle skicka en minister där.

En tid efter, efter att Picques hade presenterat breven genom vilka konungen gav honom status som resident, berättade drottningen honom att hon var mycket glad över att se att konungen var villig att behålla en minister hos henne, eftersom det var ett tecken på hans tillgivenhet och hans benägenhet att upprätthålla god korrespondens mellan de båda Kronorna.

Det är inte så att de furstar av vilka ombuden är anställda inte skulle ta någon hänsyn till dem, eftersom Hollands Staters förklaring placerar dem bland dem som bör åtnjuta skydd av folkrätten; men det är också nödvändigt att de som anställer dem inte skall använda människor som genom sitt elaka och fula levnadssätt bringar skam över sina herrar. I Paris och i Haag har man sett agenter som höll ett värdshus och logerade i möblerade kammare. De furstar som lider av detta kan inte klaga om ingen hänsyn tas till deras agenter och om de inte särskiljs från andra människor i samma yrke.

English translation (by Digby):

... M. Piques, who is now a Counsellor in the Court of Aids in Paris, being Agent in Sweden, after Chanut was gone from thence, begg'd of the Queen that she would give him leave to entertain a Priest, that he might have Mass said in his House; by reason that since there was no Embassador from France nor Portugal, at Stockholm, neither his Domesticks, nor the French and Italians that were in the Queen's Service, had that Consolation. The Queen said, That Piques had no Qualification that gave him that Authority: But if the King his Master would write a Line to her, she assur'd him even then, that she would consent to it. The Baron de Rorté and Chanut; being but Residents in Sweden, had caus'd Mass to be said there, even without the Queen's Permission; and that so publickly, that when she caus'd 'em to be spoke to about it, they did not scruple to make answer, That their House being the King's House, they could protect the Exercise of their Religion. This Agent was not establish'd by any Letter of Credence, but only by Chanut, who in taking his Audience of Leave, told the Queen, That he left Piques, who should manage Affairs till such time as the King should send a Minister. Some time after, Piques having deliver'd the Letters, by which the King gave him the Quality of Resident, the Queen told him, She was glad to find that the King thought fit to entertain a Minister near her; because it was a token of his Affection, and of his Inclination to hold a good Correspondence between the two Crowns. It is not to say at the same time, that those Princes, to whom Agents are employ'd, ought not to have some Consideration for them, as the Declaration of the States of Holland Ranks 'em amongst those who ought to enjoy the Protection of the Law of Nations: But it is necessary also, that they who employ 'em should not make choice of People, who by their sordid and abject way of living bring Shame and Discredit on their Masters. There have been Agents at Paris and the Hague, who kept publick Houses and that lodg'd in Chambers ready furnish'd. Those Princes that suffer these meannesses, can have no reason to complain, if no Consideration be had for their Agents, and if they are not distinguish'd from others of the same Profession.

With modernised spelling:

... Monsieur Picques, who is now a counsellor in the Court of Aids in Paris, being agent in Sweden after Chanut was gone from thence, begged of the Queen that she would give him leave to entertain a priest, that he might have mass said in his house, by reason that since there was no ambassador from France nor Portugal at Stockholm, neither his domestics, nor the French and Italians that were in the Queen's service, had that consolation. The Queen said that Picques had no qualification that gave him that authority, but if the King, his master, would write a line to her, she assured him even then that she would consent to it.

The Baron de Rorté and Chanut, being but residents in Sweden, had caused Mass to be said there even without the Queen's permission; and that so publicly that when she caused 'em to be spoke to about it, they did not scruple to make answer that, their house being the King's house, they could protect the exercise of their religion. This agent was not established by any letter of credence, but only by Chanut, who, in taking his audience of leave, told the Queen that he left Picques, who should manage affairs till such time as the King should send a minister.

Some time after, Picques having delivered the letters by which the King gave him the quality of resident, the Queen told him she was glad to find that the King thought fit to entertain a minister near her, because it was a token of his affection and of his inclination to hold a good correspondence between the two Crowns.

It is not to say at the same time, that those princes to whom agents are employed ought not to have some consideration for them, as the declaration of the States of Holland ranks 'em amongst those who ought to enjoy the protection of the law of nations; but it is necessary also that they who employ 'em should not make choice of people who, by their sordid and abject way of living, bring shame and discredit on their masters. There have been agents at Paris and The Hague who kept public houses and that lodged in chambers ready furnished. Those princes that suffer these meannesses can have no reason to complain if no consideration be had for their agents and if they are not distinguished from others of the same profession.

English translation (my own):

... Monsieur Picques, presently counselor in the Cour d'Aides of Paris, being agent in Sweden after Chanut had left from there, begged the Queen to allow him to bring a priest in order to be able to say Mass in his house, because, as there was no ambassador of France or Portugal in Stockholm, neither his domestics nor the French and Italians who were in the Queen's service had this consolation any more. The Queen said that de Piques had no quality which gave him this authority, but that, if the King, his master, wanted to write her a word about it, she assured him that she would consent to it from now on.

The Baron de Rorté and Chanut, being only residents in Sweden, had had Mass said there even without the Queen's permission, and so loudly that, when she spoke to them about it, they did not fear to answer her that, their house being the King's house, they could have their religion practiced there. This agent was not established by virtue of a letter of credence, but only by Chanut, who, on taking his audience of leave, told the Queen that he was leaving Picques there, who would conduct affairs there while waiting for the King to send a minister there.

Some time after, Picques having presented the letters by which the King gave him the status of resident, the Queen told him that she was very pleased to see that the King was willing to maintain a minister with her, because it was a mark of his affection and his inclination to maintain good correspondence between the two Crowns.

It is not that the princes by whom the agents are employed should not have some consideration for them, as the declaration of the States of Holland places them among those who should enjoy the protection of the law of nations; but it is also necessary that those who employ them should not use people who, by their base and abject way of life, bring shame to their masters. In Paris and at The Hague, agents have been seen who kept an inn and lodged in furnished chambers. The princes who suffer this cannot complain if no consideration is shown for their agents and if they are not distinguished from other people of the same profession.

Above: Kristina.

Above: Abraham de Wicquefort.

Abraham de Wicquefort on Jacques Picques' visit to Karl Gustav in 1654, just before Kristina's abdication, and a previous visit to him in 1651

Sources:

L'ambassadeur et ses fonctions, volume 1, page 71, by Abraham de Wicquefort, 1682 (1715 edition)

https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_8wUIAAAAQAAJ/page/70/mode/2up?q=Suede

The embassador and his functions, page 38, by Abraham de Wicquefort, translated by John Digby, 1716

https://books.google.com/books?id=VGlUAAAAYAAJ&newbks=1&newbks_redir=0&dq=queene+christina&source=gbs_navlinks_s

The account:

Le Prince Palatin Charles Gustave, estant arrivé à Stocolm, peu de jours devant l'abdication de la Reine Christine, à laquelle il alloit succeder, tous les Ministres estrangers luy firent civilité. Piques, Resident de France, fut conduit à l'audience par l'Introducteur des Ambassadeurs, dans un des carosses de la Reine, accompagné de plusieurs valets de pied du Prince. Le Mareschal de la Cour du mesme Prince le receut au milieu de la Sale, & le mena dans la Chambre. Aprés l'audience il reconduisit le Resident jusqu'au lieu, où il l'avoit receu, & le Mareschal & l'Introducteur l'accompagnerent aussi; le premier jusques au haut de l'escalier, & l'autre à son logis. Mais on peut dire, que le Prince n'estant pas encore Souverain, il n'avoit point de mesure à garder, ny à ménager ses civilités. Le mesme Piques n'estant encore qu'Agent en l'an 1651. alla voir le mesme Prince Palatin, qui le receut à l'entrée de la Sale, & le conduisit dans son cabinet, où il luy presenta un siege, mais Piques s'en excusa, & refusa de s'asseoir. Il convia le Prince à prendre sa commodité, pendant qu'il luy feroit lecture d'une relation, que la Cour de France luy avoit envoyée, de la retraitte du prince de Condé: mais le Prince demeura debout & découvert. Il avoit esté declaré Successeur presomptif de la Couronne, & en cette qualité il ne devoit pas toutes ces civilités à un Agent, qui de son costé n'en avoit pas beaucoup, en conviant le Prince à s'asseoir, pendant que luy-mesme l'obligeoit, par un refus incivil, de prendre le siege qu'on luy presentoit, à demeurer debout & découvert.

With modernised spelling:

Le prince palatin Charles-Gustave, étant arrivé à Stockholm peu de jours devant l'abdication de la reine Christine, à laquelle il allait succéder, tous les ministres étrangers lui firent civilité. Picques, résident de France, fut conduit à l'audience par l'introducteur des ambassadeurs dans un des carrosses de la reine, accompagné de plusieurs valets de pied du prince. Le maréchal de la cour du même prince le reçut au milieu de la salle et le mena dans la chambre.

Après l'audience, il reconduisit le résident jusqu'au lieu où il l'avait reçu, et le maréchal et l'introducteur l'accompagnèrent aussi, le premier jusqu'au haut de l'escalier, et l'autre à son logis. Mais on peut dire que le prince n'étant pas encore souverain, il n'avait point de mesure à garder, ni à ménager ses civilités.

Le même Picques, n'étant encore qu'agent en l'an 1651, alla voir le même prince palatin, qui le reçut à l'entrée de la salle et le conduisit dans son cabinet, où il lui presenta un siège, mais Picques s'en excusa et refusa de s'asseoir. Il convia le prince à prendre sa commodité pendant qu'il lui ferait lecture d'une relation que la cour de France lui avait envoyée de la retraite du prince de Condé, mais le prince demeura debout et découvert.

Il avait été déclaré successeur présomptif de la Couronne, et en cette qualité il ne devait pas toutes ces civilités à un agent, qui de son côté n'en avait pas beaucoup, en conviant le prince à s'asseoir pendant que lui-même l'obligeait, par un refus incivil, de prendre le siège qu'on lui présentait, à demeurer debout et découvert.

Swedish translation (my own):

Efter pfalzgreven Karl Gustav anlänt till Stockholm några dagar före drottning Kristinas abdikation, som han skulle efterträda, betalade alla utrikesministrar honom civilitet. Picques, residenten av Frankrike, leddes till audiensen av introduktören av ambassadörer i en av drottningens karosser, åtföljd av flera av prinsens valets de pied. Samme prinsens hovmarskalk tog emot honom mitt i salen och ledde honom in i kammaren.

Efter audiensen eskorterade han den resident tillbaka till platsen där han hade tagit emot honom, och marskalken och introduktören följde också med honom, den första till toppen av trappan och den andre till hans logi. Men det kan sägas att eftersom prinsen ännu inte var suverän, hade han ingen åtgärd att behålla eller att skona sina hövligheter.

Samme Picques, ännu bara agent år 1651, gick för att träffa samme pfalzgreven, som tog emot honom vid ingången till salen och ledde honom in i hans kabinett, där han erbjöd honom en plats, men Picques ursäktade sig och vägrade att sitta ner. Han bjöd in prinsen att ta hans kommoditet medan han läste honom en redogörelse som Frankrikes hov hade skickat till honom om prinsen de Condés reträtt, men prinsen blev stående och otäckt.

Han hade förklarats presumtiv efterträdare till Kronan, och i den egenskapen var han inte skyldig alla dessa hövligheter till en agent, som från hans sida inte hade många genom att bjuda prinsen att sitta ner medan han själv förpliktade honom genom en oartig vägran att ta den plats som erbjöds honom genom att förbli stående och otäckt.

English translation (by Digby):

... The Prince Palatine, Charles Gustavus, being arriv'd at Stockholm a few Days before Queen Christina's Abdication, to whom he was going to succeed, all the foreign Ministers paid him Civility. Piques, the French Resident, was conducted to Audience by the Introductor of Embassadors in one of the Queen's Coaches, attended by several of the Prince's Footmen. The Marshal of the said Prince's Court receiv'd him at the top of the Staircase, and the Prince himself, passing through the Antichamber, receiv'd him in the middle of the Hall, and led him into the Chamber. The Audience being over, he reconducted the Resident to the same place where he had receiv'd him, and the Marshal and the Introductor accompany'd him likewise, the first to the top of the Staircase, and the other to his Lodgings. But here it may be said, that the Prince not being as yet Sovereign, he was not ty'd up to any Rules or Measures in the Dispensation of his Civilities. The same Piques, while he was only Agent in the Year 1651, went to visit the same Prince Palatine, who receiv'd him at the Entrance of the Hall, and conducted him into his Closet, where he offer'd him a Chair; but Piques excus'd himself, and refus'd to sit. He desir'd the Prince to take his Conveniency, while he read to him a Relation, that the Court of France had sent him, of the Retreat of the Prince of Condé; but the Prince kept standing and uncover'd. He had been declar'd presumptive Heir to the Crown, and as such he did not owe all these Civilities to the Agent; who on his side had not much, in desiring the Prince to sit, while he oblig'd him (by a rude Refusal of the Seat that was offer'd him) to be standing and uncover'd.

With modernised spelling:

... The Prince Palatine Charles Gustavus, being arrived at Stockholm a few days before Queen Kristina's abdication, to whom he was going to succeed, all the foreign ministers paid him civility. Picques, the French resident, was conducted to audience by the introductor of ambassadors in one of the Queen's coaches, attended by several of the Prince's footmen.

The marshal of the said Prince's court received him at the top of the staircase, and the prince himself, passing through the antechamber, received him in the middle of the hall and led him into the chamber.

The audience being over, he reconducted the resident to the same place where he had received him, and the marshal and the introductor accompanied him likewise, the first to the top of the staircase, and the other to his lodgings. But here it may be said that, the Prince not being as yet sovereign, he was not tied up to any rules or measures in the dispensation of his civilities.

The same Picques, while he was only agent in the year 1651, went to visit the same Prince Palatine, who received him at the entrance of the hall and conducted him into his closet, where he offered him a chair; but Picques excused himself and refused to sit. He desired the Prince to take his conveniency while he read to him a relation that the court of France had sent him of the retreat of the Prince of Condé; but the Prince kept standing and uncovered.

He had been declared presumptive heir to the Crown, and as such, he did not owe all these civilities to the agent, who, on his side, had not much in desiring the Prince to sit while he obliged him (by a rude refusal of the seat that was offered him) to be standing and uncovered.

English translation (my own):

Prince Palatine Karl Gustav, having arrived at Stockholm a few days before the abdication of Queen Kristina, whom he was to succeed, all the foreign ministers paid him civility. Picques, the resident of France, was conducted to the audience by the introductor of ambassadors in one of the Queen's carriages, accompanied by several of the Prince's valets de pied. The same Prince's marshal of the court received him in the middle of the hall and led him into the chamber.

After the audience, he conducted the resident back to the place where he had received him, and the marshal and the introductor also accompanied him, the first to the top of the stairs, and the other to his lodgings. But it may be said that because the Prince was not yet sovereign, he had no measure to keep nor to spare his civilities.

The same Picques, still only an agent in the year 1651, went to see the same Prince Palatine, who received him at the entrance of the hall and led him into his cabinet, where he offered him a seat, but Picques excused himself and refused to sit down. He invited the Prince to take his commodity while he read him a relation that the court of France had sent him of the retreat of the Prince de Condé, but the Prince remained standing and uncovered.

He had been declared presumptive successor to the Crown, and in that quality he did not owe all these civilities to an agent, who on his part had not many in inviting the prince to sit down while he himself obliged him, by an uncivil refusal, to take the seat offered to him by remaining standing and uncovered.

Above: Karl Gustav.

Above: Abraham de Wicquefort.

Excerpt from Henri Brasset's letter to Jacques Picques, dated November 30/December 10 (New Style), 1649

Source:

Œuvres de Descartes, correspondance V: mai 1647-février 1650, page 458 (footnotes), published by Charles Adam and Paul Tannery, 1903

https://books.google.com/books?id=-o44AQAAMAAJ&newbks=1&newbks_redir=0&dq=reyne+christine+de+suede+lettre&source=gbs_navlinks_s

The letter excerpt:

La vostre du 13 No:bre estoit accompagnee des vers du Ballet de la Reyne de Suede. Celle de Bohesme ne me les laissa gueres entre les mains, si bien que, sans me souuenir des termes, i'ay si fort le suiect dans l'imagination, que ie croy tres veritable tout ce qui porte les apparences d'vne ingenieuse inuention.

With modernised spelling:

La vôtre du 13 novembre était accompagnée des vers du ballet de la Reine de Suède. Celle de Bohême ne me les laissa guère entre les mains, si bien que, sans me souvenir des termes, j'ai si fort le sujet dans l'imagination que je crois très véritable tout ce qui porte les apparences d'une ingénieuse invention.

Swedish translation (my own):

Ert brev av den 13 november åtföljdes av verser ur Sveriges drottnings balett. Den av Böhmen lämnade dem knappast i mina händer, så mycket att jag, utan att komma ihåg orden, har ämnet så starkt i min fantasi att jag tror att allt som bär sken av en genialisk uppfinning är mycket sant.

English translation (my own):

Your letter of November 13th was accompanied by verses from the ballet of the Queen of Sweden. That of Bohemia hardly left them in my hands, so much so that, without remembering the terms, I have the subject so strongly in my imagination that I believe anything that bears the appearance of an ingenious invention to be very true.

Above: Kristina.

Excerpt from Henri Brasset's letter to Jacques Picques, dated October 25/November 4 (New Style), 1649

Source:

Œuvres de Descartes, correspondance V: mai 1647-février 1650, page 457 (footnotes), published by Charles Adam and Paul Tannery, 1903

https://books.google.com/books?id=-o44AQAAMAAJ&newbks=1&newbks_redir=0&dq=reyne+christine+de+suede+lettre&source=gbs_navlinks_s

The letter excerpt:

... M. le Vicomte de Bregy, que i'auois cherché en Bohesme beuuant les eaues d'Egra, est a Stokholm, pour rendre, dict [on], vn deuoir particulier a cette grande et vertueuse Reyne. Mais ledit Sr Spiring y adiouste l'opinion de la Cour ou il est, que ce voyage de civilité apparente soit en effect pour sonder les dispositions sur le traicté futur...

With modernised spelling:

... M. le Vicomte de Brégy, que j'avais cherché en Bohême beuvant les eaux d'Egra, est à Stockholm, pour rendre, dit-on, un devoir particulier à cette grande et vertueuse Reine. Mais ledit Sr. Spiring y ajoute l'opinion de la cour où il est, que ce voyage de civilité apparente soit en effet pour sonder les dispositions sur le traité futur...

Swedish translation (my own):

Monsieur le vicomte de Brégy, som jag sökt i Böhmen drickande Egers vatten, är i Stockholm för att, sägs det, ålägga denna stora och dygdiga drottning en särskild plikt. Men den nämnde herr Spiring lägger till den åsikt från hovet där han befinner sig att denna resa av skenbar artighet verkligen är för att klargöra bestämmelserna om det framtida fördraget...

English translation (my own):

Monsieur le Vicomte de Brégy, whom I had sought in Bohemia drinking the waters of the Eger, is in Stockholm, to render, it is said, a particular duty to this great and virtuous Queen. But the said Lord Spiring adds to it the opinion of the court where he is, that this voyage of apparent civility is indeed to sound out the provisions on the future treaty...

Above: Kristina.

Note: Eger is the German name for the Ohře river in Germany and what is now the Czech Republic.

Excerpt from Cardinal Jules Mazarin's letter to Jacques Picques, dated June 18/28 (New Style), 1654

Source:

Lettres du cardinal Mazarin pendant son ministère: tome VI, septembre 1653-juin 1655, pages 192 to 193, published by M. A. Chéreul, 1890; original at the University of Michigan

https://books.google.com/books?id=9zAMAQAAMAAJ&newbks=1&newbks_redir=0&dq=reyne+christine+de+suede+lettre&source=gbs_navlinks_s

The letter (I have fixed the year typo):

[Sedan], 28 juin 1654.

Si la reyne de Suede n'est pas encore partie pour aller aux eaux, vous me ferez plaisir de luy tesmoigner à la premiere occasion que je me sens infiniment obligé à ses bontez de vous avoir parlé, comme elle a daigné faire en dernier lieu touchant mes manuscrits, mais que je ne sçais ce que c'est [que] les sollicitations qu'on luy a mandé avoir esté faictes de ma part sur ce sujet, n'ayant pas seulement songé à faire la moindre diligence là-dessus, et n'ayant eu effect aucune impatience de les ravoir, puisque non seulement ces manuscrits, mais toutes les autres semblables curiositez que je pourray jamais avoir, seront tousjours à l'esgard de cette grande reyne comme depost entre mes mains, pour en disposer par ladite Mte avec un pouvoir aussy absolu, comme si elles estoient en son palais.

With modernised spelling:

Sedan, 28 juin 1654.

Si la reine de Suède n'est pas encore partie pour aller aux eaux, vous me ferez plaisir de lui témoigner à la première occasion que je me sens infiniment obligé à ses bontés de vous avoir parlé, comme elle a daigné faire en dernier lieu touchant mes manuscrits, mais que je ne sais ce que c'est que les sollicitations qu'on lui a mandé avoir été faites de ma part sur ce sujet, n'ayant pas seulement songé à faire la moindre diligence là-dessus, et n'ayant eu effet aucune impatience de les ravoir, puisque non seulement ces manuscrits, mais toutes les autres semblables curiosités que je pourrai jamais avoir, seront toujours à l'égard de cette grande reine comme dépôt entre mes mains, pour en disposer par ladite Majesté avec un pouvoir aussi absolu, comme si elles étaient en son palais.

Swedish translation (my own):

Sedan, den 28 juni 1654.

Om Sveriges drottning ännu inte har givit sig iväg för att gå till vattnet, så skall Ni gärna vid första tillfälle berätta för henne att jag känner mig oändligt skyldig till hennes godhet att ha talat med Er, som hon förtjänade att göra senast vid mina manuskript, men att jag inte vet vad det är som att de uppmaningar som hon har fått höra har gjorts från min sida i detta ämne, efter att jag inte ens tänkt på att göra det minsta flit med det och inte haft någon otålighet att få dem tillbaka, eftersom inte bara dessa manuskript, utan alla andra liknande kuriosa som jag någonsin kan ha, alltid kommer att vara med avseende på denna stora drottning som en deposition i mina händer, att omhändertas av nämnda Majestät med sådan absolut makt, som om de vore i hennes palats.

English translation (my own):

Sedan, June 28, 1654.

If the Queen of Sweden has not yet left to go to the waters, you will be pleased to tell her at the first opportunity that I feel infinitely obliged to her kindness to have spoken to you, as she deigned to do last touching my manuscripts, but that I do not know what it is that the solicitations that she has been told have been made on my part on this subject, not having even thought of doing the slightest diligence on it, and not having had any impatience to have them back, since not only these manuscripts, but all other similar curiosities that I may ever have, will always be with regard to this great Queen as a deposit in my hands, to be disposed of by the said Majesty with such absolute power, as if they were in her palace.

Above: Kristina.

Above: Cardinal Jules Mazarin.

Excerpt from Cardinal Jules Mazarin's letter to Jacques Picques on Magnus being in Kristina's disgrace, dated January 19/29 (New Style), 1654

Sources:

Lettres du cardinal Mazarin pendant son ministère: tome VI, septembre 1653-juin 1655, pages 117 to 118, published by M. A. Chéreul, 1890; original at the University of Michigan

https://books.google.com/books?id=9zAMAQAAMAAJ&newbks=1&newbks_redir=0&dq=reyne+christine+de+suede+lettre&source=gbs_navlinks_s

Christina of Sweden, page 86, by Ida Ashworth Taylor, 1909

https://archive.org/details/christinaofswede00tayl/page/86/mode/2up

The letter:

[Paris], 29 janvier 1654.

La part que la Reyne de Suede vous a chargé de me donner de ce qui s'est passé à la disgrace que M. le comte de Magnus est pour moy une marque d'estime tres-obligeante. Aussy je la reçois avec tout le ressentiment que je dois et avec un respect esgal à cette faveur, Je vous prie de l'en asseurer et de luy dire encore qu'apres avoir admiré la prudence et l'equité de sa conduite en cette celebre disgrace, je ne laisse pas de plaindre celuy sur qui la foudre est tombée et de respecter le malheur en la personne mesme d'un coupable. Je ne laisse point d'entrer en part du desplaisir que Sa Mté aura eu d'estre obligée d'abandonner un ouvrage qu'Elle avoit eslevé avec tant de soin et embelli de tant de marques de sa bonté et de sa magnificence. Cela me faict presumer qu'en cecy la clemence pourra succeder à la justice.

Faictes sçavoir, s'il vous plaist, à M. le comte Magnus que, sans rechercher le sujet de sa disgrace, je compatis bien fort à son affliction, et que je souhaite de tout mon cœur que l'esprit de la Reyne s'attendrisse pour luy, et qu'Elle reprenne les sentimens d'estime et de bonté dont Elle l'a honoré.

With modernised spelling:

Paris, 29 janvier 1654.

La part que la Reine de Suède vous a chargé de me donner de ce qui s'est passé à la disgrâce que M. le comte de Magnus est pour moi une marque d'estime très obligeante. Aussi je la reçois avec tout le ressentiment que je dois et avec un respect égal à cette faveur. Je vous prie de l'en assurer et de lui dire encore qu'après avoir admiré la prudence et l'équité de sa conduite en cette célèbre disgrâce, je ne laisse pas de plaindre celui sur qui la foudre est tombée et de respecter le malheur en la personne même d'un coupable. Je ne laisse point d'entrer en part du déplaisir que Sa Majesté aura eu d'être obligée d'abandonner un ouvrage qu'elle avait élevé avec tant de soin et embelli de tant de marques de sa bonté et de sa magnificence. Cela me fait présumer qu'en ceci la clémence pourra succéder à la justice.

Faites savoir, s'il vous plaît, à M. le comte Magnus que, sans rechercher le sujet de sa disgrâce, je compatis bien fort à son affliction, et que je souhaite de tout mon cœur que l'esprit de la Reine s'attendrisse pour lui, et qu'elle reprenne les sentiments d'estime et de bonté dont elle l'a honoré.

Swedish translation (my own):

Paris, den 29 januari 1654.

Den part som drottningen av Sverige har ålagt Er att ge mig om vad som hände med greve Magni onåd är mig ett mycket förpliktande aktningsmärke. Så jag tar emot den med all förbittring jag är skyldig och med en respekt lika med denna tjänst. Jag ber Eder att försäkra honom om detta och att åter säga honom att efter att ha beundrat det försiktiga och rättvisa i hans uppförande i denna berömda skam, så misslyckas jag inte med att medlida den på vilken åskbulten har fallit och att respektera olyckan i mycket person av en skyldig. Jag kan inte låta bli att ta del av det missnöje Hennes Majestät kommer att ha haft över att vara tvungen att överge ett verk, som hon hade upphöjt med så mycket omsorg och utsmyckat med så många tecken på sin vänlighet och storhet. Detta får mig att anta att nåden i denna fråga kan efterträda rättvisan.

Låt greve Magnus veta, att jag, utan att fråga om orsaken till hans onåd, djupt sympatiserar med hans lidande, och att jag hoppas av hela mitt hjärta, att drottningens sinne må bevekas för honom, och må hon återuppta aktningskänslorna och vänlighet med vilken hon har hedrat honom.

English translation (my own):

Paris, January 29, 1654.

The part that the Queen of Sweden has charged you to give me of what happened with the disgrace of Count Magnus is for me a very obliging mark of esteem. So I receive it with all the resentment that I owe and with a respect equal to this favour. I beg you to assure him of this and to tell him again that after having admired the prudence and equity of his conduct in this famous disgrace, I do not fail to pity the one on whom the thunderbolt has fallen and to respect the misfortune in the very person of a culprit. I cannot fail to share in the displeasure Her Majesty will have had at being obliged to abandon a work which she had raised with so much care and embellished with so many marks of her kindness and magnificence. This makes me presume that in this matter clemency can succeed justice.

Please let Count Magnus know that, without inquiring about the cause of his disgrace, I deeply sympathise with his affliction, and that I hope with all my heart that the Queen's mind will soften up for him, and may she resume the feelings of esteem and kindness with which she has honoured him.

Above: Kristina.

Above: Magnus de la Gardie.

Above: Cardinal Jules Mazarin.