Corrado Ricci on Kristina's life in Italy, part 6

Sources:

Cristina di Svezia in Italia, article written by Corrado Ricci for Nuova antologia di scienze, lettere ed arti, volume 41 (125), pages 38 to 40, published by the Direction of Nuova antologia, 1892; original at the Bavarian State Library (Bayerische Staatsbibliothek)

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 153 to 156, 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

Kristina's letter of January 30/February 9 (New Style), 1669 to Galleazzo Marescotti, the Apostolic Nuncio to Poland, is here:

https://kingkristina.blogspot.com/2022/06/excerpt-from-kristinas-letter-to_33.html

Her letter written sometime in either 1682 or 1687 (most likely the former) to Cardinal Decio Azzolino is here:

https://kingkristina.blogspot.com/2020/09/kristinas-letter-to-azzolino-dated-july.html

This letter from Azzolino to Cardinal Alderano Cybo, written January 1/11 (New Style), 1683 strongly suggests the former year:

https://kingkristina.blogspot.com/2024/01/cardinal-decio-azzolinos-letter-to_91.html

The article:

Il suo ritorno in Roma fu solennizzato dal nuovo papa con tutta cordialità. Fece sparare l'artiglieria e mandò a Cristina ogni sorta di leccornie per cento servitori seguìti da sessanta palafrenieri con torcie accese. Sorpresa di così bel principio, essa sollecitò ed ottenne da Clemente alcuni privilegi di cerimoniale invano richiesti sotto Alessandro. In carnevale potè anche, senza tanti scrupoli, spassarsela in commedie e conversazioni.

Delle relazioni di Cristina con la Polonia e della proposta mossa da Roma ai Polacchi perchè l'accettassero per regina, già scrisse Arvède Barine. Dopochè Casimiro Giovanni, odiatissimo, rimasto vedovo, ebbe rinunziato alla corona di Polonia, la Corte Romana s'adoperò tosto a dargli un successore e propose la regina di Svezia con istudio forse che se ne andasse di Roma e liberasse la città dalle sue stramberie e dalle sue pazze esigenze. Ella però condusse con avvedutezza la pratica di quel difficile negozio. In alcune cose si mostrò risolutissima: «Dichiaro che quando si volesse da me questa obbligazione di maritarmi a gusto loro, io eleggo piuttosto di ricusare alla loro corona, che di accettare mai una così iniqua e crudele cosa». Fra le opposizioni sollevatele contro, ci fa anche quella d'aver fatto trucidare il Monaldeschi; ma ella persistette sempre a sostenerla come una cosa ben fatta. Il risultato del progetto papale e delle brighe di Cristina è noto. Nel giugno del 1669 saliva al trono di Polonia Michele Koribut Wiesnowiski.

Poco dopo moriva Clemente IX, al quale successe il cardinale Emilio Altieri romano, col nome di Clemente X. Decrepito d'anni ed ultimo del suo ramo, si sperava che non avrebbe fatto nepotismo aiutando lontani parenti. Ma il vizio nei pontefici era troppo inveterato. Cristina non trovò fortuna presso di lui. Quando per favorire il conte d'Alibert pregò il papa di concedere si recitasse al Tordinona per tutto l'anno, il papa rispose con un diniego reciso, cui ne seguirono altri non meno risoluti, tanto che per qualche tempo la regina dovette consolarsi unicamente alle sedute della sua accademia.

Clemente moriva presto, ed Innocenzo XI, detto altrimenti il papa Minga, riusciva eletto dal conclave (31 settembre 1676) con sorpresa di tutti i cardinali, perchè ciascuno d'essi, dandogli il voto, credeva che gli altri se ne astenessero. Ma il successo è sempre stato ammirato e gli avversari corsero ad inchinarlo e fra costoro Cristina che gli baciò il piede.

Papa Minga era un uomo giusto, severo, amante dell'ordine, risoluto di porre una remora a tutti gli abusi e alla viltà del nepotismo. Cristina, mancando d'aiuti economici, se n'accorse ben presto. Per un momento anzi fu così scorata che quasi pensò di entrare nel monastero di Santa Cecilia, mentre il suo d'Alibert si disperava per le disposizioni prese dal pontefice contro il teatro, disposizioni che dovevano spingerlo a tentar fortuna altrove.

Innocenzo un giorno, passando dal palazzo di Cristina, salì a visitarla. Se costei concepì qualche speranza da tanta degnazione, dovè tosto disilludersi, perchè, recatasi a chiedergli tre cose che il corrispondente di Savoia dice lecite, ebbe per tutta risposta tre alzate di spalla. Non molto dopo lo stesso Innocenzo faceva imprigionare il teologo di lei, e la rimproverava strapazzandola d'aver intrigato per la nomina dell'auditore di Rota. Essa allora cominciò a stridere come un pipistrello inchiodato; ma poi finì per consolarsi trovando nuovo modo di litigare pel titolo d'eccellenza che voleva fosse dato al marchese Del Monte suo cavallerizzo maggiore. Questa singolare pretesa, per poco, in grazia de' dispetti del cardinal d'Estrées, non diventò un affare di Stato.

D'altra parte Innocenzo doveva rendersi novellamente odioso alla regina per le sue leggi suntuarie, leggi contro le mode di Francia e il soverchio lusso. Veramente Cristina faceva moda da sè, stancando sempre il cervello ad escogitare nuovi costumi, l'uno più strano, anzi, più strambo dell'altro, con svolazzi e piume e fascie e zone d'ogni colore che le dovevano mascherare la gobba. Pure questa volta volle ostentare obbedienza, e vestì e fece vestire alle due dame certo abito che copriva piedi, polsi e collo gelosissimamente ed era d'un colore fosco, e di una stoffa da lei chiamata innocentiana.

Le dame romane ne risero a crepapelle, e il Papa non ci badò; ricorse invece a nuovi mezzi per mortificarla, facendola anche avvisare che intendeva di sopprimerle la pensione annua di dodici mila scudi. Allora ella scrisse al cardinal Azzolini una lettera rigurgitante di sarcasmo: «Li dodici mila scudi che il Papa mi dava eran l'unica macchia di mia vita, et io li riceveva dalla mano di Dio come la più gran mortificazione colla quale poteva umiliare il mio orgoglio.» Che storie! E continuava: «Io vi prego di ringraziare il Papa da parte mia della grazia che mi ha fatto». Così colei che aveva tante volte frenate le ire sue contro il pontefice per non danneggiare le proprie finanze! — Ma anche l'ironia non serviva più a nulla. Innocenzo era di un rigore spaventoso. Volle il supplizio di due giovani, nonostante la mite decisione della Congregazione criminale, ed eccitò il Sant'Ufficio ad incarcerare e processare Michele Molinos, secondo l'accusa del cardinale d'Estrées e contro la protezione di Cristina.

Per tal modo i rapporti fra Papa e regina divenivano peggiori. Innocenzo finì per rifiutarsi lungamente di riceverla, ed ella si sfogò avanzando la pretesa che i cardinali, in certe visite, dovessero presentarsi a lei col rocchetto!

English translation (my own):

Her return to Rome was celebrated with great cordiality by the new Pope. He ordered artillery fire and sent Kristina all sorts of delicacies for a hundred servants, followed by sixty grooms with lighted torches. Surprised by such a splendid beginning, she requested and obtained from Clement certain ceremonial privileges she had requested in vain under Alexander. During Carnevale, she was also able, without further qualms, to indulge in comedies and conversation.

Arvède Barine has already written about Kristina's relations with Poland and the proposal made by Rome to the Poles to accept her as queen. After the much-hated Jan Kazimierz, a widower, renounced the crown of Poland, the Roman court quickly set about providing him with a successor and, perhaps intently, proposed that the Queen of Sweden leave Rome and free the city from his eccentricities and his mad demands. However, she handled this difficult matter with shrewdness. On some matters, she was resolute:

"I declare that if they demand of me this obligation to marry according to their wishes, I would rather refuse their crown than ever accept such an iniquitous and cruel thing."

Among the accusations leveled against her, she also cited the murder of Monaldeschi; but she always persisted in maintaining this as a good thing. The outcome of the papal plan and Kristina's intrigues is well known. In June 1669, Michał Korybut Wiśniowiecki ascended the throne of Poland.

Shortly afterward, Clement IX died and was succeeded by Cardinal Emilio Altieri of Rome, who took the name Clement X. Decrepit in years and the last of his branch, it was hoped that he would not indulge in nepotism by helping distant relatives. But the vice among pontiffs was too inveterate. Kristina found no success with him. When, to favour the Count d'Alibert, she begged the Pope to allow performances at Tor di Nona throughout the year, the Pope responded with a firm refusal, which was followed by others no less resolute, so much so that for some time the Queen had to console herself only at the sessions of her Academy.

Clement died early, and Innocent XI, otherwise known as Papa Minga [Pope No], was elected by the conclave (September 31, 1676) — to the surprise of all the cardinals, because each of them, in giving him their vote, believed that the others would abstain. But his success has always been admired, and his opponents rushed to bow down to him — among them Kristina, who kissed his foot.

Pope Minga was a just, severe man, a lover of order, determined to put a stop to all abuses and the cowardice of nepotism. Kristina, lacking economic support, soon realised this. For a moment, she was so discouraged that she almost considered entering the monastery of Santa Cecilia, while her d'Alibert despaired over the Pontiff's measures against the theater, measures that were to push him to try his luck elsewhere.

One day, Innocent, passing by Kristina's palazzo, went up to visit her. If he had any hope from such condescension, he must have quickly been disappointed, for when he went to ask her three things that the Savoyard correspondent calls licit, he received only three shrugs of the shoulders. Not long afterward, Innocent himself had her theologian imprisoned and reproached her for having intrigued in the appointment of the auditor of the Rota. She then began to screech like an immobilised bat; but then she consoled herself by finding a new way to argue over the title of Excellency she wanted awarded to the Marquis del Monte, her chief cavalier. This singular pretension, thanks to the spite of Cardinal d'Estrées, almost became a matter of State.

On the other hand, Innocent was to make himself hated by the Queen once again with his sumptuary laws, laws against French fashions and excessive luxury. Kristina truly set the fashions herself, constantly tiring her brain by devising new costumes, each one stranger, nay, more bizarre than the last, with flourishes and feathers and sashes and patches of every colour that were supposed to disguise her hump. This time, too, she wanted to show obedience, and she dressed and had the two ladies dress in a certain dress that most jealously covered her feet, wrists and neck, and that was of a dark colour and made of a fabric she called innocentiana.

The Roman ladies laughed themselves to bursting, and the Pope paid no attention; instead, he resorted to new means to humiliate her, even informing her that he intended to abolish her annual pension of twelve thousand scudi. Then she wrote Cardinal Azzolino a letter brimming with sarcasm:

"The twelve thousand scudi that the Pope gave me were the only stain on my life, and I received them from the hand of God as the greatest mortification with which He could humble my pride."

What nonsense! And she continued:

"I beg you to thank the Pope on my behalf for the grace he has granted me."

So said she who had so often restrained her anger against the Pontiff, so as not to damage her own finances! —

But even irony was no longer of any use. Innocent was frighteningly rigorous. He wanted the torture of two young men, despite the lenient decision of the Criminal Congregation, and urged the Holy Office to imprison and try Miguel Molinos, according to the accusation of Cardinal d'Estrées and against the protection of Kristina.

Thus, relations between the Pope and the Queen worsened. Innocent ended up refusing to receive her for a long time, and she vented her anger by demanding that the cardinals, on certain visits, present themselves to her wearing a rochet!

Above: Kristina.

Above: Pope Innocent XI.

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

Note: rochet = a white vestment, worn by a bishop, similar to a surplice but with narrower sleeves, extending to below the knee in the Catholic Church.

Faith Compton Mackenzie on Kristina switching her focus from Vatican politics to the arts, and on her quarrel with the sisters Marie and Hortense Mancini

Source:

The Sibyl of the North: The Tale of Christina, Queen of Sweden, pages 245 to 247, by Faith Compton Mackenzie, 1931; original scan at the Universal Digital Library

https://archive.org/details/sibylofthenortht008021mbp/page/n259/mode/2up

The account:

CHAPTER XVII

AND LAST

THE ancient Altieri took the title of Clement X, and surprised his electors by lasting for six years. He had little influence, as was expected, upon the life of Rome, which went on as gaily as in the reign of Rospigliosi. Christina rose from the ashes of her Conclave failure and became a brilliant centre of intellectual life.

From Vatican politics to the Arts. The savants flocked again[,] and the spate of panegyrics was prodigious. It was useless for Christina to try and stem it. "No panegyrics!" was her order to the academy which gathered weekly in the shady garden of the Riario. But the poets ventured to disobey. Her own copy of Pignatelli's book dedicated to her is in the British Museum. She has read it carefully and made excitable marginal notes. "This is not at all to the point. Only laughable", she says when she is compared to Alexander the Great. "Non è vero!" "Non sta bene!" "Non lo posso soffrire!" occur frequently. But when Pignatelli says: "Born Woman, Your Majesty has become Man: nay, more than Man!" she cries in the margin: "Quest'è bello, bellissimo!"

Sitting in her box at the opera, with her cardinals around her, she could not look away from the stage without encountering the malicious eyes of the Grand Constable's lady, Maria Colonna, who, a few years ago[,] had supplanted her sister Olympe Mancini in the affections of Louis XIV. Now Maria Mancini was the first and much the most amusing hostess in Rome. Throughout the Conclave she had been a continual provocation to Christina. Her parties at Palazzo Colonna were spectacular, and no one could resist them. All the beautiful women in Rome could be met there, whereas at the Riario one encountered nothing but men, and if one were not careful one was caught in a recitation of supreme dullness and length. True, there was always delightful music at the Riario, and brilliant conversation, but the atmosphere was sometimes oppressive, with Christina too much preoccupied with playing her part for the good of the Church to be quite her high-spirited self.

The Palazzo Colonna was especially gay [cheerful] while the Conclave was going on, because Maria's naughty sister Hortense had fled from her tiresome old husband, Meilleraye, disguised as a boy, and had arrived in Rome with nothing but a maid. Her beauty was amazing, and it was not surprising that the Duc de Chaulnes, the Marquis d'Astorga, and their gentlemen should prefer dancing at the Palazzo Colonna to talking politics at the Riario. Maria Colonna had actually suggested that Christina should shelter her sister when she discovered, even before the Conclave, that she had been too indiscreet. That was a pretty idea, indeed, when it was all Christina could do to endure the sight of her own respectably married ladies-in-waiting in that condition. And as though Hortense needed sheltering!

There were ways and ways of leading ambassadors into the right political path, and the Mancini way was not and could not be Christina's. There was no doubt that Palazzo Colonna was a stronghold of the Chigi faction, and when it was known that Hortense had been dressing up as a slave, in the slightest of garments, luring de Chaulnes into a private cabinet — even though her sister was present and the interview lasted but a quarter of an hour, and the French Ambassador had come from it with the air of one who n'avait pas donné contentement — Christina wrote indignantly to Azzolino of the danger of these hussies, a letter which the Cardinal called an "elixir vitæ" and read to all his friends of the escadron, omitting, it was believed, one or two sentences.

It had been a tug of war all those four months between Christina and the two scandalous sisters, and the sisters had had the best of it. No wonder that their continual presence in the box opposite Christina's was intolerable. She complained to the Grand Constable himself, and he said that if he moved his box he would also move the whole theatre. She turned to the Pope, and he was scarcely more helpful. He pointed out that since she had to tolerate the presence of a large crowd of common people in the theatre, she could hardly object to the presence of one of the first families in Rome. In the end she was pacified by an order that did not remove the Mancinis, but decreed that all gentlemen present should be uncovered while the Queen was present. A good deal of talk was caused by the sight of a large notice attached to Christina's box which ran:

"Indulgentia plenaria pro Purpuratis."

["Plenary indulgence for those clothed in purple."]

The significance of this was that, Christina's box being always so crowded with cardinals that they were unable to sit down, they were to be exempt from the general rule. But it was an elegant inspiration for the pasquinades which were so popular at the Palazzo Colonna. ...

Above: Kristina.

Above: Pope Clement X.

Above: Lorenzo Onofrio Colonna.

Above: Marie Mancini.

Above: Hortense Mancini.

Above: Cardinal Decio Azzolino.

Above: Faith Compton Mackenzie.

Note: "that she [Hortense] had been too indiscreet" = that she had gotten pregnant.

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.

Ada Harrison's biography of Kristina, part 21

Source:

Christina of Sweden, pages 81 to 85, by Ada Harrison, 1929

https://books.google.com/books?id=xJvrtq4DCv0C&newbks=1&newbks_redir=0&dq=memoires+concernant+christine+1760&source=gbs_navlinks_s

The biography:

Rome, for the moment, adequately suggested paradise. The return was cloudless. The amiable Clement IX was Pope, Azzolino was secretary of state, Christina would in all probably be Queen of Poland. The cordiality of the welcome home for once masked no ulterior sentiment. It was Christina's golden moment. Now[,] for the first time[,] she could see Rome as she had dreamed it in Sweden fifteen years ago. Charming company was at her call; there were music, pageants, dramatic representations galore, with no censorious Pope to forbid. The queen returned as Basilissa to grace her Academy, and had the gratification of seeing Clement himself become a member. Privately she made herself happy by establishing connections with half the learned men in Europe, and by spending long hours with Azzolino and their friend the Marquis of Palombara in the little distilleria or laboratory she had fitted up in her palace, pursuing the forbidden but irresistible delights of alchemy. She could fancy for the moment that all her hopes would be realised, and peering into a future made radiant to her optimism by the unusually fair present, could even dream of the tiara for her lover.

But the good time did not last. In 1660 [sic], the same year in which the new King of Poland was elected, Clement IX died. He, like Christina, had been a lover of Near Eastern schemes, and had actually put one into execution, and when this failed and the island of Cyprus was lost to the Turk, his distress was so great that it killed him. With Clement IX the halcyon days ended. But before, under his successor, old troubles were renewed, there was an interregnum of a kind particularly dear to Christina. This was the period of the conclave of Clement X.

Clement IX had been made Pope without the participation of Christina. This error was to be amply repaired in the election of Clement X. Christina was not a member of the sacred college, but was bound to one body and soul, and it was inevitable that she should be as busy as ten cardinals. The conclave was indeed a time of seething activity for all concerned. No sooner was the dead Pope buried than the Vatican resounded to the hammers and chisels of the five hundred masons, carpenters, and miscellaneous workmen who, under the direction of the artist Bernini, had to knock up the elaborate temporary accommodation of the conclave. Not only the cardinals had to be provided for, but a veritable army of confessors, doctors, chemists and lesser servants. At last the cells were ready, and the cardinals, attended by friends, dependants and hangers-on, filed in and drew lots for their icy winter-quarters. Christina was near Azzolino, taking from him, most likely, her last-minute instructions, and brilliantly dissembling their choice by remarking of him audibly: 'He is out of the question!' There was the usual cry of Extra Omnes, she wrung his hand for the last time, the doors were sealed up and the conclave began. To elect a Pope a two-thirds majority was necessary, and the voting was taken twice every day.

As soon as the conclave became imminent, Christina had taken for Azzolino the splendid palace of the Borgo Nuovo, which was inside the Vatican circuit, and thus allowed messengers to ply between it and the Vatican without a pass. From its garden Christina could see the windows of Azzolino's cell. She had herself a workroom fitted in the palace, and here she established herself to work, as usual, until she fainted at her post. She was henceforth, for the period of the conclave, transformed into a sensitive instrument picking up messages from all Rome and beyond, and relaying them in cipher to Azzolino at the rate of four long letters a day.

While Azzolino worked for his candidate with every subtle means inside the Vatican, Christina did likewise in the city. Many factions went to the making of a Pope. There were numerous well-defined parties among the cardinals themselves, and powerful outside influence was wielded by the Roman Catholic sovereigns. Christina occupied herself with these. Her candidate, Vidoni, was that of neither France nor Spain, but of the so-called Flying Squadron. She therefore set to work with the French and Spanish ambassadors, playing them off indefatigably against each other, in order to induce them both, by her own devious methods, to vote according to her choice. It was an exhausting game. 'If it please God[,] I have good news for you', she wrote to Azzolino, 'but I cannot give it you, for I can no more. I must eat a mouthful. Then I will write you.'

Meanwhile inside the Vatican they voted and voted again. Almost every cardinal's name came up, but none received the requisite number of votes. Azzolino excelled himself in industry and diplomacy, making coalitions with group after group. But in the end astuteness overshot its mark. When the conclave was over four months old the factions, without giving him a hint of their intentions, suddenly combined and elected Cardinal Altieri, who had never up till then been closely in the running. Azzolino was left completely in the cold.

Altieri received the news with sincerest anguish. He was eighty, and he prayed the cardinals with tears to let him be. But he was not allowed to make the great refusal. He was hailed Pope, and the doors were thrown open. Christina, in spite of her cruel disappointment and Azzolino's, was the first to kiss his foot, but she departed from her congratulations 'with so melancholy a mien that it was well known she was not pleased.' Still, the Pope was old. No doubt she was soon turning over in her mind whom next would she put on Peter's throne.

Clement X gave the lie to expectations by living for seven years. He was no friend to Christina, and during his pontificate she put aside her larger schemes and turned to art and letters once again. In these pursuits her better side was uppermost. Her generosity, strong as ever, showed to advantage with her literary friends. She educated the sons of Vi[n]cenzo Filicaia, one of the poets of the period who have not stood the test of time, and was as eager as ever to help poor men of talent. Carini, who wrote the history of the Arcadia, into which her little Accademia Reale grew, said of her: 'There was not a mendicant who was not lifted out of his misery, nor a man of letters she did not heap with honours and gifts.' Any poor Swedes whom she met in Rome were certain of the same treatment. A kinsman of hers discovered in rags was recognised, rescued and started again in life. A poor Swede, called Struzzen[s]kiöld, who asked her charity, was given a place in her guard, on condition that he changed his name because the queen could not pronounce it. She looked upon herself as the particular protector of the Swedes who had become Roman Catholics and had had their goods confiscated at home. It was for these charitable purposes that she most hated to lack money: 'My will is not wanting', she said. 'It is money I lack. If God gives it to me I will give it to others.'

But men of talent had a particular claim on her. To them she could be tolerant, and from them she could even brook offences. This she showed in her dealings with Bayle, who declared that a letter she wrote in defence of the Huguenots was a 'fragment of protestantism'. Christina was furious, but when he wrote to ask pardon she granted it readily, only requiring him, as a penance, to send her his own journal and everything in Latin, French or Spanish that was worth reading. But even men of genius must observe certain rules. 'I would have joyfully accepted the Atlantides', she wrote over the question of a dedication, 'if Rubtevius had dedicated the first volume to me, but his idea of dedicating the second volume to me is not honourable. As he has addressed the first to the Emperor, the second must not and cannot be addressed to me. Therefore tell him from me to save my name for another work, which I shall be glad to receive. I am sorry the idea did not occur to him at first, because this excellent book should by rights belong to me.' The divine right of Christina, after so much battering, remained quite unimpaired.

Above: Kristina.

Above: Pope Clement IX.

Above: Pope Clement X.

Above: Cardinal Decio Azzolino.

Kristina returns to Rome from Hamburg (1668); Roman society flourishes under Pope Clement IX; Pope Clement X is elected after his death in 1671; entries of the Portuguese and French ambassadors; comedies at the Tor di Nona theater; and Kristina hiring women singers there, from an early posthumous biography, year 1697

Sources:

Histoire des intrigues galantes de la reine Christine de Suede: et de sa cour, pendant son sejour à Rome, pages 56 to 61, by Christian Gottfried Franckenstein, 1697

https://books.google.com/books?id=jGutbU5XSQEC&newbks=0&dq=christian+gottfried+franckenstein&source=gbs_navlinks_s

The history of the intrigues & gallantries of Christina, Queen of Sweden, and of her court whilst she was at Rome faithfully render'd into English from the French original, pages 53 to 57, translated by Philip Hollingworth, 1697 (1927 edition in second link)

https://quod.lib.umich.edu/e/eebo/A43928.0001.001/1:4?rgn=div1;view=fulltext

https://books.google.com/books?id=7Kj_dlvUmG4C&newbks=1&newbks_redir=0&dq=The+history+of+the+intrigues+%26+gallantries+of+Christina,+Queen+of+Sweden&source=gbs_navlinks_s

Above: Kristina.

The account:

Quelque tems avant que la Reine partît de Hambourg pour retourner à Rome, elle donna un magnifique repas à plusieurs grands Seigneurs & Dames qui étoient dans les interests de la Suede, & le Marquis Delmonte eut l'Intendance de ce festin. On le prepara dans un jeu de paume, ou tout au tour on fit des echafauts comme à un Theatre de Comedie, pour y mettre les spectateurs. Je n'entreprendray point d'en faire la description, & ne parlerai point de la delicatesse & de l'abondance des mets, qui furent apprêtez dans la derniere propreté, une autre plume plus eloquente que la mienne ne diroit rien contre la verité, quand elle le compareroit aux banquets les plus somptueux des anciens, & quand elle y feroit entrer des Instrumens & des concerts mélez des voix les plus charmantes, avec des illuminations qui faisoient honte aux rayon du soleil. Il y eut ensuite Bal, & Ballet, les Dames & les Cavaliers y dansérent de bonne grace, enfin la joye fut entiere, le Marquis Delmonte eut plus de sujet d'en être content qu'aucun autre, car outre la part qu'il prit à la bonne chere, & aux autres divertissemens de la vue, & de l'ouïe, il profita dans la foule, des faveurs qu'il obtint de quelques Dames faciles, mais sur tout il n'oublia pas ses interests, car clairet ma assuré qu'il grapilla plus de cent pistolles, & que pour maintenir la Landini à sa devotion, il la prit par la main, & la fit danser en qualité de fille d'honneur de la Reine, encore que ce titre ne lui fût pas dû, puisque ce n'étoit au plus qu'une miserable soubrette, que sa mauvaise conduite auroit fait chasser d'une autre maison, un peu mieux reglée que celle de la Reine Christine.

La Reine revint enfin pour la 3. fois à Rome, pour n'en plus sortir. Elle y arriva sous le Pontificat de Clement IX, qu'on peut dire avoir été l'âge d'or de nôtre Siecle, comme le Pontificat d'Innocent XI, en a été l'âge de fer. En effet sous le regne des Rospigliosi, la Cour de Rome devint si magnifique, qu'elle surpassoit toutes les autres en splendeur, & en galanterie. On y voyoit tous les jours des spectacles nouveaux, tantôt une entrée d'Ambassadeur, tantôt une promotion de Cardinaux, aujourdhuy une fête, demain une Cavalcade; les divertissemens se succédoient les uns aux autres, on donnoit ordinairement le matin à la devotion, & aux affaires, aprés le repas qui étoit d'ordinaire abondant & servi d'une propreté extraordinaire (car on commençoit à se traiter à la Françoise) on alloit à la Comedie, & à l'Opera, où il y avoit des machines surprenantes, ou bien on entendoit une serenade composée d'une excellente musique, mêlée de concerts, & d'une simphonie charmante. Le Saint Pere qui étoit naturellement genereux & bien-faisant, inspiroit ces belles qualitez à ses neveux, l'Avarice ne dominoit point ces jeunes Seigneurs, comme elle a coûtume de faire sous les autres Pontificats, au contraire ils depensoient plus que leurs revenus ne permettoient; cependant ils ont si bien sçû faire par leurs alliances, qu'ils sont encore aujourdhuy les Princes les plus riches de Rome. Les Dames étoient toutes galantes, on introduisit alors les modes Françoises, & elles parurent si charmantes sous ces habits, qu'elles n'ont pû se resoudre depuis à quitter ces modes où elles ont toûjours rencheri, ensorte qu'à present le luxe est excessif à Rome. L'amour ne manqua pas d'être de la partie, & plusieurs s'embarquérent sous ses enseignes, esperans de faire un heureux voyage sous un Reigne si florissant, mais ce bon tems ne dura guêres, la mort prematurée du Pape rompit bien des intrigues adroitement commencées, parceque cet accident fit changer la fortune, & les interests de bien des gens. Clement X. ayant été créé en 1671. aprés cinq mois de Conclave, on reprit le même train de vie qu'auparavant, car le Cardinal Altieri qui gouverna l'état Ecclesiastique sous son Pontificat, aprés avoir été adopté pour neveu par Clement X, ne se mettoit pas beaucoup en peine de reforme, pourvû qu'il amassât du bien, dont on sçait qu'il a été toûjours assez avide, ainsi il y avoit grande liberté de se ruiner par des profusions excessives. Le Prince Don Gaspard Neveu du Pape par sa femme, quoy qu'il n'eût pas les manieres aisées & agreables des Rospigliosi, ne laissoit pas de paroître galant, & magnifique; les Dames se parérent mieux que jamais, on ne vit dans ces commencemens que des rejouissances dans Rome, des promotions de Cardinaux, & des entrées superbes d'Ambassadeurs. La premiere fut celle de Portugal qui fut fort solemnelle, parce qu'elle se fit en Cavalcade à cause que c'étoit une Ambassade d'obedience, c'est à dire que c'étoit la premiere fois que le Roy de Portugal envoyoit une Ambassade à Rome, depuis que sa famille étoit remontée sur le trône, & il lui étoit glorieux d'être reconnu du souverain Pontife au nombre des têtes couronnées. On vid aprés cela l'entrée de Monsieur le Duc Détrées Ambassadeur de France, qui ne fut pas moins splendide que la precédente, quoy qu'elle ne se fît qu'en carosses, où l'on en vid paroître plus de 500. tous tirez par six chevaux, avec des livrées trés riches, sur tout celles de l'Ambassadeur, la maison d'etrées se faisant un honneur de paroître magnifique & pompeuse, dans toutes les fonctions qu'elle entreprend pour le service, & pour la gloire de son grand monarque. On introduisit alors les Comedies publiq[ues]; durant le Carnaval, à Torro di Nona, par les soins du Comte d'Alibert & de ses Associez; on y pratiqua une somptueuse loge pour la Reine d'une magnificence extraordinaire, où les dorures & les autres ornemens n'étoient pas épargnez, tapissée de damas & autres riches etoffes à dentelles & franges d'or. Cette loge pouvoit contenir 15. ou 16. personnes, & il y avoit toûjours dix ou douze Cardinaux qui venoient a la Comedie pour faire honneur, & Compagnie à la Reine, aussi bien qu'en sa galerie vitrée au bout du Cours en la place St. Marc, au coin de la rue St. Romuald, où elle avoit loüé un petit palais, pour voir les mascarades dont tout le cours est rempli durant le Carnaval. La Reine quoy qu'elle eût en ce tems-là passé sa quarantiéme année, conservoit encore beaucoup de brillant: Enfin l'ouverture du Theatre se fit, & les comediens reussirent augré de tout le monde, d'autant plus que sa Majesté y fit introduire de belles chanteuses, qui charmoient les oreilles par la douceur de leurs voix, & les yeux par les agrémens de leurs personnes, & par la magnificence de leurs habits. ...

With modernised spelling:

Quelque temps avant que la reine partît de Hambourg pour retourner à Rome, elle donna un magnifique repas à plusieurs grands seigneurs et dames qui étaient dans les intérêts de la Suède, et le marquis del Monte eut l'intendance de ce festin. On le prépara dans un jeu de paume, ou tout au tour on fit des échaffauts comme à un théâtre de comédie, pour y mettre les spectateurs. Je n'entreprendrai point d'en faire la déscription et ne parlerai point de la délicatesse et de l'abondance des mets qui furent apprêtés dans la dernière propreté. Une autre plume plus éloquente que la mienne ne dirait rien contre la vérité quand elle le comparerait aux banquets les plus somptueux des anciens, et quand elle y ferait entrer des instruments et des concerts mêlés des voix les plus charmantes, avec des illuminations qui faisaient honte aux rayon du soleil. Il y eut ensuite bal et ballet; les dames et les cavaliers y dansèrent de bonne grâce.

Enfin la joie fut entière, le marquis del Monte eut plus de sujet d'en être content qu'aucun autre; car, outre la part qu'il prit à la bonne chère et aux autres divertissements de la vue et de l'ouïe, il profita dans la foule, des faveurs qu'il obtint de quelques dames faciles. Mais, surtout, il n'oublia pas ses intérêts, car Clairet m'a assuré qu'il grapilla plus de cent pistoles et que, pour maintenir la Landini à sa dévotion, il la prit par la main et la fit danser en qualité de fille d'honneur de la reine, encore que ce titre ne lui fût pas dû, puisque ce n'était au plus qu'une miserable soubrette que sa mauvaise conduite aurait fait chasser d'une autre maison un peu mieux réglée que celle de la reine Christine.

La reine revint enfin pour la 3e fois à Rome, pour n'en plus sortir. Elle y arriva sous le pontificat de Clément IX, qu'on peut dire avoir été l'âge d'or de notre siècle, comme le pontificat d'Innocent XI en a été l'âge de fer. En effet, sous le règne des Rospigliosi, la Cour de Rome devint si magnifique qu'elle surpassait toutes les autres en splendeur et en galanterie. On y voyait tous les jours des spectacles nouveaux: tantôt une entrée d'ambassadeur, tantôt une promotion de cardinaux, aujourd'hui une fête, demain une cavalcade. Les divertissements se succédaient les uns aux autres.

On donnait ordinairement le matin à la dévotion et aux affaires; après le repas, qui était d'ordinaire abondant et servi d'une propreté extraordinaire (car on commençait à se traiter à la française), on allait à la comédie et à l'opera, où il y avait des machines surprenantes, ou bien on entendait une sérénade composée d'une excellente musique, mêlée de concerts et d'une symphonie charmante.

Le Saint Père, qui était naturellement généreux et bienfaisant, inspirait ces belles qualités à ses neveux. L'avarice ne dominait point ces jeunes seigneurs, comme elle a coutume de faire sous les autres pontificats. Au contraire, ils dépensaient plus que leurs revenus ne permettaient; cependant, ils ont si bien su faire par leurs alliances qu'ils sont encore aujourd'hui les princes les plus riches de Rome. Les dames étaient toutes galantes; on introduisit alors les modes françaises, et elles parurent si charmantes sous ces habits qu'elles n'ont pu se résoudre depuis à quitter ces modes où elles ont toujours renchéri, ensorte qu'à présent le luxe est excessif à Rome. L'amour ne manqua pas d'être de la partie, et plusieurs s'embarquèrent sous ses enseignes, espérant de faire un heureux voyage sous un règne si florissant.

Mais ce bon temps ne dura guère. La mort prématurée du pape rompit bien des intrigues adroitement commencées, parce que cet accident fit changer la fortune et les intérêts de bien des gens. Clément X, ayant été créé en 1671, après cinq mois de conclave, on reprit le même train de vie qu'auparavant, car le cardinal Altieri, qui gouverna l'État Ecclesiastique sous son pontificat, après avoir été adopté pour neveu par Clément X, ne se mettait pas beaucoup en peine de reforme, pourvu qu'il amassât du bien, dont on sait qu'il a été toujours assez avide; ainsi il y avait grande liberté de se ruiner par des profusions excessives.

Le prince Don Gaspard, neveu du pape par sa femme, quoiqu'il n'eût pas les manières aisées et agréables des Rospigliosi, ne laissait pas de paraître galant et magnifique. Les dames se parèrent mieux que jamais. On ne vit dans ces commencements que des réjouissances dans Rome, des promotions de cardinaux, et des entrées superbes d'ambassadeurs. La première fut celle de Portugal qui fut fort solemnelle, parce qu'elle se fit en cavalcade, à cause que c'était une ambassade d'obédience; c'est à dire que c'était la premiere fois que le roi de Portugal envoyait une ambassade à Rome, depuis que sa famille était remontée sur le trône, et il lui était glorieux d'être reconnu du souverain pontife au nombre des têtes couronnées.

On vit après cela l'entrée de Monsieur le duc d'Estrées, ambassadeur de France, qui ne fut pas moins splendide que la précédente, quoiqu'elle ne se fît qu'en carosses, où l'on en vit paraître plus de 500, tous tirés par six chevaux, avec des livrées très riches, surtout celles de l'ambassadeur, la maison d'Estrées se faisant un honneur de paraître magnifique et pompeuse dans toutes les fonctions qu'elle entreprend pour le service et pour la gloire de son grand monarque.

On introduisit alors les comédies publiques durant le Carnaval, à Torro di Nona, par les soins du Comte d'Alibert et de ses associés. On y pratiqua une somptueuse loge pour la reine d'une magnificence extraordinaire, où les dorures et les autres ornements n'étaient pas épargnés, tapissée de damas et autres riches étoffes à dentelles et franges d'or. Cette loge pouvait contenir 15 ou 16 personnes, et il y avait toujours dix ou douze cardinaux qui venaient à la comédie pour faire honneur et compagnie à la reine, aussi bien qu'en sa galerie vitrée au bout du cours en la place Saint Marc, au coin de la rue Saint Romuald, où elle avait loué un petit palais pour voir les mascarades dont tout le cours est rempli durant le Carnaval.

La reine, quoiqu'elle eût en ce temps-là passé sa quarantième année, conservait encore beaucoup de brillant. Enfin, l'ouverture du théâtre se fit; et les comédiens réussirent augré de tout le monde, d'autant plus que Sa Majesté y fit introduire de belles chanteuses qui charmaient les oreilles par la douceur de leurs voix et les yeux, par les agréments de leurs personnes, et par la magnificence de leurs habits. ...

Swedish translation (my own):

En tid innan drottningen lämnade Hamburg för att återvända till Rom, gav hon en storartad måltid åt flera stora herrar och damer som var i Sveriges intresse, och markisen del Monte hade förvaltningen av denna fest. De förberedde den i ett hovspel, eller runtomkring gjorde de byggnadsställningar som på en komedi-teater, för att placera åskådarna där. Jag vill inte åta mig att beskriva det, och jag vill inte tala om delikatessen och överflöd av de rätter som tillagades med största renhet. En annan penna som var mer vältalig än min skulle inte säga något emot sanningen när den skulle jämföra den med de gamlas mest överdådiga banketter, och när hon tog in instrument och konserter blandade med de mest charmerande röster, med belysningar som överträffade solens strålar. Det var då bal och balett; damerna och kavaljererna dansade där med god elegans.

Äntligen var glädjen fullkomlig, och markisen del Monte hade mer anledning att vara nöjd med den än någon annan; ty förutom den del han tog i det goda jubeln och andra underhållningar som var att se och höra, utnyttjade han i skaran av de ynnest som han erhöll av några lättfotade damer. Men framför allt glömde han inte sina intressen, ty Clairet försäkrade mig att han plockade mer än hundra pistoles och att han, för att hålla Landini vid sin hängivenhet, tog henne i handen och fick henne att dansa som drottnings kammarjungfru, även om den här titeln inte berodde på henne, ty hon var intet mer än en eländig piga vars dåliga beteende skulle ha drivit henne ut ur ett annat hushåll som var lite bättre reglerat än drottning Kristinas.

Drottningen återvände äntligen till Rom för tredje gången, för att aldrig mer lämna därifrån. Hon kom dit under Clemens IX:s pontifikat, som kan sägas ha varit vårt århundrades guldålder, eftersom Innocentius XI:s pontifikat var dess järnålder. Javisst, under Rospigliosis regeringstid blev Roms hov så storartat att det överträffade alla andra i prakt och tapperhet. Det var nya skådespel varje dag: ibland ett inträde av en ambassadör, ibland ett befordran av kardinaler, idag en fest, imorgon en kavalkad. Underhållningarna följde efter varandra.

Morgnarna ägnades vanligtvis åt devotion och angelägenheter; efter måltiden, som vanligtvis var riklig och serverad med enastående renlighet (ty folk började traktera sig på franskt vis), gick de till komedin och operan, där det fanns överraskande maskiner, eller så hördes en serenad sammansatt av utmärkt musik, blandat med konserter och en charmerande symfoni.

Den Helige Fadern, som var naturligt generös och välgörande, inspirerade sina nevöer till dessa fina egenskaper. Girighet dominerade inte dessa unga herrar, som det brukar göra under andra pontifikat. Tvärtom, spenderade de mer än vad deras inkomster tillät; dock visste de hur de skulle klara sig så bra genom sina allianser att de fortfarande idag är Roms rikaste furstar. Damerna var alla galanta; franska moden introducerades då, och de verkade så charmiga i dessa kläder, att de sedan dess inte kunnat bestämma sig för att lämna dessa mode, där de alltid varit dyrast, så att lyxen för närvarande är överdriven i Rom. Kärleken misslyckades inte med att vara en del av den, och många gick in under dess fanor i hopp om att göra en lycklig resa under en sådan blomstrande regering.

Men denna goda tid varade inte länge. Påvens förtida död bröt många intriger på ett skickligt sätt, eftersom denna olycka förändrade många människors förmögenheter och intressen. Clemens X hade skapats 1671 efter en fem månaders konklav, och samma livsstil återupptogs som tidigare, eftersom kardinal Altieri, som styrde den Kyrkliga Staten under sitt pontifikat, efter att ha blivit adopterad som nevö av Clemens X, inte satte sig själv till mycket besvär för reformer, förutsatt att han samlade gott, varav vi vet att han alltid var ganska girig; sålunda fanns det stor frihet att fördärva sig själv genom alltför stora överflöd.

Prins Don Gaspare, nevö till påven genom sin hustru, fastän han inte hade Rospigliosis lätta och behagliga sätt, misslyckades inte med att framstå som galant och storartad. Damerna klädde sig bättre än någonsin. Man såg i dessa början bara glädje i Rom, befordran av kardinaler och enastående inträden av ambassadörer. Den första var Portugals, som var mycket högtidlig eftersom den ägde rum i kavalkad, ty det var en lydnads ambassad; det vill säga, det var första gången som konungen av Portugal skickade en ambassad till Rom sedan hans familj besteg tronen, och det var härligt för honom att bli erkänd av den suveräna påven bland de krönta huvudena.

Man såg efter det inträdet av monsieur hertigen d'Estrées, Frankrikes ambassadör, vilket inte var mindre praktfullt än det föregående, även om det bara gjordes i vagnar, i vilka mer än 500 uppträdde, alla dragna av sex hästar, med mycket rika färger, särskilt ambassadörens, gör huset d'Estrées till en ära att framstå som magnifikt och pompöst i alla de funktioner som den åtar sig för tjänsten och för äran för sin store monark.

Offentliga komedier introducerades sedan under Karnevalen, på Torro di Nona, av comte d'Alibert och hans medarbetare. En överdådig loge gjordes där till drottningen av utomordentligt storslagenhet, där förgyllning och andra prydnadsföremål inte skonades, fodrad med damask och andra rika tyger med spets och guldfransar. Den här loge kunde innehålla 15 eller 16 personer, och det var alltid tio eller tolv kardinaler som kom till komedin för att göra heder och sällskap åt drottningen, samt i hennes inglasade galleri i slutet av gården på piazza San Marco, vid hörnet av San Romualdovägen, där hon hade hyrt ett litet palazzo för att se maskeraderna som hela gården är fylld av under Karnevalen.

Drottningen, även om hon vid den tiden var över sitt fyrtionde år, behöll fortfarande mycket briljans. Äntligen öppnade teatern; och skådespelarna lyckades, enligt allas tycke, särskilt som Hennes Majestät hade tagit in vackra sångerskor som charmade öronen med sötma i sina röster och ögon, av sina personers behaglighet och genom sina klänningars storslagenhet. ...

English translation (by Hollingworth):

Before she went away from Hamburgh, she gave a Magnificent Treat to many great Lords and Ladies which were in the Suedish Interest, and the Marquis del Monte was the Superintendant or Manager of this Feast. 'Twas prepared in a very spacious Tennis-Court, around the side whereof were high Scaffolds erected as if for the representing a Comedy in a Theatre, on which a vast number of Spectators were placed to behold it. But I shall not endeavour to make a Description thereof, nor speak of the abundance and delicacy of the Meats, which were dress'd with excellent Skill, and adorned with the greatest Curiosity imaginable. A more Eloquent Pen than mine would write nothing but truth, if he compar'd it with the most sumptuous Banquets of the Antients; and especially when he should introduce the Instruments of Musick, with the most Charming Voices, giving an Account of the most harmonious Consorts perform'd by the skilfullest Hands; and describe the great variety of costly Illuminations, which seem'd even to out-do the Sun it self. After all there was a grand Ball, with variety of Dances, wherein the Cavaliers and Ladies acquitted themselves with great Applause; and the Joy was in all respects perfectly compleat. But the Marquis Del Monte had more reason than any other, for besides the Share he had of the Banquet, and the Entertainment of his Eyes and Ears, he obtain'd Favours of some easie Ladies. But above all he forgot not his chief Ends, for Clairet assured me, That above an hundred Pistoles of the Charge of this stuck to his Fingers. And to keep Landini still at his Devotion, he took her by the Hand, and Danc'd with her as Maid of Honour to the Queen, tho' that Title was not at all her due, for she was a very Contemptible Woman, whose ill Conditions and Scandalous Behaviour, would have driven her out of any Family, that had been but a little more regular than that of Queen Christina's.

At last Her Majesty came to Rome the third time, never to go away any more from thence. She arrived under the Pontificate of Clement IX. which may be called the Golden Age of our Times, as that of Innocent IX. the Age of Iron. For indeed under the Reign of Rospigliosi, the Court of Rome became so Magnificent, that it surpassed all others in Splendour and Gallantry. New Shows were to be seen every Day; while we were diverted with the Entry of some Ambassador, another with a promotion of Cardinals; to Day entertain'd with a Feast, and to Morrow with a Cavalcade. The Divertisements succeeded one another in such sort, that commonly the Morning was spent in Devotion and Business, and after Dinner, which was generally very plentiful, and serv'd up with extraordinary Curiosity (for they begun then to follow the French Mode) they went to a Comedy, or Opera, where the Machines were very surprizing, or else heard some great Master's Composition of excellent Musick, performed with variety both of Instruments and Voices. That Holy Father who was naturally Generous, and Beneficent, inspir'd these good Qualities into his Nephews. Avarice had no Dominion over these young Lords, as in the Reigns of other Popes; but on the contrary, they spent more than their Revenues would well allow, and yet they so well knew how to make their Interests in that Court, that they are now the richest Princes in Rome. The Ladies all drest very richly, and the French Modes being then i[n]troduc'd, they appear'd so charming in their Habits, that they could never afterwards resolve to leave them, but have retained them to this very Day; so that at this present Luxury [is] excessive at Rome. Nor did Love fail to make his Party, for many enrol'd themselves under his Banners, hoping to make an happy Progress under so flourishing a Reign. But this good time did not endure long; for the untimely Death of that Pope blasted many Intrigues which were but just in their Bud, because this Accident changed both the Fortune and Interest of a great many people.

Clement X. being made Pope Anno 1671. after a Conclave of six Months, they reassum'd the same Course of living as before. For Cardinal Altieri, who govern'd the Ecclesiastical State under his Pontificate, after he had been adopted Nephew by this, did not put himself to the trouble of reforming any thing, provided he could but heap up Riches for himself, of which he was always known to be covetous enough; so that there was a sufficient Liberty for People to ruine themselves by excessive Profusion. Don Gasper, who by his Nise was the Pope's Nephew, tho' he were not of so easie and so generous a Spirit, as they of the Family of Rospigliosi, appear'd yet very splendid and magnificent, and the Ladies were more glorious than ever. So that in the beginning of this Reign there was nothing to be seen but Rejoycings at Rome; Promotions of Cardinals, and the pompous Entries of Ambassadors. The first was that of Portugal which was very solemn, being performed in a most stately Cavalcade, by reason it was an Ambassade of Obedience; that is to say, it was the the first time the King of Portugal sent an Embassy to Rome, since his Family had reascended that Throne; and it was of no small Glory for him to be acknowledged by the Pope among the number of Crown'd Heads.

After this was the Entry of the French Ambassador the Duke D'Etree's, which was no less splendid than the former, though it was only made in Coaches, there being at least five hundred, drawn by six Horses each, attended with very rich Liveries; but above all that of the Ambassador was most glorious, for the Family of the D'Etree's took great pleasure to appear magnificent and pompous upon all Occasions which they had to express their Zeal for the Service and Honour of their grand Monarch. Then also the publick Comedies were represented at Torra di Nona by the Contrivance of Count Alibert and his Company, during the Carnaval time. A sumptuous Box was there fitted up for the Queen with extraordinary magnificence, whereon neither gilding nor any other Ornaments were spared, and it was hung with Damask, and other rich Stuffs adorned with fine Lace and Fringes of Gold. This Box might contain fifteen or sixteen Persons, and there were always ten or a dozen Cardinals who went to the Comedy to Honour and Accompany the Queen in her Box, as they did also in her glazed Gallery, which was near to the Passage into St. Mark's place, at the corner of the Street called St. Remuald where she had hir'd a Palace to see the Masqueraders pass by, with which all that place is usually fill'd during the Carnaval.

The Queen tho' she was at that time above forty Years of Age, yet continued very brisk and gay, and so soon as the Theatre was open'd and the Comedians acted, as they did very well in the Opinions of all; Her Majesty caus'd Women Singers to be brought amongst them, which Charm'd the Ears of the Auditors by the sweetness of their Voices, as they did their Eyes by the agreeableness of their Persons, and richness of their Habits. ...

With modernised spelling and punctuation for easier reading:

Before she went away from Hamburg, she gave a magnificent treat to many great lords and ladies which were in the Swedish interest, and the Marquis del Monte was the superintendent or manager of this feast. 'Twas prepared in a very spacious tennis court, around the side whereof were high scaffolds erected as if for the representing a comedy in a theatre, on which a vast number of spectators were placed to behold it. But I shall not endeavour to make a description thereof, nor speak of the abundance and delicacy of the meats which were dressed with excellent skill and adorned with the greatest curiosity imaginable. A more eloquent pen than mine would write nothing but truth if he compared it with the most sumptuous banquets of the ancients, and especially when he should introduce the instruments of music with the most charming voices, giving an account of the most harmonious consorts performed by the skillfullest hands; and describe the great variety of costly illuminations which seemed even to outdo the sun itself.

After all, there was a grand ball with variety of dances, wherein the cavaliers and ladies acquitted themselves with great applause; and the joy was in all respects perfectly complete. But the Marquis del Monte had more reason than any other, for besides the share he had of the banquet and the entertainment of his eyes and ears, he obtained favours of some easy ladies. But, above all, he forgot not his chief ends, for Clairet assured me that above an hundred pistoles of the charge of this stuck to his fingers. And to keep Landini still at his devotion, he took her by the hand and danced with her as maid of honour to the Queen, though that title was not at all her due, for she was a very contemptible woman whose ill conditions and scandalous behaviour would have driven her out of any family that had been but a little more regular than that of Queen Kristina's.

At last Her Majesty came to Rome the third time, never to go away anymore from thence. She arrived under the pontificate of Clement IX, which may be called the golden age of our times, as that of Innocent IX the age of iron. For, indeed, under the reign of Rospigliosi, the court of Rome became so magnificent that it surpassed all others in splendour and gallantry. New shows were to be seen every day: while we were diverted with the entry of some ambassador, another with a promotion of cardinals, today entertained with a feast, and tomorrow with a cavalcade.

The divertisements succeeded one another in such sort that commonly the morning was spent in devotion and business; and after dinner, which was generally very plentiful and served up with extraordinary curiosity (for they begun then to follow the French mode), they went to a comedy or opera, where the machines were very surprising, or else heard some great master's composition of excellent music, performed with variety both of instruments and voices.

That Holy Father, who was naturally generous and beneficent, inspired these good qualities into his nephews. Avarice had no dominion over these young lords, as in the reigns of other popes; but, on the contrary, they spent more than their revenues would well allow, and yet they so well knew how to make their interests in that court that they are now the richest princes in Rome. The ladies all dressed very richly, and, the French modes being then introduced, they appeared so charming in their habits that they could never afterwards resolve to leave them, but have retained them to this very day; so that at this present luxury [is] excessive at Rome. Nor did love fail to make his party, for many enrolled themselves under his banners, hoping to make an happy progress under so flourishing a reign.

But this good time did not endure long, for the untimely death of that Pope blasted many intrigues which were but just in their bud, because this accident changed both the fortune and interest of a great many people. Clement X being made Pope anno 1671 after a conclave of six months, they reassumed the same course of living as before. For Cardinal Altieri, who governed the Ecclesiastical State under his pontificate after he had been adopted nephew by this, did not put himself to the trouble of reforming anything, provided he could but heap up riches for himself, of which he was always known to be covetous enough; so that there was a sufficient liberty for people to ruin themselves by excessive profusion.

Don Gaspar, who by his niece was the Pope's nephew, tho' he were not of so easy and so generous a spirit as they of the family of Rospigliosi, appeared yet very splendid and magnificent, and the ladies were more glorious than ever. So that in the beginning of this reign there was nothing to be seen but rejoicings at Rome, promotions of cardinals, and the pompous entries of ambassadors. The first was that of Portugal, which was very solemn, being performed in a most stately cavalcade, by reason it was an ambassade of obedience; that is to say, it was the the first time the King of Portugal sent an embassy to Rome since his family had reascended that throne; and it was of no small glory for him to be acknowledged by the Pope among the number of crowned heads.

After this was the entry of the French ambassador the Duke d'Estrées, which was no less splendid than the former, though it was only made in coaches, there being at least five hundred, drawn by six horses each, attended with very rich liveries; but above all, that of the Ambassador was most glorious, for the family of the d'Estrées took great pleasure to appear magnificent and pompous upon all occasions which they had to express their zeal for the service and honour of their grand monarch.

Then also the public comedies were represented at Torra di Nona by the contrivance of Count Alibert and his company during the Carnaval time. A sumptuous box was there fitted up for the Queen with extraordinary magnificence, whereon neither gilding nor any other ornaments were spared, and it was hung with damask and other rich stuffs, adorned with fine lace and fringes of gold. This box might contain fifteen or sixteen persons, and there were always ten or a dozen cardinals who went to the comedy to honour and accompany the Queen in her box, as they did also in her glazed gallery, which was near to the passage into Saint Mark's Place, at the corner of the street called Saint Remuald, where she had hired a palace to see the masqueraders pass by, with which all that place is usually filled during the Carnaval.

The Queen, though she was at that time above forty years of age, yet continued very brisk and gay; and so soon as the theatre was opened and the comedians acted, as they did very well in the opinions of all, Her Majesty caused women singers to be brought amongst them, which charmed the ears of the auditors by the sweetness of their voices, as they did their eyes by the agreeableness of their persons and richness of their habits. ...

English translation (my own; this is more accurate):

Some time before the Queen left Hamburg to return to Rome, she gave a magnificent meal to several great lords and ladies who were in the interests of Sweden, and the Marquis del Monte had the stewardship of this feast. They prepared it in a court game, or all around they made scaffolds as in a comedy theater, to place the spectators there. I will not undertake to describe it, and I will not speak of the delicacy and abundance of the dishes which were prepared with the utmost cleanliness. Another pen more eloquent than mine would say nothing against the truth when it would compare it to the most sumptuous banquets of the ancients, and when she brought in instruments and concerts mingled with the most charming voices, with illuminations that put the rays of the sun to shame. There was then a ball and ballet; the ladies and the cavaliers danced there with good grace.

At last the joy was complete, and the Marquis del Monte had more reason to be pleased with it than any other; for, besides the part he took in the good cheer and other entertainments that were to be seen and heard, he took advantage in the crowd of the favours he obtained from a few easy ladies. But, above all, he did not forget his interests, for Clairet assured me that he gleaned more than a hundred pistoles and that, to keep Landini at his devotion, he took her by the hand and made her dance as maid of honour to the Queen, although this title was not due to her, as she was no more than a wretched maid whose bad behaviour would have driven her out of another household a little better regulated than that of Queen Kristina.

The Queen finally returned to Rome for the third time, never to leave from there again. She arrived there during the pontificate of Clement IX, which may be said to have been the golden age of our century, as the pontificate of Innocent XI was its age of iron. Indeed, under the reign of Rospigliosi, the court of Rome became so magnificent that it surpassed all the others in splendour and gallantry. There were new spectacles every day: sometimes an entry by an ambassador, sometimes a promotion of cardinals, today a party, tomorrow a cavalcade. The entertainments succeeded one another.

Mornings were usually devoted to devotion and affairs; after the meal, which was usually abundant and served with extraordinary cleanliness (because people were beginning to treat themselves in the French way), they went to the comedy and the opera, where there were surprising machines, or else a serenade was heard composed of excellent music, mingled with concerts and a charming symphony.

The Holy Father, who was naturally generous and beneficent, inspired these fine qualities in his nephews. Avarice did not dominate these young lords, as it usually does under other pontificates. On the contrary, they spent more than their incomes allowed; however, they knew how to do so well by their alliances that they are still today the richest princes of Rome. The ladies were all gallant; French fashions were then introduced, and they seemed so charming in these clothes that they have since been unable to resolve to leave these fashions in which they have always been most expensive, so that at present luxury is excessive in Rome. Love did not fail to be part of it, and many embarked under its banners, hoping to make a happy journey under such a flourishing reign.

But this good time did not last long. The premature death of the Pope broke many intrigues adroitly begun, because this accident changed the fortunes and interests of many people. Clement X having been created in 1671 after a five month conclave, the same way of life was resumed as before, because Cardinal Altieri, who governed the Ecclesiastical State under his pontificate, after having been adopted as a nephew by Clement X, did not put himself to much trouble for reform, provided he amassed good, of which we know that he was always rather greedy; thus there was great freedom to ruin oneself by excessive profusions.

Prince Don Gaspare, nephew of the Pope by his wife, although he did not have the easy and agreeable manners of the Rospigliosis, did not fail to appear gallant and magnificent. The ladies dressed up better than ever. One saw in these beginnings only rejoicings in Rome, promotions of cardinals, and superb entrances of ambassadors. The first was that of Portugal, which was very solemn because it took place in cavalcade, for it was an embassy of obedience; that is to say, it was the first time that the King of Portugal had sent an embassy to Rome since his family had ascended the throne, and it was glorious for him to be recognised by the sovereign pontiff among the crowned heads.

One saw after that the entry of Monsieur le duc d'Estrées, the ambassador of France, which was no less splendid than the preceding one, although it was only made in carriages, in which more than 500 appeared, all drawn by six horses, with very rich liveries, especially those of the Ambassador, the House d'Estrées making it an honour to appear magnificent and pompous in all the functions which it undertakes for the service and for the glory of its great monarch.

Public comedies were then introduced during Carnaval, at Torro di Nona, by the comte d'Alibert and his associates. A sumptuous box was made there for the Queen of extraordinary magnificence, where gilding and other ornaments were not spared, lined with damask and other rich fabrics with lace and gold fringes. This box could contain 15 or 16 people, and there were always ten or twelve cardinals who came to the comedy to do honour and company to the Queen, as well as in her glazed gallery at the end of the courtyard in San Marco Piazza, at the corner of San Romualdo Road, where she had hired a little palazzo to see the masquerades with which the whole court is filled during Carnaval.

The Queen, although she was at that time past her fortieth year, still retained much brilliance. At last the theater opened; and the actors succeeded, to the liking of everyone, especially as Her Majesty had brought in beautiful women singers who charmed the ears by the sweetness of their voices and the eyes, by the pleasantness of their persons, and by the magnificence of their dresses. ...

Note: Prince Don Gaspare = Gaspare Altieri, First Prince of Orio.