Sources:
Brieve relation de la vie de Christine reyne de Suede, jusques à la demission de sa couronne & sa arriuement à Bruxelles, pages 10 to 11, published by Gregorio Leti or Monsieur Saint-Maurice (erroneously attributed to Urbain Chevreau), 1656
Recueil de quelques pièces curieuses: servant à l'esclaircissement de l'histoire de la vie de la reyne Christine, ensemble plusieurs voyages qu'elle à faites, pages 77 to 80, published by Pierre de Marteau, 1668
Histoire de la Vie de la Reyne Christine de Suede, avec un veritable recit du Sejour de la Reyne à Rome, et la Defense du Marquis Monaldeschi contre la Reyne de Suede, pages 77 to 80, published by Jean Plein-de-Courage, 1678
A relation of the life of Christina Queen of Svveden: with her resignation of the crown, voyage to Bruxels, and journey to Rome. Whereunto is added, her Genius, Translated out of French, by I. H., translated by John Howell, 1656
User comments page for the book on VuFind (Trinity College Cambridge):
Christina of Sweden, page 121, by Ida Ashworth Taylor, 1909
The Sibyl of the North: The Tale of Christina, Queen of Sweden, page 115, by Faith Compton Mackenzie, 1931
Christina, Queen of Sweden: The Restless Life of a European Eccentric, page 165, by Veronica Buckley, 2004
Drottning utan land: Kristina i Rom, page 21, by Erik Petersson, 2013
Above: Kristina.
The account:
Mais examinons un peu la conduite de cette Princesse dans les voyages; on avoit jugé à propos qu'apres avoir rendu ses devoirs à la Reyne sa mere, dont le sejour ordinaire est à Niukupin, qu'elle iroit passer en Oeland, qui est une fort belle isle, qu'elle s'est reservée, & qui appartenoit auparavant à S. A. R. qui est aujourd'huy regnant sur les Suedois, que de là elle passeroit par mer en Poméranie, pour voir les terres & les biens qui luy ont esté donnez pour son appanage, elle si estant accordée: le Roy fit preparer 7. gros vaisseaux pour luy faire escorte, que le Mareschal Wrangle conduisoit, & donna ordre au Gouverneur d'Oelandt, pour tous les apprests dignes de la Majesté Royale, & afin de la recevoir; mais ayant fait semblant d'y vouloir aller, & en avoir mesme pris le chemin pendant toute une journée, elle se resolut de faire son voyage par terre, & de traverser tout le Danemarc, ce qu'elle a fait en habit de Cavalier avec l'Escharpe rouge à l'Espagnole; elle entra de cette façon jncognito dans Hambourg, & s'alla placer, au mespris du logis que les venerables Magistrats de cette ville luy avoyent destiné, dans la maison d'un Medecin Juif, ce qui surprit beaucoup, & le Senat de qui elle ne voulut pas recevoir les honneurs qu'il luy avoit preparez, & les Prestres, qui rongez du zelle de la maison de Dieu, ne peurent se taire, & qui declamerent publiquement en chaire contre elle, d'avoir fait une eslection si ridicule de la maison d'un homme qui fait profession d'estre ennemy juré de J. Christ; Cela parut pourtant un peu trop violent, & les plus sages jugerent qu'il falloit donner quelque chose à la condition d'une Reyne, & luy en faire des excuses, ausquelles elle repartit, que J. Christ avoit toute sa vie conversé parmy les Juifs, qu'il estoit sorty de leur semence, & qu'il avoit preferé leur compagnie à celle de toutes les autres nations. Jugez vous mesme de la responce. Quand elle est sortie de Hambourg ça esté à une heure induë, à scavoir à 4. ou 5. heures du matin, au sortir d'un festin, dont le Landgrave de Hesse l'avoit regalée, sans prendre congé ny du Senat, ny des Magistrats; de quoy tout le monde fut extremement surpris: En suitte elle cinquiesme ou sixiesme a poursuivi son voyage vers les Provinces Unies, sans s'accompagner d'aucune femme ny fille; ayant laissé les 2. Hollandoises, qui estoyent à son service depuis assez long temps, & qu'elle avoit emmené de Suede, sans leur donner aucune sorte de recompense, de mesme que ses valets de pied & ses cochers à Hambourg, se commettant entierement à la conduitte du Sieur Esteenberg, qu'elle a choisy par dessus tous ceux de sa Cour, comme le plus brutal & le plus desraisonable; & ayant donné la charge de son Maistre d'Hostel à Silver-Crona; dont le nom tout plein d'argent sent fort son Orfevre.
With modernised spelling:
Mais examinons un peu la conduite de cette princesse dans les voyages. On avait jugé à propos qu'après avoir rendu ses devoirs à la reine, sa mère, dont le sejour ordinaire est à Nyköping, qu'elle irait passer en Öland, qui est une fort belle île qu'elle s'est réservée, et qui appartenait auparavant à Son Altesse Royale, qui est aujourd'hui régnant sur les Suédois; que delà elle passerait par mer en Poméranie pour voir les terres et les biens qui lui ont été donnés pour son appanage, elle si étant accordée.
Le roi fit préparer 7 gros vaisseaux pour lui faire escorte, que le maréchal Wrangel conduisait, et donna ordre au gouverneur d'Öland pour tous les apprêts dignes de la majesté royale, et afin de la recevoir; mais, ayant fait semblant d'y vouloir aller et en avoir même pris le chemin pendant toute une journée, elle se résolut de faire son voyage par terre et de traverser tout le Danemark, ce qu'elle a fait en habit de cavalier avec l'écharpe rouge à l'espagnole.
Elle entra de cette façon incognito dans Hambourg et s'alla placer, au mépris du logis que les vénérables magistrats de cette ville lui avaient destiné, dans la maison d'un médecin juif, ce qui surprit beaucoup; et le Sénat, de qui elle ne voulut pas recevoir les honneurs qu'il lui avait préparés, et les prêtres, qui, rongés du zèle de la maison de Dieu, ne peurent se taire, et qui déclamèrent publiquement en chaire contre elle d'avoir fait une élection si ridicule de la maison d'un homme qui fait profession d'être ennemi juré de Jésus-Christ. Cela parut pourtant un peu trop violent, et les plus sages jugèrent qu'il fallait donner quelque chose à la condition d'une reine et lui en faire des excuses, auxquelles elle repartit que Jésus-Christ avait toute sa vie conversé parmi les juifs, qu'il était sorti de leur semence, et qu'il avait préferé leur compagnie à celle de toutes les autres nations. Jugez vous-même de la réponse.
Quand elle est sortie de Hambourg ça été à une heure indue (à savoir, à 4 ou 5 heures du matin), au sortir d'un festin dont le landgrave de Hesse l'avait régalée, sans prendre congé ni du Sénat, ni des magistrats, de quoi tout le monde fut extrêmement surpris, ensuite elle cinquième ou sixième a poursuivi son voyage vers les Provinces-Unies, sans s'accompagner d'aucune femme ni fille, ayant laissé les 2 Hollandaises qui étaient à son service depuis assez longtemps et qu'elle avait emmené de Suède, sans leur donner aucune sorte de récompense, de même que ses valets de pied et ses cochers à Hambourg, se commettant entièrement à la conduite du sieur [Steinberg], qu'elle a choisi par-dessus tous ceux de sa Cour comme le plus brutal et le plus déraisonnable et ayant donné la charge de son maître d'hôtel à Silfvercrona, dont le nom, tout plein d'argent, sent fort son orfèvre.
Swedish translation (my own):
Men låt oss undersöka lite hur denna prinsessa uppträdde på hennes resor. Det ansågs lämpligt att efter att ha betalat sina plikter hos drottningen, hennes mor, vars vanliga bostad är i Nyköping, att hon skulle bege sig till Öland, som är en mycket vacker ö, som hon har förbehållit sig, och som tidigare tillhört Hans Kungliga Höghet, som nu regerar över svenskarna; att hon utöver det skulle passera sjövägen in i Pommern för att se de landområden och gods, som hade blivit henne givna för hennes apanage, om det beviljades.
Konungen lät bereda 7 stora kärl till hennes eskort, som marskalk Wrangel ledde, och befallde landshövdingen på Öland att göra alla förberedelser värdiga kungligt majestät, och för att ta emot henne; men sedan hon låtsades vilja gå dit och till och med ha gått vägen en hel dag, beslöt hon att göra sin färd landvägen och korsa hela Danmark, vilket hon gjorde i en kavaljers kläder, med en röd halsduk i det spanska modet.
På detta sätt gick hon in i Hamburg inkognito och placerade sig i en judisk läkares hus, i trots av det boende som de ärevördiga magistraterna i denna stad hade tillhandahållit henne, vilket förvånade många; och Rådet, från vilken hon inte ville erhålla den heder som den hade förberett för henne, och prästerna, som, förtärda av iver för Guds hus, inte var rädda att tiga, och som offentligt deklamerade från predikstolen mot henne att hon hade gjort ett så löjligt val av huset till en man som bekänner sig vara en svuren fiende till Jesus Kristus. Detta verkade dock lite för våldsamt, och de klokaste ansåg att det var nödvändigt att ge något åt en drottnings tillstånd och ge exkys för henne, varpå hon svarade att Jesus Kristus hade samtalat bland judarna hela sitt liv, att han hade kommit från deras säd, och att han hade föredragit deras sällskap framför alla andra nationers. Bedöm svaret själv.
När hon lämnade Hamburg var det vid en olämplig timme (nämligen klockan 4 eller 5 på morgonen), efter en fest, med vilken landgraven av Hessen hade regalerat henne, utan att ta avsked vare sig från senaten eller magistraterna, över vilken alla var ytterst förvånade, sedan fortsatte hon femte eller sjätte sin färd mot de förenade provinserna, utan att åtföljas av någon kvinna eller flicka som helst, efter att ha lämnat de 2 holländska kvinnor som varit i hennes tjänst ganska länge och som hon tagit från Sverige, utan att ge dem någon form av ersättning, såväl som hennes fotfolk och hennes kuskar till Hamburg, helt och hållet engagerad i herr Steinbergs uppförande, som hon framför allt valde bland sina hovsmän som de mest brutala och mest orimliga och efter att ha anklagat sig för hennes valet de pied till Silfvercrona, vars namn, fullt av silver, starkt doftar av hennes guldsmed.
English translation (by Howell):
But it is enough of her Religion, (which is now lost, if ever she had sincerely any) let's a little Examine her Carriage, in her Wandrings, or Voyages. It was thought convenient, That after she had waited on the Queen her Mother, whose ordinary abode is at Niukupin, she should go to Oeland, which is a very pleasant Isle, that she had reserv'd for her self, and did before belong to his Royal Highness, who doth now Reign over the Sweds, a Nation (though glorious) yet too little for his Merits and aspiring Valour. Thence she was to pass by Sea into Pomerania, to see the Lands and Goods, which were Assign'd for her Appannage or Provision, by her own Agreement: The King gave Order that Seven Great Ships should be prepar'd for her Transportation, under the Command of Marshal Wrangle; and that the Governor of Oeland should have in readiness whatsoever was fit to entertain her Royally, as it became his and her Majesty: But having made a shew to go thither, yea, being gone that way a whole day, she did resolve to go by Land, and to cross all Denmark, which she did, habited like a Cavalier, with a red Scarf after the Spanish mode, and thus entred Hamburgh incognito, and went to Lodge in the House of a Jew, a Physitian by Profession, slighting that which the Magistrates had designed for her. That Action much amaz'd both the Senate, whose Honourable Reception and Entertainment she refus'd; and the Priests of the Town, who enflam'd with the Zeal of God's House, could not forbear to speak in Publick against her, for her Ridiculous and Scandalous Choice of the House of a man, who is by Profession, a sworn Enemy of Iesus Christ. Yet this Meting, for all that, appeared to be somwhat too hard; and the wiser sort thought, That somthing should have been allowed to the condition of a Queen, and that Excuses should be made for her. But she replied for her self, That Jesus Christ had all his life-time conversed with the Jews; That himself was come of their Seed; and that he had preferred their Company to the Company of all other Nations. Now judge ye yourselves of this Answer. When she went out of Hamburgh, it was at an unseasonable hour, to wit, at 4 or 5 a Clock in the Morning, at the outgoing of a Feast, whereat the Landgrave of Hesse had Royally entertain'd her, without taking her leave either of the Senate, or of the Magistrates: whereat every one was extremely surprised. In her Train she being Fifth, or Sixth her self, followed on her Voyage towards the United Provinces, without being accompanied with any Woman, or Maid-servant: having left her two Hollands-Women (that had served her a long enough time, and which she had brought from Sweden with her) at Hamburgh, without giving them any Recompence, as she had likewise done to her Foot-men and Coach-men: committing her self wholly to the guidance of Seigneur Esteenberg, of whom she had made choice above all in her Court, as of the most brutish and irrational man; and having given the Charge of the Master of her Houshold, or Steward, to Silver-Crona, whose name full of Silver, smells rankly of her Goldsmith.
With modernised spelling:
But it is enough of her religion (which is now lost, if ever she had sincerely any). Let's a little examine her carriage in her wanderings, or voyages. It was thought convenient that, after she had waited on the Queen, her mother, whose ordinary abode is at Nyköping, she should go to Öland, which is a very pleasant isle that she had reserv'd for her self and did before belong to His Royal Highness, who doth now reign over the Swedes, a nation (though glorious) yet too little for his merits and aspiring valour. Thence she was to pass by sea into Pomerania to see the lands and goods which were assigned for her appannage or provision, by her own agreement.
The King gave order that seven great ships should be prepared for her transportation, under the command of Marshal Wrangel, and that the governor of Öland should have in readiness whatsoever was fit to entertain her royally, as it became his and her majesty; but, having made a shew to go thither, yea, being gone that way a whole day, she did resolve to go by land and to cross all Denmark, which she did, habited like a cavalier, with a red scarf after the Spanish mode, and thus entered Hamburg incognito, and went to lodge in the house of a Jew, a physician by profession, slighting that which the magistrates had designed for her.
That action much amazed both the Senate, whose honourable reception and entertainment she refused, and the priests of the town, who, enflamed with the zeal of God's house, could not forbear to speak in public against her for her ridiculous and scandalous choice of the house of a man who is by profession a sworn enemy of Jesus Christ. Yet this meting, for all that, appeared to be somewhat too hard, and the wiser sort thought that something should have been allowed to the condition of a queen, and that excuses should be made for her. But she replied for herself that Jesus Christ had all his lifetime conversed with the Jews, that himself was come of their seed, and that he had preferred their company to the company of all other nations. Now judge ye yourselves of this answer.
When she went out of Hamburg, it was at an unseasonable hour, to wit, at 4 or 5 o'clock in the morning, at the outgoing of a feast, whereat the Landgrave of Hesse had royally entertained her, without taking her leave either of the Senate or of the magistrates, whereat everyone was extremely surprised. In her train she, being fifth or sixth herself, followed on her voyage towards the United Provinces without being accompanied with any woman or maidservant, having left her two Hollandswomen (that had served her a long enough time and which she had brought from Sweden with her) at Hamburg without giving them any recompence, as she had likewise done to her footmen and coachmen, committing her self wholly to the guidance of Seigneur [Steinberg], of whom she had made choice above all in her court as of the most brutish and irrational man, and having given the charge of the master of her household, or steward, to Silfvercrona, whose name, full of silver, smells rankly of her goldsmith.
English translation (my own):
But let us examine a little the conduct of this princess in her journeys. It was considered appropriate that after having paid her duties to the Queen, her mother, whose usual residence is in Nyköping, that she would go to Öland, which is a very beautiful island that she has reserved for herself, and which formerly belonged to His Royal Highness, who is now ruling over the Swedes; that, beyond that, she would pass by sea into Pomerania to see the lands and estates which had been given to her for her appanage, if granted.
The King had 7 large vessels prepared to act as her escort, which Marshal Wrangel led, and ordered the governor of Öland to make all the preparations worthy of royal majesty, and in order to receive her; but, having pretended to want to go there and even having taken the path for a whole day, she resolved to make her journey by land and to cross all of Denmark, which she did in the clothes of a cavalier, with a red scarf in the Spanish fashion.
In this way she entered Hamburg incognito and, in defiance of the accommodation that the venerable magistrates of this city had provided for her, placed herself in the house of a Jewish doctor, which surprised many; and the Senate, from whom she did not want to receive the honours that it had prepared for her, and the priests, who, consumed by the zeal for the house of God, were not afraid to remain silent, and who publicly declaimed from the pulpit against her that she had made such a ridiculous choice of the house of a man who professes to be a sworn enemy of Jesus Christ. This, however, seemed a little too violent, and the wisest judged that it was necessary to give something to the condition of a queen and to make excuses for her, to which she replied that Jesus Christ had conversed among the Jews all his life, that he had come from their seed, and that he had preferred their company over that of all other nations. Judge the answer for yourself.
When she left Hamburg it was at an undue hour (namely, at 4 or 5 in the morning), after a feast with which the Landgrave of Hesse had regaled her, without taking leave of either the Senate or the magistrates, at which everyone was extremely surprised, then she fifth or sixth continued her journey towards the United Provinces, without being accompanied by any woman or girl, having left the 2 Dutch women who had been in her service for quite a long time and whom she had taken from Sweden, without giving them any sort of recompense, as well as her footmen and her coachmen to Hamburg, committing herself entirely to the conduct of Lord Steinberg, whom she chose above all those of her Court as the most brutal and the most unreasonable and having given the charge of her valet de pied to Silfvercrona, whose name, full of silver, strongly smells of her goldsmith.
_-_Livrustkammaren_-_91525.tif.jpg)
.jpg)
_(David_Beck)_-_Nationalmuseum_-_17258.tif.jpg)
-Coenraad_van_Beuningen_(1622-1693),_bestuurder_en_diplomaat.jpg)
_-_Nationalmuseum_-_18075.tif.jpg)
-Coenraad_van_Beuningen_(1622-1693),_bestuurder_en_diplomaat.jpg)
_-_Nationalmuseum_-_17920.tif.jpg)
