Church and round about her 300 Flambeaux of white Wax The Church was hung with Mourning with Escutcheons of her Majesties Arms and with Counterfeit Bas-reliefs of Black Marble which alluded to the Vanity of Life and certainty of Death Her Obsequies were very Magnificent and the whole Colledge of Cardinals assisted and Azzolini appear'd in deepest Mourning with the greatest Lowliness and Dejection Towards Night the Queen's Body was transported upon the same Bed of Parade with her Face discover'd to the Church of St. Peter at the Vatican the Con-fraternities of the Regular and Secular Clergy the Canons of St. Peter and her Domesticks in Mourning going before The Counts of Warwick Vasenau and two other Lords of Note holding the four Corners of the Pall. The Pope accompanied the Body by the Officers of the Papal House as is done when the Dean of the Cardinals and the Ambassadors of Crowned Heads die at Rome She was Inhumed in the Sacristi of St. Peter's an Honour done to no body but Cardinals and Arch-priests of St. Peter for in the Church it self none are Interred but Popes only And 't is said that the Pope would have erected a magnificent Tomb for her if he had liv'd any time longer Thus did Queen Christina Alexandra of Sueden testifie all along more Firmness and Grandeur of Soul at her Death than she had shewed Constancy in her Life Her Inequalities Ambition and vain Occupations had much diminish'd the Esteem whith the Publick had of her Magnanimity She always loved Change except in Religion which when once she had found to be true she embrac'd it so firmly that nothing could Separate her In all other things she shew'd her self a true Woman that is to say changeable She affected to pass for a Maid and the word Woman offended her horribly So that for fear of Offending her you must say for Example Your Majesty has most excellent Maiden-hair and not Woman's and so of the rest She had Eloquence Spoke well and Wrote better even in many Languages but above all in French and Italian The Learned do yet admire her Letters to the King of Poland upon the raising the Siege of Vienna and the Battle of Barcan to the Chevalier Terlon upon the revocation of the Edict of Nantes and to Cardinal Azzolini upon the retrenchment of the Pope's Pension and others One day hearing of the Death of Casimir King of Poland in the Abby of St. Germain de Pre at Paris She said I am very glad to hear that he is Dead among Men for if he had staid in his own Country he had died among Beasts She lov'd neither Bigots in Religion nor Atheists She had a true regard to Piety though in her Youth the Abbot Bourdelot and other Libertines shook her Religion She participated of the Holy Sacraments and after she understood the Impostures of Molinos who would have Seduc'd her she was the more confirmed in the true Faith She trok care that her Domesticks should practice all the Duties Religion requires and go to the Communion in general three times a Year as the Cardinal did She heard Mass every day unless some Indisposition hinder'd her and sometimes she had so tender a sense in Religion that one could not wish more even in a Capucin One day looking upon the Picture of the Great Gustavus her Father she said Ah poor Gustavus What great things hast thou done in thy Life But what hast thou done for thy Soul I thank God for his favour in making me to understand the Truth and causing me to enter into the good way of Salvation She said that of all the Sacraments she held that of Confession to be the most useful That in truth the Lutherans did practice it though not in Form and that a good Confession was the Bridle of Vice One day as she went to an Audience of the Pope she said to the Women which Dress'd her Cover my Breasts well for fear Mingon should be angry For he stood upon the most minute things which are so much the more indecent in that they are not Evils he rebukes To what purpose should the Women of the World wear the Habit of Beguines Put them under what Habit you will they will always find some agreement to please the Men. Another time when she went to the Pope to shew her Obedience she dress'd her self and all the Ladies of her Court in a sort of a Robe which they call Innocentian being long Vests which trail upon the Ground close before and strait Sleeves which come as far as the Wrists and so close at the Neck you could scarce see her Collar of Pearl To this fine Habit she likewise added some few knots of Ribbands None of her Woman could hardly forbear Laughing But other Roman Ladies Laugh'd at them outright and said The Queen might make as many Apes as she pleas'd but she should not make them Monkies by imitating her Fashion This Princess hated or pretended to hate Marriage insomuch that at her first coming to Rome she could not endure any Married People in her Service When Landini was big with Child she would not see her and if she had occasion for her she would say Bring the Cow hither and send her away again as soon as she has done When she had made the Marriage of Beauregard she said to the Husband God send thee the Signs of the Zodiack and to you Beauregard says she to the woman If you come to shew like a Cow do not come to see me in that condition But she was quite otherwise in regard of the Marquiss Caponi for she would cause his first Child to be brought to her Caress it and sometimes hold it in her Arms and when the little Child began to go and came to the Table to Embrace her Feet she would fill his little Apron with Fruits and Comfitures Though she was a huge Eater as the Northern People are she drank almost no Wine She lov'd rather Colliflowers or boil'd Chestnuts with her Maids for which she would slip into their Chambers on purpose rather than eat the delicate Morsels which were prepar'd for her with royal Magnificence The Sieur Romulus Spoziola her Physician Remonstrating to her that it was not good for her Health she call'd him Drunkard and Beast and said he knew no more than her Cap. Her Taylor trying on a Coat one day when she had been let Blood prayed her not to force her Arm but she gave him a Box on the Ear with the same Hand which fill'd the poor Advice-monger with Confusion She was often at Difference with the Ambassador D'Estrees But as she had no Gall she was very glad to make Peace with him One day as he was at the Vineyard of Pamphilio she coming thither by chance and perceiving him there ran to him and made him an hundred Civilities insomuch that she mounted a little Horse of Monsieur the Ambassador and made him turn and Prance in his Presence above half an
set it on fire This inconsiderable Flame did so distract her that she ran up and down from place to place like a Mad Woman crying to the first she met and beging with her Hands folded together to rescue her out of the Fire though there were People more than enough ready to extinguish it and that it burnt nothing but the Linnen Cloath which was not much bigger than an ordinary Table-Cloath But the Danger being over she play'd the Gascon again among her Bravo's as if she her self had sav'd the whole City of Rome from being burnt 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 'T was 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 the 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 Famiâ—y â—hat 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 XI the Age of Iron For indeed under the Reign of Rospigli osi 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 tâ—â— Entry of some Ambassaâ—or 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 those 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 it 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 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 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
Night after having accompanied the Dutchess home the Count and the young Prince were at a Ball together all Night and pass'd the time very pleasantly Thus the Count comported himself in this new Intrigue which nevertheless he must quickly break off For the old Dutchess Dowager the Duke's Mother a very Severe Princess of great Vertue and admirable Conduct who was afraid any Body should speak to speak to her oblig'd the Count to retire by degrees though they shewed him great Respect This old Lady was Sister to Cardinal Cibo and so great an Enemy to all sorts of Intrigues that when she was young she broke the Skull of a pretty Girl with a Plate whom her Husband entertained and us'd to serve at the Table After which she retir'd into a Convent at Florence and there remain'd till her Husband's Death Afterwards she return'd to Rome to her Sons where she took care to see every body live in order and according to their several Duties The Count had other Amorous Intrigues besides those already mention'd with which I am not willing to tire the Reader but however we may say something perhaps in another place if an occasion present it self I shall make an end of this Article with the telling you That after the Death of Pope Alexander VIII he was made one of the Knights of Honour to Pope Innocent XI where he subsists by the Pope's Bounty and a Pension of 500 Crowns which the Queen left him for his Life payable by the Heirs of Cardinal Azzolini But the Count is not now the same he was heretofore for having renounc'd the Vanities of the World he practiseth great Devotion and lives a very Exemplary Life and worthy of a true Christian Since we have begun to note the Characters of the Queen 's Principal Officers who have so great a part in her History it will not be amiss to see here the Portraicture of the Duke of Poli who made the finest Figure with this Princess next to Cardinal Azzolini and afterwards we shall speak a word or two concerning Count d' Alibert whom she honour'd with her Confidence tho' she did not much esteem him at first The Duke of Poli was of the Family of Conti which is one of the Noblest and most Ancient in Rome out of which there has been Eleven Popes He was a big Man very gross whose Age made him grow stooping He was certainly a Lord of Merit full of Honour and incorruptible Probity reserv'd in Discourse and Phlegmatick to the uttermost point He would always say that every thing was brought to pass with Patience He was as severe as Cato and as to his Oeconomy it would have been call'd sparing in another who had not been charg'd with so great a number of Children Pope Alexander VII propos'd him to the Queen to be her Major-Domo or First Gentleman of her Chamber and she accepted it so much the more readily because she was ambitious of having one of the First Gentlemen of Rome in her Service He behav'd himself there with a great deal of Prudence but he could not forbear to testifie his Displeasure when he saw things done disorderly He was ador'd by all the Queen's Officers and respected as much as her self because of his Probity Crown'd Heads did much look upon him and their Ambassadors came to visit him not so much for his Birth as the Esteem they had for his Person He had the good Fortune to marry his Eldest Son who had been one of the Queens Pages with the Sister of the Constable Colonna Widow to the Duke de Bazianello This Alliance did much displease the Constable who cross'd it as much as he could but could not prevent it The Widow was indow'd in Fifteen Thousand Crowns in Rent and the Duke suppos'd that both the Goods and Estate would come into his Family with the augmentation of her Dowry because she had no Children by her first Husband But she was happier in this second Marriage for she had a fair Lineage from the Duke the Guadagnoli The Profits the Queen gave to the Duke of Poli were great She paid the Hire of his Palace which was near the Queens and she kept three Coaches and Liveries for him This joyn'd to the number of Priviledges Exemptions Rights of Entries and 180 Crowns per Month made him up 4000 Crowns per Annum comprising therein 600 Crowns for the Dutchess of Poli who was first Lady of Honour to the Queen tho' she very seldom perform'd her Function For besides that Her Majesty had other Ladies and Damsels she had so little inclination for her Sex at least in the beginning that Women were seldom seen with her and when she went abroad she had never any follow'd her So that the Dutchess of Poli went only to the Queen at good Feasts to receive Ambassadors Princesses and Nieces of Popes that came to visit Her Majesty As for other Roman Princesses and Dutchesses as the Queen could give them nothing but a Cushion without transgressing the Law of Ceremonies So they never came to see her because they pretended to greater Honours The other Visits which the Queen receiv'd were from Ambassadors and Cardinals who when they came to Rome were obliged first to visit the Pope next St. Peter's Church afterwards the Dean and Cardinals and immediately after the Queen and if they made any other Visit before she would not give them Audience She came to the Top of the Stairs to receive Ambassadors Cardinals Princesses Ambassadresses and concucted them back again to the same place and sent her Gentlemen to accompany them to their Coaches but she came to the Bottom of the Stairs to receive the Pope and conducted him back again also For all the four Popes which Reign'd in her time came very often to visit her and she kept a Chamber for them alone and seated them under a Cloath of State embroidered with Gold She visited also the Pope and never fail'd twice a Year to wit at the Nativity of our Saviour and St. Peter's Day The Duke of Poli had a Brother a Cardinal who is yet living and called Cardinal Conti he was Bishop of Ancona and made his ordinary Residence there and as he was in a Possibility of being Pope the Queen was very glad to be in the Interests of that Family that she might obtain some Credit under his Pontificate in case he happen'd to be chose This Incomparable Queen who pretended to surpass all the World one Day as the Cardinal took leave of her to enter into the Conclave after the Death of Innocent IX Embraced him and said Monsieur Cardinal Remember Queen Christina if you become Pope as I believe you will The Cardinal smil'd at this Discourse and said He was her very humble Servant without any such hopes but in what Estate soever God should put him he would always remember the Obligations that both himself and all his Family had to her This Discourse being reported to the
pretended that the Pope ought to have given her thanks or rather because her People were accustom'd to an insupportable Liberty and could not be contain'd within Bounds but so it was that the Cession of the Franchise did not last above two Months before the Queen receiv'd Discontent and Vexation from it every way The first thing that was seen was a Battallion of Sbirries with their Bariseil at the Head of them to take possession of the Quarter with insupportable Pride The Pope made these Scoundrels insolent by the Power given them and it was the reason that we look'd upon them with Contempt and it did so much the more mortifie all the Domesticks in that they were not us'd to be vex'd with such Rogues with whom they had never any thing to do before At last happen'd an Accident which was the Cause of all the Mischief that might be foreseen A Valet of one of the Queen's Anspessades had cheated a Banker of some Barrels of Brandy and the Sbirri's whether of their own Motion or excited by some of the Queen's Enemies took him Prisoner upon Easter-Day near the Queen's Palace and dragg'd him as far as the Steps of the Church de Regina Coeli which is at Longara Many Footmen and others of the Queen's Domesticks who went to St. Peter's for their Devotion cry'd out to the Sbirri's as they went along that it was a shame to take him upon Easter-Day without regard to the Sanctity of the Festival This did not terrifie them at all for they brought their Prisoner to a Cabaret keeping him by main force though they remonstrated to them that he belong'd to her Majesty The Queen having understood it sent to disengage him being angry that they had not ask'd her permission to take him He was taken away by force out of the hands of these Rascals and brought back in Triumph to Langara the People crying out Vivat to the Queen and Hooting at the Sbirri's But this caus'd a great Noise for the Pope taking Offence that they had committed Violence to the Ministers of his Justice and enterpriz'd upon his Authority made a Criminal Process against all those that had a share in this business and condemned them all as seditious The Queen being stark mad to see the Placards stuck upon the Walls of her Palace wherein the pretended Criminals were condemn'd to Death for Contumacy and their Heads set at a Price kept no farther measures with the Pope and to brave him took the occasion of a Feast which the Jesuits made whishe went with a magnificent Train accompanied by all her Domesticks arm'd like so many St. Georges under their Habits The Condemn'd had order to follow her Majesty at the sides of her Coach with the three accus'd Auspessades and nine others which made up the number of a dozen all well-arm'd and resolute to the uttermost I remember poor Captain Landini who had before pass'd for a Man of Courage considering the danger fell a trembling when he went out of the Port Settignana and whereas he should have follow'd the Queen at the Head of the Auspessades was forc'd to be put into one of the Queen's Coaches being as pale as a dead Man However they seem'd to take no notice of it at the Apostolick Palace but on the contrary the Pope regal'd her Majesty with some Basons of Fruit the first of which I remember was green Raisins a Rarity for the Month of May as then it was A Chamberlain of Honour presented them to the Queen who gave him no more than ordinary Thanks but after he was gone look'd upon me and said What does Mingon mean with his Raisins She spoke of the Pope who being of an austere Temper refus'd almost every Favour asked of him with this Word Minga which is as much as to say No or not at all in the Milanese Language or in the Countrey of Spain from whence the Queen gave him the Nick-name of Mingon Does he think said she we are asleep No I will vex him in my turn She then gave Orders that as many Sbirries as pass'd by her Quarter should be taken up One Merula a Neopolitan Bandit whom the Queen had taken from Justice which would have punish'd him for some Crimes committed in the Realm of Naples was her Bravo And indeed this Man though but of few Words was a wicked Devil for he would Kill a Man upon the least occasion or for Money if you pleas'd There was then a Corporal of the Sbirries who had Insolence enough to speak some ill things of the Queen and to boast an Exploit which he had done in her Quarter but he did not live long after this Temerity for he was Kill'd by Merula at Noon day as he was going out of his House near the Governor 's of Rome The Pope enrag'd at the Death of this Man redoubl'd his Edicts against the Queen's People and and came to such a point of Choler that he propos'd in a Consistory to Excommunicate the Queen But Monsieur the Cardinal D'Estrees so strongly represented to his Holiness that he must have more circumspection in regard of Crown'd Heads and that it could not be prov'd that the Queen was the cause of it that it hinder'd his Holiness from coming to this Extremity And 't is remarkable that the Queen who had often vexed his Eminence upon many occasions found no body but him to maintain her Interests for I think Cardinal Azzolini was then Sick In the mean time things grew worse and worse insomuch that the Queen having understood that the Pope would send all the Sbirries to carry away the Condemn'd by force out of her Palace order'd the Marquiss Del Monte to give Notice to all her Houshold to be in her Palace on Sunday after Mass All the Domesticks were there and above all the Gentlemen were the first that heard the Queen's Speech She said Gentlemen and all you others my Domesticks I have brought you hither to tell you That the Pope is coming to the Sword 's Point with me by forcing my Domesticks your Comerades into the hands of Justice I am resolv'd not to forsake them and therefore those that are in my Service must prepare themselves to run the same Fortune with me and to repulse couragiosly those Violences that will be offer'd I will be at your Head and expos'd to the same Perils with all of you You know me and understand by some Actions of my Life that I am not Fearful let those that have not Courage to serve me declare it for I will force no body I know the Pope is your Sovereign and if any Interest oblige you to retire those that have a mind may do it freely I had rather have ten Couragious Men who are willing and will be Faithful than a thousand timerous Persons and Cowards who for fear of prejudicing their Affairs are not willing to run the same Fortune with me They all applâ—udâ—d the Speech but you might see by their
who was of Opinion that the Court of Rome was not very fond of the Queen of Sweden was well satisfied with this Remonstrance but the Queen gave D'Estrees to the Devil knowing he had been inform'd of all and was never able to discover him that betray'd her What happen'd after the Discovery of all these Intrigues The Pope was always obstinate and would hear no body The Queen died the 13th of April 1689. The Marquiss de Lavardin parted from Rome into France from whence he came without seeing the Pope who died the 12th of August in the same Year And as to Cardinal Azzolinâ— he died on the 9th of June going before that of the Pope This Relation though a little long 〈◊〉 us in many curious Circumstances and shews the inconstant Gâ—nius of the Queen For after all who would have believed a little beâ—ore that she would have made so strict an Union with the French Ambassador after she had spoken so much ill of this Crown and concerning which she pretended to be dissatisfied Witness what escap'd from her as she was talking to the Envoy of England who was at Rome a little after James II. came to the Crown of those Realms She receiv'd his Picture from the same Lord and made him as magnificent a Reception as if he had been declar'd Ambassador though he never had that Character for it was Conferr'd upon the Lord Castlemain She Regal'd him one Night with fine Musick and Verse in the Praise of King James a quantity of Liquors and other Refreshments and holding his Picture in her Hand This is a great King and said she I hope I shall not die till I see the English again in France as they have been heretofore to humble that Light and Ambitious Nation If the Pope would believe me I could shew him a way to penetrate into the Bowels of France The true way to abate the Pride of the French who would not acknowledge the Holy See except for Interest is to make a firm League with the King of England To know the Original of that Aversion which the Queen and Cardinal had for Cardinal D'Estrees we must go a step higher for it is certain that this Misintelligence begun before the Ambassadors of the four Crowns were discontented with Cardinal Altieri who govern'd the Ecclesiastical State as of Cardinal Patron under the Pontificate of Pope Clement X. I say he govern'd the Estate for the good Pope Altieri being come to decrepit Age and fal'n into meer Childhood again had no part in it Which made Pasquin say when Marforius demanded under whose Pontificate they liv'd Sumus sub Pontificatu Alterius We are under the Pontificate of another answer'd he alluding to the Pope's Name and the small share he had in the Government Another time Pasquin said no less ingeniously upon this Subject that Clement X did only Benedicere Sanctificare whereas Cardinal Aâ—tieri did for his part Regere gubernare The Pope was Elected 22th of April 1679. in spite of the Queen and Cardinal Azzolini's Mind who had an hundred Juggles and Contrivances to make Cardinal Vidoni Pope this Princess hoping that under his Pontificate she should have the same Respects and Conveniences that she had under Clement IX But Fortune was not so favourable to Vidoni as Pasquin also had foretold For during the Conclave there was found a Writing fix'd upon the Gate of the Pontifical Palace at Monte Cavallo where was written Qui non intrano ne Facchini ne Guidoni Alluding to the Names of the Cardinals Facchenetti and Guidoni or Vidoni the last of which signifies a Beggar or a Rogue and the other a Porter Azzolini who hoped to be Secretary of State under Vidoni as he was under Clement IX was satisfied no more than the Queen so that when Her Mâ—jesty receiv'd the News of his Elevation she would not believe it and treated all them that brought it as Beasts saying they did not understand themselves In the mean time Count Alibert entred and told her with his affected Air Madam the Cardinal Altieri is Pope Oh bene bestia said â—he non occorro altro s'attacchi la Carrâ—zzo She went out with all her House by the Garden Gate which opens towards the Gate of St. Pancras to avoid the Crowd and entred into the Bourg of St. Peter by the Gate of the Light-horse from whence she went directly to the Vatican but she had no heart to receive him at the bottom of the Stairs she was only in the Hall where some Prelates were come before her After her Compliment made to the new Pope which was very brief she went back as she came but so melancholy that we easily knew she was not content Azzolini having miss'd his Blow quickly found means to adjust his Affairs to the new Regent At this time the House of the D'Estrees pretending to an Hat for the Bishop and Duke of Laon at the Solicitation of Portugal entred into Cabals with one another but the Queen being of a restless Spirit and always an Enemy to France because they would not yield to her Sentiments would with Azzolini cross as much as they could the promotion of the D'Estrees and this illustrious Prelate waited a long time because he would be a Cardinal by his own Merit and not put on his Hat at a price as was hop'd for by the devouring Avarice of the Regent From hence began at first the Antipathy for the D'Estrees which augmented afterwards by divers Accidents After the Death of Clement X. the Queen out of Policy writ a Letter to the Most Christian King by which she offer'd to joyn Azzolini to the Faction of France for the Election of a Pope but they made so little account of it that they never return'd her an Answer till two Days after the Election of Innocent XI the Queen took it with all the spight that could be thought of and had the Injustice to believe that Cardinal D'Estrees was the Cause of this Contempt She was angry besides that they did not give her timely notice of the Queen of France ' Death and for that reason would not wear Mourning but afterwards changing her Opinion in favour of so Pious and Holy a Queen she habited her self in a stuff of Goats Hair of a Violet Colour which is made no where but at Naples aud is very dear and the Thing of the World which is the deepest Mourning But that which most augmented the Queens Rage and her Marquisan for so she her self used to call Azzolini because he was of the Marca de Anchona was the Affair of Molinos He was a Secular Spanish Priest and undertook the direction of Consciences for twenty Years in Rome and under this Pretext brought in a new Heresie without making a noise which was so much the more pernicious in that under a shew of Elevating the Mind to a more sublime Contemplation he would not have us stop at the Humanity of the Word Incarnate saying that
Fruits and Comfitures and obstinately continued so to do for two or three Months after his Condemnation against the Advice of Azzolini himself Cardinal D'Estrees only laugh'd at these Transports and upon all occasions serv'd this Princess afterward with the best Grace in the World But there was always a Coldness between the Cardinal and Azzolini and yet they saw one another in Chappels Consistories Congregations and other Functions of the Court of Rome where they could not avoid speaking without Scandal but they were very reserv'd and had no Confidence one in another The Queen would have had them have gone to it briskly but they were too wise to make a Noise which made the Queen say aloud one day when she saw Azzolini discoursing with D'Estrees in the Presence of many other Cardinals at the Theatre of the Tour de None Politica delli miei coglioni mar chiginacccio It is time to finish this History by the Death of Queen Christina but it is so interwoven with the Adventures of Georgina or Signora Angelica that we cannot describe the one without making mention of the other For though this Charming Virgin was the innocent cause of her Death it had been better she had never entred into the Queen's Service for this Princess perhaps might have been yet Alive had she not died of spite that she could not revenge her self of an Outrage done in her Family to Signora Angelica It must be acknowledg'd that Beauty is a dangerous thing in a young Virgin but above all when she has other Talents which inflame no less seeing the Palace of a great Queen was not able to protect her from the Ambushes laid for this fair Singer by which she became a Prey to a Wretch after she had triumph'd over the Pursuit of the greatest Lords in Rome Angelica was a Virgin incomparable both for Beauty and Wit her Stature was something above the ordinary size well taken and slender her Visage a perfect Oval her Eyes Sparkling her Hair of a bright Flaxen colour but inclining to White an Aquiline Nose white Teeth vermilion Lips and her Neck excellently Shap'd Her Wit was full and exact her Conception easie of a complaisant Humour and such an agreement in her whole Person as made her Beloved by great and small for it may be said that from the Scepter to the Spade all Estates and Conditions of Men have done Homage to her Merit In fine to make a just Portraiture of her one must take a Muse for a Model for to all her Perfections she would sing so rarely that it would Ravish all that heard her and touch'd Instruments to a Miracle Her putative Father was Comptroller of the Mount of Piety 〈◊〉 and because he was call'd Georgino she acquir'd the Name of Georgina Her Mother who was very Intriguing some time before her Marriage had a Knight of the Order of Melchisadecâ— And ill Tongues who are never idle would let themselves loose against this excellent Virgin as if she had a fault in her Birth and that the Religious would have her because Ecclesiasticks have there sometimes a Commerce of Gallantry as if they were not like other Men. Love is the most Violent of all the Passions and there are none but are sensible of its Effects A peaceable and sedentary Life is more susceptible of it than any other and to sum up the Account a Man with a long Gown both in Italy and Spain though he be oblig'd to live in Gaelibate does not loose his Reputation among Men because he has had an Amorous Intrigue I know that before God it is a Sin without Excuse But however it be when the Fact is done the Laws oblige Priests who have Children to breed them up well and to furnish Necessaries for their Subsistence and Education Monsieur Zâ—chary perform'd this to excess in favour of Georgina For never any Father took greater care in the Breeding and Instruction of a Child than he of her without sparing of Expences so well did he love her and with reason for as much a Child as she was she had so many Agreements that she Charmed the most Insensible As she had Naturally a most admirable Voice and an inclination to Musick he gave her the best Masters in Rome to teach her to Sing and touch all sorts of Instruments which she learn'd so easily that she surpassed all her Masters without taking pains and to this day she has not any equal at the Lute Theorboe Harpsicord or Virginals She had besides the finest Voice in Italy For though there be excellent Musicians at Rome who are most of them Castrated to preserve their Voices there was found in hers a certain Harmony with such force and sweetness as there was nothing like it These rare Qualities made her sought after by the greatest Princes in Europe and it was Force only that withheld her from going to the Emperor's Court or that of France where she was much desired But those who gave Life to her could never resolve to loose her out of Sight through the Affection they bore her judging besides that she would not fail to make her Fortune in her own Country by her Merit without exposing her to the danger of Travel Signora Caterina her Mother who had other Children to provide for was very fond of Angelica's Merit who had a great mind to Travel and above all into France Because the Modes and Gallantries of that Court run strongly in her Mind but not being Mistress of her own Will she had no other part to take but that of Obedience Her Beauty and her Talents encreas'd with her Age and at the same time the number of her Admirers augmented every day The first who enterpriz'd the Conquest of her Heart were young Men of a suitable Condition to her own For she always pass'd for the Daughter of a little Commissioner of the Mount of Piety of a very indifferent Fortune but yet one who was a civil Person and maintain'd his Family Honestly npon the Revenue of his Employ and some Assistances which Monseignieur Zachary furnish'd them with Privately upon the account of Angelica Georgino had not Married the Mother of Angelica but in view of a better Dowry than she would have had without her Gallantries with the Prelate and in hope of being assisted for their Care in the Education of his Daughter And that as he was none of those Commodious Husbands which suffer their Wives to live in Disorder provided it bring Water to the Mill so on the other hand he was not so scrupulous about the Gallantries his Wife had done before Marriage He liv'd very Privately according to the Custom and Genius of the Italians keeping almost no Company and therefore liv'd in a Quarter that was distant from Noise and Great People in which also good Husbandry might have a share as well as the love of Ease For in the Quarter of Trastevera Houses are very Cheap though Spacious enough and he had there the
this Habit which you see makes me think of some things of great Consequence and I believe it will serve me in a little time in one of the greatest Functions that can be but Sybil thou art not able to Divine what Function this should be Pardon me Madam answer'd she looking attentively on the Queen your Majesty thinks this Habit will serve Shall I speak it Madam Yes saith the Queen The thought afflicts me saith Sybil Your Majesty thinks you shall be Buried in this Habit in a little time And I saith the Marquiss interrupting hastily believe the Queen thinks it will serve her to wish the Pope an happy New Year in Sybil has spoke the Truth replied the Queen that was it I thought on but we must put all into the Hand of God for we are all Mortal and I as well as another The Taylor to divert this sorrowful Discourse addressing himself to the Queen said Will your Majesty have a Cover made for this Habit Why a Cover great Beast says the Queen To keep it twenty Years and above saith the Taylor For if it be design'd for the use your Majesty speaks you must take care the Worms do not eat it She fell a Laughing and was well pleas'd with the Repartee After some Discourse of this nature they separated and the Marquiss grumbled at Sybil for her ill Augury You mistake quoth Sybil I have not foretold the Queen's Death I only found out her Thought This odd Apprehension did so possess the Queen's Mind that the Taylor Congratulating her upon the recovery of her Health as others did said Madam the Habit is the Cover and may if it please God be so a long time God grant it says the Queen but I am of Opinion it will serve me ere long for the use I believe 't is design'd This thought made too strong an Impression upon her Spirits to believe the Sybil Divin'd it meerly by chance It is strange says the Marquiss Caponi your Majesty should think so much upon the words of a Fool And will your Majesty be always abus'd Cardinal Azzolini coming in he desir'd him to assist to take off the ill Impressions the Queen had receiv'd which he endeavouring to do the Queen seem'd to believe only for this reason that he might no farther trouble her Head about it The Cardinal meeting the Sybil afterwards gave her a smart Reprimand for entertaining the Queen with Melancholy Visions But she excus'd her self That she had done nothing with an ill intent That she wish'd not the Queen's Death for her own sake for said she there will no body loose more than my self for I foresee the Crosses and Persecutions that will happen to me God preserve us for your Eminence will not be long after the Queen when God shall call her Azzolini who heard the first words of the Sybil without Emotion was troubled at the last and turn'd his Back all in Confusion She repented that she had said so much for her Predictions were but too true whether it were that she was effectually Inspir'd from Heaven or Chance and Conjecture that made her to advance things I know not but the Event confirm'd them She had also told the Queen that the Pope would die the same Year in the Canicular days and he Deceas'd the 13th of August next following He was inform'd of these Predictions of the Sybil and was so displeas'd that as soon as ever the Queen's Eyes were clos'd he caus'd her to be taken up and Imprisoned in the Castle of St. Angelo where she remain'd till her dying-dying-day She said something also of Alexander VIII but he changed her Prison into a Conservatory where she consum'd and pin'd away for Grief At a time when the Queen did not think of Death she had a mind to Bespeak a magnificent Tomb. She sent for for her Graver called Francis Marie Anconitano and order'd divers Models without telling him of any Place where it should be set up The Graver being busie and not having his Measures ready to extend his Figures and Bas Reliefs there the Queen was forc'd to tell him she would have it made round like the Pantheon of Agrippa in old time At the same time she forbad him to speak a Syllable to any Person about it but above all enjoyn'd him that Cardinal Azzolini should know nothing of it However the thing was so long in Agitation that Cardinal Azzolini came to know of it and was affrighted at the vast Expence of bringing it to Perfection but however durst say nothing of it to the Queen This had pleasant Consequences for when the Intrigue came to be known the Graver was turn'd off though he represented to her Majesty that he could not make his Models with so much caution but that Cardinal Azzolini might get an inkling of it The Queen having ask'd him what the Expence of the whole might amount to he told her ingenuously that an hundred thousand Crowns would not finish it You 're a Rogue said she to him an hundred thousand Crowns I would spend a Milion upon 't The Cardinal hearing this fell a Laughing knowing that all her Estate did not amount to half a Million And after all she was poorly Interr'd in a Cave of the Sacrasty of St. Peter This shews the Genius of the Queen who would do every thing extraordinary and with the Magnificence due to her Character But finally it must be said in Praise of this Generous Princess that she died with an Intrepidity worthy of the Daughter of the Great Gustavus Adolphus Her Relapse having taken from her all hope of Cure she very early took care of her Soul She Confess'd with great Sentiments of Contrition and receiv'd the Holy Sacrament with profound respect and unspeakable Comfort Finding her Strength to diminish she sent to desire the Pope's Benediction praying him to forgive all the Differences that had been between them which yet had not hinder'd her from being inviolably fixt to the Interests of the Holy See and that she had always a great respect and esteem for the Person of Innocent 11th Afterwards she Sign'd her last Will and Testament and presented it to Cardinal Azzolini which he told her was advantagious to her Majesty's Houshold though he made it only according to his own Interest Father Sclavata a famous Discalceat Bohemian Carmelite exhorted her to prepare for Death sometimes speaking Latin and sometimes German or French At last the Queen Died April 19th 1689 at Six of the Clock in the Morning and her Body was carried next day towards Night to the New Church of the Fathers of the Oratory of St. Philip Neri being Embalm'd and Cloath'd in the same Habit which was design'd for her Funeral Solemnity It was carried in a Coach accompanied by the Cardinals Chaplains and the Curate of St. Dorothy's Parish The day following the Queens Body was expos'd upon a Bed of Parade with a Royal Crown upon her Head and a Scepter in her Hand in the Body of the