place and the Queen went to see them in the house of Counsellor Blitterwich where her Majesty saw diverse curiosities collected by that vertuous and well qualifi'd Gentleman Ruremond is distant seven leagues from the said village of Steinbruch seated on the banks of the river Mose strong in moderne bulwarks large ditches and exteriour fortifications and regular with a very good Garrison it standing on the confines of the Holland dominion very famous in times past and particularly for the mutiny there of a part of the Spanish Army in the beginning of those wars The Princesse of Mamines went beyond the river Mose and met her Majesty with a numerous train Before she departed she was complemented by the Magistrates and presented with the usual wine That evening she went to Arquellens a little City with an old fashion wall some six leagues remote belonging to the said Princes Government who waited on her thither and loâ—g'd her He afterwards dismissing himself on the confines of his jurisdiction the Queen with all her traine advanc'd towards the Abby of Castre a countrey of the Duke of Giuliers where albeit the Abbot the Lord of the place was not present she had the conveniencie of lodging in his Palace six leagues distant from Arquellens where a Gentleman of the Duke of Newbourg arriv'd to complement her Majesty in his name who receiv'd the civility with her usual kindnesse and courtesie On the 28 she removed from Castre to Cullen distant five leagues a City renowun'd as well for its greatnesse as for its great commerce being one of the cheifest of Germany seated on the Rhyne and encompassed with a large circuite of walls and old fashion Towers Here although she was expected by the Senate and the Citizens in armes and with sumptuous preparation yet refusing all invitation except the commodity and pleasure of passage shee made with expedition through the City she passed the river and went and din'd in the Borough of Hof which is o're against the City lodging in an Inne At her entrance into Cullen she was welcom'd by all the Canon on the walls and in her said passage found the streets full of souldiers in armes The Magistrates sent afterwards to complement her Majestie and gave her the accustomed present of 25 greeat bottles of wine which the Queen caus'd to be given to the Carmelite discalceat Nuns together with other almes the effects of her generous piety After dinner she departed from Hof and went and lay that night some four leagues farther in a very fine Castle call'd Siebourg or Zibery very strong and well fortifi'd seated on an arme of the Rhine The said Castle belongs to an Abbot who is a Dutch Prince and came out to meet her and treated her splendidly not onely that night but the other two following dayes she stayed there for her repose Departing from thence on the first of October the Abbot accompanied her to the confines with two companies of foot and as well at her departure as arrival all the Canon in the fortresse saluted her That night 4 leagues off she lay in a poor village called Virembous where all her attendance endured as much as they had been feasted the foregoing dayes From Virembous she went and dined in Aldem Kircken and lay that night in Hackbourgh a town five leagues distant The next morning her Majestie arriving in Valmerode a village three leagues farther with intention alone to dine there was surprized with a little feaver which made her stay there the remainder of that day and the following night but having let blood and taken some rest she the next day continu'd her journey advancing six leagues and arriving on the fourth in the evening at Lembourgh a little walled town of the Elector of Triers in a manner wholly ruined by the former wars as all the rest were in the country thereabouts in having been more than any other infested by souldiers now of this now that party or perhaps for its unfortunate scituation or because peradventure that territory is one of the fruitfulest and pleasantest of Germany the fields and the hills abounding with fruit and the plains watered every where with great quantity of brooks She breakfasted in Lambourg and when she was advanced towards Koningstein a little City with a very strong Castle belonging to the Elector of Mentz she arrived there a good while before the setting of the sun being received with discharging all the Ordinance and invited by the Governour who complemented her Majestie in the name of the Elector his Master but her Majestie refusing his offer would needs lodge in the Inne and defray too her selfe staying there all the sixth of Octâ—ber The Resident of Charles the second King of Scotland came hither from Franckfort to visit her and desire audience in the behalf of his Master who arrived there after dinner and was though privately received with all courtesie they remaining and discoursing together above two houres With the King was the Duke of Glocester his Brother a youth full of spirit together with other Gentlemen who waited on the Queen and were received by her with great demonstrations of esteem affection Her Majesty met the King on the top of the staires accompanying him from thence Being come into the chamber they sate down and 't was observed the King being covered at first took off his hat presently after and alwayes stood bare shewing very much respect who taking his leave the same day returned thence to Franckfort After the King Scotland came Charles the Prince Elector Palatine who likewise was privately received but with all tearms of love and esteem His Electoral Highnesse had intention to receive and treat her Majesty in Heydelberg the City of his residence and therefore invited her thither but she excused it that way being out of the line of her journey Prince Robert the said Electors brother came afterwards who complemented the Queen and the like did a Gentleman sent expresly by the Princesse Electresse Palatine sister to the Prince of Taranto a french woman of the ancient and noble house of Tremoglia This great Lady being a little indisposed in Frankfort whither she came to see the Faire which is usually four times the year with a very great concours of Merchants and merchandize sent to excuse her self she could not wait upon her in person to expresse the devotions and affections of her heart The Queen received them all with great kindnesse and remanded them well satisfied The day after on the seventh of October she passed through the City of Franckfort three leagues onely distant from Koningstien and without making any stay there went and lay three leagues farther at a little walled Town called Steinhain where her Majesty was received and met by the Brother of the Elector of Mentz dispatched expresly by his Electoral Eminence with a troup of horse to the end they might attend her through his jurisdiction Here likewise Monsieur Wambolt Coronel
promoted by a Genius as noble as generous which made him desirous of glory and ambitious of greatness Prudence was still his companion eloquence and sagacity accompanying his discourses vivacity and affability his treaties and resolution and courage his enterprizes In great affairs he wanted not Providence readinesse and Constancy and the force of his wit and strength of his mind was still most resplendent in difficulties he nobly contemning the Lawrells and Palms which were not augmented by labours and water'd with pains Before the Battell he appear'd not so terrible and dreadfull as gentle mild and mercifull when he had obtain'd the victory being undaunted in dangers vigilant in occasions and wife in each affair A Prince in fine of great understanding and knowledge in all things He was followed with a greater affection and applause than any Commander before him He gave satisfaction to all with his praises hopes or mildnesse and especially his sincerity actions of vertue being written by him with indeleble Characters He never forgat services whether little or great but rewarded and valu'd them He was very wittie in his sayings and most affable in company still treating and speaking to all without pride and frequently asking when he pass'd by his People and Souldiers how they did what they would and desired To his Table and Court while he was in the field he admitted all Gentlemen and private Commanders he usually saying a table is the torment of a secret and a net to catch friendship and affection He could not abide ceremonies and complements affected and to those unacquainted with his Genius hee said or caused others to say they should reserve their Courtship for the Queens minds of honour for he was in the field to teach how to fight and not to lead a dance He was most severe in punishing the Souldiers offences and exact in providing for the peoples security He like a true souldier to give an essay of the greatness of his mind undertook not any enterprize which was without danger he that exhorted him to a care of his life acquiring his displeasure It seem'd to him undecent for a Prince of a warlike constitution to have the thoughts of death he thinking the counsell proceeded from fear which advis'd him to take heed of himself He called him happy that dy'd in his trade the volunteer death taking pay under him that feareth him not His designs were alwaies great but greater after the battell of Lipswick he aspiring to the Empire of Germany Even the Ottoman power began to reflect on the fortune and valour of this King who used to say he wondred the Ancients so easily obtain'd their victories and those of his time with such difficulty to whom when represented it proceeded from the difference in wâ—aring and now the expugnations of Cities and fortresses are harder he reply'd he did not value the difference of arms nor of times but that of the courage That the world was the same each age had it's Mines and Countermines offences and defences and that he could war like Alexander be victorious with Hanibal and equall Caesars Progresses who had the mind of Alexander the skilfulnesse of Hanibal and Caesars undauntednesse In the space of two years he drew to his party either by the force of arms or the motives of his power and reputation of Fortresses Cities and wall'd Town to the number of a hundred and ninety He won many battels in the field but crown'd with that of Lipswick his triumph having conquer'd the most experienc'd and most fortunate Commander of his age and an Army old in battels He passed the Seas and enter'd into Germany with a very little Army but as a small snowball rowling down a high Mountain becomes a great globe so he passing from one enterprise to another could number at his death above 100000 foot and 80000 horse which made up ten Armies together with other bodies all under his colours Nothing but the heresy of Luther eclipsed his high qualities who if he had follow'd the steps of his Ancestors not swerving from the path of the true faith would have been the Heroe of Kings He left no other Progeny than Christina his only Daughter born on the 16. of December in the year 1626 a Princesse of so noble enendowments and so elevated a spirit that 't is not any wonder if she representing in part the living image of her great Fathers vertues give cause to believe Gustavus yet remaines to the world in his specie although not in his individuo Now as their good education who are to have succession in Kingdoms and principalities is the chiefest foundation of the peoples felicity this Princesse us'd a diligent manuring of her mind bequeathing her self to the exercises of vertue to be afterwards able to outstrip with her years the duty of age 'T was therefore observ'd that from the first moments as it were of her life and understanding she began though a child to procure the enlightning of her intellect a command ore her reason limits to her will a curb to her affections a rule to her actions and strength â—o her body She was not seven years old when instructed in the elements of the Latin tongue and letters and having now discover'd what promise she could make to her self in the Progresses of her studies by the quicknesse of her spirit and most singular judgement she fell to the cultivating her mind with the most sublime sciences as those which administer the true lights not to erre in the Pilgrimage of the world and the gaining of Heaven In her minority five Ministers and Officers of the Crown which were the most conspicuous had the government of the Kingdom to wit the great Admirall bastar'd Brother co Gustavus her Father the great Chancellour Axellius Oxestern the great President Gabriel Oxestern the great Constable James of the Garde and the great Treasurer another Gabriel Oxestern In the mean time to her other applications aforesaid she added the instructing of her self in the knowledge of different tongues to make her self the fitter and more capaple for the management of the Kingdom in which she made most eminent Progresses And as the best books are incorrupt Counsellours and Oracles which without the least request even answer to our thoughts so she in reading there employing her best hours endeavour'd to learn there the way to govern well This Princesse advancing with her years in Vertues and Sciences measur'd every ones ability so well with the subtlety of her judgement that though a girle she penetrated the hidden designes of her principall Ministers of whom she made use to draw to her self the totall direction of the affairs of the Kingdom so as she gain'd great veneration free'd her self from the subjection in which some pretended to hold her and beginning to rule shew'd she had not any need to lay the Kingdoms weight on any others head than her own insomuch
the honour of her person as because she being there independent of any other Potentate whatsoever in Christendom might employ the endowments of her mind in the service of God and his Church by her Majesties interposing in many affairs of Christendom for the which without doubt there was no want at all of ability in her Majestie She sent then the Father to Rome in the Month of May of the year aforesaid but omitted at that time to make any motion to the Pope because she was not able to renounce so soon her Kingdom and in the mean time they had no suspition at all of those resolutions with which Pope Innocent was assistent to the business But Father Malines remained in Swedland well treated by the Queen while her Majesty disposed and so ordered her affairs that by the States of Swedland Charles Prince Palatine deputed before to the Crown after her was after her renouncing it admitted to the Kingdom which done she might securely depart In fine when she was to discover her mind and compleat her resolutions she began then by declaring her intentions to Monsieur Bordolot a French man and now Abbot of Massay her trusty Physitian to the end he repayring to the Court of France and making no mention at all of the business of religion might onely treat there if after her renouncing the Kingdom she might sojourn in France as likewise she had thoughts of dispatching Father Malines to Rome with her letters to the Pope While Bordolot and Malines prepared to be gone the Queen having made a discovery of the exquisite judgement and great prudence of Don Antonio Pimentel who with the Title of Gentleman sent from the Catholique King to complement the Queen and procure between their Majesties a good correspondence had been some Months before in that Court where he had with his rare parts purchas'd very great credit and fame resolv'd to trust him with her thoughts and make use of his assistance and counsell in a business of that consequence This Gentleman heard attentitively the Queen and was as much comforted as astonisht at the strangeness of the news And when he had considered how meritorious in Heaven how famous in the world and beneficiall to Christianity so glorious an action would be he represented to the Queen the necessity of supporting it by a Prince no less powerfull than pious that he accompanying with her dispatches the letter she sent to the Pope might make authentick the credit of so great and so heroique an act for the compassing of which the Catholique King seem'd fit to her Majesty The Queen therefore consigned to Father Malines letters for his Holiness Cardinall Chigi then Secretary of State to the Pope and for Father Nikei the Generall of the Jesuits and likewise gave him order that as secretly as he could he should go into Spain to procure the dispatches of his Catholique Majesty to the Pope in order to which she gave the said Father letters for the Catholique King and Don Lewes de Aro supposing besides besides that Don Antonio Pimentel being come to Madrid whither he was called might adde credit to her letters and solicit the effecting their Contents And as the greatest thing that troubled her Majestie consisted in secresy to remove every shadow of suspition she desir'd that the Father might go another way and not embarque himself with Pimentel For the very same reason it seemed not good to the Queen that Father Casati returned to Hamburg from Rome should repass into Swedland to avoid the renewing of the jealousies and suspitions had formerly of them especially she knowing some letters had been intercepted which Casati had written to Malines by which they understood that they were both engag'd in the very same business and had common interests Father Malines departed from Stockholm on the 3d. of May 1653. having stayed there something more than a year and two months The length of his voyage from Swedland to Lubeck occasioned by the contrary winds and his not finding suddenly shipping in England whither he went for that purpose out of Flanders were the cause he arrived not at Madrid till the second of August where he stayd certain months without having any news of Pimentel or negotiating any thing since his order was not to begin till he had first received her Majesties letters which were to be sent after Don Antonio aforesaid departed from Stockholm in the following August and embarquing at Gottembourg advanced not far when the Ship that sprang a leak constrain'd him back thither while the Vessell was repairing he went to the Court which then was removed to Vesten where he received order from Spain to stay there yet a while The Queen hinder'd by that accident to make use of Pimentel substituted in his place Father John Baptist Guemes a Dominican who was in Denmark with the Earl of Rebogliedo the Spanish Ambassadour to that King and being to negotiate some business appertaining unto the said Earl in the Court of Madrid was to have and expect the conveniency of embarquing himself with Pimentel to which end in the month of July 1653 he arrived at Gottembourg but the Ship as aforesaid coming back and he being commanded by Pimentel to continue with him went thence with him to Vesten The Queen knowing he was a man of great prudence and other rare qualities and considering she could give no suspition by his going into Spain since they knew long before he went for the affairs of Rebogliedo she lost not the conjuncture of making use of him for the treating of that in Madrid which she had design'd should be done by Pimentel She therefore informed him of the matter and wrote to Father Malines whom before she had order'd to make no attempt of any thing without new advice which he was to expect before he promoted any busâ—ness Father Guemes departed with her Majesties dispatches and Pimentel's on the ninth of October and after many troubles and impediments arriving in the Catholique Court in the month of March 1654 very earnestly sollicited there the Kings letters to the Pope to accompany the Queens and so honourably so faithfully proceeded in this business of consequence that her Majestie afterwards declaring she was infinitely satisfied was most confident of him by making him her Confessour and using him in her hardest and most scrupulous resolutions Though not onely by the mouths of the foresaid two Fathers Malines and Casati together with the Dominican and the letters of Pimentel himself his Majestie was fully inform'd and assured of all things yet he could do no less than remain surpriz'd a while at the news of so great and so strange a resolution it seeming to him a difficult thing that a Princess of that spirit and of so sublime a judgement could abandon her Kingdoms her Country and subjects whom she loved so tenderly and protected to lead a private life without that great Command for this only
Bonefires discharging of Canons Mortarpeices and ringing of the Bells which being in that Countrey well tun'd use to make a gratefull harmony Her Majestie lighting at the Palace the Arch-Duke accompany'd her to the lodgings assign'd her which she found hung with the most excellent and pretiousest Tapestries that are made in that Countrey And because 't was somewhat late the Arch-Duke soon dismissed himself leaving her to her repose and so they all did The rest of the night and the two other following many Bonefires were made with discharging of the Ordinance and ringing of the Bells The same Evening the Prince of Conde Francis Duke of Lorraine and the greatest of the Court came to waite uppon her privately and because t was Christmas Eve they suspended other Ceremonies to give no disturbance to devotion On the said 24. of December towards the Evening the Queen accompany'd by his imperiall Highnesse went into the Arch-Dukes farthest Chamber and there in the presence of him of Earle Fuensaldagna the Ambassadour Pimentel the Earle of Montecuccolâ— and Don Agostino Boreno Navarra the Secretary of State made secretly profession of the Roman Catholick Faith before Father Guemes a Dominican This Religious man came from Spain into Flanders with the Ambassadour Pimentel in the quality of his Secretary and as he before had been privy to the businesse so was chosen for this function to keep it the more secret since occasion so requir'd In the foresaid action a thing of some reflection succeeded which was as the Queen had made an end of professing her Faith while Father Guemes said the word I absolve c. all the Ordinance of the City were discharg'd to the wonder of all that assisted at the Function without notice given to the Magistrates who onely had order to have them shot off indeterminately neare the time On Christmas day the Queen accompany'd by the Arch-Duke and all the Grandees of the Court went to the Chapell where there was most rare Musick and an excellent Sermon Her Majestie past afterwards into a great hall where she dined in Publick together with the Arch-Duke where the order held at Wilbrouch was observed in sitting The Earle of Castelmendo a Portugese and Gentleman of the Chamber to his imperiall Highnesse was Cup-bearer to the Queen and Count Atemis a Dutchman Sewer The ambassadour Pimentel the Grandees of Spain assisted standing at the Table but with their hats on All the rest which were many and the chief of the City stood uncover'd On St. Stephens day the Queen likewise dined in publick and afterwards went in Coach to the Court where the Princesses and Ladies of qualitie were proudly adorned for the purpose In her Majesties return to the Palace all the Coaches waited on her one by one in a row and the greatest part alighted to attend her who receiv'd them with courtesie and singular affability to answer the esteeme very highly deserv'd by those Ladies who usually intermeddle with Masculine spirits in the management of the greatest affaires That evening an extraordinary fire-worke being to play the Queen went to see it invited thither by the Arch-Duke Seven weeks together she remained in the Palace treated with all magnificence by his Highness nor was there any want of entertainments of various exercises and vertuous and noble Passetimes among which in the last dayes of Carneval a Play was recited in Musick which was the noblest thing could be seen On the Tenth of February she went from the Arch-Dukes Palace to lodge in the Duke of Egmonts at her Majesties own charge where she was some time employ'd in receiving the visits not onely of the Princes Princesses Ladies and Gentlemen but of many learned Persons which came from all parts either as lines to the centre or as rivers to the Sea Here her Majestie twice a week used some vertuous exercises for the entertainment of her noble and elevated mind which she did continue till the death of Queen Mary Eleonora her Mother which happen'd on the twelfth of March 1655. in Stockholm This so sad news she receiv'd by the Baron of Spaur a Gentleman formerly of her Chamber and Resident in France dispatched to her by the King of Swedland At this sorrowfull advice she quickly retir'd to a house without Bruxells call'd Tervoren and remain'd there three weeks to divert her afflictions returning thence afterwards to the City where all did condole with her Majestie she likewise put on Mourning in her mind depriving it of all recreation and Passetime Now Father Malines was return'd from Spain to Rome with the Letters of the Catholick King to Pope Innocent to accompany the Queens but it being thought afterwards the conjunctures then were not altogether proportionable to the quality and convenience of so weighty and important a businesse they deferr'd the presenting them for the reasons we shall register more diffusely in its place in the universall History Things pass'd in this manner for some months the Queen entertaining still her self in Flanders in the mean time Innocent the tenth having reigned ten years three months and twenty two daies gave up his soul to God in the age of eighty and one year on the 7. of January 1655. The sacred Colledge after the obsequies and usuall congregations went into the Conclave on the 18th of the foresaid Month and at last came out gloriously on the 7. of the following Aprill with having assum'd to the Papaly Cardinaâ—l Fabius Chigi of Sienna who with the name he took renew'd the immortall and still more happy memory of Pope Alexander the third his Countreyman and Kinsman I cannot expresse the joy and applause with which by all Christianity his election was receiv'd as made with quietnesse liberty and an exact balance of his merits The Heretiques themselves who by reason of the length of the Conclave occasion'd by the power ana discord of the factions were not wanting to murmur when they heard of so worthy an election commended it with opinions of esteem respect and reverence and all was but due to the merit of a Person and name so plausible and Majestick who with the fame of great presag'd a Principality full of Zeal and Christian edification and therefore most sutable to the necessities of Christianity The Queen was glad of this so happy newes justly hoping to find in the new shepheard of Christs flock that charity and resolution her necessities could promise themselves from a heart remov'd from all private interest and wholly intent to the honour alone of God the exaltatation of his Church and the happinesse security and repose of all Christendome The Queen then determining to give an account out of hand to his Holinesse of all that had succeeded as well of the profession she had made as the reasons that had mov'd her to conceale it of her desire to goe to Rome to give him all obedience and kisse his Holinesses foot quickly wrote to the foresaid Father Malines now
remaining in Rome and sent him the fresh Letters for his Holinesse to the end he should present them as he did on the first day of July The Pope at that advice representing in his countenance and testifying in his words the joy and content news so good and so great did deserve call'd happy his Papacy for bringing a Queen to his feet with motives and resolutions so worthy and unparalell'd whereupon he reply'd t was necessary her Majestie ere she came into Italy or at least ere she enter'd the dominions of the Church should publickly make Profession of the Catholick Faith she before had made privately for if at her entrance into the said dominions it appear'd not she was now a Catholick she could not there be receiv'd with those demonstrations of honour his Holinesse had design'd her All things were easily reconcil'd and in the mean time fresh Letters came likewise out of Spain from that King to the Pope to whom they were presented by the Duke of Terranova Ambassadour for his Catholick Majestie in Rome The Queen having caused all things to be pâ—ovided for her journey with expressions of Kindness and gratitude gave all thanks to the Arch-Duke and the Miniâ—ters of the Catholick King for her noble entertainment and here as in each other place she had done she made her unexpressible magnificence and splendour appear by presenting his imperiall Highnesse with a proud and generous Swedish horse with a Sadle Bridle and Pistols enricht all with Diamonds to the value of above thirty thousand Crowns the Earl of Fuensaldagna with a horse like the other and Furniture worth above Ten thousand Crowns and all the other Officers and Servants with Donatives to the value of above ten thousand Pistolls to their admiration who conceived this Princesse as provident as generous had cause to reflect on the future necessities into which she might easily fall but they were deceiv'd for the same generosity and freedome with which she had parted with her Kingdoms made her more liberall than ever On the 22. of September in the year 1655. she departed from Bruxels accompany'd by the Arch-Duke and all the Nobility as well the Gentlemen as Ladies two leagues without the City and at her going out was saluted by all the Canon on the walls and the Musketeers placed in order every where as she pass'd Her Majestie departed highly satisfy'd with the honours received from his imperiall Highness a Prince indeed of so Noble a spirit and so great a mind that he shews he conserves in his heart the ancient and still stronger impressions of the valour and vertue peculiar to his most royall House being worthy in fine of the love veneration applauses and obsequiousness of all That night she lay in Lorrain some seven leagues distant a great City encompass'd with strong and ancient walls fill'd up with earth and famous for the Military successes of which it hath been the Theater in our time Those Senatours had offer'd and prepared her a lodging but her Majestie refusing it was content to be receiv'd by the Magistrates at the gate with the inhabitants in Armes and the discharging of the Canon a Present of 24. great bottles of wine presented to her in the name of the City according to the custome in that Countrey The Queen had with her of her own domesticks about fifty Persons among whom was Monsieur Liliecron Gentleman of her Chamber Monsieur Apelgren her Taster four Grooms of the Chamber two maids of Honour the one a Swede the other a Fleming Sigre Retius a Spaniard her Treasurer Monsieur Gillbert a Frenchman her Secretary three Italians Musitians Father Guemes the Dominican who went in a secular habit to serve there the better and more easily the Queen in saying Masse privately six Pages six Groomes and diverse other servants together with thirty souldiers of her Guard three Coaches and foure Waggons of baggage To these was joyn'd Don Anthony della Cuera di Silva a Spanish Gentleman of eminent quality of a very great spirit and most courteous and affable Lieutenant General of the Cavalry of Flanders and Serjeant major General of the battle He waited on the Queen with the title of her Majesties great Master of the Horse accompanied with the Lady his wife Madam de Broy of a very Noble family in Flanders and the chief Maid of Honour to the Queen a Lady of much vertue and noble deportment who carried with them eighteen servants of their own Don Anthony Pimentel follow'd likewise the Queen as extraordinary Embassadour of his Catholick Majesty to her to assist her and serve her in the journey with a train of twenty men for the purpose Diverse other persons afterwards of quality accompanyed her among whom was Don Francis Dessa of Portugal a Gentleman nobly born and of very great valour in recompence of his merits design'd to the command of General of the Artillery of the Kingdom of Naples who had ten persons with him The young Earl of Buquoy formerly Page to the Arch-Duke who went to Rome with the Eearl of Trassigny his camrade both Gentlemen of Flanders Don Romano Montero a Spanish Serjant Major no lesse famous in war with his sword than renowned in peace for his pen. Don Bernardino di Liepa of Sivill a youth of much spirit and great expectation Messieurs de Gans brothers and Monsieur Pos Hollanders Monsieur Levit a Fleming with many other persons of Honour and Civility so as the Queens Court was grown very numerous being about two hundred persons in all who were all at the Queens charge except the retinue of the Embassadour Pimentel who travelled by himself and at his own cost On the 23 of September her Majestie din'd at Louvaine a chief town in Brabant and one of the greatest in the low Countreys being renown'd for the wars past When the University had waited upon her she went that evening to Montaga some five leagues remote where she visited a miraculous Image of our Lady The next day she passing through Bering din'd there and came that night to Becht a village eight leagues distant In the morning betimes she dined in Steinbruch a village three leagues farther The Earle of Isenghien Prince of Mamines a Spanish Gentleman of a very noble family and Most eminent parts Governor of Gelders and the town of Rurmond overtook the Queen here with a regiment of foot a regiment of horse to invite her to this City where her Majesty was received by the souldiers in armes and discharging all the Canon being royally treated and defray'd by the said Prince Here she saw a rare firework and her Majesty din'd publiquely alone waited on at table by the foresaid Prince and the most conspicuous Officers of war As soon as her Majesty arrived in Ruremond the Bishop the supream Senate of of that Province and the chamber of accounts came to wait upon her All the night they made fireworks in the
of it might be kept within the limit of the Churches Dominions and expresse at your entrance the summe of our gladnesse and great charity towards you But because we suppose you as sensible of this joy and content we doubt not but this intimation of our paternal love and earnest good will will likewise be most gratefull to you In the mean time 't is a sweet thing to us to think of the No small or light portion of the pleasure of that day when Rome shall receive you with the glad congratulations of all and you finde the true fountains of wisdom which you formerly have learned not from the doctrine of Christ But in the schoole of Philosophers amongst the foolish things of this world and the interdicted and ignoble and behold at the shrines of the Apostles the monuments of Princes and Kings the Disciples of the Crosse triumphing as it were 'ore the pride and pomp of the World For the rest so well are they descended whom we send to your Majesty and such praises have they purchased besides a noble family that it will be a hard thing for you to determine what you in each of them shall most like Now God whose Word the winds and the tempests obey be with you in your journy and confer on your Majesty the blessings wee most lovingly impart Given at Rome at Saint Maries the greater under the Ring of the Fisher the 24 of October 1655 in the first year of our Papacy Natalis Rondininus Going afterwards into his Holinesses Coach and the Nuntii following her with all the retinue she arrived at Fâ—garolo at half an houre in the night where after a little repose she was visited by the Nuntii whom she met in the midst of the roome and accompanied to the door Figarolo is a Town built scatteringly on the banks of the Po. 'ore against Stellata another place resembling it seated in an angle which is made by the river Panaro in discharging it self into the said Po. Every thing convenient for the lodging of so great a train could not be had in time for computing that the Queen by reason of the ill weather could not arrive there untill the 21 as Holstenius had written things were not observed with that punctuality and necessary sollicitude to which may be added that the river grown tempestuous with the wind suffered not to passe till the twentieth at evening certain Officers and goods designed for the lodging However the things were well ordered for though there were that night in that little place about eight hundred horse of her Majesties train and the souldiers of the Militia and albeit the great rains were a hindrance to every thing the well ordered commands of Don Innocentio Conti facilitated the endeavours of the Ministers subordinate to Baldocchi who had sent them thither from Ferrara he by his assiduous applications in this and that place more deserving still the name of an accurate and diligent Officer On the 22 of November her Majesty dined in Figarolo and afterwards taking coach advanced towards Ferrara which is fifteen miles off all along on the banks of the river Po which there are very strong as a fence against its dangerous inundations A great number of souldiers were distributed in all the wayes for Don Innocentio Conti a Gentleman of great valour and conduct having commanded five thousand foot and a thousand horse had divided them with that order on those banks that he made them seeme more numerous to the wonder of all My Lord Bâ—ssi a nobleman of Viterbo and a Prelate of great parts the Vice-Legate of Ferrara with a very great attendance of Gentlemen of Ferrara a horseback came near Figarolo to complement the Queen informing her the Cardinal Legate would presently be there to wait on her Majesty His Eminence issuing out of the City advanced to Occhiobello distant six miles to meet her with a very good train of Coaches with six horses apiece full of principal Cavaliers of that countrey His Eminence discovering the Queen 25 paces off who was alone in his Holinesses Coach alighted and met her The Queen causing her Coach to be stopt ten paces from the Cardinal did likewise alight and here began the Complement in which still her Majesty gave the title of Eminence Then the Queen went again into her Coach helpt thither by the Cardinal who likewise went into his own and followed her Majesty who had on a mans Hungerlin of plain black velvet with a band and an upper safegard for women of a dark grey colour without which she would have lookt like a man She arriving at the bridge of the black lake three miles distant from Ferrara a place much renowned for the Fort which built some years before by the Pope on the opposite bank was assaulted by the forces of Venice found built a very fine and commodious bridge designed by the admirable architecture of the Marquis Girolamo Ressetti Cavalier of Ferrara of very great spirit and eminent parts It was made of 46 great and thick barques with a floore so broad four coaches could go over it in a breast It reacht fâ—om one side to the other not simply from the brink of the water to the opposite part but from the bank it self on which it stood The construction of the bridge was most rare and the finest peradventure that hath been seen in Europe The Queen would needs go o're it though for her there was prepared a most splendid Bucintoro adorned with the Popes and her Majesties armes and another noble barque somwhat lesse When her Majesty was passed though the bridge was so full of Coaches horses and souldiers that it could hold no more yet it stood alwayes firme and very strong without the least disjoynting At the gate of the City her Majesty was met by the Marquis Francesso Calcagnini the chief Cavalier of the place and a person endued with extraordinary parts He was President of the Councel and afterwards with the Magistrates the Colledge of Doctors and his guard of halbardiers in the usual livery of the City and great strore of servants advanced to complement the Queen who received him with her accustomed affability When his complement was ended he waited on the Queen riding before her with his train among which were 24 Pages nobly born and clothed in plain black velvet designed for the attendance on her Majesty The City spared no cost nor application for Count Julius Caesar Nigrelli Embassadour in Rome for that Town a charge he had exercised with great praise and attention had in order thereunto advertised the Magistrates of his Holinesses minde At the first she was welcomed with six great Cannons with bullets all discharged at the same time and afterwards by the artillery from the walls with an infinite number of mortar-pieces intermingled All the gates streets and breast-works were manned with souldiers with lights in the streets and torches at the Palaces of the Cardinals the
Legate and Bishop the Town-house the Vice-Legates and other particular Cavaliers She came in her Litter to the Pillars before the Cathedral and there did alight His Eminence Cardinal Pio the Bishop adorned with his Amice his Rochet and rich Mitre in the midst of two Canons in their Coaps going before the Crosse the Clergy and Chapter met her and she kneeling on the even ground within the chains on a cushion of cloath of gold laid on a great carpet kissed devoutly the Crosse presented to her by the Cardinal Bishop and then going before the said Crosse the Clergy and Chapter following her and last of all the Cardinal in the midst of the Canons aforesaid her Majesty went under a Canopy of silver and conducted to the gate of the Church by the secular Magistrates at what time they sang the Anthem She is beautifull c. The Cardinal Legate coming out of his coach and making a low reverence to the Queen went into the Sacristy to put off his travelling cloaths and put on his long under-garment his Rotchet c. expecting there the Cardinal Bishop At the entrance into the Church the Cardinal Bishop with the Mitre on his head taking the sprinkling brush from the Dean besprinkled the Queeen and the other there present then made a reverence to the Queen and took off the Mitre while in the mean time the Musitians began to sing the Hymne Te Deum When the first was ended the Bishop put on again his Mitre and going before the crosse in like manner and the Chapter went towards the high Altar on which was exposed the most holy Sacrament Then his Eminence went to the Epistle side and laying aside his Mitre and kneeling at the verse We threfore beseech thee c. stood up again and turning to the Queen as soon as Te Deum was ended recited the verses and prayers Save thy Handmaid c. Lord God by whose providence c. and finally standing in the middle of the Altar gave the solemne benediction and bowing to the Queen went thence into the Sacristy to put off his Ornaments and cloathing himselfe like the Cardinal Legate they came out of the Sacristy together and went both to the Queen who went alone into her coach and the two Cardinals the Nuntii and the Embassadour Pimentel in another who waited on her Majesty to the Castle and to her own lodgings The Church had the frontispiece all resplendent with torches and within was hung richly with tapestries with a kneeling place for the Queen and cushions for the Nuntii who alwayes attended on her Majesty At the gate of the hall of the Castle they found very many noble Ladies of the City most splendidly apparrelled who paid their respects and complemented the Queen who affectionately received them and afterwards retired into her lodgings where she was accompanied by the two Cardinals the Nuntii and all the retinue That night little else was effected but that all the Officers designed to look after the lodgings were not idle being employed in distributing without the least confusion to every one his chamber they whom the Castle could not hold being quartered in Palaces and particular houses in the town That night the Queen supp'd privately and was entertained with most excellent musique Couriers were then dispatched to Rome to informe the Pope of all as they did from time to time in all other places where she staid not onely in obedience to his Holinesses commands who would know what they did but likewise to receive from his Beatitude opportune informations in order to what they should do for a compleat and regal reception Her Majesty staid two dayes in Ferrara where she visited diverse Monasteries of Nuns and the remarkablest things of the City being alwayes accompanied by the two Cardinals in her Coach their Eminences sitting before and the Queen alone behinde The four Nuntii followed after as they alwayes had done in another coach and all the other Gentlemens coaches of the traine continued in a row one after another She desired to see the fortresse so famed and was much pleased with it and here she her self was assistent in discharging some pieces of artillery During these two dayes the City onely feasted and rejoyced every one endeavouring to demonstrate their gladnesse fine maskings being seen and other rare shews for the pleasing of the eys and divertisement of the senses The Queen at her entrance into the Church-dominions sent by Post from Ferrara to Rome Count Raymund Montecuccoli to complement his Holiness in her name and thanks him for all the honours his beatitude had been pleased to do her and particularly for them she had begun to receive in the state Ecclesiastical to whom she consigned affectionate letters for his Holinesse This Cavalier with the usuall vivacity of his noble and eminent parts gave a very good account of his employment and leaving the Pope highly satisfied with his function returned from thence within a few dayes to finde out the Queen in her journey and go back with her to Rome The day after her Majesty being willing to dine in publick a table was prepared with a single covering under the cloth of state but because she would honour the Cardinal Legate and Bishop by taking them to dinner with her two other coverings were brought one at the right hand and the other at the left of the table a little way distant from the upper end where the Queen was to sit each of them being under a little of the Canopy All the three coverings were in gilt baskets the Cardinal Legate sitting on the right hand the Bishop on the left and the Legate saying grace Don Luigi Pio of Savoy Prince of St. Gregory Brother to the Cardinal Bishop gave the water for her Majesties hands and assisted at the table changing the dishes after the manner of Germany Don Innocentio Conti presented her the napkin and the Marquis Hippolitus Bentivoglio was her Cupbearer and Sewer The said Prince of St. Gregory came by post from Rome to Ferrara to wait on the Queen as one who being curious of seeing the world when he had been at the Courts of Spain France Flanders Holland and Denmark passing likewise into Swedland had received there many honours of her Majesty and among other things was accompanied to Danzich by a Swedish man of war and besides had her Majesties picture set with a hundred faire diamonds a favour that generous Princesse was accustomed to shew to Embassadours of Kings and Cavaliers of eminent condition He therefore had waited upon her on the confines of Ferrara and had been received with all courtesie so as having paid her his respects he took his leave of her and returned by post to Rome to serve there her Majesty The said Prince as he is endued with a vivacity of spirit a mind truly splendid and abounding especially with the vertues and qualities which become a Cavalier of great birth so in all
knowledg in the affaires of the world all the prerogatives peculiar to a Gentleman well bred He is of Ferrara of the ancient and noble family of the Counts Rossetti now Marquisses who abounding more in vertue than yeares by the glorious Pope Vrban the eighth the lover of the learned and vertuous was sent as an Apostolicall Minister into the Kingdom of England to that Queen There he did all he could for the advantage and good of the Catholique Religion and ran there great dangers in those persecutions as more plainly may appear by a letter to him of the 13th of July 1643. from his Eminence Cardinall Francis Barberino nephew to Vrban in order to his preferment of the following tenor The troubles of our Countrey and of Christendome will have a short truce that I among so many disgusts may have some time to breath seeing your Eminences great labours rewardâ—d with the Purple God be pleased with the tranquillity of Italy to open to the way that by your continuall paines he may grant the same to all of the Catholique Religion and that by your endeavours your toylings and dangers not unknown to the world it may again flourish in the land of great Brittaine to the end this dâ—gnity deserved so well by you may not be deprived of the happy effects your Eminence hath desired and cooperated on your part for the publique good And I humbly Kiss your hands c. Your Eminences most humble and most affectionate Servant Cardinall Barberino The end of the fourth Booke The History of the sacred and Royal Majestie of Christina Alessandra Queen of Swedland c. The Fifth Book The Argument THE Queen advances from Faenza to Forli Cesena and Rimini accompanied by the foresaid Cardinall Legat of Romagna On the confines of the state of Urbin She is met by that Vice-Legate and Cardinall Legate and enters Pesaro where she is treated and royally entertained She passes from Fano and Ancona She arrives at the holy house of Loretto and consecrates devoutly her Scepter and Crown to that glorious Virgin She goes to Macerata thence to Tolentino and afterwards to Camerino She comes to Foligno goes to Assisi there visits the famous temple of Saint Francis and is splendidly entertained by Cardinall Rondinino then returnes to Foligno THe foresaid Cardinall Rossettti taking leave of the Queen Signior Fulvius Petrocci da Arieti Governour of Forli appeared with a numerous retinue of Gentlemen of Romagna come expresly with excessive rich cloaths and fine liveries to honour their Legate and augment the splendour of this Princesses reception The foresaid Prelate when he had humbly waited on her Majesty being very well satisfied with the courteous correspondence he found in the Queen went before to Forli whence advancing some miles the said Legate with the train not onely of six Coaches of his own full of Gentlemen of his family with which he waited on her in all his Legation but likewise came with 25 more with 6 horses apeice set forth by the Gentlemen of the Province who flockt to attend him in her first reception The gate without and within as likewise the walls though weak in that City were garnished with souldiers partly divided into squadrons and partly ranked in files The Magistrate there called il numero met her at the entrance with a troupe of the City and having presented her with their dutifull respects waited on her to the place very regularly beautified with lights The Ornament of the fire with which was represented the Majesty of so great a Princess by so much the more spread its light with greater splendour by how much the more the night was the darker Hieroglyphicks disposed in various manners were seen there to flame alluding to the joy of the people for her fortunate arrivall The Queen being enterd her lodgings and breathing there a little was invited to honour an Academy with her presence in which severall compositions in Italian and Latine were recited among which took greatly a discourse made by Signior Ridolfus his Eminences Nephew and an Ode of Pindarus by Signior Lodovick Tingoli a Person as conspicuous for his birth as famous for the vertuous and rare qualities of his minde and who is indeed the cheife ornament of Rimini his Countrey with other Compositions of the most esteem'd Poets of the Province Her Majesty supp'd privately and having the next morning heard Mass in the Dome din'd in publique with the said Cardinall Legate with the order observed in other places The foresaid Signior Ridolphus was her Cup-bearer the Governors brother the Sewer twelve principall Gentlemen of the City assisting at the service of the table The Town is seated in an open Countrey very fertile and pleasant inhabited by people of Courage and Spirit who retain the martiall nature of their first founders After dinner her Majesty departed from Forli carrying with her in his Holinesses Coach the Cardinall Legat being attended by all the train She passed the famous Rubicon but with greater glory than Caesar since he advanced thither to seize on the liberty of his Countrey and she after the renouncing of her paternall Kingdome came thither to arrive to the Empire of Christ Her Majesty continued her journey towards Cesena passing through Forlimpopoli a little Town where her Majesty was welcomed by the squadrons of foot being received between the souldiers standing in rowes through all the Countrey as she went In approaching to Cesena she found set in array diverse Batalions of foot was met by Signior Richard Hanniball Romano the Governour accompanied with many Gentlemen a horseback who alighting did complement the Queen and congratulate her arrivall The same thing was done by the cheif Standard-bearer Count Joseph Fantaguzzi with the Magistrate who all rode together before her to her lodging prepared in the palace of Count Lelius Roverelli a noble ancient family and cheif of that City where some Gentlemen in armour tilted one against another in the place Here her Majesty supp't privâ—tely and because it was late went to her repose without other entertainment Cesena is one of the chiefest Cities in Romagna of very great commerce and populous enough in regard of its bigness It lies at the foot of a mountaine the lower part of which is washt by the river Savius It hath a Castle on the hill with some fair and strong old fashion towers built long agoe by the Emperour Frederick the Second On the 2. of December the Queen went out of Cesena on horseback accompanied by the Legate who was likewise mounted on a Neopolitan courser of an Ermine colour which being observed by the Queen for his goodness and she seeming to like him extreamly was presented her by him He had likewise given her in Forli two globes of silver the one representing the earth and the other the sphaere most diligently engraven and supported by two statues of silver done by Algarbi of great value My Lord
Cross and the foresaid Bishop the Vicar she was conducted in the midst of the said Cardinalls before the most holy Sacrament exposed on the high Altar under the great Cupola where her Majesty prayed kneeling on a Cushion of cloth of gold with a carpet and the two Cardinalls on Cushions of crimson Velvet Having ended her Prayers she was carried to the Chappell of the most holy Sacrament and thence by the secret staires she went up being met at the foot of the staires of the royall hall by the two said Cardinalls the first Deacons to wit Orsini and Costaguti and eighâ— Bishops assistents as likewise by the Duke of Poli of the family of Conti Master of the Sacred lodgings and conducted to the consistory in the said royall hall Her Majesty advancing in the said royall hall and entring the consistory after kneeling three times kist the foot and then the hand of the Pope his Holiness receiving her in a very courteous manner Her Majesties words expressed her joy for her conversion to the Catholique Faith as likewise to see her self honoured with such demonstrations of his Holiness The Pope reply'd her conversion was of that great importance that in Heaven they feasted and rejoyced at it and expressed more joy than that she saw on earth after which the function being ended the Pope went to his appartament through the Ducal hall attended by all the Cardinalls the six Deacons excepted which staid to accompany the Queen who entring into the chappell of Sixtus and passing through the old appartament went to her own lodgings The Cardinalls were Medâ—ci Sforza Odescalchi Raggi the Landgrave and Charles Barberini On Friday in the evening the Vigil of our Saviours Nativity her Majesty went privately in her Chaire to see the Collation the Pope uses yearly to give at that time to the Cardinalls and she thought too that night to goe down into the Chappell to observe the functions of the Mattins celebrated by the Pope but being a little ill she forbare going out of her lodgings The following Morning she was publiquely present at the Mass Sung likewise by his Holiness Her Majesties place was without the circuit where his Holiness sits with the Sacred Colledg on the right hand a little way off from the steps of the high Altar within a kind of closet adorned without with crimson velvet with trimming of buttons and sloops of gold and within with cloth of gold with a chaire on a carpet three steps high from the ground The Pope with the Cardinalls and Prelates being come into the Church and ascending his throne behind the high Altar which was covered with a great pavillion of severall tapistries of silk and gold first prayed and then vesting himselfe went to the Altar and there sate down in a Chaire In the mean time the Queen left her place and was brought by the Cardinalls Medici and Sforza with four Bishops their assistents before his Beatitude where she kneeling on a Cushion of cloth of gold received by the hands of his Beatitude the Sacrament of holy confirmation The Cardinall of Medici was her Godfather in the name of the King of Spain and added to the name of Christina that likewise of Alessandra From thence she returned to her place accompanied by the Cardinalls aforesaid and the Bishops the assistents and the Pope began the Mass After the Communion of the Ministers of the Sacrifice the Queen did communicate before the Cardinall Deacons being brought to the feet of his Holiness by the foresaid Cardinalls Medici and Sforza with the four Bishops their assistents who carried her back After dinner her Majesty went in her Chaire to the Church St. Mary the greater attended by the guards of the Switzers the curiassiers and launciers of his Holiness with a numerous train of Princes Cavaliers and other Gentlemen among whom Don Anthonio della Cueva as her Majesties cheif Gentleman of her horse waited on her a foot near the Chair She was received at the door by Cardinall Bragadino in the place of Cardinall Anthony Barberino the Arch-Priest of the said Church where when she had adored the most holy Sacrament she was conducted to the Chappell of Sixtus Quintus to see the holy Cradle of the redeemer of the world which was with much devotion observed and honoured by her Majesty Thence after she had seen the other splendid Chappell of Paulus Quintus the Altar of which was richly adorned she returned to the Vatican The following Sunday she dined with his Holiness and the order there observed was as followes Two tables stood the one from the other about two hands breadth that for the Pope being four fingers higher than the Queens The Pope sate in the midst in a Chaire of red velvet with a great footstoole half a span high The Queen had a royall seate made on purpose on the right side under the cloth of state on the even floore on a Carpet Don Antonio della Cueva presented her Majesty the Napkin the Marquiss Hippolitus Bentivogli was her Cup-bearer and Count Francis Maria Santinelli her taster The dinner was sutable to the greatness of so great a Prince towards a Princess so great Father Oliva a Jesuit made a Sermon peculiar to his spirit and parts Her Majesty with her usuall erudition having observed that the Father could have brought in a certain place a passage of St Paul motioned it to his Holiness who was extreamly edified with the readiness and learned vivacity of so great a woman and the Father was likewise astonished when he heard it who highly commended this vertuous Queens wonderfull understanding After dinner her Majesty was diverted with a play represented in most excellent Musique and being the day following entertained a great while by the Pope she took her leave of him returning in the evening from the Vatican to her own habitation in the Palace Farnese and being highly satisfied and astonisht at the royall and well ordered entertainment she had there where she was well attended by the very good conduct of the officers with the direction of Signior Horatius Magalotti a Cavalier of Florence and Cosen to the deceased Cardinall Magalotti Bishop of Ferrara Brother to Donna Costanza Barberina Sister in Law to Pope Vrbane the eighth He had in this occasion the superintendency of all the said house by the orders of my Lord Farnese his Holinesses Steward under whom was the Abbot Alexander Magalotti Sonne to the said Signior Horatâ—o appointed to attend Don Antonio Pimentel the Spanish Ambassadour Captain John Baptist Massi who waited on Don Antonio della Cueva and Signior Giovanni Battista Minetti who attended Count Montecuccoli with many other Gentlemen deputed to the service of the other Cavaliers of her Majesties train At her arrivall there she was pleased to look on the front of the said Palace which abounded with torches was adorned and gilt with the Armes of her Majesty in the midst those of the Kingdome of Swedland
well within as without the Kingdom hath sufficiently made known the vivacity of his Spirit the readiness of his wit and constant fidelity He is of a most affable behaviour a vigorous judgement great foresight and rare capacity in every affair His wit is refined with experience his mind very sprightly and his thoughts aime only at glory and an excellent report He is full of solidity in his discourses of wariness and dexterity in affairs and sincerity and sweetness in his carriage being especially a friend unto vertue with which he deservedly attracts to himself the encomiums and praises of every one that know him Besides the said Comedy he presented her Majesty with a stately collation of most excellent sweet-meats and in extraordinary abundance and gave her a fine Ball danc'd after the French fashion by some nimble and agile Savoyards with which the Queen was very highly satisfied On the first day of Lent her Majesty went to the house of the Prince of St. Gregory to behold the sollemne Cavalcata with which the Pope accompanyed by the sacred Colledge and the rest of the Court went from the Vatican to Aventino to visit there St. Sabina the Church of the Dominicans This Convent is famous for severall memorialls of the residence there of the glorious St. Dominick After dinner she went likewise to that station where the Father Generall received and attended her as likewise the chief Fathers of that order which met there that day On the second of March her Majesty went to the Church of Madonna della Scala the discalceate Carinelites an order she loved well At the Gate of the Church the was received by Father Joachim di Giesu Maria the Generall accompanyed by the most eminent Friars of that order While she prayed before the most holy Sacrament a very fine Motetto was sung Thence passing into the Convent she went into the Oratory which she found richly hung and adorned with Pictures Mottos and Emblems Here she heard Mass at which the devotion of her mind was augmented with exquisite Musick She then honoured a pretious relique of a foot of St. Teresia the foundress of that order and heard a Latin oration recited by one of those Fathers The day after which was the first Friday in March she visited St. Peters as she did all the Fridayes of the moneth aforesaid for the gaining the treasures of that famous indulgence She was pleased afterwards to visit the Colledge of the English where the good and generous zeale of Pope Gregory the thirteenth erected under the instruction of the Jesuits a place of refuge for the English youth who retaining the true seeds of the Catholick Religion should recurre to this City the common Country of all to be the better setled in their Faith with the Sciences and Piety they learn there This Colledge had desired ever since her arrivall in Rome to testifie to her their dutifull respects and Father Edward Courtney the Rector employed soone his parts in composing a book in which are contained the Elogies of above fifty Saint the Queens or daughters of the Kings of England he adding to each Elogie some verses very handsomly applyed to this Princesses rare qualities She came thither accompanyed by divers Princes and Cavaliers and particularly by my Lord Torreggâ—ani who had invited thither her Majesty she going into the Church dedicated to the glorious English Martyr St. Thomas Arch-Bishop of Canterbury found it finely adorned and abounding with the Pictures of Saints the Kings of England lent them by my Lord Somerset Chamberlain of Honour to the Pope and a Gentleman nobly borne who was likewise there Her Majesties prayers were accompanyed with most admirable musick and a harmony of Viols in which the English excell She sitting down afterwards under a state had recited to her a short Latin oration with some verses by two of those young Scholars they presenting to her the said book of printed Elogies which her Majesty most courteously accepted On the day of St. Thomas of Aquin the solemne Feast of the order of St. Dominick her Majesty went to the Church of Minerva of the Fathers aforesaid one of the chiefest of Rome as well for the service of the Church as the sacred Congregation of the Cardinalls held in that Convent every Wednesday in the morning of the holy office of the greatest importance in Rome The rooms where they hold the said Congregation were seen by the Queen as likewise all the Convent her Majesty remaining highly pleased with the magnificence both of the one and the other She was received and attended by the Father Generall and Father Raymund Capisucchi Master of the Sacred Palace and one of the examiners of the Bishops a Prelate of much vertue and rare parts which are the more remarkable by the ancient Family of the Capisucchi which as appears by authentick writings and is gathered from the very same arms is a branch sprowted out of the most noble stock of the Counts of Tunn in Germany the head of which now is the Prince Arch-Bishop of Saltzbourgh a Gentleman of most eminent qualities Her Majesty had likewise some thoughts of seeing the curious study of the Knight of St. Stephen Sir Francis Gualdo of Rimini a Gentleman well deserving of the learnedest of the ancients which he gave to his most Christian Majesty but the ill weather and the greater affairs of this Princess have not yet permitted her to behold it I therefore forbear to speak of the said study till a fitter opportunity be presented me The Queen then continuing her vertuous entertainments at the beginning of Lent introduced the spirituall exercise of a devout oratory in her Palace every Wednesday which was ordered by the Prince of Gallicano They began the second Wednesday in March and the history of Daniell was recited in musick a composition well becoming the said Prince In the second Oratory Father Rho the famous Preacher made a Sermon in the third Father Spinola in the fourth Father Nicholas Zucchi all Jesuits in the fifth Father Spinelli a Celestine and in the sixth Father Don Carlo di Palma a Theatine all Persons of great learning and worth But behold us at the end of these our relations The sincerity of my Penne which cannot deliver truly to Posterity the glorious name of Christina great without the true Characters of a perpetuall Panegirique concludes that as 't is doubtless this great Princess deserves for a thousand respects the greatest obsequiousness and complyance in order to her eminent qualities and parts so 't is to be hoped the fortunate Climate of Rome the Epilogue of Celestiall and humane felicities will deserve the good fortune to enjoy and serve her long 'T is certain as this Queen with the incomparable endowments of her mind and the franke resolutions of her heart like the Sun among the Starrs may justly pretend to be singular in the World so Rome the sacred the great and majestick Phoenix among the Metropolitan Cities