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334
Count de la Gardie, the
new favourite. HISTORY OF THE SWEDES. XJve queen’s displeasure with
the Oxenstiernas. [1644—
influence soon eclipsed that of the chancellor.
One of the first misunderstandings between the old
minister and the young queen, is said to have
arisen on occasion of lier design to call count
Magnus into the council, shortly after the begin-
ning of his term of favour •. It appears to have
been in order to overcome his resistance, that she
first nominated him in 1646 to tlie brilliant em-
bassy to France *, which cost 100,000 rix-dollars of
the subsidies^. De la Gardie, himself through
his grandfather of French extraction*, communi-
cated his own inclination for the interest of France
to the queen, and thereby at last occasioned the
open disgrace of the chancellor. He was accused
both of delaying the peace, and of cherishing
dispositions hostile to the policy of France ^. On
the 10th April, 1647, the queen writes to her
ministers at the pacificatory congress : "Sirs !
these few words I add to my public letter only
that I may disclose to you under my own hand,
how I fear, lest this so much desired treaty, which
has hitherto yielded such good hope of a happy
issue, may be stopped through some causes not
completely clear to me. Now, in order that you
may be fully assured of my will, ye may be con-
vinced that I, before all things, aim at a secure
and honourable peace. And because the satis-
faction of the crown is already fully adjusted, and
nothing more remains than the contentment of the
soldiery and the grievances of the state, it is my
will that ye keep matters going with good manage-
ment, until Erskeine ^ can come to you and make
known his commission; and then that ye bring the
work to its desired end, settling the condition of
the states, the satisfaction of the crown, and the
contentment of the soldiers, as well as may be
done without rupture of the peace, and dally no
longer with it, as hath heretofore been done. If it
fall out otherwise, ye may look how ye will have
’
Compare the above-mentioned ministerial report, which,
however, is erroneous in several points as regards the order
of events.
2 " Here we are all busy with the legation of Count
Magnus. Duke Adolphus goes with him. William Taube
is court- marshal. Two of her majesty’s chamberlains, and
sixteen noblemen selected by the queen herself, accompany
him, with thirty noblemen as volunteers, eight guards in the
livery of her majesty, four of her pages, six lackeys in the
queen’s liveries of gold and black, four of the queen’s trum-
peters. Three ships of war convey the embassy from Stock-
holm." Lawrence von der Linde to Wrangel. Stockholm,
June 13, 1646. C. G. Wrangel’s Correspondence at Sko-
Cloister.
3 "
Touching the 100,000 rix-dollars which count Magnus
has borrowed in Paris, it has not been without my will and
express command ;
I therefore request that you will not
permit his foes (as far as rests with you) to slander him with
impunity, since he is entirely innocent." Christina to Sal-
vius in Osnaburg, Feb. 13, 1647. Arckenholtz, i. 93.
" Since the sum will fall somewhat heavy, some appear to
grumble, as if it were sufficient to arrest and binder the pro-
gress which field-marshal Wrangel might have hoped to
make, if he had had this money. What such sayings may
breed to my prejudice, you may easily judge. Therefore
have I, although reluctantly, thought this time to put your
truth and affection to the safest and most infallible proof;
and that I may not detain you long with many words, I am
constrained to say to you that my request consists in this,
that you will have this matter commended to you in time,
and so arrange that the army shall hereby suffer no injury ;
but that you will take up so much money on your own credit,
that this sum may be supplied for the requirement of the
to answer it before God, the estates of the realm,
and me ;
from this mark be ye not turned aside by
any phantasies of ambitious men, as ye would
clearly wish to avoid my highest displeasure, and if
ye take not joy to stand toanswer pale and red before
me ;
for then may ye be certain, that no authority
nor family interest shall hinder me from showing
the world the dislike which I bear to irrational
proceedings." The letter was intended properly
for count John Oxenstierna, son of the chancellor ;
hence the queen wrote at the same time to his
associate Salvius :
" I will not omit to recompense
with all favour your loyalty and industry, and with
the other party I will so take order as to show
the whole world, that R. C. (the high-chancellor)
shall not have power alone to move the world with
a finger. Sapienti sat. My letter to you both
herewith transmitted, you may deliver to G. J. O.
(count John Oxenstierna); and although therein I
address you both harshly, yet he alone is meant by it.
Arrange it so that d’Avaux ’
may know its contents,
that the French may not conceive a wrongful
opinion of me, but may see whose is the blame.
Ye may be well assured, that I will hold you
scatheless ;
and if God once send you home with
peace, your services shall be requited with the
senatorial dignity. The interest of count Magnus
I recommend to you as mine own *. I pray you
will let me know how G. J. O. (count John Oxen-
stierna), on reading my letter, demeans himself
towards you both ^."
The haughty John Oxenstierna replied, that he
was ready to render an account of his conduct,
when the queen pleased; that on account of per-
sonal motives and concerns he had already long
wished to be released from continuing the negotia-
tions 1
;
that he knew well, so insignificant a person
might be dispensed with; but he who had put it
into her majesty’s muid to write such a letter
army." Christina to Salvius. Ibid. According to a manu-
script note of the late Dr Fant, Christina, at the death of
Salvius, owed him 146,000 rix-dollars; and afterwards bor-
rowed 50,000 rix-dollars from his widow, which were never
paid.
• " His grandfather was a Frenchman. He was well
made, had a lofty mien, and resembled a favourite. He
spoke of his queen in terms passionate, and so respectful,
that it was easy to suspect him of some tenderness greater
than that he owed her in his quality of subject. However
this might be, he appeared a man worthy enough of his
fortune, but more fitted to please than to govern." Mem. de
Mad. Motteville. Arckenholtz, i. 89.
’ Chanut says :
" It had been to be wished, for the success
of the affairs of France, that the chancellor had quitted for
the other world" Arckenholtz,!. 117.
6 Councillor of war and assistance ; afterwards, also,
minister in the negotiations for peace.
^ Count d’Avaux, together with Servien, French minister
in the negotiations for peace, but still more at variance with
his colleague than Oxenstierna was with Salvius. In con-
sequence of this disagreement of the French envoys, the
duke of Longueville was sent as third French minister to the
congress.
8 The queen wished at this time to procure for him Ben-
feld, in Alsatia, or some other principality.
" If you could
advise me how I might benefit him (count Magnus) with
Benfeld or some other similar fief, it would be dear to my
heart," the queen says, in the same letter to Salvius.
9
Arckenholtz, i. 110.
’
This was true. He had lost in 1G47 his first wife, Anne
Margaret Sture; and after her decease required to come to
Sweden for the division of her heritage.
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