Kristina's letter to "the Treasurer of the Tribunal", dated July 24, 1687

Source:

Relation veritable du succez de la demission que la reine de Suede fit de son quartier à Rome le 30 Avril 1687, page 8, published by Jacques le Sincère, 1687

https://books.google.com/books?id=YM5-uS5muB8C&newbks=1&newbks_redir=0&dq=reyne+de+suede+lettre&source=gbs_navlinks_s

Mémoires concernant Christine, volume 2, page 256, Johan Arckenholtz, 1751

https://books.google.com/books?id=Fef0dKNmyggC&dq=reine%20christine%20de%20suède%20ferrario%20savant%20d%27italie%201653%20lettre&source=gbs_book_other_versions

The History of Christina: Queen of Sweden, page 274, Jacques Lacombe, 1766

https://books.google.com/books?id=A5cCAAAAYAAJ&source=gbs_navlinks_s

"Christina had just met with an affront that highly offended her: the Sbirri, or officers of justice, entered her palace, and seized an unhappy victim who had fled there for refuge. Enraged at this violation, the queen broke out into these words: 'The Pope treats me with too much indignity! Can I think he will dissemble my resentment of this outrage? No, I am resolved to demonstrate how much those persons are deceived, who think I will submit to such treatment.'

"She instantly gave orders to one of her officers, made a shew of arming her attendants, threatened the Sbirri, and obliged them to bring the prisoner back to the spot from whence they had taken him. The tribunal of the treasury formed a process of this affair by the pope's order, and published a monitory against the queen's officer. Christina, not in the least terrified with a prosecution, wrote this resolute billet to the treasurer."

The letter:

Il vituperar voi & il vostro Padrone si chiama Oggidi si far giustizia nel vostro Tribunale. Jo vi compatisco astai, mà molto più vi compatirò quando sarete Cardinale. In tanto vi dò parola che quelli che voi havete condannati a morte, camperanno, se piace à Dio un pezzo, e se pure haveranno da morire d'altra morte que della naturale non moriranno soli. Da Palazzo 24 Luglio 1687.

Arckenholtz's transcript of the letter (he corrected Kristina's spelling):

Il vituperar voi ed il vostro Padrone si chiama oggidi far' giustizia nel vostro Tribunale. Jo vi compatisco assài, ma molto più vi compatirò quando sarete Cardinale. In tanto vi dò parola, che quelli, che voi havete condannati a morte, camperanno, se piace a Dio, un pezzo, e se pure haveranno da morire d'altra morte, che della naturale, non moriranno soli. Da Palazzo 24. Luglio 1687.

French translation (by Arckenholtz):

Vous deshonorer vous & votre Maître, cela s'appelle aujourd'hui faire justice dans votre Tribunal. Vous me faites assez de pitié, mais vous m'en ferez encore davantage, quand vous serez Cardinal. Cependant je vous donne ma parole, que ceux que vous avez condamnés à mort, vivront, s'il plait à Dieu, encore quelque tems: & que si par hazard ils venoient à mourir d'une autre mort que de la naturelle, ils ne mourront pas seuls. Du Palais ce 24. Juillet 1687.

English translation (from source 2):

The summons sent this day to my officer, requiring him to appear before your tribunal of justice, as you call it, reflects dishonour on your master, as well as yourself: I cannot help beholding you with an eye of compassion, in your present capacity, but shall do it still more if you live to be a cardinal; yet, for your consolation, I give you my word that the person you have condemned to death shall live, if heaven permits, some time longer; and that should he chance to end his days by a violent, instead of a natural death, he shall not fall unaccompanied.

Above: Kristina.