Excerpt of King Kristina of Sweden's letter to Chancellor Axel Oxenstierna, dated June 24, 1645

Sources:

https://sok.riksarkivet.se/oxenstierna?ValdSortering=DatumStigande&PageSize=100&infosida=drottning-kristina&Efternamn=Kristina&Titel=Drottning&hide_clear=true&page=22&postid=ao_4016&tab=post#tab

Christina, queen of Sweden (1890), by Francis William Bain

https://archive.org/details/christinaqueenof00bain/page/52

Above: King Kristina of Sweden, painted by David Beck.

Above: Chancellor Axel Oxenstierna, painted by David Beck.

The letter excerpt:

Hogtärade Her Rixcantzeler

... jagh dageligen finner så stora dificulteter i fortsettiande aff kriget, så att det vil falla svårt medh så ringa medel ett så stort vessen att conducera, hvilket icke uthan hazard att taga dee conditiones som nhu biudas icke skal affgå. Derhos medh moste och besinnas huru svårt det vil falla att suportera den calumnien som oss påkomma varder både hos de svenske sielve så vel som hos fremmande, hvilke alle der freden ginge sär skulle imputera skulden til alles vår outsleckliga ambition, den der sig på sielve orettvissan funderade och ingen annan finem hade ähn en begirlighet att dominera. Och så som jagh icke heller migh ret forsäkrat om hollendernes cooperation, altså fruchtar iagh att der desse förreslagne conditiones icke bleve accepterade skulle the sökia att bliva arbitri beleli ac pacis så att deres jalousie kanske nogot oförmodeliget hos dem causera kunde, oansett jagh förtiger hvad aff pollacken pra[c]ticeras kan. Sedan det siste och förnemste ähr att contentera sin egen consientie så att man må kunna för gudh och alle verden betyga att man sigh til alle skelige fredtzmedel accomoderat haver.

English translation (from source 2):

Honoured Sir Chancellor,

... I see further so many difficulties in carrying on the war, that I fear we shall have much trouble in attempting so great a task with means so small: and that it would be leaving too much to chance to refuse the conditions offered. We must recollect that, in case peace should be broken off, every one at home or abroad will lay it to the charge of our unmeasured ambition, based on injustice, and with the sole object of empire. And as I don't rely too much on the co-operation of the Dutch, I fear lest, if the proposed conditions are not accepted, they may try to become arbitrators, so that their jealousy may cause them to attempt something untoward; not to mention what the Poles might do. In short, we must make it plain before God and all the world that we applied ourselves to all reasonable means for obtaining peace.