he went by land to Stockholm.  Queen Christina was then at Upsal:  but, as soon as she heard of Grotius’s arrival in her capital, she came back to see so great a man:  a desire to be acquainted with such as distinguished themselves in the republic of letters is well known to have been one of her favourite passions.  On the morrow of his arrival[431], she gave him a long audience, with which he appears, by a letter written to his brother July 15, 1645, to be well satisfied.  “I am now at Stockholm, says he, and have seen the Queen.  She makes me great promises.  I do not know yet what she will do with me.  The Senators seem well satisfied with all that I have done.”

Christina gave him several audiences; made him dine with her; and he appeared to be abundantly pleased with the honours he received:  but as he saw they were in no haste to do any thing for him, and only rewarded him with compliments, he grew uneasy, and asked permission to retire.  He was confirmed in this resolution by finding the Court filled with persons who had conceived a jealousy against him; besides, the air of Sweden did not agree with him.  The Queen several times refused to grant him his dismission, and signified to him that if he would continue in her service in quality of Counsellor of State, and bring his family into Sweden, he should have no reason to repent it:  but he excused himself on account of his own health, which was much altered, and of his wife’s health, who could not bear the cold air of that kingdom.  He asked a passport, which they delayed granting.  In the mean time he grew so uneasy at Stockholm, that he resolved to be gone without a passport.  Leaving that city therefore, he went to a seaport two leagues distant, in order to embark for Lubeck.  The Queen being informed of his departure, sent a Gentleman to inform him that she wanted to see him once more; otherwise she should think that he was displeased with her:  he returned therefore to Stockholm, and explained himself to the Queen, who seemed satisfied with his reasons, and made him a present in money amounting to twelve or thirteen thousand Imperials[432], about ten thousand French Crowns, adding to it some silver plate, that was not finished sooner:  which, he was assured, delayed the granting of his passport.  It was afterwards issued, and the Queen gave him a vessel, on board which he embarked the 12th of August for Lubeck.

The Menagiana contains an anecdote relating to the last audience that Grotius had of Queen Christina, which we shall relate rather to throw contempt on this kind of works, than to give weight to it.  When Grotius, it tells us, had his audience of leave of Queen Christina, she said some sharp things to him; on which he immediately left her, saying only, Madam, I remain your most humble servant.  The Queen was afterwards vexed at it, and could not help observing, that he ought not to have gone away without taking leave of her.  Marigny said to her, Madam, he did take leave of you.  You do not know what you say, replied the Queen; if he had, I should have known it.  Madam, added Marigny, what I say is true; I was there; when they say in France, on going away, I remain your most humble servant, it is taking leave of a person.  The Queen sustained this; and sending for Grotius, made him a present of copper to the amount of forty thousand livres.