Note 38 — I DESCENT AND PARENTAGE; CHILDHOOD AND GIRLHOOD (LEYDEN, THE HAGUE, AND RHEENEN, 1630-1650)

‘Tom Killigrew is here, who makes a rare relation of the Queen of Sweden.’ (Elizabeth to Sir Edward Nicholas, in Evelyn’s Diary and Correspondence, Vol. iv. p. 216.) Not long afterwards, in January, 1655, moved perhaps by the remembrance of the sport made by him of Christina, she makes a humble suit on his behalf to her royal nephew. As late as 1705 Sophia (then Electress Dowager) is found speaking with scant respect of this ancient and faithful, but somewhat volatile, Cornish family, the remembrance of whom still survives at Falmouth. ‘Tom Killigrew’s’ son Robert was anxious to commend himself to the favour of the Electress; but she left it to her ‘posterity’ to attend to his claims. (Briefe an Hannoverische Diplomaten, p. 195.)