Folio 74v. Stepney to Nottingham. Thinks he has succeeded in disappointing the expectations...

Folio 74v. Stepney to Nottingham. Thinks he has succeeded in disappointing the expectations of the imperial vice-chancellor and the Spanish ambassador of obtaining a 'supply' from England either for Germany, or for Savoy whose ambassador at Vienna [Ercole marchese Turinetti di Priè] had made mysterious allusions to a plan of raising men in Switzerland. He also was able to disillusion Strattman whose son [count Henry John Francis Strattman, imperial envoy to England] had sent his father a garbled and, at any rate, outdated version of an audience with the King in which the latter was said to have promised 100,000 crowns for Germany, payable next June. He has, however, not mentioned as yet 'what may be reserved' for Savoy, 'because I find this court but too apt to flatter themselves and hopes are like what they say of evill spirits, very difficult to be lay'd again'.- Baron [William Francis John Bertram] Nesselrode, envoy of the bishop of Liège [John X Ludovic van Elderen] who has for the last five months been trying to solicit 'a small matter' of 100,000 florins in favour of his principal, is likely to be sent away empty-handed, despite promises made him by the imperial ministers. He fears the garrison of Liège may desert and the magistrates and populace, 'ever inclined to mutiny', are much irritated with their bishop 'for quitting the neutrality' and may 'out of despair cast themselves into the arms of France when they are convinced the Emperor has absolutely abandoned them'.- Friesen returns 'to-morrow' to Dresden with the patent for Mlle Neidschütz, creating her countess von Rochlitz. Strattmann and Königsegg have each received a present of 4,000 crowns 'for dispatching the business', besides 2,000 which are the ordinary fees in the chancery. It is thought the elector of Saxony has borrowed general Chauvet of Celle as field-marshal over his troops for this summer which he himself intends to spend mostly at Frankfurt 'where preparations are making for his mistress to lye in'. Encloses [copy of] memorial by the Spanish ambassador about the papal nuncio's tendency to work towards a separate peace for Italy.

Date and Place: 1693 Mar 1/11 Vienna