Folio 23. Set of 13 documents of various dates, headed Draughts of severall letters...

Folio 23. Set of 13 documents of various dates, headed Draughts of severall letters relating to my own affaires [Copyist's hand]. 1. Aug 4/14 [Whitehall]. Vernon to Stepney. [Matthew] Prior, who embarked to Holland 'this evening', will perhaps inform him that his, Stepney's, future has been discussed. He may be 'fixed' in some of the northern courts, then he, Prior, may be 'disposed of' to Ratisbon whither Stepney was 'designed'. Asks for Stepney's thoughts. He, Vernon, will do what he can to promote Stepney's career. Meanwhile he was to keep silent about it. (Extract) 2. Sept 9 N.S. [Vienna]. Stepney to Vernon. Reply to the foregoing, 'before I knew anything of Sir Will: Colt's death or that the King would be pleas'd to appoint me for this employment in Saxony'. Would like to stay at Vienna where he has gained the confidence of the Emperor and his ministers and 'where a young man may most improve himself in the business of all Europe & may have not a little ambition of being an underpuller if an happy conjuncture should draw on a negotiation of peace with the Turks'. Reveals that it was 'Res angusta domi what forced me 7 yeqrs ago to throw myself into the world with a pen at my ear'. Would be content with any posting abroad or even some 'moderate post at home' to be near his friends, having 'no estate to do credit to a foraine employment'. However, should he have to leave Vienna, he would prefer Berlin, where he is no stranger, or Hamburg, or either of the northern crowns, but would not like a transfer to Ratisbon 'where at present there is nothing but the disputes and ceremonyes of Drs and yound ministers'. 3. Sept 4/14 [St Quintin's, Linnick]. Blathwayt to Stepney. 'The King does not give you the title of envoy ex[traordinar]y because you are to return to Vienna which you know is not intended for your residing place but you may be assured that if his Ma[je]sty should think fit to have you with the elector, or to employ you at any other court, you will not faile of ye character & the allowances of envoy'. (Extract: postcript only. See also List SP 105, f.142. 4. Sept 16/26 [Vienna]. Stepney to Vernon. Has received his orders to repair 'in all hast' to the elector of Saxony 'to finish what Sir W Colt's death left unfinished there'. Expresses surprise and gratitude about the confidence placed in him. (Extract) 5. Sept 27/Oct 7 [?Leipzig]. Stepney to Vernon. As yet without credentials. Does not know under what 'appellation' he is to 'pass here'. Takes 'ministre' as a general term rather than 'secretary or agent'. (Extract) 6. Oct 2 N.S., Loo. Blathwayt to Stepney. Charting Stepney's future in the diplomatic service for the next few years. Thinks it might be better for him 'for some time longer in the knowledge of the severall points and affairs of the empire than to be confined by a character to something that may be of less credit or duration'. Warns him that he cannot tell what will be his fate next and is not likely 'in the way to guide it'. (Extract) 7. Oct 4/14, Leipzig. Stepney to Blathwayt. See f. 14, ante. 8. Oct 4/14, Leipzig. Stepney to Vernon. Covering transmission of extracts of his recent correspondence with Blathwayt (see 6 and 7) and asking him to lay them before Montague. (Extract) 9. Sept 12/22 [Whitehall]. Vernon to Stepney Congratulates him on his new assignment and encloses a letter from Montague [to himself]. Understands that both Montague and Godolphin think he ought to succeed to all Colt had, but cannot see how that was practicable at present, since the King will not well want a minister to be immediately with the princes of [Brunswick-]Lüneburg and his, Stepney's, business will, he fears, take up some time to bring him to 'perfection', but he could not leave Vienna before the arrival of a successor there. He ought, however, to have the allowance Colt had and all his well-wishers are agreed upon that. Believes that with their help it is feasible. Thus, he should not hesitate to put it forward and propose it, among others to the secretary [Trenchard], particularly since the King will now be returning. (Extract) 10. Oct 4/14, Leipzig. Stepney to Blathwayt. Has made himself known to the grand-marshal, Gersdorff, and to [the great chamberlain] Knoch, as well as he could, for being, as yet, without credentials, he acted as a 'private person'. Was received by Gersdorff at a visit 'sans consequence' on either side. The minister marched him up and down 'an ugly long gallery' for about half an hour 'without ever entring upon the present state of affaires or the errant I came about'. (Extract) 11. Oct 7/17, Leipzig. Stepney to Blathwayt. See f. 15 Extract. Chiefly Pl. 12. N.d. [Oct 7/17, Leipzig]. Stepney to Vernon. Thanks him for letter of Sept 12/22 (see 9), encloses copy of his dispatch to Blathwayt (see 11). Will apply for an increase of his allowances, if only to 'prove to the Saxons that a commissary is not a scoundrill'. Extract. Pl. 13. Sept 19.29 [Whitehall]. Vernon to Stepney. Replies to his letter of Sept 9/19 (see 2). Dissuades him from considering return to home service and reminds him that he has not been abroad all that long to qualify as a principal. He is to 'establish a reputation which being confirmed you may expect something considerable hereafter' (Extract)