Folio 151. To Trenchard. Has returned with Ham from Leipzig and they have, on the...

Folio 151. To Trenchard. Has returned with Ham from Leipzig and they have, on the basis of what they have been able to ascertain, discussed three trends in electoral policy which are likely to surface in the near future. The first concerns Schöning's future. In this connection, he describes the shady dealings of Holtzbrinck, the elector's personal special agent, who, though he has as yet not very far progressed, was to be reckoned with on account of his close relationship with the elector despite of being 'a person of an obscure and mean figure' and, in fact, a Brandenburg subject, working outside the electoral chancery, and disavowed by the other Saxon diplomats, is accredited to the imperial court. His business is bribery: he is equipped with 100,000 rixdollars, and one imperial minister, 'who is poor and lives high' is suspected of having succumbed to temptations [Cipher '1433' (?Königsegg)], whilst others 'are not capable of being corrupted'. According to Ham, to use a Brandenburg subject on behalf of Schöning would be 'diametrically opposite' to the elector of Brandenburg's resolution not to concern himself in Schöning's interest. - The second 'point' likely to emerge is the elector's project, already 'positively agreed to' by the political estates [in the regional diet assembled] of a new levy of five regiments, obviously to increase subsidies from the allied powers. Both Ham and Stepney have agreed to cut short the delay this new proposition was bound to entail for the business in hand, namely the Grand alliance, and 'take little notice of such an overture'. - The third 'point' is that the elector 'would willingly draw the Emperor to befriend him in his pretensions to Saxe-Lawemburgh' and would engage the King and the States to assist by their good offices. 'To which the Emperor answers: The law lyes open'. Ham and Stepney shall decline to be concerned in this business 'which does not concern us & which can naturally have no place in the treaty'. - Notifies him of his counsultation with Stratford about payment of the outstanding 50,000 rixdollars subsidies due at this time.