Folio 183. To Bruynincx. Sends dispatch under a cover addressed to 'Mr Tronchin'...

Folio 183. To Bruynincx. Sends dispatch under a cover addressed to 'Mr Tronchin' as he wishes to reduce the chance of interception to a minimum. The elector expressed his suspicion that Stepney and Ham had been trying to thwart his efforts to secure Schöning's release, which Ham vigorously denied. The elector declared that he will not enter the alliance until his field-marshal is freed. He implied to Ham that his suspicions were of Stepney rather than him. However, he, Stepney, believes, that the elector has now modified this opinion, and, affirming that he has strictly obeyed his orders not to have anything to do with the affair, nevertheless hopes none of his previous letters have fallen into the hands of Holtzbrinck. A rumour circulated that one of Stepney's letters had been intercepted at Vienna, a copy of it sent to the elector, and that in this letter Stepney had implied that the elector was no longer concerned about Schöning. He does not believe he wrote this, but if by any chance he did, he is confident that Bruynincx would not have shown such a communication to [Holtzbrinck]; the latter might, however, have stolen it. Requests Bruynincx to destroy any letter on this subject which might cause embarrassment and asks to have his reply addressed in a woman's hand to a Mr Falaiseau.

Date and Place: 1694 Feb 2 O.S. Dresden