Folio 103. From Blathwayt. The King and the States General, having now 'engaged'...

Folio 103. From Blathwayt. The King and the States General, having now 'engaged' the Elector of Saxony [John George IV] to march this year with 12,000 men against the French, they wish to bring him as soon as possible, 'and before his good humour passes', into the Grand Alliance. Since in this 'the Emperor is the principall and the King only an accessory', the King thinks it 'absolutely necessary' that Vienna should make the first approaches to Saxony, without the King expressing such a forwardness as may entail any extraordinary charges for him and the States, 'or make the Emperor and his ministers who are not apt to neglect such advantages, appear more indifferent in the business'. All parties are obliged to furnish the Elector with 400,000 Rixdollars for the present service of his troops. Of this, 150,000 Rixdollars is the quota of England and the States. The Elector is ready to join the alliance without any other condition than that he may be enabled to maintain that number of troops in the common cause. Sir William Colt and other diplomats at Dresden think that the Elector will take less 'in continuance' than 400,000 Rixdollars and that 300,000 may suffice, in which case the English-Dutch quota may well be reduced to 100,000 Rixdollars. Stepney has no orders to be active in the matter, but should know what to reply when asked by the Vienna ministers about the King's 'disposition and intentions herein'. He reminds Stepney that the success of this important negotiation, 'so farr as the scene of it may be laid at Vienna', depends very much on his 'conduct and skilfull management'. He, Blathwayt, is instructing Colt how to proceed at Desden where the proposition will be made and pursued by count 'Claris' [i.e. Clary and Aldringen], the imperial minister there.

Date and Place: 1693 Apr 11/21 Loo