VIIL. Marlborough au Grand-Pensionnaire

Helchin, Jully 19% (() 1706.

Î have promis’d faithfully that what I am now to comunicat to you shall be a oreat secritt. À Gentleman that is very much trusted by the Elector of Bavaria has been iwice with me, from the ŒElector to give me assurances of the desire he has to quit the intirest of France, and

() Quant aux vues que Maximilien-Emmanuel avait eues bien avant la guerre, sur la Souveraineté des Pays-Bas, v. les Mémoires de Torcy, 1 .$/12 1945,80 01,485,

(+) Pütter, Histor. Entwickel. der heut. Staatsverf. I. 452 suiv.; Eichhorn, Deutsche Staats- u. Rechtssesch. IV B. $ 529. (5e édit.)

(S) V. ci-dessus la lettre de Heiïnsius, p. 58 & celle de Marlborough, p. 64, 1e

to know what he cou’d do, to obtaine a promis from the Queen and the States Generall, that thay wou’d use their best endeavours to the Emperor and the Empire for his being at the Peace restor'd to His Electorat of Bavaria. As I cou’d make no answere til I knew your opinion, so I will now give you a thought of my own, which [ thmk wou’d be very much for the advantage of the common cause if the Elector cou’d be persuad’d to itt, which is: that he shou’d make himself master of Mons and Namur (*), and as much more as is possible of the rest of the Low Countrys, which we are not masters of, and then declare against France, that he shou’d keep these places in his own power, til we cou’d obtain the restormg of his Electorat to him.

I have acquaint’d no creatur living with this thought, and therfore beg you will manage itt with great secrisy.

In my opinion if the Elector wou’d and cou’d elfect what I propose, we shou’d be able the next campagne to carry the warr into France, the certainty of which wou’d oblise the King of France to do all that he cou’d for the obtainins a peace this winter. [ own as franckly to you, that I do not see any reason why we shou’d not be as desirous at a peace to have the ŒElector and his Familly restor’d, as to see that country given to any other Germain Prince; for we may be sure it will never

be given to a Prodestant.

Ï am inform’d by the last letters, that the Mareshall de

Villars since his coming to the lins of Lauterbourg, has made another détachement for this Country, so that thay have now sent all that is possible, and tho Pr. Lewis de Baden has at least three times the force of the enemy , I do not hear

(*) Ci-dessus, p. 68.

that he has any thoughts of attempting any thing; so that I think you wou’d do very prudently if you lost no time in taking measures to have the 4000 Wertimberogs here ; for I am persuad’d the more you strenghen your army in this Country, the more desirous the enemy will be of a speedy peace. For shou’d thay stay till we had forced our way into France, thay wou’d be undone. It is this opinion which makes me fond of incoraging the Elector of Bavaria ; which I beg you seriously to consider off and to lett mee have an answere; and if you shou’d be of my opinion, you will then be pleas’d to give your self the trouble of writting two letters, one that may be proper to be showen to ihe Gentleman that comes to me, and in the other you may write your mind the more freely.

I am with truth, Si, Your most obedient humble servant,