necessary to attain, preparatory to his journey, was a positive
assurance that the court of Vienna should be promptly grati-
fied with the loan required for the equipment of the Italian
army. Godolphin, however, regarded this point with the
scruples of a financier rather than with the eye of a statesman;
and, instead of meeting the difficulty, employed himself in
starting objections to the mode of obtaining the supply, and
required the imperial court, which was evidently impractic-
able, to send forward their troops before the money was
advanced.

"Windsor, Sept. 11-20. -- I find by the letter of the States to you,
they think it necessary something should be done to set them right again
in the opinion of their people; and the vigour they have lately shown in
their letters and resolution upon the duke of Savoy's instances, seems to
be a great confirmation of this reflection. I hope, however, that Savoy
will be relieved entirely by Prince Eugene's efforts, or by the diversion,
which I think the enterprise upon Barcelona must give the enemy, with.
out the troops from our fleet, which can neither possibly be spared from
their other affairs, nor come so soon to their relief as the succour ex-
pected even from the emperor. But this consideration makes it still
mere necessary that all possible endeavours should be used to hasten that
succour; yet if the troops designed for that service cannot march till
they have money from England and Holland, upon the loan proposed
from Germany, it is not possible to think such a loan can be adjusted
without sending backwards and forwards between us and Holland; and yet
it is certain if the troops do not march incessamment, they can never come
in time. The most effectual way, therefore, to compass this loan, would
be to send away the troops which are to be supported by it immediately:
and the hearing they were actually upon their march might perhaps
prevail for this loan; whereas otherwise, both England and Holland will
be under the discouragement of thinking that if they should lend their
money, it will come too late to give effectual assistance to the duke of
Savoy."

"St. James's, 13th Sept. 1705. -- As to the loan desired by the court of
Vienna for enabling the emperor to send more troops to Prince Eugene,
I believe the queen will not decline to bear her part in it, for so necessary
a service, in case the States approve and are desirous; though, consider-
ing what was done last year for the empire, and how great her majesty's
expense has been this year for the interests of the House of Austria, it
does not seem extremely reasonable to expect it from her, especially when
Count Wratislaw knows as well as we that all the funds given by the
parliament are appropriated to particular uses, and if they were not, these
are always all assigned away before this time of year."

Nor did the minister of finance content himself with start-
ing objections to the proposal. Habitually prejudiced against
the house of Austria, he was highly indignant at the delays

-343-