ABSTRACT
Commercial relations with Poland-Lithuania remained a priority in the archipelago from the date of the Commonwealth's creation down to 1688 and beyond. This chapter focuses on the fortunes of the Austrian Habsburgs to assess, from a relative abundance of references in state papers and other primary sources, how they secured a commanding influence, not only over the Polish monarchy, but over British and Irish policy with respect to central Europe. An empiricist approach to the study of negotiations involving British and Irish representatives at the Imperial court certainly leads the historian towards analysing a variety of colourful encounters. Yet, the influence of the Leslie circle in the creation, especially in 163637 and again in the mid-1660s and the importance of this diplomacy as a source of news and information on wider events in Christendom and as a symbol of the complexity of English and later British foreign policy, should not be underestimated.
