Wrote last on the 12th inst.
For the last three days there has been a rumour in this city that the King of Hungary had been defeated by the Turk. The news at first was not credited, but is unfortunately too true. This morning a clergyman arrived from Augusta (Augsburgh), who left that city on the 9th, and is going to Rome. He says that, the day before he left, a courier had come from Lintz with the intelligence that the Hungarians had met the Turk five miles from Buda, but had been defeated with great loss (con grandissima estrage) on the 29th of August. It was not known what had become of the King. At night another post came announcing that the King's body had been found lying on the field of battle. The Queen was at a place called Bresburg (Pressbourg), and it was doubtful whether she could escape the enemy's fury, because the place was invested on all sides, and the garrison anything but numerous. The people of Lower Austria, however, were making every effort to extricate the Queen from her dangerous position and conduct her safely to Lintz. The said clergyman adds that he passed through Innsbruck on the 10th. At that time the Tyrolese Diet had terminated its deliberations, and had resolved to supply the Archduke with 5,000 infantry for six months against the Turk, in consequence of which he had left immediately for Lintz. Merchants' letters from Vienna of the 3rd, and from Augusta (Augsburgh) of the 8th inst., confirm the intelligence brought by this clergyman. (Cipher:) Has already informed His Imperial Majesty that on the receipt of the Imperial letter of the 14th Aug. he (Sanchez) wrote to Don Ugo de Moncada, inquiring where he thought his services would be most acceptable, whether at the camp of the Colonnese, at Milan, or elsewhere. The letter, however, never reached its destination, for the post from this city was detained on the 10th about 20 miles from Venice, and sent back with the merchants' letters, when another postman was procured to take on their own correspondence and that of the ambassadors of the confederated powers only. This is the first time that the Signory has done anything of the kind. Has reasons to think that his letters, though cautiously placed under cover to a private individual, have been intercepted and deciphered, as he knows that the Signory possesses keys to all ciphers. Has since written to Don Ugo through another channel. Hopes to have an answer soon, and will then leave Venice. Had not the Emperor announced his intention to dismiss the Venetian ambassador [in Spain], he would certainly have remained, for he can still be of use, and this last news about the Turk is likely to render his presence in Venice necessary. Whilst writing the above the Austrian ambassador has received news from Petonia (Possonia?) of the 3rd confirming the above sad news from Hungary. Nothing certain was yet known about the King, whether he had been slain in the battle, was prisoner or fugitive. About the Queen no doubt was entertained that relief would reach her and that she would be taken to Vienna.