the castle: whereupon the Turkes were byd to cease the shootyng. This Italiā shortly after, with ij. other Turkes was sent backe to Salamanca his Captaine, with the Turkes message. The goyng out of this Italian beyng priuye to the residue of his felowes, contrary to þ^e lawes and discipline of warre, although it semed to come of his owne head: yet for somuch as the other souldiours were not sure, but rather suspected lest the other Italians his countreymen had bene in some part of consent therein, and would take his parte: neither durst offer him any harme for that his doyng, nor yet could well aduise with them selues what was best to do, for feare of priuye confederacie within them selues.

MarginaliaA Turkishe truce taken with the Christians, they not knowyng therof.Thus while Lascanus the chiefe Captaine of the Christians aforesayd, with hys fellowe souldiours, were in a mase what to doo or not to doo: in the meane tyme came one runnyng, who geuyng a signe both to the Christians and the Turkes, to holde their handes and weapons, for that it was agaynst all lawe of warre to fight after peace and truce taken: our men, as they were commaunded, went into the inward tower. The Turkes in þ^e meane time, had got into the castle, & occupyed all þ^e vtter parties. Thē was Salamāca by the consent of þ^e rest, sent out to the Turke, who there beyng stayd that night, the next morow the Turkes bull or warrant was sent into the castle, permitting free libertie to the Christians to departe with bagge and baggage. MarginaliaThe false Turkes neuer true in promise.Who now beyng ready to departe, first were commaunded by the Turkes compassing them round about, to cast from them their Dagges, Launces, and battaile Axes, into the trench. Then commyng to the gate to go out, their swordes were taken from them, lookyng then for nothyng, but present death. At last when they were come a litle further, other were sent to them to discharge them of their helmettes, their tergattes, currettes, and whatsoeuer peece of harnes was about thē. Wherupon great feare came vpon thē, lest some great cruelty should be shewed vpon them. Solyman after he had long deliberated with him selfe, whether to kill them or not, at last contrary to all expectation, graunted their lyues: MarginaliaThe miserable affliction of our Christen souldiours taken at Strigonium.but before they should be dismissed, he first caused them, in derision of Christianitie, to be baited with scornes & mockes throughout all the Turkishe armye, and so the next day commaunded them beyng stript out of their coates and apparell, to be reduced agayne into the castle by companyes, settyng ouer them certaine Turkes with cudgels and battes to lay vpon theyr backes and sides, causyng them to bury the dead carcases, and to gather vp the rubyshe broken downe from the castlewalles, and to scoure the ditches. Whiche done, the next day folowyng he demaunded of them by an interpreter, whether they would enter wages with him, and take horse and armour to serue hym in hys warres. Whiche condition diuers for feare were cōtented to take, seyng no other shift to auoyd present death. Some neither by manasyng woordes, nor for any feare of death, could bee compelled thereunto: MarginaliaHoly souldiours and Martyrs slayne of the Turkes for their faithfull Religion.of whom certaine whiche stoode stoutly in refusing therof, were presently slayne, whom I maye worthely recite in the number and catalogue of holy Martyrs.

Of þ^e foresayd Christians, part were caryed ouer þ^e ryuer of Danubius, not without great vilanye, & cōtumely most despyteful. For some had their wyues takē frō thē & caryed away, some had their wyues rauished before their face: and such as made or shewed any resistance thereat, had their wyues before thē cast into the ryuer and drowned: also their infantes and yong children, beyng apointed by the Turkes to the abhominable order of the Ianizarites, mentioned before, pag. 879. theyr parentes not consentyng therunto, were precipitate and thrown into the ryuer and drowned. All whiche thynges are testified by Ioan. Martinus Stella in his Epistles in print extant, writen to his two brethren, William and Michael. &c. MarginaliaEx Ioan. Martino Stella in Epistolis ad scastes.Whiche Mart. Stella moreouer this addeth and affirmeth, that he him selfe beyng the same tyme at Vienna, did see one of the foresayd wyues, who beyng holden fastby the heare of her head yet notwithstandyng hauing her heare pluckt of, cast her self into the ryuer of Danubius, for the singular loue to her husband, and so swāme to the shyppe where he was. And thus this miserable company of Germaines, Spaniardes, and Italians mixt together, macerate with labours, with hunger pyned, with watchynges, dolours, and sorrow consumed, came at length to Schinda.

When the tydynges therof was noysed at Vienna, partlye with feare and dread, partlye with indignation, all mens hartes were moued and vexed diuersly. MarginaliaDiuers opiniō;s of the Viennians touching these miserable afflicted souldiours.Some thought thē not worthy to be receaued into their Citie, shewyng thē selues so dastardly and so cowerdly. Other thought agayne that mercy was to be shewed vnto thē, and commended their fact for that they beyng so few, and vnfurnished of ayde, neither hable to matche by any meanes with such an innumerable multitude of the Turkes, kept them selues till better tyme might serue them. But how soeuer the matter was to be thought of, that captaines brought the poore remnaunt of that rufull companye, vnto Possonium, where the sayd Captaines were layd fast, and there kept in durance, to render accompt of the whole matter, how it was wrought & handled. And thus haue ye the lamentable story of Strigoniū.

MarginaliaTath, subdued of the Turkes.The Turke procedyng in his victories, conducted hys armye next vnto Tathe, and to the parties lyeng nere about Comaron. This Tathe was also a strong holde in Hungary, wherin were placed certain garrisons, partly of the Germaines, partly of the Italians. The chieftane of the Italians was one Anniball Tasso, cōstitute by Philippus Torniellius. MarginaliaVictorye hath neuer successe vnder a wicked Captaine and a swearer.This Tasso was a man well expert in prowes of warre, but of a filthy corrupte life, and also a foule swearer, and horrible blasphemer of God & hys saintes. To make þ^e story short, this forte of Tathe, before any siege was layd vnto it, was yelded & geuen vp to the Turkes: vpon what cōditions, or by whose meanes, the author sheweth not: Thus much he sheweth, that þ^e sayd Anniball shortly vpon the same, returnyng into Italye, was commaunded by Torniellius aforesayd, to be apprehended and beheaded.

MarginaliaAlba Regalis besieged of the Turke.After the Turkes had subuerted and destroyed the forte of Tathe, they turned their power agaynst Alba, surnamed Regalis, for that þ^e kynges of Hungary haue bene alwayes wont there to be crowned, and buryed. This Albais a litle well cōpacted Citie in Hungary, hauyng on þ^e one side a marysh somwhat foggysh or fennye, which made the towne lesse assaultable. MarginaliaThe turkes deuise in fillyng vp the marish.But nere to the same was a woode, frō the which the Turkes euery day with vi. C. cartes, brought such matter of woode and trees felled for the same purpose, into the marishe, that within lesse then xij. dayes they made it apte and harde to their feete: whiche the townes men thought neuer could bee gone vpon, but onely in the hard frostes of wynter. At the first begynnyng of the siege, there stoode a litle without the munitions in the fronte of the Citie, a certaine Churche or Monasterye, whiche the Citizens pretendyng to maynteine and kepe agaynst the Turkes, MarginaliaA stratageme of the Christians agaynst the Turkes.had priuely conueyed light matter easey to take flame, with pouder, in secret places therof, and had hyd also fire withall. Whiche done, they (as agaynst their willes) beyng driuen backe, withdrewe them selues within the munitions, waytyng the occasion, when this fire would take. Thus the Turkes hauyng the possession of the churche, sodenly the fire commyng to the pouder, raysed vp the Churche, and made a great scatter and slaughter among the barbarous Turkes. This was not so soone espyed of them within the towne, but they issued out vpō them in this disturbaunce, and slue of them a great number: Among whom diuers of their nobles also the same tyme were slayne, and one Bassa an Eunuche, whiche was of great estimation with the Turkes. MarginaliaA note touchyng the Frēch king that then was.Moreouer, in the same skyrmishe was taken one of those gunners, whiche the French kyng is sayd to haue sent to þ^e Turke a litle before. Which if it be true, let the Christian reader iudge what is to bee thought of those Christen princes,