which not onely forsaking the common cause of Christes Churche ioyned league with the Turke, but also sent hym gunners to set forwarde his warres to the destruction of Christes people, and to the sheding of their bloud, for whom they knowe the bloud of Christ to bee shed. If this be not true, I shew mine author: MarginaliaEx epist. Ioā. Marc. Stellæ ad fratres. De Turcar. in Hungaria succeßibus.If it be, then let the Pope see and marke well how his title of Christianissimus, can well agree with such doynges. But to let this matter sleape, althoughe the Turkes (as ye heard) had wonne the fenne, with their policie and industry, against the Citie of Alba, yet all this while the Albanes were nothyng inferiour to their enemyes, through the valiaunt helpe and couragious endeuour of Octauianus Scruzatus, a Captaine of Millane. By whose prudent counsaile and constant stāding, the busy enterprises of the Turkes did litle preuaile a long tyme, till at length, sodenly arose a thicke fogge or miste vpon the Citie, where as round about besides, the sonne did shyne bright. Some sayd it came by Arte Magicall, but rather it may appeare to ryse out of the fenne or marishe, beyng so pressed downe with mens feete, and other matter layd vpon it.

MarginaliaThe outwarde walles gotten by the Turkes.The Turkes vsing the occasion of thys mystie darknes, in secrete wise approchyng the walles, had gotte vppe to a certayne fortresse, where the Germaines were, before our men coulde well perceaue thē: where they pressed in so thicke, and in such number, that albeit the Christian souldiours standyng strongely to the defense of their lyues, did what valiant men in cases of such extremitie were able to do: yet beyng ouermatched with the multitude of the Turkes, & the sodennes of their cōming, gaue backe, seking to retire to the inward walles. Whiche whē their other felowes did see to recule, then was there flieng of all handes, euery man striuing to get into the Citie. There was betwene þ^e outward walles or vamures, and inward gate of the Citie, a strait or narrow passage, cast vp in maner of a banke or causey, ditched on both sides: whiche passage or ingresse happened the same tyme to be barred & stopped. MarginaliaA miserable slaughter of christen souldiours.By reason wherof the poore souldiours were forced to cast them selues into þ^e ditche, thinking to swymme as well as they could, into the Citie: where many of them sticking in the mudde, were drowned, one pressyng vpō an other: many were slayne of theyr enemyes commyng behynd thē, they hauyng neither hart, nor power to resiste. A few whiche could swymme out, were receaued into þ^e Citie: but the chief Captaines and warders of the towne, were there slayne. The Citizens beyng destitute of their principall Captaines and warriours, were in great perplexitie and doubt among thē selues, what to do, some thinkyng good to yeld, some counsailyng the countrary. Thus while the myndes of þ^e Citizens were distract in diuers and doubtfull sentences, the Magistrates myndyng to stand to the Turkes gentlenes, MarginaliaLet neuer good Chnristians stand to the Turkes gentlenes.sent out one of their heades vnto to Turke, who in the name of them all, should surrender to him the Citie, and become vnto him tributaries, vpon cōdition they might enioye libertie of life & goodes. Which beyng to them graunted, after the Turkishe faith and assuraunce, first the souldiours whiche were left within þ^e Citie, puttyng of their armour, were discharged and sent away. Who beyng but onely. 300. left of iiij. ensignes of Italians, and of a thousād Germaines, by the way were layd for by þ^e Tartarians, for hope of theyr spoyle: so that they scattering a sunder one one way, an other an other, to saue them selues as well as they could, fled euery one what way he thought best. Of whom some wandering in woodes and marishes faynted for famine: some were taken and slayne by the Hungarians: a few with bare and emptie, and wythered bodies, more lyke gostes thē men, escaped and came to Vienna. And this befell vpon the souldiours.

Now vnderstād what happened to the yeldyng Citizens. So in story it foloweth, that when the Turke had entred the towne, and had visited the sepulchre of the kynges, for iij. or iiij. dayes he pretended much clemencie toward the Citizens, as though he came not to oppressethem, but to be reuēged of Ferdinandus their kyng, and to deliuer them frō the seruitude of the Germaines. On the fourth day, all the chiefe & head mē of the Citie were commaunded to appeare before the Turke in a playne, not farre from the Citie, where the condemned persons before were wont to be executed, as though they should come to sweare vnto the Turke. MarginaliaThe cruelyte of the Turkes agaynst the Christians.At this commaundement of the Turke, when the Citizens in great number, and in their best attire were assembled, the Turke contrary to his fayth and promise, MarginaliaWhat it is to yeld to the Turke, and to stycke to hys promise.cōmaunded sodenly a generall slaughter to be made of them all. MarginaliaThe Citizens of Alba destroyed of the Turkes.And this was the ende of those Citizens of Alba. In the meane tyme, duryng this siege of Alba, the Hungarians metyng sometymes with the horsemen of þ^e Tartarians, which were sent out to stop vitailes from the Citie, slue of thē at one byckeryng. 3000. turkes. MarginaliaHalfe of a young childe found in the satchel of a captiue comming from the Turkes.In whiche story is also reported and mentioned of myne author, an horrible sight and example of misery, concernyng a certian captiue (a Christiā belike) who cōming into Vienna, was found to haue in hys scrippe, or satchell the halfe of a yong child of two yeares old, which remained yet vneaten, the other halfe being eaten before. An. 1543. Ibid.

MarginaliaThe castle of Pappa wonne of the Turkes.Next after this was expugned the castle of Pappa, by the Turkes. Let the castle nowe of Papa take hede, lest one day it folow after.MarginaliaWizigradum gotte and surprysed of the Turkes.The lyke fidelitie the Turkes also kept, with the forte of Wizigradum and the souldiours therof. This Wizigradum is situate in the myd waye betwene Buda and Strigonium. Of the which forte or castle, the highest tower so mounteth vpō the hill, þ^t vnlesse it be for famine and lacke of water, they haue not to dread any enemye. Notwithstāding so it happened, þ^t the lower peece beyng wonne, they in the higher tower abyding iiij. dayes with out drinke, were compelled with libertie graunted of life and goodes, to yeld them selues. MarginaliaThe false dealing and crueltie of the Turkes against the Christians.But the deuilish Turkes kepyng no fayth nor promise, slue them euery one, onely Petrus Amandus the Captaine of the peece, excepted: who priuely was cōueyed by the captaine of þ^e Turkes, out of the slaughter. an. 1544.

MarginaliaNouum castellum in Dalmatia wonne by the Turkes.To these moreouer may be added the winnyng of Nouum castellum in Dalmatia, where he slue al that were within, both souldiours and other, for that they dyd not yeld them selues in time. Thus þ^e Turke, whether they yelded to him or not, neuer spared the people and flocke of Christ.

As the false and cruell Turke was thus ragyng in Hungary, and intended further to rage without all mercy and pitie of the Christians, and easely might thē haue preuailed and gone whether he would, MarginaliaThe discorde of Christian princes within them selues.for that Charles the Emperour, and Frāciscus the French king were the same tyme, at warre and hostilitie, and also other Christian princes, as Henry Duke of Brunswicke, agaynst Ihon Fridericke Duke of Saxone, also other princes & rulers were contendyng among thē selues: MarginaliaThe Turke occasioned to returne out of Europe into Asia.behold the gracious prouidence of our Lorde and God toward vs, who seyng þ^e misery & hauyng pitie of hys poore Christians, sodenly as with a snaffell reyned this ragyng beast, and brought him out of Europe into his owne coūtrey agayne, by occasion of the Persians, who were then in great preparation of warre agaynst the Turkes, and had inuaded his dominion. By reason wherof þ^e Turke was kept there occupied, fighting with the Persians a lōg continuance. Which warres at lēgth being achyued and finished, (wherin þ^e sayd Turke lost great victories, with slaughter of many thousādes of his Turkes) he was not onely prouoked by the instigation of certaine euill disposed Hungarians, but also occasioned by the discorde of Christiā princes, to returne againe into Europe, in hope to subdue all the partes therof vnto his dominiō. Wherunto, when he had leuied an armye incredible of such a multitude of Turkes, as the like hath not lightly bene heard of, see agayne the mercifull prouidence and protection of our God toward his people. MarginaliaAn other example of Gods prouidence for hys people.As the Turke was thus intēdyng to set forward with this innumerable multitude agaynst the Christians, the hand of the Lord sent