THE HISTORIE OF THE GREAT EMPEROVR TAMERLAN VVherein are expressed encounters skirmishes battels sieges assaults skalings taking of cities and strong places defended and assaulted with diuerse Stratagems of warre the which this great and Renowned warriour hath conducted and accomplished during his raigne of fortie or fiftie yeares with other instructions for the warre which should not be vnknowen of them that would attaine vnto the knowledge of armes Drawen from the auncient Monuments of the Arabians by Messire Iean du Bec Abbot of Mortimer Newly translated out of French into English for their benefite which are ignorant in that language by H. M. ANCHORA SPEI LONDON Printed for William Ponsonby 1597. TO THE FRIENDLY READER BEcause this Historie friendly Reader was translated at the first and now at this present imprinted and set foorth for thy only benefit I thought best to recommend it rather to the Readers correction then vnto any mans particular protection For as I cannot otherwise thinke but diuerse and sundrie errors are in the translating by me committed necessary by thee to be corrected so do I assure my selfe the Historie is so excellent as it needeth not to be protected For whether is to be considered the man in his honorable vertues or the matter with her rare and diuerse properties you shall find both the one and the other able to protect themselues and euery way satisfie thine expectation For both the which I will say no more then I find written by the French author that the Historie is most true and not deuised according to the vanities of former ages but being as it were buried in a straunge and vnknowen language is reuiued from that obscuritie by his trauailes and presented vnto the Reader in his own tongue through my paines VVhereof seeing thou art to reape the fruit I doubt not but ye will accept and yeelde mee thankes for the same I will not trouble thee with a vaine commendation of the famous Tamerlan who being amongest the worthy conquerors as the sunne with the other starres shall in the reading of this Historie shine vnto thee his owne vertues Farewell From my house the xv day of October 1597. THE HISTORIE OF TAMERLAN HAuing read sundrie Histories the which doe attribute as a great want vnto the happie fortune of Tamerlan not to haue a writer in his dayes which might haue left in writing his Historie vnto posteritie who surely had reason so to say if this had bin true But without any cause did they mone him insomuch as his Historie is very famous amōgst the Turks and Arabians his conquests very largely discoursed and many of his worthy and notable sayings collected with an infinite number of noble deedes left vnto the memoriall of posteritie hauing bene no lesse accompanied with such good hap than was Achilles Very true it is that he had not an Homer but a great and worthy person learned as well in naturall Philosophy as in Astrology who was in the time of this Prince a companion and familiar of his conquests named Alhacen an Arabian by birth making profession of Mahomets religion not according to the fond and vaine follies of the Turkes but for want of Christian instruction he worshipped one onely God the author of nature maker both of Heauen and Earth the which Mahomet taught as he had learned in the Schoole of the Christians meaning to be contrary vnto the Heathen who did allow of sundry Goddes This Author then being fallen into my hands in my voyage into the East Countrey I caused the same to be interpreted vnto me by an Arabian who did speake Frank as they terme it that is to say Italian some time I spent in associating my selfe so with this man who commended greatly vnto me the eloquence grauity of this author wōdering at his digressions entring againe into his matter so well to the purpose It grieued me much that I had not the perfection of this language to be a helpe vnto the riches of this History for to deliuer it vnto my Nation with some grace but I tooke therof as much as I could in his language which was corrupted as is the Frank tongue so they terme it which is a kind of Italian mingled with Slauon Greek Spanish tongs very cōmō at Cōstantinople with the Arabian Turkish tongs so as I could not gather but only the truth thereof not the drifts grauity of the declaration wherein the author had collected it for posterity as he said by the cōmandemēt of the Prince who was a louer of learning excellent in the knowledge of Astrology diuinity as the custome of those Nations is to ioine thē ordinarily together studying vpon the vertue of names of the turning of letters euē in their placing writing thē vnderneth starres whereof they make sentences by meanes whereof they wrought miraculously in the things of nature This is that Zoroastrien Bactrien science that of Balaā some others in my opiniō which hath succeeded vnto so many Arabian Astrologians Now then this Prince was endued with such knowledg as made him admired of the people where he cōmāded who are for the most part great wōderers insomuch as this caūsed him to be accoūted a Prince accōpanied with the diuine vertue cōsidering the iustice he vsed in all his actiōs This hath proceeded euē so far that some Italians haue writtē foolish things thereof as of certain kinds of Tents which he caused to be pitched whē he besieged any city one white signifiing peace it yelding vnto his mercy another red signifying cruelty to follow and the third blacke signifying mourning to ensue But I find not this in our Author I beleeue thē to be fables as that of Romans for the affaires of the war are not hādled in this maner we find that he was very courteous onely he desired to abbase the pride of that Turkish Emperor called Baiazet the thunder of heauen would tread vpon his head imitating therin the Diuinity which pulleth down the proud raiseth vp the humble Therfore in a word I say that which our Historiographers report of him is very litle after this Author This is the occasiō therfore that I desiring to write in this solitarines which I haue chosen seing the cōtinuāce of the miseries wherinto I haue often thrust my selfe with the hazard of my life as I am bound for my king countrey where hauing receiued many wounds by the fauor of my king I haue sought againe the priuate life which I had left that I might not be seene in idlenesse at such time as men of worth were busied in sacrificing their liues for preseruatiō of their countrey Now thē that I may keepe my self frō writing any thing of these times for to say true it engendreth hatred in many minds especially the desire to be flattered they which cannot do it are they not cōmāded to
haue said contained fortie leagues a matter which gaue cause of good aduisement vnto the Prince for Calibes who was an old Captaine found it a matter of great difficultie to go through this passage by force according to the view he had taken thereof and had caused the same to be reuiewed by others For it was carefully kept by the kings forces who was not wearie to be mounted on horsebacke assuring himselfe that fiftie thousand men the which he had placed for the guarde of the wall were sufficient to stoppe all that would enterprise to force the same So this Lord much made of and gayned thorough the good countenance of the Prince was a great furtherance vnto the good successe of this enterprise Then the Prince after he had heaped vpon him gifts of faire horses rich furres and other rare things he willed him to vtter that which he had to say vnto him This Lord spake then in this manner Know my Lord that it is but losse of time to thinke that with your armes you shold be able to force the wall which the Chinois haue built against the incursions of your subiects the defendants haue too much aduantage therein I doubt not of your souldiers stoutnesse of their courage I know you haue cōquered many Nations with them and that whatsoeuer you commaund thē they will die or do the same I know you haue great and wise Captaines with you that your person is only of all the world worthie to commaund them but all this will be but in vaine against the wall of the Chinois where I assure you there are fifty thousand men to keep it and you cannot stay there so short a time but there will come thither fiftie thousand more led by the Xianxi who hath such a commaundement The king of China will himselfe march forward also who will giue you battell with two hundred thousand horse and as many footemen After you haue fought I beleeue that the fortune and valour of your men may obtaine the victorie the which will cost you deare but for to shew vnto you how much the reputation and mildnesse of your men hath bound me vnto them I will shew you a meanes by the which you may cause fiftie thousand men to enter into the kingdome of China whom I my selfe will conduct and they shall be on them which keepe the wall in a manner as soone as they shall perceiue it In the meane time you shall cause your men to go vnto a place that I will tell you which will be very discommodious vnto the Chinois by reason of a mountaine ouer against them which you must cause them to win for I assure my selfe that when they shall perceiue your souldiers to be passed they will loose their courage and you may easily win the passage for to fauour those men of yours which shall be passed ouer with me And for to shew vnto you the affection fidelitie of that I speake I will deliuer into your hands an only sonne I haue and two little daughters with my wife I haue also one brother who I am assured will follow me to do you seruice The Prince hauing heard this Lord speake receiued great ioy thereof hoping that his affaires should happily succeede and this he kept very secret for euen the Prince of Thanais knew not the meanes that this Lord had seeing there was onely present the Prince an interpreter and the Prince after he had thus spoken vnto him gratifying him with all hee could possibly this Lord retyred himselfe accompanied with the Prince of Thanais who conducted him backe againe with all the honour that might be So the Emperour returned from thence into his quarter and the next day after he had imparted the whole vnto Odmar and heard Calibes concerning that which he had learned of the departing of the king of China and of his preparation which was great This enterprise seeming hard vnto him after due reuerence yeelded vnto the Prince he spake vnto him in this manner Know my Lord that I am your slaue for to obey you but seeing you require me to giue you an accoūt of all that I know of the estate of the kingdome of China for that I haue remained these sixe moneths vpon the borders by your cōmandement to hinder them from passing the same wherby they might hurt your enterprises I can affirme vnto you that the king of China who raigneth at this present is of great reputation and hath increased the limits of his kingdome more then any of his predecessors he is proud and bold he causeth himselfe to be named of his people Lord of the world All his strength consisteth in this wall opposed against vs the which he hath caused to bee made by reason of the ordinarie roades of our Nation I am of opinion that there be between fiftie and threescore thousand men at the guard of that wall men for the most part trained vp in the garrisons of the king of China and his best souldiers I know no good means to force this wall without great hazard and much losse of your men I haue vnderstood that towards the lake Hogeen you may find more easie entrance into the kingdome but this will be 7. or eight daies iourney for your army and there are many straite places where your army which is great will be long time a passing on the other side this will be a space of time wherein the king of China may giue order for his affaires who supposeth that hee hath not to deale but with me whom you haue left with cōmandement only of defence Yet I thinke this to be most for your aduantage for that victuals will be more easily conducted vnto your armie you know that this is the principall sinew to bring forth a strong and furious combat Therfore vnder correction of your graue and more wise aduise this is as much as I know hereof leauing vnto your selfe for to discourse of the inner parts of the countrey whē we shall haue set foot thereinto we will talke with you of the same The Prince hard him very attentiuely but he knew not at all that which the Prince had further learned insomuch as the Prince who would that his reputation and glorie should be attributed vnto his valour and vnto those of his army what practise soeuer he had in hand and after euerie one had declared his opinion he saied that he hoped the great God the vnitie of whom he would maintaine against such idolaters and his iust right should answere the reasons which do cōtradict his purpose and the valiant arme of his souldiers shall quite ouerthrow whatsoeuer opposeth it self against the same Behold how Princes make themselues wondered at for their forces whereas oftentimes they vse more the Foxes craft then the Lions strength Our Prince would wisely attribute vnto himselfe the reputation of ouercomming by open warre and concealed from his souldiers that which he held
him euen vnto the sea coastes Three or foure dayes being spent the Prince tooke aduise for to passe ouer the riuer with his horsemen but not to aduance any further then 3. or 4. leagues beyond the water only he meant to hinder the kings brother from attayning vnto the riuers foord hauing receiued aduertisement that he would passe ouer for to succour Quantoufou As soone as the enemie vnderstood newes of the passing ouer of our army it did greatly astonish him therevpon retired ten great leagues froÌ„ vs bending towards the sea side into a hillie countrie and vneasie for our horsemen where he thought to find place of securitie for his armie and where the same might be intrenched within the mountaines And there at leasure he tooke aduise of the greatest about him to determine what offers they might make vnto the Emperour as well for the kings ransome as also for to assure that which yet remained for to make a peace the which must needs be had were it by gold or siluer seeing that bloud could doe no good therein which had not beene spared that there was no more to be done and that the goddes were offended Therefore it behooued with them to acknowledge Tamerlan they for to fauour him and we to serue him and hauing sent to demaund safetie for to 〈◊〉 the Prince graunted so much vnto them for such as would come vnto him In this meane time Quantoufou yeelded it selfe into the hands of Axalla who caused the garrison to come out of the same receiued the inhabitants into the Princes protection and they which would might remaine therein vnarmed and he entred thereinto with the ioy of all the inhabitants who did determine to receiue the Emperor into the same with all the magnificence that might be He caused 30000. men of war to enter thereinto vnto whoÌ„ was money deliuered for to maintain theÌ„ there vntill such time as all the footmen shold receiue pay for 3. moneths due vnto them whereof the inhabitants of Quantoufou did furnish the Prince to the summe of eight hundred thousand Tentins the which do amount vnto foure hundred and fifty thousand crownes or therabout The Prince at this present sent me vnto Axalla whom I found feasting of his Captaines and souldiers staying for the coÌ„mandement that I brought vnto him the which was to remaine within Quantoufou and to cause all his footmen to set forward directly vnto him the which was done by the Prince to the end it should strike a greater terror into the minds of the enemies who seeing all his footmen arriued he supposed they would nothing doubt Quantoufou being taken but that he would march forward insomuch as he hoped this would greatly aduance his affaires considering the estate they were in I returned from Quantoufou vnto the Emperour hauing seene a beautifull and great Citie well fortified and wonderfully peopled and round about it there was a fruitfull countrey Our armie had beene two monethes and a halfe before it and I thinke we should haue continued there one monethes longer for therein was no want of any thing but of men because many of them had beene slaine since the siege beganne This was the cause wherefore the Princes brother would haue conducted some thither was the occasion that made him aduance forward Many of our men were also dead by reason of the intemperatenesse of the aire and the heat of sommer the which we had passed wherwith our men had not bin accustomed so as those souldiers which we looked for were necessarie for vs to aduance forward if wee purposed to attempt any other thing Axalla who remained therein emploied all the paines he possibly could to repaire the walles and to winne the inhabitants good will vnto the Prince for not one of them was departed with the Gouernour for to serue the king of China he leading with him out of the citie but thirteene thousand of thirtie thousand souldiers some beeing dead the other remaining with the inhâ—bitants vnarmed for to receiue the law of the conquerour It was a thing very worthie the noting of their new Lord who was to commaund them to marke so great lightnesse and inconstancie in forgetting so soone him which had maintayned them he and his auncestors by the space of two hundred yeares with great pacience and quiet and preserued their wealth in great prosperitie This is the cause that they which gouerne common-wealthes ought to thinke that the peoples good will is certainely to be esteemed but withall they must not too much trust therunto This was the cause that Axalla marked that saying that hee was troubled to deuise how this great multitude might be contained in their fidelitie if wee should receiue any disfauour and commanded me to speake vnto the Prince for to treat before his Armie were any more decayed and after that it was very necessarie his wisdome should consider how to assure this citie in his absence the which was so peopled and the people thereof being so light and inconstant Now as I haue said there was almost a yeare spent since we began this enterprise and our men were greatly diminished the fall of the leafe also drawing neere the which for the most part doth yeeld euill fruit vnto armies after their trauels by the changing of humors the which engender sicknesse And this appeared alreadie within our armie which caused the Prince to consider of many things and not without cause he doubted also some change within his owne countrie the which long absences do often cause the honour being no lesse in preseruing of that alreadie gotten then in conquering of the same Our Prince also did neuer refuse honourable conditions the which he did more esteeme being obtained by peace then warre He thought that his conquest consisting of almost halfe the kingdome and in making the king tributarie for the rest he should haue sufficient wherewith to bridle him if at any time hee should deale badly and would thereof be well aduised and especially he hoped to assure the same so well as their lightnesse should be throughly punished at what time soeuer they would vse it He did thinke it conuenient if they came vnto profitable conditions for his aduantage euen as the conquered doe yeeld vnto the conquerors for to resolue himselfe to border his conquests on this side Thus the Embassadors being arriued who were of the kings chiefest vassals Tamerlan receiued them with all humanâ—tie causing his greatnesse to appeare vnto them and therewithall the agilitie of his horsemen to make theÌ„ see with their eyes that it would be the destruction of the Chinois name if he proceeded any further So hauing saluted the Emperor with all reuerence they vttered their Embassage vnto him which was that the kings brother had sent them vnto him to treat for two causes the one was for the liberty of their king the other for preseruation of their country that he had vnderstood of his accustomed humanity that
things had passed at Cambalu he asked his aduise whether hee should goe and visite the Emperour his vnkle Odmar who well perceiued that the Prince desired it and called vnto his remembrance the honor which he had receiued when he was at Quinzai and that he would haue bene very willing to spend the winter with the Empresse staying for the spring for to returne vnto the enterprise of China But Odmar which was no flatterer and who was a great Counseller of estate and faithfull vnto our Emperour Tamerlan spake vnto him in this manner Inuincible Emperour so do I beseech you as may be found in you both valor to conquer and wisdome to vse the victory you haue left your Army the which for the space of six moneths hath bene busied in opposing it selfe against the forces of your enemies he whom you haue left is a Tartarian one of the chiefest of this nation do you not know that the Tartarian and also the Parthian doe in a manner acknowledge none for Prince worthie to command them but those that go with them vnto the warres On the other side doe you nothing consider that you haue enterprised this warre to augment the glorie of him who hath chosen and called you Know you not that the king of China holdeth a great countrie which hee hath giuen you It behooueth that you manifest vnto him the affection of your seruice Consider also that your glorie and greatnesse will bee more acceptable vnto him farre off then neere at hand For being farre off it shineth vnto him for the fauoring of his affaires but neere it maketh his owne obscure Do you not consider the suspitions hee may conceiue of your greatnesse the repentings which often come to them which haue made men great whom they desire afterwards to ouerthrowe for Princes be variable What glorie can you obtaine by this iourneying Necessitie constraineth you not thereunto but your reputation will be whollie diminished thereby and the way of your glorie is altogether contrarie vnto the same It is better for you to winter gloriously vnder your tentes in the middest of your men of armes then within the statelie pallaces of Quinzai in the middest of the sweetnesse of an effeminate Court They which would finde fault with you will demaund the cause wherefore you left your Armie they will say that you threaten the king of China a farre off it is to be feared also least hee should oppresse your men from whence will you returne to resist the same while you bring together againe your men of Armes The Parthians would as your selfe returne vnto Sachetay and the Tartarians vnto their Horda but if you march forward you shall prepare vnto your selfe an assured victorie of the king of China and if you doe deferre it it shall prooue dangerous vnto you whereas it is now most assured in as much as he thinketh your Armie busied within your owne country your forces empaired the faith of your peopled changed and all your Empire reuolted He seeth your Armie led by Calibes to temporize and being but as it were to defend it selfe and not to assault any other he supposeth that all your determinatiōs are ouerthrown Some may thus say vnto him as some haue suspected and it is not without reason but I will not affirme it being vnwilling to enter any further into your wise enterprises the which God onely knoweth who guideth you that you haue rather left Calibes there the chiefe of the Tartarians to deliuer your selfe from the suspition you had of him then for any further desire you had to accomplish your enterprise Lose not this occasiō the great God deliuereth her into your hands you hold her by the haires suffer her not to slip frō you If I haue offended your Maiesty with my bold speech do with me what it shal please you I am your slaue lo here my head The Prince Tamerlan was very sad and changed his countenance continuallie when as Odmar spake once againe vnto him kissing the hem of his garment in all humilitie as wee are accustomed vnto our Emperours in signe of subiection and bondage Then the Emperour answered him that he had euer knowne his fidelitie and loue and that the cause of his sadnesse was for that he did not find in himselfe abilitie to recompence the same and that hee aknowledged now in earnest the wisdome of the Emperour his father in making choise of so worthy a Counseller to assist him and that hee certainly learned to know that the greatest seruitude which Princes haue vvith God was that there was no end of their glorie seeing their continual doing was their rest as in the Diuinity and that when he thought to giue himselfe some ease then was the time he must in steed of the delicacies and pleasures of Quinzay make the desertes of Cipribit the resting place from the trauailes of his newe victorie that it was ended and his purposes determined I haue also heard the Prince say that Odmar did not speake vnto him like an earthly but diuine man that he verilie beleeued that God by his meanes did call him backe from some mishap which would haue light vpon him to make his glorie increase the more Now the rumour was already spread ouer all that the Princes determination was to go and visite the Emperour his vnkle the which tickled euery man with desire to returne into his countrie hoping to inioy the sweetnesse of his natiue soyle When as commandement was giuen for a generall reuiew of the whole armie where the Emperor spake vnto his soldiers in this maner We haue begun my faithfull souldiers an enterprise to go and assault the king of China who hath of late repulsed euen beyond the mountaines the Tartarian name but we were hindered to our great griefe by the foolish rashnesse of Calix and were driuen to turne the bridle for to punish him wherein you haue all assisted me It grieueth me that I cannot as well brag of the fresh spoyles of a stranger as I may vaunt by the meanes of your weapons of those our vnfaithfull Citizens and in times past with your owne selues making triall of my first Armes against the boldnesse of the fierce Moscouite although for this last ciuill victorie I am further indebted vnto you for your greater endeuour and the hazarding of your persons being much greater so were they our owne people who would not acknowledge vs whereof I cannot speake without shedding of teares desiring rather to burie such a victorie what glorie and honour soeuer we haue gotton thereby Neither do I recount these thinges vnto you but for to manifest that I forget not your faithfulnesse and the great trauaile you haue endured with me We must not therfore be wearie but must turne our weapons against those which thinke that we ate greatly troubled whereas wee are victorious We haue left our companions who haue temporized to heare the euent and successe of our affaires
all our munitions be there wee must in that place my souldiers and friendly followers passe ouer the rest of winter our cōpanions look for vs. The enemie is secure and looketh not for vs at this season of the yeare for he perceiueth that our Armie which is there is not sufficient for offence but only for defence You shall receiue double pay the better to furnish you against the iniurie of cold and as we shall be cloathed with double garmēts I hope we shal be also apparelled with double glorie Let vs march on merrily I my self will go with you and be companion of your glorie After he had thus spoken vnto his souldiers they all cried One God in heauen and one Emperour on the earth and bowing downe al their heads in token of humilitie they shewed how agreeable they were to obey that which he commanded Thus euerie one returned into his tent where they abode yet eight dayes more The Prince sent back again Zamai vnto Sachetay with some fiue and twenty thousand horse and fiftie thousand footmen for the saftie of his estate in those parts Thus after prayers were sayd all the Armie being assembled together in the presence of the Prince according to the custome of our Emperours our Armie began to march forward He forgat not likewise to dispatch one vnto the Emperour his vnkle to giue him vnderstanding of all this resolution the which he verie well liked of The Prince by the same messenger did beseech him to send vnto him in the spring of the yeare some fiftie thousand men to repaire his Armie and certaine money also for the payment of his men of warre which he graunted him Moreouer the conducting of good store of warlike munition plentie of victuals for to renew ours for this war was principally enterprised for the profit and greatnesse of the Tartarians for the importance which the losse of the Lordships of Paguin Quifu was vnto them wherby the king of China had greatly strēgthened and assured his estate in so much as he might at his pleasure enter vpon the Tartarians and the Tartarians could not enterprise against him without great forces for that hee had caused a wall to be made between the spaces of the mountains which was fortie leagues long so as they were defended hereby frō the ordinary incursions the which continually did greatly enrich thē because they brought much cattel through the same wherin the cūtry of China doth greatly abound by reason it is situated in a temperate aire being neither too hot nor cold This was the cause that made the Emperour his vnkle to desire this warre whom our Prince according to his duty would to the vttermost of his power gratifie as also his new subiects So we began to march and in eight thirty dayes we arriued at Cipribit the Army hauing found great discōmodities there had we newes of Clibes who was very glad to vnderstand how the affayrs had passed he came to visite the Prince who shewed vnto him a very good countenance and gaue him particular vnderstanding of his determination and vnderstood at large of Calibes al that had passed within the kingdom of China The next day the Prince mounted on horsebacke and came vnto Pazanfou where the forces commaunded by Calibes were at that present the which had often fought with and tried the forces of the Chinois but found thē much inferiour vnto their owne The Emperour caused a generall reuiewe to bee made of all the forces which were vnder Calibes and after hee beheld the countenances of these soldiers throughout all their ranks he caused thē to muster to receiue money euery one crying God saue the victorious inuincible Emperour according to their custome I had forgotten to declare vnto you how the Prince of Thanais who was left to command ouer the Parthian nation by the Prince at such time as Calibes went to meet him was left in the army to commād it where being desirous to shew his courage had made warre and meeting with foure thousand horse of China led by the king of China his brother he so allured thē to him that hauing entrapped thē he fought with and ouerthew them bringing a great number of horse and spoiles away and there remained dead vpon the ground fiue or sixe hundred the enemies being retired in disorder if the night had not bene hee had obtained a most notable victorie He had for this good fortune much honour at the arriuall of his Prince and he had also daylie greatlie wearied the Chinois with ordinarie incursions hee was sonne vnto one of the Princes sisters they greatlie honored him as wel for his vertues as the place frō whēce he was descēded He was as yet but young his father being dead old who had worthily serued the Prince as you haue heard against the Moscouites commaunding ouer the arereward who was notwithstanding a most sufficient politick Captaine Now he was desirous of glorie during the abode which he had made being the formost on the enemies fide and with great diligence had marked the wall and the places by the which he might enter by force and sent many spies into the countrey of China by certain litle wayes that were within the mountains who aduertised him of all He had also gained through his courtesie a Lord of the same mountaines called the Lord of Vauchefu who ruled a great Countrey with whom he had so well profited that he made him desirous of a new master and to submit himselfe vnto the Emperour receiuing daily great discommodity by the warres which the Tartarians and Chinois made so as he comming to visite the Prince of Thanais he assured him of his desire to doe the Prince seruice and to helpe him in the warre against the Chinois the which the Prince of Thanais had wisely cōcealed frō Calibes But as soone as the Prince was arriued hee imparted the same vnto him the which made Tamerlan desirous to haue some speech with him so that as soone as the Prince had receiued commandement from the Emperour hee sent vnto Vauchefu to aduertise him of the Princes arriuall and of the commaundement which he had receiued whereof the other was very glad and hauing appointed a day the Prince tooke his iourney without stirring of the army into the campe of the Prince of Thanais which was neere vnto the riuer of Languenne whither he had caused this foresaid Lord to come who met him there The Prince hauing spoken with him by his interpreters hee assured him of much friendship and the said Lord him of great fidelitie and seruice and after many promises made by the Prince vnto him for his greatnesse and quiet he discouered vnto him a passage by the which hee assured him of entrance into the kingdom of China with facility to set vpō the forces of the king of China which were appointed for safegard of the wall the which as I
Courtiers notwithstanding the readie fashion of Axalla to content euery one accompanied with his singular vertues together with so many seruices that hee had done did vphold him against the enuious as also for that he was no lesse acceptable vnto the old Emperour then vnto his maister who did often remēber the daungers the braue enterprises he had executed in the affaires his maister had as well against the Moscouites as at the rebellion of Cambalu Catayo in the last conquest of the kingdome of China so as his authoritie was great with this that he was curteous and humaine and friendly towards euery one and who spake dayly vnto his maister of great matters and alwayes propounded vnto him honorable enterprises whereunto he would be the first to set his hands without sparing the hazard of his life at all And although our Emperour was accompanied with great renowmed Princes yet were they no bodie in comparison of the vertues and the greatnesse the which Axalla had gotten with his maister whether it were in pompe in liberalitie and in furniture of slaues and horses for hauing a a great mind sharpe wit he made vse thereof politikely to maintaine him self Moreouer he neuer gaue counsell the which he did not offer to execute and he was happy for that they had successe according to his desire which procured him great authority but he had a grace beyond all this for he was humble vnto euery body the which made him well beloued in humbling him selfe in such greatnesse euen vnto the smallest I was one day in a place when the Prince did reprehend him for this so great mildenesse He answered him that it belonged vnto his maister to be stately but for me it is my trade to play the slaue and seruaunt and as greatnesse doth well beseeme you so doth humilitie me for I am not about you but for to honour you for if you be honored I shalbe also Also how humbly soeuer I carrie my selfe what neede you to care so as I serue you well if I should be stately I should be odious vnto the great men of your Court and I should seuer them from you I will haue them honor me for seruing well of you not for my countenāce This answere did greatly please the Emperour it was a cunning to cause him to be beloued the which fel out happily for him for they honored him more then he would Now for to come againe vnto the Princes purpose we will for this time leaue Axalla whose nature I was willing to expresse vnto you the which shall serue to giue you vnderstanding of manie things that shalbe declared of him within this historie So the Emperour sent vnto Axalla to come vnto him at Samarcand for to receiue directions from him for the setting forward of his armie Now hauing left by the Emperors commaundement the Prince of Thanais to commaund he came vnto him cōsulted with him of the order for his army and hauing resolued that it was best to passe by the borders of the Moscouite to go directly vnto Constantinople the seate of the Greeke Emrours whither they sayd the armie of Baiazet Emperour of the Turkes did march being alreadie come downe into Asia Minor there was a kinsman of Axallas dispatched for to assure the Emperour of Greece of our armies comming forward and that great prouision of victuals was made from all parts for maintenance of the same We departed from Samarcand for to go vnto Ozara where was the meeting place for all the Princes troupes and hauing in that place taken aduise for his iourney that is to say for to know whether should be more expedient and fauorable either to go by the coastes of Moscouie directly vnto Capha or rather on the other side of the sea Bachu to passe by the skirtes of Persia. It was resolued in the ende after sundry opinions although the way were the longer to passe vnto Capha for to come vnto Trebisonda and to the Georgians and from thence to enter into the limits of the Ottomans Then our armie after the accustomed ceremonies and prayers made vnto God wherein our Emperour hoped to finde his principall succours we drew straight vnto Maranis where the armie abode three dayes looking for the forces which Odmar did send whereof they receiued newes There did the Emperour cause all his armie to be payed and a generall muster was made He had newes also there of the forces that the Moscouite did send vnto him he likewise caused an infinite quantitie of victuals and the most part of his furniture to be conueyed by the sea of Bachu there being some twentie leagues where was want of water and victuals through the which our armie must needes passe causing all things necessarie to be caried by water the which was a great commoditie vnto vs and there was a commaundement giuen at all the shoares of the sea that they should bring all the vessels for to carrie the munition of the armie so as this foresight did greatly ease our army The Prince wēt cōtinually coasting the sea shoare passing away his time in hūting his armie came not neare vnto him by 10. leagues except such as came to seeke necessaries for the army the which did extēd it self some 20. leagues it was so great The Prince abode at Sarasich during the time his army passed the riuer of Edel at Mechet and at two or three other bridges the which they had caused to be made there had he certain newes how Baiazet marched vnto the siege of Cōstātinople hauing reduced vnto his obediēce all Bithinia Bursia a very noble city the which he caused to be fortified diuers other Cities vsing all the cruelties that might be in so much as all the adioyning prouinces yelded thēselues his tributaries amōgst the rest the noble Citie of Capha wherewith the Emperor was greatly moued because it had first put it self vnder his protectiō before the Turke this had bin compassed by the meanes of Axalla where he was borne who was also the more offended because it was his coūtrey so farre forth as he sent to summō them to come yeeld a reason vnto the Emperor of their fidelitie wherupon the Citie receiued a great astonishment and the principall men of the same Citie came vnto the Prince who sent to be informed of all and being ready to receiue the punishment for their infidelitie after diuerse presents by them made of very excellent Marterns other furres pardon was graunted vnto them the citie was by the Prince giuē vnto Axalla for to dispose of the same the which he did going thither to see his kinsfolk and to take such order there as he thought was for the preseruatiō of the Citie as one not vngratefull vnto his countrey and it was not without seasing vpon Tana the which was belonging vnto the Seigniorie of Genua of Achea and Lopeso who
Buisabuiche and we caused our souldiers continually to aduance forward and to passe ouer Euphrates for to find better meanes to maintaine our armie vppon the spoyle of the enemie in attending their comming rather then vppon our owne selues or on our Allies From that place the Emperour did dispatch vnto the Emperour his vnkle one of the greatest fauourites he had about him for to certifie vnto him of the deliuerie of this noble Citie of Constantinople and how the Ottomans came fully resolued to giue battell and for to preuent dangers he gaue cōmandement that they should keepe the borders strong all his forces on horseback vpon the enemies side for often times as in prosperitie all your neighbours do smile vpon you and encline towards you so whensoeuer an ouerthrow happeneth euery one setteth vpon you do help to spoile you For this cause shold wise Princes assure well that which they do alreadie possesse least the victorious enemie pursuing his good fortune take from you the meanes to raise your selfe vp againe Our Emperour had alwayes this wisedome when such blowes happened for to aduertise his countries to stand vppon their guard rather then to publish vnto them his victorie So wee departed from thence after the Prince had assembled all the principall men of his armie to impart vnto them his purpose and for to receiue counsell of them the which his courtesie did vse of custome that made him to be beloued For the farther you were from him then did hee most honour you there were so manie seuerall Nations within our armie so many Captaines sent vnto him for his succour and then was the time when he principally was humble and layd aside his grauitie feasting them for the aide and succour they gaue vnto our armie Amongest the straungers this Chinois Lord did ordinarily receiue great honour of the Prince who was alwayes wont to say that the vertue of Axalla and the loue of this Lord towards him had made him Lord of the fairest kingdome of Asia The Emperour was verie desirous to acquaint and instruct this Lord with the manners and fashions of those people by whom we passed for he was alwayes neere vnto the Emperours person and all the forces he had cōducted vnto our armie wherein the Prince made shew to put great confidence they had marched with vs these two monethes and carried themselues very well as all our other forces did victuals being there in great plentie that which gaue vs so much thereof was the great iustice therein obserued So our armie came vnto Garga where it passed the riuer Euphrates the auantgard at Chinserig and the generall meeting of the armie was appointed to be at Gianich the which did yeeld it selfe and there had wee newes that Baiazet his armie was neare vnto vs within some thirty leagues which caused vs to march more close All the cities yeelded the Emperor receiuing them graciously and those which refused obedience were cruelly punished especially such inhabitants as were Turkes but the Christians set in full libertie vnder the name of the Greeke Emperour Emanuell whom the Emperour would wholly gratifie Axalla hauing receiued this commaundement from the Prince so he caused them to sweare fidelitie vnto Emanuell his purpose beeing to set him againe into his Empire and to punish this Baiazet for being so rash as to enterprise to destroy so flourishing an Empire as that of the Greekes his Allies Now the Emperours quarrell was iust against this proud lightning from heauen especially in respect of his execrable cruelties hee vsed against all sexes and ages vsurping an Empire the which had sought all possible meanes to make peace with his Armes but he soone broke it and falsified his faith vnto this poore Emperour according as he found the meanes by litle and litle to vsurpe almost all from him there remaining no more vnto him but some small townes belonging vnto his Metropolitan Citie the which he had also besieged It was then an honourable thing for the Emperour to deliuer this noble Empire from such great tyrannie an Empire so famous in the world and a citie so auncient out of the hands of so wicked and accursed an off-spring This was the cause that made the Emperor to hope for to haue God his great God for an helper in this enterprise But before I beginne I am desirous to speake a word of the vprightnesse of the Princes cause and also for to note the worthinesse of his courage in giuing helpe vnto the weake and punishing of the proud representing by such deedes the image of the diuinitie the which should be marked in Princes in vpholding the weake ones and those that require succour against such oppressions So God being with vs the armie fully replenished with ioy and hope we departed from Gianich Axalla who was in the auantguard hauing commaunded foure thousand Parthian horse for to get knowledge of the armie vnder the charge of Chianson Prince of Ciarcian commaunding him to put all vnto fire and sword and also to bring word vnto him of the place where Baiazet was and what countrie that was beyonde Sennas and if hee could learne anie thing thereof he should make relation thereof vnto him This Captaine was of great reputation and next vnto Axalla he had the commanding of the auantgard in his absence this man sent before him a Parthian light-horseman with fiue hundred horse So hee had not ridden tenne leagues but they heard newes of the armie and hauing surprised Sennas they vnderstood there the estate of the Turkes armie the which was at Tataya and marched forward The which being certified vnto the Emperour commandement was giuen vnto them not to retire from that place vntill they did see the arriuall of the enemie and thereof to giue aduertisement euerie houre the Prince determining to passe on no further hauing seene a faire plaine and a countrie of aduantage for the order of his battell for he knew that he had to deale with people expert in warres and which were accustomed to fight against the Christians who are verie actiue and war-like people who wanted not the knowledge of war-like stratagemes They knewe also that his armie was greater then Baiazets but it was yet of diuerse parts so as it behooued to be well aduised for it was not against the Chinois soft and effeminate people but against souldiers well acquainted with all manner of fights that are to be fought Then the Emperour did not omit any vigilancie for to keepe his aduantage Axalla was sent for by the Emperour to come and accompanie him for to view the said place and to consider whether it would be for his aduantage and to haue his aduise This place is between the sea Gianche on the side of Sēnas boūded of one side with a litle riuer which runneth into Euphrates And he was aduised to keepe Sennas as long as he could possibly and sent word vnto those which were within the same to set
of Baiazet He approched neare vnto Bursia where the Ottomans did not stay the comming of Axallas Armie but only they which could not run remayned behind Baiazet his two sonnes were sent vnto the Greekish Emperor for to bring them vp to haue mercie vpon them the rest went vnto Gallipoli for to go vnto Andrinopoli the which they held hauing conquered it from the Grecians Now the Prince for to returne vnto my purpose dispatched towards the Emperour his vnkle and vnto the Empresse his wife one of his familiars called Lieban Captaine of his chamber for to carrie him newes of this victorie and to ioyne it also vnto all the rest Hee sent vnto him Baiazet his sword and bowe and the caparisons of his horse the which was esteemed to be worth aboue two hundred thousand duckats You may easilie thinke that Prince Lieban was well entertained of the olde Emperour and of the young Princesse bringing word vnto them that all the world did bend it selfe to make our Prince victorious who surely receiued these victories from God without insolencie at such time as he sent him most glory then did his men note him to bee least puffed vp Hee was neuer bolde but in the day of battaile and on the eeue for to commaund seuerelie and with greater maiestie To tell you what hee was in aduersitie I did neuer see him in that estate but it is to be thought that they which be not insolent in prosperity are not faint-hearted in aduersitie So our victorious Prince marched directlie vnto Bursia loaden with spoiles and Trophees which he daylie got departing from the Cities which did come and yeeld themselues vnto him therein obseruing the same manner of proceeding the which we did in the cōquest of China they which did yeeld vnto him without fighting were well vsed and the obstinate well punished the Prince knowing that reward and punishment are the moderators of common-wealthes the one to be vsed towards the good and the other towards the euill In the end we receiued newes by Axalla that hee had receiued Bursia in the Emperors name and how the inhabitants therof had punished the garrisons of Baiazet hauing driuen them away and slaine manie He sent word also vnto the Prince that the Embassadors of the Greekish Emperour Emanuel were come vnto him the most honorable persons of his Court and that he had staied them from passing any further The Prince sent word that they should stay for him in that Citie so we arriued in short time and all the inhabitants of the Citie came to meete the Emperour bare-headed in token of bondage and the Prince entered into Bursia with great magnificence Axalla with the Embassadors came to meete him whom the Emperor receiued with all the honor that might be and shewed vnto thē all his magnificence and the order of his Armie whereat they wondered for our Armie resembled a Citie for the order that was therin the which did bring vnto vs plenty of all kind of victuals marchandize The Embassage of the Greeke Emperour was that he submitted all his Empire and his person vnto our Emperour and that he wold be vnto him a most faithful subiect and vassall himselfe and his subiects and that hee would be thinke him how to dispose of his goods the which he offered thereby as his owne and that he was bound for to doe this for that he was deliuered by him from the yoke bondage of the most cruell Tigre that might be that the farre countries he had passed and the discommodities he had endured and the losse of his men could not be recompenced but by the offer of his owne life and his subiects the which he did dedicate for euer to his seruice that he should alwaies find therefore such faithfulnesse as so great a bond towards him doth deserue Besides the so many vertues rare gifts which made his name famous throughout all the world inhabited did bind him vnto the same that he would attend him in his chief citie for to deliuer it into his hands as his owne and all the Empire of Greece ouer which he commanded to cause the same for to obey him Nowe the Greek Embassadors looked for no lesse then to fall into bondage thinking that to be so great which they did offer a morsell so delicate that it would not bee refused especially of a conquering Prince as was Tamerlan that accepting therof in mildnesse friendship was the best bargaine they could make therin but they receiued answer far otherwise for the Prince with a mild countenance answered them that hee was not come frō so far a cuntrie nor had taken so much paines to conquer countries that it was too base a thing for him to put himselfe into so great trauaile and dangers but rather to win honor and thereby for to make his name famous and glorious vnto all the world therefore would hee make it well appeare that hee was come to aide him being requested as a friend and allie the which had happie successe That his vpright meaning therein was the greatest cause that God had beheld from aboue his power by the which he bruised the head of the most fierce enemie vnto mankind that was vnder heauen for to get him now an immortall glorie and eternall name he would make free so great and flourishing a citie gouerned by so noble and ancient a house that with his courage he had alwaies faith ioined the which wold neuer make so great a breach in his reputatiō that it shold be reported of him he came to help as a friend vnder the pretence to inuade the dominions of his Allie that he would haue the seruice he had done ot the Greek Emperors engrauen in the memorie of the posterity to the end they might wish well vnto him and his successors by remembring that he had done good vnto them that he contented himselfe to carrie away the honor and glorie thereof that long might he liue to gouerne his estate and that before his departure he should consider so well to establish him as that hee should not fall againe into so great ieopardie that hee deliuered into his handes the two sonnes of Baiazet to do with them as he should thinke good that he should be wise and prouident in well aduising himselfe hereafter that his good will should be alwayes most fauourable towards him You may easily iudge what ioy these Greekish Princes receiued hearing the Emperor pronounce these words full of so great clemencie who for that he would not be seene to breake his faith refused an Empire offered vnto him and the most stately and magnificent Citie of the world I do thinke there bee few Princes that would performe such a part so bee there likewise but few Tamerlans in the world Axalla had commandement from the Prince to feast these Embassadors and to do them all the honor that might be one of thē was sent
him assuring him selfe the Tartarians would in short time cause theÌ„selues to be hated of the Persians The Emperour inuited all the greatest Lords of Persia to accompanie him vnto SamarcaÌ„d which they did vpoÌ„ the coÌ„mandemeÌ„t of the sayd Emperour being desirous to teach them for to serue him the Persian gentlemen being so many litle kings and also that during the time he was in his Court he made them for to know his courtesie and magnificence and did win them by good deedes aduancing them also vnto the honors of his Court and vnto the charges of his kingdomes wherein he employed them so as Persia as long as he liued was much affected vnto him which greatly serued him for the keeping as well of Siria as of the Soldans Empire leauing coÌ„tinually meÌ„ there drawing out colonies the better to settle his affaires in those places So the Emperour leauing the Prince of Thanais with his Army to attend his pleasure he marched with the rest of his forces into his owne country with all the ioyes and triumphes that might be possible the chiefest prisoners marching before the Emperour amongst the which was Baiazet Emperour of the Turkes all chained and was a spectacle vnto all the world of fortunes inconstancy he continued notwithstanding in the same fiercenesse was wont to be in him So where soeuer the Emperor passed the people assembled themselues by thousands praising singing his victories We arriued at the last at Samarcand with all our spoyles in very great magnificence where after we had bin the space of one moneth or two in feastings and magnificences the Emperor with his accustomed deuotion hauing in great solemnity vowed a Church and Hospitall vnto his God the most magnificent that might be deuised WhereuppoÌ„ to perform the same he began to search out all sorts of handicratfs men for to honour this city the which he had a desire to make one of the stateliest Cities in the world And in one of the corners thereof he began and did build there his Temple and Hospitall making an accompt to increase yet this Citie as large againe as it was and to people the same with so manie seuerall kindes of people and nations as hee had brought with wim giuing libeâ—tie vnto them all to frame and build their houses causing money to be distributed to do the same and giuing all kinds of priuiledges and freedomes vnto the prisoners for to giue theÌ„ a greater desire to build and settle themselues there and hauing caused the streets and places to be plotted and hauing appointed a place for euerie one to build vpon he tooke no other pleasure neither had he anie other care then the preseruing the good will of his most famous souldiers whose names he hauing caused to be written in a generall muster booke the which hee commaunded to be made from day to day they not thinking thereof receiued honours and good turnes of the Prince in recompence of their so great seruices Now he declared the death of the Emperour his vnkle vnto his Counsell and forgot no ceremony due vnto the honor of the said Emperour outwardly shewing the grief he conceiued for his death where after he had rested some eight dayes he determined to go vnto Quinzai for to see the Empresse and hauing left Baiazet in the custody of the gouernor of Zachetay the Emperor set forward with his ordinarie court which was of fortie thousand horse and threescore thousand footmen I had forgotten to declare that the Emperour sent backe the Mosciuites forces with rich presents and dispatched Sinopes nephew of Prince Axalla for to conduct them out of the country of his obedience as also to the end for to confirme a new friendship with him for to leaue nothing during his voiage that might be an occasion of nouelty hauing for that time made an end of his enterprises hee was altogether bent to preserue the friendship of his allies and for the maintenance of his conquestes This was the cause that before he departed from Quinzai he dispatched towards the Prince of Thanais one of his most faithfull counsellers called Nobazes to the end he should haue an eye vnto the factions of the Persians and also for to succor all the places that should haue neede as well on the side of Caire as towards the Mediterran sea to the ende that nothing should be chaunged during his absence giuing him charge moreouer that the pollicy and discipline should in his Armie be carefully obserued and commanding him to credit Nobazes verie expert in the art of warre So the Emperour being come vnto Cambalu he receiued newes of the battell Odmar had wonne against the king of Chinas Captaine generall and how he pursued his victorie hauing taken three or foure great and rich Cities the which did yeelde themselues vnto him and that againe the Chinois did desire peace The Emperour sent the Articles he required which were that before all other things the king of China should pay the arrerages of the tribute the which he had agreed with the Emperor First he should come in person to do homage vnto his Maiesty acknowledge himselfe as vassall vnto his Empire That the Army should withwraw it selfe during his voiage and he should deliuer vp vnto him all his Cities sauing three such as the Emperour should nominate and that the things should be restored vnto the same estate they were in before the war when the Emperor made the first peace that he shold pay the army for sixe moneths and shold also satisfie all the expences of the war seeing he had begun it was author of the breach of peace Then the Emperor gratified Odmar sending vnto him for wife one of his sisters with all magnificence that might be for to make him the more affectioned vnto him I will declare how the Emperour was receiued at Cambalu by his subiects with all the magnificence possible the Emperour for to gratifie them hauing restored their priuiledges the which hee had taken from them for the rebellion they had committed with Calix so as the Emperour went ouer all gratifying his subiects for this new succession that was lately fallen vnto him all the companies coming vnto him for in these countries they haue no certaine dwellings they are alwayes wandring in troupes wheresoeuer they go thither the Empresse hauing left Prince Axalla to gouerne at Quinzai came vnto him The Prince remained there almost two moneths hauing in this place giuen order for all the affaires he had Cambalu was also neare vnto mount Althay where they vse to burie the Scithian Emperours whom we do call the great Cham. The Emperour caused the bodie of the Emperour his vnkle to be brought thither and him selfe wold conduct it with all pompe honoring not only his body but also al that he had loued in the world although it was not the custome to cause women for to assist the funerals yet
out for hauing aduanced two hundred horse with these souldiers they mingled themselues within the army and being followed by Stucan he made himselfe maister of that which was the safegard of the army the which were their light horsemen and there were slaine of them more then three thousand men of those which were aduanced forward the rest of the army being on horsebacke did not pursue our men in their retraite thinking it had bene our whole army the which caused them to hold the bridle with their footmen chusing rather to loose their stradiots then the substance of the army In the morning they were greatly astonished whē they vnderstood our Army was as yet ten leagues off and that they were but three thousand horse the which had put so great disorder in the campe The Bassa was determined to stay for our army and if it were possible to weary the same before he came vnto the battell being aduertised that we had not victuals at our owne pleasure Prince Axalla being come within fiue leagues of the enemies army he intrenched his army and made a shew of abiding there Now he was very desirous to view the situation of the enemies Campe and hauing one day aduanced all his Army in a playne within two leagues of the enemies Army he would set forward for to view their countenance and the place where they were encamped the which he hauing done he perceiued the way by which their victuals did come vnto them and raysing the Campe he determided either to compell them for to fight or else to lodge betweene them and the sea for to cut off the way of their victuals for he was well aduertised of the enemies purposes and being vncamped he marched in battell array directly towardes the enemy as if he meant to haue assaulted him within his trenches In the meane time he caused his Armie to be lodged within a league of him Now the Bassa who had not stirred out of his Campe knew not what was our purpose our armie hauing bene in battell array within the view of their Campe aboue eight houres in the meane time our souldiers lodged The enemie who did not thinke any such matter was greatly astonished when some of his men came and declared vnto him that we were lodged so neare vnto him and did hinder their victuals and hauing assembled the chiefe Captaines of his Army to haue their aduise hee determined to come vnto the fight and giue a battell if he did perceiue that our purpose was to hinder him from the sea he would yet indeuor as much as he could to procure that his victuals might come making triall by scoutes to do the same So the day being come the Bassa caused sixe thousand horse to issue out for to discouer our purposes giuing cōmandement vnto thē whō he sent to hazard nothing but to retire if they did see that any did stop the passage so as it falling out that the Captaine of our side the which had this charge was this day on horseback with x. thousand horse who vpon the first alarum of his enemie did beate them brauely into their Campe the which the Bassa perceiuing and that it was the purpose of our mē he supposed hee could no longer shun the battell And the same night he began to approach vnto the point of their campe neare vnto a mountaine the which was nearer vnto them then vs to lodge there in parcels and also to the ende we should not lodge there at all the which they did foresee might greatly preiudice them if we should win the same before them So in the morning Prince Axalla had certaine newes that the enemies Army did dislodge the which he desiring to descrie mounted on horsebacke and aduanced forward with some twentie thousand horse for to behold their dislodging determining to set vpon them if hee saw cause and followed them to take an occasion to do it vpon their lodging But it fell out otherwise for seeing their countenance hee supposed presently what they would do and hauing called vnto him the Prince of Thanais and Sinopes hee sayd vnto them that he thought it not conuenient to suffer the enemie for to intrench vpon this mountaine for the discommodities we should receiue thereby For this cause hee commaunded Sinopes to set vpon them with twentie thousand men and to hinder them from this mountaine assuring himselfe that if he did win it hee should haue the victorie of the battell most assured Now the place was such as the horsemen could by no meanes do anie seruice there by reason of a marrish that was at the foot of the same mountaine the which did stretch a good league but the footmen did easily march thither Prince Axalla assured himselfe hee had good footmen and that Sinopes who was desirous of honor would not omit to giue a strong assault vpon the enemies vpon this occasion So our army being wholly ranged in battell arraie Prince Axalla caused all his footmen to aduance forward hee determined to fight on foot if the enemies did wilfully attempt the same mountaine and hauing cōmanded the Prince of Thanais to keepe himselfe at the head of all the horsemen who were in battell array he aduanced forward for to succor Sinopes in good time who aduanced lustily with twenty thousand men only Prince Axalla hauing aduised with himselfe as the best to cause them to march along by a litle hill and that by this way they shold do their endeuors by surprising of the enemy who could not perceiue them so as they should as soone feele their blowes and assault as see their persons this being a Maxime that an enemy throughly viewed is halfe conquered this was the cause that the same became so great an astonishmēt vnto the enemy to see himself assaulted not knowing whether it were with all the footmen or part of the same The enemies Army was at the other end of the marrish we were within the view the one of the other but euen as our men did giue this onset you might haue seene their whole army stir for to resist the strong force of our men the which continued a good houre The Bassa who was a discreet Captaine commanded all the footmen he had to aide thē which where vpon this mountaine and although our men vpon the first fury had won the top of the mountaine so as then the enemies did fight on foot comming vp the which was a great aduantage for our men Axalla perceiuing this aide mount vp commanded also 20000 of our men to oppose themselues against this new troupe which moūted and after them he sent 25000 more and came to this point that he himselfe alighted determining for to leade the third succour saying that as soone as he should perceiue another great troupe of footmen for to stirre it was his turne to march The Prince of Thanais vnderstanding that he would go thither in person sent to beseech him for to suffer
horsmen who had aduanced themselues too farre and also hee did not thinke to finde the maine forces of the enemies so neare at hand Prince Axalla sayd vnto him that hee was in great doubt least such a matter would fall out and for this cause he had aduanced the armie as neare vnto the riuer as he could But Prince Axalla notwithstanding all these great and happie victories had not that which he desired and shewing himselfe verie sad for that he knew the indisposition and sicknesse of the Emperour as incurable he purposed to returne vnto the Court to the end he might win the good fauour of the young Prince whom hee knewe the Emperour his father had sent for And hauing assembled the Counsell he caused the dispatch to be read the which he did send vnto the Emperour of the happie successe of the victorie and in the meane time he sent after the enemies to the end they should haue no more leasure but only to get the mountaines and hauing giuen this cōmandement very early in the morning he followed after with the rest of the army The greatest part of the Persians sent to sue for their pardon and did come and yeeld themselues the Prince their chiefe hauing bene slaine the head of the Bassa was brought by a souldier who had killed him in his retiring at such time as he did see the Persians forsake him This was the same Bassa who had bene taken before in the battell wherein the Emperor Baiazet was taken prisoner The prince Axalla followed continually the small remnant of the enemies Armie that remained they made foule warre vppon the Mamelues because the most part of them had falsified their faith giuē vnto the Prince of Thanais for the rest they made them faire warre In lesse then fifteene dayes this armie was wholly ouerthowne and Calepin retired into Europe all the cities vpon the sea coast yeelded themselues The winter drawing neare the Armie demanded their pay whereupon they tooke aduise and hauing considered where the same might winter it retired towardes Goualache The Prince of Thanais was desirous to withdrawe himselfe into his gouernement and leade backe his troupes as also to preuent the nouelties the which the indisposition of the Emperour might bring foorth and Prince Axalla and he hauing sworne great friendship each vnto other he went his way The Prince hauing a determination to ouerthrow the Empire of Greece the next Sommet following to the end hee might take from the Ottomans all oportunitie of waxing great seeing the Greeke Emperour did fauour them and hauing conquered againe all that which Calepin had wonne without any great resistance The Prince of Thanais was gone twentie leagues or thereabout when as behold there came a post who brought newes of the Emperours death the which did happen two dayes after he had receiued the newes of this victorie hauing done nothing after the receipt of these news but quietly end this life speaking euen vnto the last gaspe with sound and good sense taking order for the affaires of his Empire without any alteration in his accustomed manner The Prince Axalla hauing receiued these newes whereof he doubted withdrew himselfe alone and with all kinds of complaints he bewailed the death of his good maister he concealed his death certaine dayes and hauing with all diligence sent these newes vnto the Prince of Thanais he desired that it would please him they might meete for to consult of their affaires So they appointed a place to meete in about this accident This post brought his dispatch signed with the name Sautochio our Emperour by the which he was cōmaunded to leaue 40000 men with the Gouernour of the borders and himselfe to take his iourney thorough Persia with his army This post was followed by a fauorite of the new Emperor who came vnto Prince Axalla for to gratifie him to make him an affectioned seruāt vnto the Emperour as a person whom he knew very necessarie for to maintaine the greatnesse of his Empire holding in his power at this day the principall forces besides the great authority hee had of long time enioyed with the late Emperor so as the quiet of the Empire depended more vpon Prince Axalla then vpon any one especially hauing had very lately so famous a victorie This same did greatly procure him the good will both of the Captaines and souldiers but there was nothing but worthinesse in Prince Axallaes mind who assured the new Prince of his faithfulnesse and obedience vnto his commandements I will not forget to declare that during the time the armie did refresh it selfe the Prince of Thanais came to meet with Prince Axalla where interchangeably they did swere faith the one vnto the other for the preseruation of their honours and estates They thought it best to cōceale the death of the late Emperour the one of them in the armie the other in his gouernement but euen as euill newes doth disperse abrode sooner then good so did Axalla vpon his returne find these newes spread ouer all the which he perceiuing thought good to cause the armie to bee assembled together and there for to giue them vnderstanding of the losse of their Emperour You did neuer see so many cries and so much shedding of teares hee exhorted them vnto the same faithfulnesse and affection towards the young Prince his sonne for the honour of the late Emperour the which they promised euen vnto the meanest souldier Axalla caused the oath of fidelitie to be particularly taken by the chiefest of the Armie and after he had couered all the standarts with mourning weede according to our custome and had made also a muster of all his souldiers where he did againe exhort them to honour the memorie of their late Emperour towards the Prince his sonne saying vnto them that he did not die at all seeing he had a sonne who deserued to be beloued of euerie one for his vertues vnder whose good fortune they should henceforward fight who would acknowledge their seruices That it was conuenient to go vnto him for to receiue the recompence of their faithfulnesse that he was young for to exercise the young and liberall for to consider well of their trauels that hee would neuer forsake them but would be alwayes their Protector After that was done he seuered vnto the Gouernor those men as hee thought necessarie to remaine with him for to keepe this countrie in peace and to hinder the enemies from fortifying of thēselues the which Prince Axalla hauing performed he aduaunced two dayes iournies forward Now for to recite that which passed at the Emperours death this it is that feeling himselfe ill disposed hauing from all partes sought for health in the end seeing nature did decaye in him he called for Sautochio his eldest sonne vnto whom in the presence of Odmar and of all his Councell he discoursed of the course of his life euer since the death of his father
Zachetay who being giuen ouer to contemplation had left vnto him three personages neare vnto his person for to assist and counsell him of whom said he there remaineth none aliue at this present but only Odmar being the youngest of the three the which had brought him vp as well in the actions of warre as the affaires of peace whereof you may iudge by the great enlargement he hath added vnto Zachetay the which he had obtained as well through his great reputation as by force and that the hope euery one conceiued of his vertue in his youth had called him vnto the full succession of the Tartarian Empire For hauing by the coūsell of these three as fathers enterprised the warre against the Moscouite whose armes were at that time the most to be feared of all Asia this enterprise hauing had good successe not onely all his neighbours but all his kinsemen desired to haue peace and friendship with his armes and the Emperour his vnkle whose purpose was to deuide his Empires amongst his Princes whom he loued for my valour chaunged his determination hearing my reputation to resound and that I had in this young age thorough my good conduct ouercome the common enemie vnto our Nation whereupon I was iudged by him worthie to commaund the same and sending to offer his daughter vnto me in mariage he made choise of me to succeed him in this monarchy hoping that I would ease his old age and that I would guide the yeares which remained vnto him in peace thorough my trauell and the reputation of my armes He was not deceiued in me hauing honoured him alwaies as my Lord and loued him as another father carying my selfe so cunningly during his life that at such time as his death happened I kept this great Empire without any cōmotion therin but rather all subiection and obedience I will tell thee my son that I did not only succeed him in the Empire but also in the loue of all his seruants whom thou doest see about me who haue serued me faithfully these twentie yeares euer since I haue enioyed this great large countrie vnto whom the late Emperour my vnkle did promise only recompence of their seruice but my selfe haue bene so much acccompanied with good hap that I haue bene able to giue vnto them I leaue vnto thee then these seruants who are worthy to be kings honor them and raigne with them they will be faithfull vnto thee and haue remembrance of me for to serue thee faithfully and do know how to excuse thy youth and guide the same beleeue their counsell And taking Odmar by the hand pulled him on the right side of the place where he was set and looking vpon the other side he turned vnto the young Prince his sonne saying vnto him This side and place here shall bee kept for Axalla who is absent whose faithfulnesse and affection he had prooued the worthy acts of whom were so recommendable vnto all this Empire and himselfe that he would speake no more vnto him of the same that he commanded him to beleeue their counsell euen as he had done wherein he had found great good that the Prince of Thanais was his kinsman that he should esteeme of his faithfulnesse and serue himselfe therwith that he might assure himselfe he would yeeld him obedience euen to the spending of his owne life In the end that hee recommended vnto him so manie worthy Lords and Captaines who had serued him faithfully in so many warres he had made for the greatnesse of the Parthian Empire ouer the which hee had left him to commaund without anie desert but for a faire hope and for that he was his son And giuing his hand vnto all the Princes and Lords which he had caused to come before him hee presented them vnto his sonne saying vnto him that this was his Empire and good fortune and demaunding his seale of the great Chanceller hee put it into the handes of the young Prince and caused the same to be redeliuered vnto him againe and hauing continued a certaine space without speaking he said vnto him My sonne loue iustice minister it as well vnto the litle as vnto the great this is your dutie and he shall ease you therein sometimes Remember your self that the weapons which you haue in your hands are but to make execution of the same this is the cause therefore that it behooueth the warres you begin be iustly enterprised and then will they haue happie successe As his speech was directed vnto the young Prince he had the Chanceller neare him wherupon during the same there was a great noise more then was accustomed in the Emperors outward chamber and asking what the matter was they caused a Lord to enter in sent from Axalla nowe the Emperour had nothing at all left the care of his affaires as he was accustomed although they were somwhat the more slowely dispatched who brought newes of the happie successe of two battailes wonne in Natolia by the Armie led by Prince Axalla victorious ouer Calepins forces and declaring this happie successe in his affaires the messenger of these newes said vnto him that he hoped the next sommer his person marching forward the Empire of Greece should be easie for him to conquer seeing the astonishment the enemies had He answered him that he neuer doubted of his souldiers affections but that hee was called by a greater then himselfe and vnto a more happie conquest seated in a more high place whither he must needs go Tell Axalla said he vnto the Lord which spake vnto him that from hence forward hee must receiue my sonnes commandements And drawing a ring from off his thombe cōmanded that it should be carried vnto Prince Axalla to signifie vnto him the contentment he had in his seruice and in witnesse of his faithfulnesse He demaunded in generall of the health of all those of his Armie recommending them vnto his sonne euerie one according to their vertues and desertes amongst the rest he recommended the seruices of the Prince of Thanais commaunding his sonne to honour him as his kinsman and to continue him in the charges and honours the which he had put into his hands for that he did deserue the same that hee should be well serued by him And returning againe to speake he commanded his sonne that if he committed his armies vnto any man to be cōmanded it shold be vnto Prince Axalla a thing notwithstanding which he did counsell him to do the latest he could because it was so precious a thing and that if it were possible he should not trust it with anie man but himselfe that it was fit for the Parthian Emperors to be in the middest of their armies amongst the soldiers euen as householders are with their children that by this meanes he should preserue this great Empire which he left to him by inheritance hoping in time he would deserue it by his vertues And as his last wordes he perswaded him to