there but advance towards the Plain where he was resolved to expect him because he was stronger than Bajazet in Horse At last Bajazet's great Army incourag'd with the hopes of victory and a desire to engage began to assault the Tartars in Sannas but the greatest part of them were gone only some hundreds of Horse having kindled the Fire at the Enemy's approach fled with all speed in some disorder The Prince of Ciarcan having divided his Party into two Bodies and given special order to the first that as soon as they should see the hundred Horse issue out of Sannas and fly away that they should receive them and retreat behind him for he had Posted himself in a Valley with the other Body of Horse near a Wood from whence he saw two thousand Turkish Horse the Scouts of their Army pass by him He charg'd them in the Rear so speedily and with that courage that when they saw themselves so briskly assaulted and had not the time to look about they yielded and fought but faintly retreating many of them were killed and taken Prisoners This was the first Encounter between the Turks and Tartars wherein the Victory fell to the latter All the Prisoners were sent to Tamerlan and amongst them the Bassa of Natolia their Commander The Prince spoke to him and ask'd him what had caused Bajazet to forget himself so strangely as not to regard him and to despise his Army that he hoped that in a few days he should find one that would bring down his pride and make him more tractable The Bassa answer'd that his Lord was the Son of the World that he could not endure a Partner and that for his part he had good cause to wonder at Tamerlan for undertaking so long and dangerous an Expedition to stop the Progress of his Prince's good successes whom Heaven favour'd and to whom all the World yielded obedience and that there was no discretion in him to withstand him Nay said Tamerlan I am sent and appointed by God to chastise this proud Man and to teach him that Insolency deserves the vengeance of Heaven and that God delights as much to abase the proud as to raise the humble Souls That the raising of the Siege of Constantinople was a beginning of his success against his Master And thou may'st said he though I pity thy misfortune understand what a difference there is between my Parthian Horse and that of Bajazet ' s. But thinkest thou that thy Master will fight with me The Bassa reply'd He desires nothing more passionately Afterwards he fell down at Tamerlan's Feet with these words Noble Prince I intreat you suffer me out of your generosity to assist my Prince that day Tamerlan soon yielding to his Request answered in this manner Go and tell thy Master that thou hast seen me and that I shall be in Fight in that place where there shall be a green Flag hung out The Bassa surprised with such a noble Grant promis'd him when he took his leave that next to his Lord and Master there was no Person in the World that he would serve with more affection and sooner than him At his return to the Turkish Army he told Bajazet all the discourse that he had with Tamerlan and chiefly he told what he had wish'd him to say to him We shall understand all these things very shortly reply'd Bajazet and before I have done I will make him repent of his folly The Bassa acknowledg'd the favour that he had received from Tamerlan and publish'd every-where his Grandeur and Goodness extolling highly his Generosity in giving him a very beautiful Horse though he knew that he would use him in fighting against him The next day the Turkish Army marched two Leagues to come in sight of the Tartars who were at Even about a League distant from it expecting the day following in which the great Dispute was to be The Night was not very peaceable the noise of Men and the neighing of Horses filled the Air and caused every one to desire the return of the Sun to give liberty to their courages to act in this Field of Mars The Scythians that love Prey and Plunder were encourag'd by their Leaders to behave themselves valiantly in hopes of the rich Spoils which the Victory would deliver into their Hands The Parthians who were ambitious of the glory and honour of their Nation were obliged to do their uttermost endeavour to overcome the Turks who alone were able to dispute with them for the Empire of Asia The Christians who were very numerous in the Tartarian Army for they were near the fourth part were animated with a hatred against their mortal Enemy whose defeat would prove the liberty of Greece In this manner in the night the several Nations encourag'd one another according to their several dispositions The Prince walk'd about his Camp in the night hearkening to their Discourses which rejoyced his heart because they had a certain assurance of obtaining the Victory Alhacent walk'd along with him The Prince told him That the night before his Fight with the Muscovites his Camp was full of Songs of Triumph and Rejoycings and that none of the Souldiers could sleep which caus'd him to be perswaded of the Victory he obtain'd I see said he the same presage now of the next days happiness and success When he had gone round his Camp he return'd to his Tent at the end of the second Watch and laid himself down upon a Carpet to take a little rest but could not sleep for he was impatient to see the appearance of the next day In the mean whiles he commanded Alhacent to bring him the Book which he commonly read containing the Histories of the Actions of his Forefathers and the worthy deeds of the most famous men of his Country He lighted in opening of the Book upon the Relation of a great Battel which his Grand-father lost fighting against the Persians which he thought before to win and had got it had he not attacked them indiscreetly and neglected the advantages that were offered him trusting too much to his own and his peoples Courages He commanded Alhacent to read over that passage once more with this saying I read often this description of that Battel before I engage in a fight that I might not trust so much to my Lyons Skin that I neglect the use of the Foxes Tail to cover my head That this fault of my Grand father in leaving his advantagious ground against the advice and intreaties of his Servants to assault an Enemy in his Trenches might cause me to be more wary and cautious A little after he ask'd whether it were day and sent for his great Chamberlain to cause the Trumpet to sound that his Horses might be made ready He rested himself a little longer and ask'd for Axalla who came to him with several other Lords and chief Officers of his Army He advis'd with them what was best to observe and took Horse sending them
employed him a little after and the rather because he saw himself aged and weak and desired nothing more but to sequester himself from business and to serve God the rest of his days in the contemplation of his glorious Works But before he accomplished this great Design though he had for his Son all the esteem and good opinion that he deserv'd he was not so unadvised as to venture in such young hands the Government of his Realm without a precaution and sufficient provision for his advice and counsel for if he had done otherwise he would have but expos'd his Kingdom to those dangers and losses which are not easily repair'd To prevent all mischiefs of that nature he placed near his Son to ease and direct him in the management of Affairs Odmar and Haly the two greatest and wisest men of the Kingdom noted for their Noble Birth and for their Experience in Affairs aswell as for their other Vertues and fidelity to his Interest Tamerlan received these two great persons from his Father as the tokens of his love and since he never undertook any thing without their advice He embrac'd them always with so much respect and affection that for fear of forgetting one after his decease he wore his Ring upon his Finger aswell to call to mind the good services that he had received from him as to hinder him from forgetting two rare Precepts which he had given him when he was to sit in Judgment and to do justice to his Subjects This noble way of acting soon won him the hearts of all his Subjects so that they looked upon him as their life and soul From hence we may observe That a mild and loving disposition together with an acknowledgment of good deeds is the strongest Charm that a Prince can use to win the souls of his people and get their prayers and affections In his young days and at his first coming to the Crown he enjoyed quiet and peace at home through his Fathers care to scatter and send at a distance all troublesome spirits who might have disturbed the State But this peaceable time he employed rather in Study than in his Divertisements instead of spending his hours in a Bath the greatest delight of the Parthians he spent them in reading of Arabian Books and in meditating the Precepts of Astrology at such moments only when he had finished his weightier Employments relating to the Government of his Kingdom In the discharge of which he often said That his good Genius did assist and help him and that having so much favour from Heaven he could not but succeed in all his Designs He had so great a care of and so much esteem for divine matters and things and for whatsoever concern'd the Religion of his Forefathers that he would not be perswaded to suffer any alteration Nevertheless he gave liberty to all Religions that teach to worship one God Creator of all things giving this as his Reason That his Divine Majesty did delight to be served and adored in divers manners But he was a declared and an irreconcileable Enemy of Idols and Idolaters whom he always vexed He was of a middle stature his shoulders were but narrow his legs beautiful his body full and well set a comely face with good features and his eyes so full of goodness mildness and majesty together that it was no easie matter to look stedfastly upon them Therefore the Prince was wont to turn away out of modesty his eyes from him that spoke to him that he might finish his discourse with more confidence He had but little hair upon his Lips and Chin it was curl'd very thick and of a fine Ash-colour he wore it long contrary to the custom of the Tartars who shave their Heads before leaving but some few locks behind which they cover over with their Caps but he had almost always his head uncovered Therefore when one of his Favourites asked him why he had not his Head shav'd as other persons of his Country he answered Vnderstand my Friend one thing which I will tell thee because I will thereby acknowledge thy affection to me That my Mother was of the Race of Samson therefore in remembrance of my Forefather she hath commanded me to preserve my hair This is the cause of my long hair This secret being afterwards spread abroad gain'd to him the respect of all his Subjects chiefly of his Army who imagin'd therefore some extraordinary vertue in his hair This belief was confirmed by his wonderful skill and strength in wrestling because the strongest Tartars were not to be compared to him and that such as were foiled thought it an honour though overcome to struggle with a Prince of so much reputation This being the right description of Tamerlan it is easie to be imagin'd that rest and a quiet life was not pleasing to him But though his aim was at Glory and Honour he chose rather to check his Martial temper than to invade his Neighbours and trouble their Peace without cause Providence that had adopted him suffered not long his courage to be without exercise It led him upon this great Theatre of the World there to appear in an eminent manner We shall see him next in his first goings out CHAP. II. Tamerlan's War with the Moscovites THE Moscovites broke the Peace they were weary of that Rest which they had long enjoyed thinking themselves therefore so dreadful that all their Neighbours were to stand in awe of them They made some In roads upon the Territories that are on this side of Cazan and Astracam and that border upon both Empires They had never received any dammage from these Inhabitants Their intention was only to conquer them without any Right or Claim They enter'd therefore amongst them with their Army and cau'sd every thing to pass through Fire and Sword sparing neither Towns nor Villages besides they plunder'd a City bordering upon Zagatay or Sachetay and under Tamerlan's protection In this surprise these poor Inhabitants being not able to stop the fury of those Northern Barbarians sought a remedy from their Tears and Complaints and from the Power and Justice of their Protector Tamerlan was sensible of their wrongs and the affront done to his Person and Government by the Insolency of the Moscovites who had discover'd so little regard of him He promis'd therefore to punish them and check their cruelty and boldness For that intent he takes advice what to do in this juncture from his two faithful Counsellors who encouraged him to declare an open War with the Moscovites in defence of his People and Confederates In the mean time Odmar and Haly according to their Princes expectation and Orders were busie in gathering together all their Troops dispersed in Garrisons to raise new Souldiers and form a considerable Body with the assistance of their Allies At the first beginning of the Spring Tamerlan at the Head of his Army marches against his Enemies who were encamped upon the Borders near the
soon as he could hear of any though in the deepest misery he was wont to send for him receiving him in this obliging manner My friend I intreat thee let me be a partaker of thy Wisdom and I will make thee a partaker of my Riches Upon this subject he did often complain that he had many gifts offered to him of Gold Silver Jewels and rich Moveables but very few did offer him those Ornaments and Graces which are needful to govern well so many differing Nations that he had in his Empire Amongst the chief Officers of his Court and dearest Friends there was a Genoese a Christian named Axalla who had been brought up with him from his Cradle and for whom the Parthians had a great respect He was the chief incourager to set the Prince on to great and noble Actions and worthy Enterprises The difference in Religion never hinder'd Tamerlan from listning to him and believing him for as I said before when God alone the Creator of Heaven and Earth was worshipped he never troubled himself nor enquir'd into the differing Modes of worship He was wont to say that it did become the greatness of the Divine Majesty to be served and adored by all the Nations of the Earth in divers manners according to the diversity of people But he hated all Idolaters and would not suffer them to abide in his Dominions So that the Christian Faith which Axalla profess'd openly hinder'd him not from enjoying and possessing the greatest honours and dignities of Tamerlan's Army and Court CHAP. III. The War proclaim'd by Tamerlan against the King of China but stopt by the Revolt of a Calix a great Lord of Tartary his defeat and Execution WHen Tamerlan had privately made sufficient preparations for the Expedition that he had promis'd his Uncle not only for the reasons already mentioned but also because it tended to the Publick Peace to imploy the Subjects of so great an Empire in a Forreign War for otherwise either their numbers or their stirring dispositions might have proved prejudicial to the State every one was surprised to see that the Cloud that had been long a gathering was going to fall upon China The King of this large Country who is named the Off-spring of the Sun expected no such matter But to acquaint him with the reasons of such great preparations Embassadours were sent to him to require a restitution of all the Lands Estates and Feedings which he had taken from the Tartars contrary to the last Treaties These Lands are lying beyond a River called Tachii and beyond that famous Wall which bound both Empires and which the King of China caus'd to be built to secure himself and people from the frequent Inroads of the warlike and restless Tartarians What answer this proud Monarch would make to this Embassie was known before therefore all the Troops were commanded to advance and hasten to their general Rendezvous The Parthians were to meet at Hirdas of Baschir where the whole Army was to joyn them but the Tartarians were ordered to gather together in the Wilderness of Ergimul where Tamerlan with all his Forces was to come to them at a certain day The Grand Cham's Army had two hundred thousand fighting men all well disciplin'd and inur'd to labour and pains In this Army besides were several considerable Lords and worthy Commanders who had render'd themselves famous in many Encounters and Wars in which the Emperour before the decline of his Age had been ingag'd and by which he had inlarg'd the bounds of his great Empire When Tamerlan's Embassadours were return'd out of China they brought this insolent answer that this proud Prince puff'd up with a strange conceit of his own power wonder'd that the King of the Parthians was so bold to make War upon him that he judg'd it more reasonable for him to rest satisfied with that which he could take away from him with his mighty Army that he regarded not the progress that Tamerlan had made with his Forces nor their successes already they were too weak to be compared with the numerous Armies of the Chineses This proud Answer caus'd all deliberation to cease Tamerlan instantly sent a Messenger to the Emperour to let him understand the posture of Affairs and this vain-glorious Answer of the King of China In the mean while he gave all necessary orders for Provisions and Ammunitions to be sent to the Rendezvous of the Army from all parts and for the Tartars Army to advance forward with an intention to joyn both his Armies in few days But before his departure he was willing to take his leave of the King his Father and recommend his just Cause and Expedition to his Prayers This good Parent being sensibly mov'd at the goodness and piety of his Son imbrac'd him several times After many hearty wishes for his prosperous Expedition he spake to him in these terms Farewel my Son I shall see you no more I feel my self departing to my final rest I am going to exchange this perishing life so full of misery for another more happy Then he took his Royal Ring from off his Finger and gave it to his Son without enquiring into the causes of his Wars The old Father call'd Odmar and spoke to him to recommend his Sons concerns to his care and fidelity in a manner so full of gravity and goodness that he seem'd to have something in him more than humane After this the Prince return'd to Samarcande where the Empress his Spouse was whom he intended to carry with him in the wars according to the Custom of that Nation And as he was naturally very thankful for the services that he had received he visited the Tomb of his faithful servant Haly and according to the manner of his Law he caus'd prayers to be said during three days entire for the peaceable rest of his Soul Finally he gave order to the Government of his Kingdom and for the preservation of the Frontier Towns and committed all to the inspection of Samay a man of great worth and experience who had tutor'd him in his young days Tamerlan could not easily forget such kind of services he had a particular respect for those that taught him Vertue he kept for them as much affection as if he had been still under their tuition This generous inclination so full of goodness made him highly reverenced and beloved of his People He went from Samarcande to Hirdas of Baschir where his Army was quarter'd consisting only of one hundred thousand Foot and fifty thousand Horse There he gave orders to the rest of the Army to march as soon as he should send them word His greatest dependency was upon the Forces of the Grand Cham his Uncle who mightily incourag'd this War But when he was at the Rendezvous he was forc'd to make a stop because of his indisposition occasion'd chiefly through the change of the Air as his Physicians imagin'd In the mean while the Army of the Grand Cham was upon
the march under the Command of Calibes and for fear the rumour of his Distemper should cause any disturbance in the Empire unto which he was newly promoted he was careful to inform by Messengers very often his Uncle of the condition and temper of his Body He had good cause to suspect that a certain great Lord of the Country named Calix was neither his Friend nor content with his Promotion because he had not been with him to acknowledge and render him homage as the other Lords of the Empire Though at that time men discours'd of Calix in a manner that was able to beget a jealousie in Tamerlan his good disposition would not suffer him to take any notice of it neither did he think it convenient to attempt any thing during his Uncles Life or trouble the Peace of an Empire newly put into his hands Some thought that what he had done was out of policy to oblige more strongly to himself the hearts of his new Subjects who had already a love for him and to render himself more dreadful to those that were angry at his Promotion he had craftily suffered this Cloud to gather together and the beginnings of a Civil War to ripen that he might gain to himself more honour credit and reputation by dissipating and destroying it that he was able to stifle it in the Cradle for Empires are gotten and kept by the affections of the Souldiery by treating them well and civilly as his manner was and that it was easie to disappoint such as are of a stirring nature with a little patience for in time they may be destroyed in divers Expeditions or they may be removed into several quarters far from the places where they have credit or they may be imployed in long and tedious services where they may alter their minds and the power of doing mischief In the mean while Tamerlan's delays and long abode in one place was subject to divers censures some thought it was caus'd only by his distemper others better inform'd imagin'd that it was the product of a faithful advice and good knowledge of that which was acting against him which doubtless would break out as soon as he should be on the other side of the Mountains of Pasanfu Calix expected this with great longing as soon as he had understood that the Forces of the Grand Cham were beyond the River of Meau that runs on the other side of the Mountains and that they were incamp'd at Bouprou he thought it high time to discover his design For this purpose he gather'd together his chief and most intimate Friends declaring to them that now the time was come to disappoint all the intentions of the Parthian who purposed to subdue them and keep them under his Command that seeing their Emperour was so unadvis'd of his own head without the approbation of those who ought to have a share in such Elections they for their parts should not neglect so fair an opportunity of redeeming their precious Liberties that Tamerlan was diseased the Grand Cham aged the greatest part of his Army at a distance and that there could not be offer'd a fitter opportunity to set on foot such a design that their Enterprise was so likely to succeed that as soon as they should set footing in the Province of Cattay that the whole Country would declare for him because his Father had govern'd it many years and because the Inhabitants not knowing Tamerlan would believe all that he should tell them that the Province of Zagatay was at a great distance from them that Tamerlan would have much ado with the powerful Enemy who had mock'd his Embassie sent to prevent the War therefore their Enterprise would doubtless succeed happily when he should have sent to assure the Great Cham that their intentions were not against his Person or Government with promises not to forget the Allegiance and Fidelity which they had sworn to keep for him their armed posture being only to shake off the yoak of the Parthians their ancient and unreconcileable Enemies whose Tyranny they would never be perswaded to endure Moreover he assured them that the Emperours decrepitage and weak body loving ease and rest would not intermeddle in this quarrel because he had no Heirs-male to succeed him And that it was easie to destroy Tamerlan's Army by waiting for him at his return and besieging of the Streights of Tenduits after his Forces should be weakned by the Encounters with the Chineses for then they would endeavour to retreat into the Province of Zagatay out of which it was no â—â—ficult matter to keep them by besieging those â—â—ow passages Calix's Speech had a good colour it was strengthen'd with many Reasons and Insinuations He had spent a whole year in winning the peoples favour that he might be able to use them in due time He prepar'd all manner of Ammunitions and had spar'd no cost nor labour to compass his design But though all things were carried secretly without any noise Tamerlan had intelligence of all these practises against his Person At first he made light of it or seem'd so to do wisely concealing all the reports of the Rebellion of this ambitious Fool that it might break out to the eyes of the World and render Calix more guilty and himself less blameable by bearing Arms in his Uncles Dominions whose displeasure he was loath to draw upon himself It is very likely that he could have prevented this mischief in its beginning but he had good cause to deal otherwise His long abode at Cachobach near a Months time because of his indisposition as was pretended had a good reason In the mean while the Tartarians Army commanded by Calibes hearing of the mighty preparations and intentions of the Chineses to assault them murmured because they were idle and let slip the opportunity of shewing their courages to their Enemy and their new Prince The Commanders endeavoured to pacifie and quiet the Souldiers martial disposition with news that came at every foot of some unexpected obstacle that staid Tamerlan from joyning with them It was easie to imagine that his quick and speedy temper in executing his resolutions was stopt by the knowledge of Calix's Conspiracyâ—â— and that he delayed the time only that he might have a favourable occasion to punish him Nevertheless he was willing that Calix should believe that he was pass'd beyond the Mountains to assault the famous Wall defended by all the Armies of the Chineses for that purpose he gave an express Command that care should be taken that none might forsake the Reer to give notice where he was with his Camp This wise proceeding succeeded well for Calix imagining that his Enemy was at a vast distance encountring with the Chineses though he was on this side of the Mountains cast off all dissimulation and with as much indiscretion as he had hitherto shewn wisdom in his secresie commanded all his Forces to march against the Prince to surprise and intangle him But all
of Tartary but also of the whole World The rumour of his march spread every where amongst the people and as the Moon which never continues two days the same this report increas'd and decreas'd according to the affections of the Authors and Entertainers of it But this caus'd the most passionate persons for Calix's Interest to grow cold and alter their intentions The Inhabitants also of this great City gather'd together in Companies some of five hundred others of a thousand others of two thousand to consult but not able to come to any setled resolution for they were afraid of Tamerlan's just displeasure having incens'd him by their baseness and infidelity for they had been sworn unto him and by the Emperours Command had acknowledged him for their Lord. They said amongst themselves that he was lawfully descended from so many Monarchs who had reigned over them very justly therefore their troubled Consciences fancied him at their Gates ready to punish them for having rashly open'd them to a Rebel who had plotted against his lawful Prince Whiles these people were thus justly troubled with several disquieting apprehensions Tamerlan expecting the Forces that he had sent for out of his own Kingdom of Zagatay drew nearer by degrees to the City of Cambalu His Army had pass'd Caindu and march'd strait to Calalia The Inhabitants of Cambalu had been deceived with the deceitful promises of Calix and as many persons do they had flattered themselves with large expectations of prosperity without thinking how deceitful the affairs of the World are and how subject to change When therefore they saw the Prince upon their borders they were mightily perplex'd with fear and displeasure for their Rebellion As soon as Calix understood it he went out of the City with a firm resolution to fight Tamerlan with all his Army He gathered his men from all parts intending to try the fortune of a Battel At the same time he received ill news from the Court that the Emperour was so far from being pleased with his undertaking that he had commanded his Souldiers in considerable numbers to gather together out of all the Garrisons and to march to help his Nephew unto whom in his most desperate sickness when he thought to have left the world he had sent his Imperial Ring giving out an express Command that all his Subjects should obey him as his own Person This news together with that of Tamerlan's approach caused him to hasten to hazard all in a Battel For that intent he took out of Cambalu fifty thousand men partly Inhabitants and partly Garrison Souldiers plac'd there by the Emperour This Garrison was in number thirty thousand Calix had won them by the means of their Officers and Governours who were of his Party and had consented to deliver up into his hands this great City When all his Souldiers were together in a Body they amounted to fourscore thousand Horse and one hundred thousand Foot His design was so well ordered that if the Moscovites whom he had sollicited under-hand had answer'd his expectations and enter'd into the Province of Zagatay to stop the march of the Parthians Army in whom Tamerlan had the greatest confidence it is certain that Calix might have put this Prince to a non-plus chiefly because he had the City of Cambalu to assist and favour him It is therefore very dangerous for such as govern to anger great ones or not to mind their behaviour If their displeasure be incouraged by their Credit and Interest in the Provinces they are more inclineable to stir and cause disturbances We must here acknowledge that the Emperour of Moscovy was a great Friend to Tamerlan in this occasion by refusing to assist a rebellious Subject against his lawful Prince He had in vain endeavoured to disswade him from his wicked purpose and reduce him to obedience Odmar much taken with this just proceeding was wont to speak of it often to Tamerlan so that he was an useful Instrument to preserve friendship between these two Princes As soon as the Succours of the Parthians were come to Tamerlan he march'd with diligence against Calix He understood by the means of two thousand Horse whom he had sent before that the Enemy came to meet him in good order This news caus'd him to detach two thousand more to seise upon the passage of a River named Brior as well to secure his Provisions as to stop there and suffer the Rebels to think upon their fault which either a little time would infallibly call to mind or the want of food unto which he hoped to reduce them or at least to put them in disorder In this particular Rebellious Armies differ much from Royal Armies where Order and Discipline joyn hand in hand and preserve Union and Plenty In this march of the Prince against Calix he forgot not the Command of the Emperour his Uncle to make a notable example of this Rebel and of his Confederates to secure by that means the peace of his Empire and of his days This consideration made him act with caution that he might not miscarry in any thing He saw that his own Army did increase every day by the arrival of new Levies from all parts whereas the Enemies Army wanted already Provisions because they could scarce have any from Cambalu a Wilderness lying between the City and the Camp and certain Mountains at the end of the Wilderness where a Subject of the Grand Cham commanded named Cangi This Lord had promis'd to let the Provisions pass when Calix was in his Territories but as soon as he was at a distance he refused it and took all that came into his hands he had a greater power to perform this because Tamerlan had sent him four thousand Horse to guard him and his Country This grievous accident which Calix never could foresee caus'd him to resolve upon a Battel But Tamerlan understanding his wants and the cause of his speedy resolution had seized all the Passes and Fords of the River of Brior for his own Army it had fourteen miles behind it a fat and a plentiful Country besides the Salt Lake and the River of Ostan which was beyond so that he could stay till the Enemy did assault him for this wise and experienced Prince judg'd it advantagious to him to suffer the Enemy to spend himself and his Provisions by degrees The two Armies stood two Months looking upon one another All this time was spent in light skirmishes When Calix understood the intent of Tamerlan he resolv'd to return back to Cambalu where he knew that he should have all things in abundance and the rather because he understood that some practices were acting against him there As soon as the Prince perceiv'd it he pass'd over the River with all his Army which consisted of one hundred and fifty thousand Horse and two hundred thousand Foot After that he had consulted his chief Officers he resolved to try the fortune of a Battel This resolution was grounded chiefly
the rewards due to their services and labours That therefore they ought to go to be known to him and that for him he would never forsake them whiles breath was in his body he would assist and recommend them to his Majesty After this discourse Axalla chose the Souldiers whom he intended to leave with the Governour of the Province to keep the Country in awe and hinder the enemies invasions after some other Orders given he marched away with the rest of the Army and advanc'd two great days journey towards Persia Whiles Axalla is in the way let us take notice of some particulars of the death of this great Prince who left not behind him his felâ—â—ow in the World He had often sought in vain for help from the skill of the most famous Physitians but when he saw notwithstanding all their endeavours that his distemper increased more and more and that he could not avoid the payment of the ordinary tribute of Nature He called for Sentrochio his eldest Son to whom he spake in the presence of Odmar and of the chief of his Council He gave him an account of all the actions of his life beginning by the retreat of his Father the Prince of Sachetay from all worldly business to employ himself in divine contemplation and Prayers He told him that when he left him the Soveraignity of his Dominions he gave him three great men to assist him to bear part of his burden and advise him for the best That onely Odmar the youngest of the three was then alive That he had been willing to submit to their good Counsels in things relating to Peace and War and had never any cause to repent of it That the great credit and reputation that he had gain'd when he was very young by the famous Victory over the Moscovites who were become so dreadful to all Asia was the effect of their wise counsels rather than the work of hazard or fortune He told him that the bringing down of the Moscovites whom he had made to be tributary to him and the lusire of some vertues that shined in him had obliged his neighbours and his kindred to seek his acquaintance and affiâ—â—ity and caused the Emperour his Uncle to alter his design of dividing his Empire amongst the greatest Lords of his Court whom he loved best before but then he rejoyced to prefer to them the Conquerour of the common enemy of their Nation and a Nephew for whom nature and the nearness of blood pleaded in his heart That it was this that had raised him to the Empire of the Tartars that gave him the Emperours Daughter in marriage because he hoped that he would ease him of his burden in his old age by managing for him his publick affairs and scattering away all divisions and parties through the reputation and dread of his forces He told him that the Emperours expectation had not been disappointed that whiles he lived he honoured and loved him as his Lord and Father That he had behaved himself so uprightly as well towards his Father as towards his Subjects that when the Emperour died he succeeded to the Throne without any contradiction or commotion for all shewed themselves willing to obey So that he succeeded as well to the affections of the people as to the authority over them That since twenty years that he had enjoyed this vast Empire he had been alwayes faithfully served That he gave God thanks that the promises which the Emperour his Unkle had made of the rewards which were due to his Subjects for their services he had had opportunity and means to discharge for the happiness of his Armies had inabled him to pay all his Unkles and his own obligations and debts He continued to him his discourse in this manner I leave thee my Son these for thy Servants who deserve all of them to be Kings Honour them and reign amongst them They will serve thee affectionately and will pardon the mistakes and miscarriages of thy youth Their remembrance of Tamerlan and their own vertues will oblige them to be true to thy concerns and to their duty After this taking Odmar by the hand he removed him from the place where he sat to make him go to the right side of his bed and then casting once more his eyes upon his Son on the left side he spoke to him thus again This side shall be kept for Axalla who is absent His faithfulness and his affection for me and his Noble Actions are so known and famous all over the Empire and to my self that I will say no more of him I command you my Son to believe Odmars and Axalla's Counsells as I have alwayes done to my advantage for the Prince of Tanais I shall say nothing of him his serviceâ—â— and fidelity speak sufficiently for him He told him also that because he was his Kinsman he knew that the Prince would suffer death rather than act contrary to his duty That he recommended to him all the Princes Lords and Captaines who were then before his eyes and those that were absent who had served him so faithfully in so many Wars whereof the Victories and successes had gained so much glory to the Parthian name and rendered the Empire one of the most flourishing of the World That he left it to him to command it because he was his Son though there was no other deserveing in him but the hopes that he gave of his person Afterwards he reached out his hand to all the Princes and Lords about his bed with these words directed to his Son In these persons cheifly your Empire and happiness will consist Then he beckned to his Chancellour to draw near and ask'd from him his Seal which he delivered to the young Prince and caused the Prince to restore it again to the Chancellour He was afterwards a while without speaking but presently he began again my Son said he Love justice shew it to the poor as well as to the rich to the mean man as well as to the great it is your Office your Chancellour will sometimes help you Remember that the sword that you bear is only to put in executionâ—â— the decrees of justice therefore the Wars that you shall undertake must be just then you may promise to you self success Whiles he was talking thus to the Prince the Chancellour being near his person a great noise was heard in the next Chamber The Emperour enquired what might be the cause A Lord at that instant coming in sent from Axalla brought with him tydings of two great Victories which his Army in Natolia had obtained against the Turks This messenger gave him an account of all the passages of the two ingagements which had been manag'd with Wisdome and valour by his brave General he told the Emperour at last that his Valliant Soldiers were in hopes to see his Majesty amongst them assoon as the season of the year would permit to subdue the Empire of Greece which would be easily