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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A20888	The historie of the great emperour 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.; Histoire du grand Tamerlan. English	Du Bec, Jean, 1540-1610.; Mildmay, Humphrey, attributed name.	1597 (1597)	STC 7263; ESTC S109956	178,782	270

him assuring him selfe the Tartarians would in short time cause thēselues to be hated of the Persians The Emperour inuited all the greatest Lords of Persia to accompanie him vnto Samarcād which they did vpō the cōmandemēt 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 cōtinually mē 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 Whereuppō 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 libe●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 thē 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

it was to vndertake this war for the better assuring of his estate seeing the king of China had much gone beyōd his ancient bounds So as our Prince had this iourney in his mind and prepared himselfe therunto he had not otherwise refused their counsell and the wise opinions they propounded vnto him being alwayes obedient vnto reason and not to any other passion and then especially when the question was of warre for the good of his affaires a thing for which he was as much to be cōmēded as for any other vertue whatsoeuer for by others he was esteemed strōg couragious stout but by this here mētioned he was accoūted wise vertuous which maketh kings to be honored admired wherof he that is the owner is Lord of one of the greatest Empires that men can obtaine for the wise man onely hath the dominion thereof And what auaileth it I pray you to conquer abroad when as home-matters are miserablie subiected vnder the f●ry of our foolish passions is it not very hard to cōmand another when thou commandest not thy selfe thou being the slaue of thy follies which do break thee with all their force against the moderate rock of wisdom which houereth about thee mocking at all that thou doest without her Salomon also the king of Israel praied for it so did our Prince often this was the praier he most commonly made vnto God and for this reason he honored greatly the counsel of the wise and respected not their pouerty some wondered that he hauing knowledge of a wise man would send for him vnto his Court and conferring familiarly with him would say vnto him My friend I pray thee let me bestow part of my goods vpon thee and doe thou impart some of thy wisedome with mee Hee was wont to say they presented him with golde and siluer with precious stones with faire and rich moueables where he abounded but that he found fewe which did beautifie his mind with good precepts instructions wherwith to gouerne so manie sundry people whome God had subiected vnder the obedience of his scepter He had in his Court a Christian whom he loued much and euerie one greatlie respected named Axalla a Geneuois by birth brought vp from his youth about his person This man principally did stir him vp vnto great enterprises and notwithstanding his religion hee trusted him Now he had all religion in reuerence so as it did worship one onelie God creator of all things He often said that the greatnes of Diuinitie cōsisted in the sundry kindes of people which are vnder the coape of heauē who serued the same diuerslie nourishing it self with diuersitie as the nature was diuers where it had printed his image God remaining notwithstanding one in his essence not receiuing therin any diuersitie This was the reason that mooued him to permit and graunt the vse of all religions within the Countries of his obedience alwayes prouided as I said before that they worshipped one onely God detesting the idolatrous and strange goddes in so much as he regarded not the diuersitie in religion if they were able to serue him so as this Christian attained vnto great honors and dignities neere vnto him as hereafter you shall heare Now to returne from my digression Our Prince was desirous of warres knowing that he could verie hardly maintaine his owne estate and so manie seruantes whose fingers would tickle if they were not employed in making of warres So he determined to make warre with the king of China who is called the Lord of the world child of the sun which was no smal enterprise But before he would begin the same he sent vnto the said king of China for to demand right for some countries which they cal Hordas abiding places townes or rather countries fit for the feeding of cattell the which this Prince of China had vsurped long before and euen the passages of a riuer called Tachij which is beyond his limits which are walles the which are between the kingdomes of the great Cham and of our Tamerlan builded of purpose by this king of China to defend him from the roades of the Tartarians and forces of our Prince so as this was begunne with the aduise of the great Cham and for his benefite as well as for the Princes Therefore to accomplish his enterprise in the meane time that he attended for the returne of his Embassadors he caused his forces to come forwards from all parts appointing vnto them for the place of meeting his owne at the Horda of Baschir where all his armie assembled and other ayding troopes of the great Cham in the deserts of Ergimul at a certaine day in which place he should ioyne with all his armie The armie of the great Cham consisted of two hundred thousand fighting men wherein were all the braue men of his Court who were accustomed vnto the warres the Emperor which then raigned was old hauing greatly increased his limits and conquered a great countrey so as these men were well trained vp in the warres and accustomed vnto trauaile and paines Now then the Embassadors which were sent returne and informe the Prince of the will of this proud king of the world this king of China who was named so who puffed vp with vaine glorie was astonished how any durst denounce warre against him making this proud answer that Tamerlan should content himselfe that he had left him that which he might haue taken from him and that his armes and forces were of another sort then those of whom he published the victory to bring thereby terror vpon his neighbours This answere being heard our Prince marched directly vnto the armie and gaue order for the conueyance of victuals from all partes sent to hasten forwarde his consederates emparted the answere vnto the Emperour by Embassadours dispatched from him caused the boldnesse of the king of China to be published to make manifest vnto all the world the iustnesse of his cause Before his departure he went to take leaue of his father who endued with a singular fatherly affection said he should neuer see him again and that he hastened vnto his last rest and hauing made solemne praiers ouer the Prince his sonne for his prosperitie kissing him a thousand times drew off his Imperiall ring and gaue it vnto him not asking whither his iourney tended and calling Odmar he bad him farewell recōmēding his faithfulnes vnto his son This was done with a grauity wherof the grace was more diuine then humaine then he departed and drew towards Samarcand where the Empresse his wife remained whom he carried with him as is the custome of that Nation after he had being religious visited the Tombe of his seruant H●lly he caused his soule three dayes to be praied for according to the rites of his law whereupon he presently departed hauing taken order for the well gouerning of his kingdome in his

which he had with ripe deliberation resolued of The which maketh mee beleeue that he had very good aduertisement and that he waited the oportunitie Now he gaue order for matters behind him to the end that no newes might be spread of his armie but rather that they should thinke that hee had passed the mountaine and had vppon his necke the armie of the king of China which was betweene the mountaines him thus Calix thought greatly to trouble him when he rose in armes against him and did thinke that he had already assaulted the wall which the king of China had made against the Tartarians But Calix was thrust forward rather with a desire of ruling then beginning the same with any wisedome making too great hast as his enterprise was craftily cōducted so was it cunningly discouered and all fit remedies prepared therefore whensoeuer the same should happen As soone then as the Prince was aduertised of the pretences of Calix thus discouered he marched one dayes iourney forward to the end he might approch vnto Calibes and impart the same vnto him assembling all his followers counsell together he discoursed vnto them in this manner I nothing doubt but that all of you wil aduise me to desist from this enterprise considering the armies which be raised vp within the hart of that coūtrey where you all desire I should raigne where with the full consent of all the chiefest seruants of the Emperour my Lord vncle I haue bene receiued and ought not I then helpe him to punish the rashnes of Calix who alone hath disdained to obey me allow of my promotion vnto the Empire of the Tartarians But it behooueth vs also to make prouision against this enemy which we haue before vs who seemeth to be rather a defender then an assaulter according to the aduertisements we haue receiued of his preparations We must also thinke that Calix hath not attēpted this without hope of being supported by the king of China against whom he did see that wee did arme our selues for to require iustly that which belōgeth vnto vs. There is good cause therfore we foresee how to hinder him from entring into our kingdome whilst I shalbe busied in reducing this bold fellow vnto his dutie We must therefore strengthen our borders and leaue all my munition and prouision of victuall in this place the armie which wee shall leaue here will spend them we will carrie backe with vs all our artilleries and engins vnto a safe place we will leaue vpon the borders fiue and twentie thousand Parthian horse fortie thousand of those sent by the Emperour my Lord and Vncle and a hundred thousand footmen vnder the charge of Calibes of whose faithfulnesse I am most assured I will likewise aduertise Samay to set forwards towards me with fiftie thousand horse as soone as he can and my self with all diligence will march forwards with the rest of my armie towards this bold fellow when I shall be aduanced I will attend the counsell and commaundemen of the Emperour His discourse was allowed of although Calibes was desirous to accompany him notwithstanding he thought obedience was better thē sacrifice They which had not vnderstood of the doings of Calix thinking this a matter of great importance there was in the Counsell contrarie opinions the one saying it was necessarie to assure matters at home the other party that it was a great enterprise to seeke to make head with an armie against the king of China in the meane while to haue so daungerous a Cancer within his realme as was the reuolting of the people but these men entred not into the most secret counsell of the Prince who had long since foreseene the practises of Calix hauing a great armie most readie to ioyne with him vpon the first commaundement sent vnto the same neither did they any thing at all perceiue that the Prince Tamerlan how much disquieted soeuer he made shew to be was very glad to haue occasion ministred to enter with armes into the state by him newly obtayned so as the same might seeme iust in the eyes of the Emperour his vncle For by this meanes he should take possession of his gift obtaine the good will of his souldiers and be well assured to punish this fellow so thoroughly as others which might peraduenture be tickled with the same humor would take therby example therefore wisely had he separated the forces of the Tartarians For what face soeuer Calibes set on the matter he harkened what wold become of Calix that he might likewise make some cōmotion there was left with him to command ouer the Parthians the Prince of Thanais without whom he could not doe any thing for that he led the auantgard Thus was the army deuided in two parts the king of China remaining long before he was aduertised of all this and thought he had all the forces both of the Tartarians Parthians vpon his armes so as this was of no small importance to fauor our affaires for Tamerlan had especially giuen commandemēt that the passages which are easily gotten might as diligently be kept to the end that the king of China should not be aduertised of the tumult Then Tamerlan set forward his auauntgard vnder the leading of Odmar he promised vnto himselfe shortly a happie successe in his affaires and aduertised the Emperour of all but it came vnto him when he was sicke And surely it was high time for Tamerlan to march forward or else all had beene reuolted so leauing his footemen he made great iourneyes Now during the time that hee had bene aduertised and made his abode to consult which was the space of two monethes Calix hauing presented himselfe with a hundred thousand fighting men before Cambalu a very great citie and chiefe of the Prouince of Catayo the inhabitants thereof came out to meete him and did also receiue him with all the ioy that might be They had sent likewise to Euinsay where the Emperour was at that time to intertaine and assure him of their obedience and that they did rise vp onely because they would not bee subiected vnto the Parthians They had with one cōsent also sworne not to acknowledge Tamerlan for their Emperour but they did beseech the Emperour that they might rather receiue Calix to the end said they the greatnesse of the Tartarians should not bee buried within the straite bounds of the Parthians But as soone as they heard that Tamerlan approached it did bring much hinderance vnto the affaires of Calix for these confederates so lincked together made full reckoning that his absence would be for the space of eight or tenne moneths at the least what prosperity soeuer he were like to haue in his enterprise but he had plotted out the businesse for them in another sort Euen as it is often seene that when a Schoole-master entreth on a sudden into the schoole with a rod in his hand when as the

for the meanest amongst them had much gold about him vpon the trappings of their horse The Lords had such store of precious stones as of nothing more They did bring all the prisoners before the Prince and when the two Allies of the king of China did come the king rose vp and did them great reuerence Then the Prince demanded of him by an interpreter who they were He answered him that they were his Allies and that he lamented more their fortune thē his owne and that he would die with them Now this barbarous king thought the matter should be handled after their maner when as they put to death their prisoners and feed of meat made of them as some of those countries are accustomed to doe Nowe the Prince hauing receiued them curteouslie did assure them of good entertaiment for the which the king of China did shewe himselfe greatly contented The one of them was the king of Chiampa the other of ●anchuichina vndervassals and tributories to the king of China Nowe he was of the age of thirtie yeares hee had a long visage his eyes blacke and great his beard long the which he stroaked often his nose was of a reasonable bignesse hauing a graue behauiour and well beseeming a great king These prisoner-kings did as it were worship in saluting of him and hee keeping his grauitie only commāded them to rise frō the ground He is surely a great Prince and which hath had two hundred famous Cities within his kingdome There be manie mynes of gold and siluer much muske and also of an hearbe which the Christians call Rubarbe There bee in like maner within the kingdome of China fifteene verie large Prouinces the which haue Gouerners It is reported that he hath threesore and ten kings wearing crownes tributaries vnto him We call this region China the which they in their language name Tamé and the people Tangis the which we call Chinois This kingdome doth abound in fish and in great numbers of wilde-foule by reason of the great aboundance of running waters which doe ouerflowe the countrie the which is reasonable temperate they abound greatly in silkes and the meanest are apparelled therewith hauing small quantitie of woll and not vsing the same they haue much cotten and linnen in steed thereof The men do weare their haire long the women combe them they haue as many wiues as they are able to maintaine Next vnto the king there is a Gouernor generall whom they call Tutan the which was the brother vnto the imprisoned king This is the cause wherefore he must not forsake the countrie but he requested his brother to accompanie him vnto this Battaile where they thought assuredlie to ouercome and was so wilfull that he did appoint a Lord in his place vpon whom the king of China did not relie so much as vpon his brother in so much as this made him sad considering the follie which he had committed in suffering him to come with him and to be both of them at one battaile Now for to returne vnto the king of China the Prince hauing assembled his counsell to the end he might be aduised how he should vse his prisoners and the rest of the victorie hee receiued newes by Odmar how that the kings brother was arriued at Quantou the which hee had fortified and that great store of forces did ioyne themselues vnto him This was the cause that the Prince hauing somewhat rested his forces commaunded two thousand Parthian horse to conuey the prisoners vnto Paguinfou and from thence after they had made abode there to passe ouer the mountaines and to remaine at ●urda a Citie of olde time faithfull vnto the Emperors of Scithia and there to keepe them faithfully This charge was giuen vnto Malaxen Lieutenant generall in the charge of Axalla Then the Prince made dispatches vnto the Emperour and to his Lieutenant ouer the Parthians and made them partakers of this great and happie victorie wherein had bene slaine so manie thousandes of the enemies and hee had lost so fewe of his owne I returne vnto the deliberation which the Prince tooke after that hee had discharged himselfe of much carriages the which hee had sent with the king of China before hee would goe anie further forward Nowe hee had also sent to hasten the fortie thousand footmen which should come from Sachetay and thirtie thousand Scithian horse making his account that they should haue come vnto him before the forces of the king of China could oppose themselues against him So the purpose and resolution of the Prince was that it behooued to assault Quantou and to shut vp if it were possible the kinges brother within the same being one of the principall seates belonging vnto the king of China and a citie greatly peopled and strong it was fortie leagues from the place where the battaile was fought But Odmar being aduanced thither would not retire before hee had expresse commandement from the Prince who hauing sent thither pitched his tentes round about the said Citie hauing summoned many small cities the which yeelded themselues wholly vnto the Princes mercie making great lamentation for their king taken and for the estate of their affaires the abasement being verie great throughout all the kingdome for all the diligence the king of Chinas brother could vse for the quieting of their astonished mindes and to exhort euerie one to take new courage Notwithstanding the gentlenesse vsed by the Conquerour made them to take all their losses with patience and because it was also reported that hee had vsed the king most friendlie and all the prisoners for the Prince cause his clemencie to bee published vnto all that would vouchsafe to cast themselues into his armes as he would also shewe his sharpnesse vnto all those which disobeyed him and would withstand his commandementes For it was the Princes custome to pardon the humble and to punish the proud throughlie knowing that reward and punishment are the thinges which doe greatlie increase estates And Princes must learne this as a generall rule that whensoeuer they vse those which are rebels vnto them as those that are obedient they shall receiue hurt thereby because euerie one will take libertie of ill doing seeing that the one and the other are equallie weighed and regarded by the Prince who ought to be a iust iudge and moderatour of euerie ones deserts Now our Prince had besides another maxime that is he straightly kept that which hee promised although his estate depended therupon if his word were once passed And you must beleeue that none of his seruants durst be so bold as to make request and speake to the contrarie so as this same being spread amongst the barbarous people they were assured when they had once his word now you must know that this is of no small importance vnto a victorious Prince to make his victorie perfect But to returne vnto my purpose our Prince hauing caused praiers to be celebrated

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 frō 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 whō was money deliuered for to maintain thē 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 cōmandement 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 inh●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 human●tie causing his greatnesse to appeare vnto them and therewithall the agilitie of his horsemen to make thē 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

submitted them selues vnto the Prince and commaundement was giuen vnto Axalla to take order therein This Lord which had refused the commaundement of the kingdome of China and of so many good Cities did plainly shew that there is nothing more deare nor that a man doth more esteeme then his countrey whereof after a sort he now receiued possession Behold Axalla who in the end made there the choice of his resting place notwithstanding the greatnesse he might promise vnto him selfe being the second person in the Court of the greatest Monarke of the world making no reckening thereof he rather placed his hope in this litle shoare of Mar Maiore then in the limits of Scithi● and China and for to succeed after his master vnto all his great conquests for that hee had all the souldiers at his commandement and great credite amongst all the people ouer whom his Prince commaunded Now the army had spent some time in refreshing it selfe to the end it might be gathered together when any neede should require the Prince determining from hence forward to march within his armie the which he had not done vntill this present hauing spent his time in pleasures leauing the burthen of conducting his whole armie vppon Axalla Now as soone as we came neare vnto the holy mountaines the Circassians a●d Georgians sent vnto the Emperour for to offer vnto him all the helpe and assistance they could for his iourney Nowe they be Christians and a very great Nation who haue beene alwayes tributaries vnto the Grecian Emperour acknowledging this Empire euer since they were conquered by Pompey For these Nations being part of those ouer whom the great Mithridates raigned at such time as Pompey subdued them they were very desirous of the comming of this great power the which seemed to be sent from heauen for to deliuer the Grecian Empire from the cruell bondage of the Ottomans Axalla drew many of this people vnto the Princes seruice who are greatly esteemed for their braue courage and strength being all of them tall men verie beautifull wearing long haire they are verie expert in warres and haue often resisted the power of the Ottomans by reason of the aduantage they haue within their countrie the which is hard to come vnto they for the most part vpon the first rumor of warre burning all their houses and making verie great wastes to hinder the enemies and by these meanes they are able to resist any power whatsoeuer that shall come to assalt them The Prince tooke great pleasure to beholde these faire people and was very glad to heare of their valour and carefull to prouide that they should not be iniured in anie thing at this present time they were vnder the Empire of Trebiso●da the which the Grecian Emperours possessed The Prince was euery where receiued verie friendly and they brought vnto vs all the helpe of victuals that might be to supply the want of our armie Here had he certaine newes of the siege that was before Constantinople where the Emperour was shut vp and all his estate brought vnto great necessitie Baiaze● hauing a very great and mightie armie who neither beleeued nor once thought that we would come vppon him so exceeding barbarous was hee that he would not endure anie man so much as to speake onely vnto him of our armie as despising it he was so proud and there he caused all the bordering people publickely to bee forbidden to make any vowes and prayers for our prosperitie For I will declare a truth that wee marched with such order and the souldiers hauing such commaundement that none of the people where wee passed were ini●red in the passage of our armie iustice raigned so amongst vs. Insomuch as if a souldier had taken but an apple he was put to death and this was seuerely obserued ouer all a thing vsuall and especially in this iourney the which was the onely cause of ouerthrowing the tyrannie of the Ottomans and of this proud Baiazet So we arriued at Bachichiche where the armie refreshed it selfe for the space of eight dayes Vnto this place came the Embassadors of Guines vnto the Emperour whom the Prince did greatly reuerence for his holinesse The saide Embassadors offered on the behalfe of their maister all assistance and ayde vnto this enterprise and brought faire horses vnto the Emperour the which their maister had sent vnto him with assurance of good successe in his enterprise for this foresaid Guines did prophesie and was a great Astrologian The Emperour seemed greatly to honour this Embassage and sent vnto the saide Guines great store of rich furres and vessell of gold whilest we soiourned in that place the armie made a generall muster and were payed as well the horsemen as the footmen the Prince hauing made an oration vnto them as his custome was at such time as his souldiers made their generall muster and informed them the manner he would haue obserued in the fight to the end they might obserue the military discipline whereof he was verie curious with his Captaines And also vpon this same day it was permitted vnto euerie souldier for to behold him with more boldnesse then on other dayes for as much as he doth for that time lay aside his Imperiall Maiestie to humble himselfe and become familiar so farre foorth as to exhort his souldiers vnto vertue So the Emperour after he had caused generall prayers to be published wee departed from Bachichich and they reckened that there was in our army three hundred thousand horsemen fiue hundred thousand footmē of all kinds of Nations The Emperor was aduertised that the Ottomans were become masters of all Greece in so much as the Emperor was of opinion that Baiazet would passe ouer into Europe whē he shold perceiue that he approched at the least wise the reason of war made him iudge that he wold do so but it fel out farre otherwise for as soone as we had gone beyond the Georgians and were come vnto Buisabuiche Axalla whom the Prince had not seene in eight dayes because he ledde the head of the armie came vnto the Emperour knowing verie well that he could not bring vnto him more acceptable newes then hee did bring the which was that Baiazet had raised his siege for to come and defend his new conquest and that it was a most certaine thing that he was resolued to come vnto a day of battell that he had caused all his forces to come out of Greece as many of them as he could drawe from all partes trusting not vppon the multitude but rather in the boldnesse and experience of his souldiers who were well trayned vp in the warres This did greatlie reioyce the Emperour but yet it was not with insolencie of vaunting but rather with the countenance of a personage who iudged the euentes of battels to be ordinarily doubtfull And hee sayd that a small number well conducted is oftentimes victorious We soiourned three dayes at this

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

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