cytie of Rohays was kyng Agers to whoÌ„ our lord sende the veâ—nicle that is no wat Roâ—e nygh to this cytye is the lande of Baram in that which dwelled Abraham his kynred in the old tyme Whan our lorde coÌ„maunded hym that he sholde leue this lande and passe the flode of Eufrates come to the lande of promyssson that is the Holy land as is coÌ„tayned in the bible This is called Grioise the land of Mesop for cause that it is betwene the two great flodes Tygris and Eufrates The brede of the realme begynneth at a mountayn which is called Sanson in Armenie extendeth by mydday to the desert of Arabe the leste in this lande of Mesopota be great playnes aboundant and delectable And great mountayns with great plenty of fruytes of goodê One of the mountaynes is called Symar the other Lysson In the sayd realme is nat moche ronnynge water but the peple of this couÌ„trey drynketh well water out of cesterns In this realm of Mesopotamy inhabet christen men some be Siryens some Armyns and the other sarasyns The syriens and the sarasyns of the sayd countrey medyll with no dede of armes but they be shepardes and labourers of the grounde for the moste part except some that dwelled in a couÌ„trey that is called Meredyn the which be good archers And they ben called Cordyns ¶ The realme of Turky THe realme of Turkey is moche riche ther be mynes of syluer brasse other good ynough And also there is plenty of where wynes and fruytes also there is moche catell good horses his laÌ„de endeth by the gret Armeny towarde the orient and with the realme of Georgy toward the occydent and extendeth to the cyte of Satalie which is vpon the see of grece towarde SeptentrioÌ„ and hath no endes with any other lande And extendeth of length in length vpon the see syde and towarde Midday endeth part with the seconde Armeny and with Sylice and part extendeth to the see of grece and to the syght of the yle of Cipres And the sayd realme of Cipres is called grece of all the peple of the Orient for cause that in the olde tyme themê‘our of grece kept that lande as his owne and ruled all the lande by officers that he sende thyder euery yere And after that the Turkes toke the sayd lordship of Turky They ordayned a lorde amonge them that which they called theyr sowdan from that tyme the Turkes inhabyted in the sayd lande and than it was named Turky And there be many good cities The fyrst ê“uince is called Helcone that is the noblest cyte of Elconye The .ii. is named Capadoce that is the cyte of the great Cesar of grece The thryde prouince is called Saury there is the cyte of Salern The .iiii. is called Briquie and there is the cyte of Lichoe of grece The .v. is called Quisiton and there is the cyte of Effeson The .vi. is called Depictrony there is the cyte of Niquie The .vii. is called Pascagonie there is the cite of Germana polis The .viii. is called Genesti there is the cyte of Trapesonde and this onely prouynce is made a realme within fewe yeres For whan the turkes toke the lordship of turky they coulde nat take the cite of Trapesond nor no place loÌ„gyng therto bycause there wer so many strong castels And so it remayned to themê‘our of Constantinoble the sayd emê‘our had a custome to send a bayly that was called duke to gouerne the sayd land And it fortuned so that one of the dukes rebelled agaynst themperour toke the lordship of Trapesonde for hym selfe and made hym selfe to be called emê‘our all they that dwell in the sayd land be grekê we put Tarpesonde in the nombre of the prouiÌ„ces nat in the nombre of the realmes After as we fynde in the histores of the OrieÌ„t In the realme of turky inhabet .iiii. maner of people that is to say grekes Armyns Iabobins turkes which ben sarasyns And they haue takeÌ„ the lorship of the sayd lande of the grekê thei that be dwellers in the cites ocupied marchaÌ„dise labouryng the grouÌ„d the other sheperdes that dwelled in the feldes in tentes wintur and somer fed their beestes and also they be good men of armes a fote and a horsbacke ¶ The realme of Syrie THe realme of Syrye towarde the Est begynneth at the flode of Eufrates and exteÌ„deth by occident to the cyte of Gaser which is toward the see of grece to the heed of the desert of Egypt the brede of the realme of Syrie towarde SepteÌ„trion begynneth at the cyte of Baruth extendeth to the cricke of mouÌ„t royall toward the Eest it endeth at the realme of Mesopotamy towarde Septentrion with the seconde Armenye and part with the realme of Turky toward Mydday endeth at the see of grece at the desert of Araby the realme of Siry is depared i. iiii prouinces that in the old tyme were realmes in eueri one of theÌ„ was a king The first ê“uince is called Sein the .ii. Palestin in that is the cyte of Heirusalem the .iii. is called Antioquie there be .ii gret cytes Halap Antioch the .iiii. is called Silyce there is the cytie of Tarsot in the which was borne the apostle saynt Paule the sayd Silyce is now called Armeny for syth that the enemies of the cristeÌ„ fayth had taken this land from the grekê handes the Armins traueyled so moche that thei recouerd the realme of Silyce now the kyng of Armeny holdeth it by the grace of god In the realm of Siri inhabet diuers peple grekes armins Iacobyns Nestorins sarasins two other nations that is syrisins Maroins the cristen men holdeth the maner of Greioyse for in the olde tyme they were obedieÌ„t to the church of Rome they speke language Arabyke the seruyce the office of the church is made in letters greioises the Maronyus hold the maner of Iacobyus and haue a langage and letters Arabyke this peple inhabyted about the mount Lyban towardes the partes of Iherusalem they be good men of armes of the siriens be men I now but of the Maroyns be but fewe And amonge them there be valyant men the realme of Siry is .xx. dayes iourney of length fyue in bredthe in some places lesse after as the desert of Arabyk and the see cometh more or lesse ¶ Sythe that we haue spoken of the .xiiii. pryncipall realmes that be in Asye we shall speke after of the emperours of Asye the which hath holden the lordship of Asye after the byrthe of our lord Ihesu Chryst after the rehersynge of the hystores of the Oryent ¶ How the kynge of Persy was fyrst emperour of Asye AS saynt Luke sayth in his gospell the emperour of Rome Cesar Augustus helde the lordshippes of all the worlde in that tyme that oure lorde Ihesu Chryst was borne after that came a kynge of
Comani is all playn but no tree there groweth wherof meÌ„ may make tymber nor no busshe there groeth saue in some certayn places Where the inhabytauns haue planted some trees for to make gardens and orchyards A great part of the people dwelleth in tentes and theyr chefe fuell for fyre is beestes donge dryed This lande of Comany on the Est part marcheth on the realme of Corasme in parte of the same syde on a great desert towarde the West it marcheth to the grete see and to the see called the see of Reme towarde the northe it marcheth to the realme of Roussy on the southe part it extendeth vnto the grettest flodde whiche men knowe in the worlde which is called the flode of Etyll This flod freseth euery yere and somtyme dureth frosen all the hole yere in suche maner that men womeÌ„ and beestes passe ouer the same as vpon stedfaste lande on hordes or bankes of the same flode groweth some smale trees but on the other part of this flode towarde the west and toward the southe dwell dyuers nacyons of pepyll which count not themselfe of the realme of Comanie and be not obedient to the kynge of Comanye This nacions inhabet about the mouÌ„tain of Cocas which mountayn is very great and hye On this same mountayn be bred many gret byrdes of diuers kyÌ„de and all be white of coloure This mouÌ„tayn of Cocas is betwene .ii. sees that is to say the gret see which is on the west parte of the same the see of Caspys which is on the Est part of the same This see of Caspys hath but onely one entry towarde the Occean see all the remiuaunt within is but lyke a lake or standynge water But for gretnes of the same it is called a see or Mer For it is the grettest lake largest of the worlde this lake or Mer of Caspys extendeth forthe it selfe from the mountayn of Cocas vnto the heed or begynnge of the realm of Persy and it departeth in fonder all they countray of Asye And that same parte which is on the Est parte of this lake is called Asya the lesse or lower Asya But that part which is on the West syde is called Asya the greter the water of this Mer is nat salt but fresshe swete and in the same is great abouÌ„dance of diuers fysshe Also in this same lande of Comanie are founde wylde oxen and in the foresayd mer of Caspys be diuers yles in which byrdes of sondry kynde make theyr nestes and namely fawkons marlyons of suche shape and quantyte that none lyke may be fouÌ„de any where els saue in the same yles The chefe cyte of the realme of Comanye is named Sartay which was iÌ„ aunsyant tyme a ryght good ryche cyte but at this tyme it is welnere all wasted and dystroyed by the Tartaryans ¶ Of the realme of Inde THe realm of Inde is a verye longe lande and bordreth alonge vpon the Occean see which see is called in those couÌ„tre is the see of Inde This realm of Inde begiÌ„neth at the bouÌ„des of the lande of Persy so exteÌ„deth forth to a prouiÌ„ce or lande named Baâ—… and Iâ— these couÌ„tre to be fouÌ„de precyous stones whiche be called Balâ—yses Toward the north 〈◊〉 by the long great desert of Inâ—… wher kynge Alexandre 〈◊〉 so great dyuersite of serpeÌ„tes and of beestes as his hystorie recouÌ„teth there be founde namely all the Balayses In the same land of Inde saynt Thomas the apostle preched the sayth of Christ coÌ„uerted many prouinces and countreis of the same to the christen fayth Neuerthelesse for that the same couÌ„treis and peple be ferre distant from other laÌ„des wher the fayth of christ is worshipped right fewe be in the same laÌ„de which maynten the fayth of Christ for ther is but one cytie alone wher christen men inhabit And all the other ar become ydolaters Toward the South part of this realme of Inde is thocceaÌ„ see And ther about be many yles wherin Indyans or men of Inde inhabet which be all blacke all go naked bycause of great heate and all these worshippe ydols In these yles be founde precyous stones also in theÌ„ groeth right good spices There is also one yle preemineÌ„t aboue the other which yle is named CelaÌ„ wherin be found the best Rubyes Saffirs of the world The kyng of the same yle hath the moost riche Ruby grettest which is in the worlde whan the kynge of the same yle is crowned he bereth the said Rubye this hande for excellence and royaltie This kyngdome of Inde is also in maner of an yle for on the one part it is enuyroned or set aboute with the occean see by which partâ— the entryng into the same land is not easy saâ—e onely on the syde of the lande of Persey Wherfore suche as wyll entre into this land of Inde resorteth fyrst of all vnto a cytie named Hermeis that which cyte the famous phylosopher Hermeys made by his grete arte as it is written called it by his owne name From this cytie of Hermeys thei passe by a streit passage of the see Vnto a cytie which is called Courbaeth In this cytie and in the countrey about ar found the strange byrdê called Popyngays and as great pleÌ„ty of the same byrdes is in that couÌ„trey as of Sparois in these parties In the same land fyndeth marchauÌ„tes all maner of marchauÌ„dises lytell where and barley groweth in this land but the peple of the same eteth rysse mystlyne mylke butter dates other maner of fruytê wherof thei haue great plenty ¶ Of the realme of Persey THe realme of Persey is diuyded in .ii. ê‘ties howbeit it is all but one realme for one lorde hath alway had gouernaunce of the same The first part of this realme of Persy is exteÌ„ded by the west part vnto a fludde named Physon which is one of the foure fluddes floynge forth of Paredise terrestre toward the North it exteÌ„deth vnto the see of Caspis towarde the South it stretcheth forth it selfe vnto the see of Inde This land of Persy is also in maner all playne in the same 〈…〉 great and riche cyties of whâ—… the one is named Borraca and the other Semorgraunt The people of this countrey be called Persyens thei haue a langage proper which they speke they lyue moost on marchaundyses tyllyng of the grounde Armour nor warâ— they meddyll nat gladly at this tyme vnconstrayned in auncyent tyme they worshipped ydols but namely thei honoured the fyre for theyr god but sith tyme that the wicked false sect of Mahomet spredynge abrode came into those parties that Persyens haue all ben SarasyÌ„s and beleue in the false lawe of Mahumet The other part of Persey begynneth at the fludde of PhysoÌ„ extendeth on the Weest syde vnto the realme of Mede of Armeny the great Toward the South it marcheth at one prouince of the realme of Inde in some
part at the occean see and other part at the lande of Mede In the same party of Persey be also two great cyties the one is named Nezabor the other Spahan the maner and custome of the people of this part of Persey is semblable to shâ—… of the other part aforenamed ¶ Of the realme of Mâ—de THe realme of Mâ—de is â—…ry kinge toward the Eest but it is 〈◊〉 large Towarde the East it beginneth at the 〈◊〉 of Persy at the realme of Inde the lesser in part of the same 〈…〉 deth forth by the Weest part vnto the realme of Calde Towarde the North it begynneth at the realme of Armeny extendeth 〈◊〉 by the South vnto the Aquissan which is on the Occean see and there be found the grettest and thyrest perlys In the realm of Mede be great mountaynes lytell playing rouÌ„de in the realme of Mede be mountaynâ— maner of people the one is called sarasyns and the other Gordyns And in this countrey ben ii gret cyties the one is called Sarras and the other Quereâ— and there they kepe the lawe of Mahumet And vse of Arabyke letters afore they be good archers ¶ Of the realme of Armeny IN the realme of Armeny beÌ„nit realmes of that which one lorde holdeth all the lordship the length of the lande of Armeny begynneth at the realme of Persy and extendeth forth by Oâ—â—edent to the realme of Turkey The brede of Armeny towarde Occedent begynneth at the great cytie which is called Port de ferr that is in englysshe the yren gate the which kinge Alexander coÌ„maunded shuld be shytte for bycause of dyuers nations of people that resorted into the depe Asye that which he wold nat that they shuld passe in the great Asye without his coÌ„maundemeÌ„t The sayd cytie is in the narow of Caspis see recheth to the great mountayn of Cocas The brede of the realme of Armeny from the sayd cytie extendeth forth to the realme of Mede In the realm of Armeny be dyuers gret cyties riche amonge the which Towres is the moost named in the lande of Armeny In Armeny be great mouÌ„tayns brode playnes great waters fluddes salte swete with great plenty of fysshe The peple that inhabit in the land of Armeny be named by diuerse names after the maner of the couÌ„trei that thei be inhabited and ther they be good men of warr both afore a horsbacke And as for harnes vestmeÌ„t they folowe the maner of the tartas bycause that they haue ben long vnder their lorde Ther letes be dyuers some be named Armonoses the other Alcen In Armeny is a great mountayn the which is the grettest that mouÌ„tayn is named Ararach And ther was set the arcke of Noe after the Deluge but yet ther can no man clyme vpon that mountayn for the great noyse murmure that is ther bothe wnyter somer but in the very toppe of it appereth a great blacke thinge which they say that is the arcke of Noe. ¶ Of the realme of Georgie THe realme of Georgie toward thorient hath agret mountayn which is named Abbers is inhabited with many diuers natioÌ„s of peple And for that cause it is named the countrey Alayne And from thens extendeth the realm of Georgy by thoccydeÌ„t toward SepteÌ„rrion to the prouiÌ„ce of the realme of Turky the length of the realme of Georgie exteÌ„deth all vpon the see toward the South finysshed with the great Armeni this realm of Georgi is deuydyd in two realmes the one is named Georgie the other Abcas The realm of Georgy is vnder the iurisdiction subiection of theÌ„perour of Asye The realm of Abcas is mighty of peple of strong castels was neuer subget to themê‘our of Asie nor to the tartas In the realme of Georgi appered a gret meruayle which I darre nat tell nor reherse yf I hadde nat sene it but for bycause I was ther se I dare say That in Georgi is a ê“uynce which is called Haynsen that which is well of .iii. dayes iourney of length or there about And as long as this sayd prouynce lasteth in euery place is so great obscurite that no man is so harde to coÌ„e into the sayd lande for they cannat cum out agayn And the dwellers within the same lande sayde that often tymes ther cometh noyse of men cockes crowyng horses neynge And by a fuldd that cometh out of that place come tokens appering that ther is resorting of peple Verily they fynd in thistores of Armeny redyng Georgi that ther was a cruell emê‘our in Persy named Sanorelx this emê‘our worshypped the ydols and cruelly persecuted the cristeÌ„men vpoÌ„ a day he coÌ„mauÌ„ded that all they that dwelled in Asye shuld come to do sacrifice to the ydols they that wold nat come shuld be put to deth Among the which it happened that some true cristeÌ„men receyued the martyrdom or thei wold sacrifice the ydols some sacrified for fere of deth for fere of losyng of thir teÌ„porall goodes the other fledd a way into the mountayns In that tyme inhabyted dyuers good cristeÌ„men in a couÌ„trey which is called Morgan which cristeÌ„men for soke their goodes fled away toward Grece And whan thei wer in the contrey abouesayd the sayd cruell emê‘our met with theÌ„ coÌ„maunded that all the sayd cristen men shuld be cut all to peces and thaÌ„ the sayd cristeÌ„meÌ„ made a gret cry to our lord god And sone after came this great darknes that blinded theÌ„perour all his men so the cristeÌ„men scaped the sayd emê‘our with his meÌ„ caryd in the sayd darknes â–ª and ther thei shall abyd as they beleue to the worldê ende ¶ Of the realme of Caldee THe realme of Caldees toward thorient begynneth at the mountayns of Mede exteÌ„deth to the great Ninyue the olde cytie which is nygh to the fludde of Tygres This Ninyue is the cytie of the which the holy scripture speketh And in that which was Ionas the profet sende to prech the coÌ„mauÌ„demeÌ„t of god This cytie is nowe all wasted but for cause that it is yet well apparauÌ„t it is sene that it is one of the moste grettest cyties of all the world the brebe of the realme of Calde toward SepteÌ„trion begyÌ„neth at a cytie that is called Maraga and exteÌ„deth to the South to thoccean see The grettest cyte in the realme of Calde is called Babylone In this lande Nagabudonosor brought Anthetinoyson the chyldren of Israell whan he toke IherusaleÌ„ In the realme of Calde be great playnes fewe mouÌ„tayÌ„s not moch coÌ„ming waters the people that is inhabyted in Calde be called Nostoryus and vsed of Arabe letters kepe the false lawe of Mahomet ¶ The realme of Mesopotamy THe realme of Mesopotamy toward orâ—â—r begiÌ„neth at the gret cytie Mosell that is nigh to the flud of Tigres exteÌ„deth by thoccydent to the cyte of Rohais which is set vpoÌ„ the flud named Eufrates this
Persye which was called Cosserossath he rose ayenst the emê‘our of Rome and made hym selfe to be called the emperour of Asye This emê‘our toke the lordeshippe of Persy of Mede of Armeny of Calde his power encerased somoch that he droue themperour of Rome his men from all the foresayd landes And the Persyens reygned in Asye the space of CCC yeres And after the Sarasyns toke the sayde lordship from them as here after shal be declared ¶ Whan the sarasyns entred into Syri IN the yere of the incarnacion of our lorde .vi. C. and xxxii yeres the euyllsede of Mahomet cam into the realme of Syri· And fyrst they toke froÌ„ the grekes handes then oble citie of Damas after they ocupyed all the realme of Sirie After they came be seged the cytye of Antyoche Whan themperour Eracles men were come to a playne that is named Pofferit the sarasyns came and met theym and thrre began a great batayle that lasted longe but at the ende the sarasyns had the victory And so many meÌ„ wer slayne in the same batayle that the bones yet be sene in the felde of the whiche thynge the grekes that kept the citie of Antioch were so a frayed in so moche that they delyuerd the lande into the sarasyns handê by appoyntmeÌ„tes Than the enemys of the holy faythe ocupyed Cylice Capadoce Lyconie and other ryche landes wherof they rose in so great pride that they apparellyd galeys and shippes and went to Constantynople fyrste they aryued in Cipres and there they toke a cytie that was called Constance there was the graue of saynt Barnabe the apostle and whan they had taken all the ryches of the sayd cytie they brake the walles downe to the foundacion and neuer syth the sayd citie was inhabyted And than they departed came to the yle of Rhodes toke it with other dyuers yles of the Rhomayns landes and brought prysoners without nombre And after they went to ConstaÌ„tinople and layd therto sege bothe by see by lande in great fere wer the cytizens in somoche that they cryed our lorde mercy wherof it fortuned god that is mercyfull sende a great tempest of wynd rayne in that somer That all the galeis of the sarasyns were broken and the enemis almoost all drowned and than the sarasyns retorned without doinge any other thynge ¶ How that the sarasyns entred into the realme of Mesopotamy WHan the christen meÌ„ of ConstaÌ„tynople se that they were delyuerd by the grace of god they made a soleÌ„pne day for to worshyp god for the honour of theyr saluatioÌ„ which day is kept euery yere to this day with great worship After that the sarasyns were refresshed a certen tyme after thei thought to gather a great nomber of people to take the realme of Mesopotamy and Calde That were of the lordship of the realme of Persy the kynge of Persy that was called Asobari othe feringe the great myght of the sarasyns sende his messangers to the kyng to the lordes his neyghbours that were at the syde of the flode of Phison and required theÌ„ of helpe and socoure promysinge great gyftes to all theym that shold come And vpon that thei came togyther to the realme of Turky aboute foure thousande men of armes that were called Turkmens and thei moued for to com helpe the kinge of Persy agaynst the sarasyns and so they passed ouer the flode of Physon But for cause it is the maner of that peple to cary wyues and chyldern with theym where so euer they go they coude nat take great iourneis The sarasyns that were in the realme of Calde that had taken the sayd realme thought that yf the hoost of the Turkmens shold come to gether with the hoost of Persy they sholde not lightly acoÌ„plyssh there owne men of the realme of Persy and toke counsayle to sende to the kyng of Persy the kyng of Persy that coude nat chuse put hyÌ„ ayenst theÌ„ And therby a cytye that is called Maraga began a great batayle which lasted loÌ„ge in that which was of bothe partes many men slayn and at the later ende the kinge was slayne in the batayle and so dyed this was in the yere of our lorde god .vi. C. and .xxxiii. ¶ How the sarasyns chose theyr sowdan AFter that the Sarasyns had taken the lordshyp of Persye and dyuers realmes in Asye they chose there amonge them a lorde the which they called the Sowdan that is to say kynge in latten tonge the foresayd Sarasyns toke the lordshyppe of the lande of the great Asye except the realme of Abcas that is in Georgy and a countray in the realme of Armeny that is called GlaÌ„segarfordis these two countreys holden agaynst the Sarazyns so well that they coude neuer haue the lordship of it And there the crysteÌ„ men fledde a way for fere of theyr enemys of the Turkmens that came for to helpe the kyng of Persy we shall say some thynge shortely bycause that their hystory shall be of more clere vnderstandyng the abouesayd Turkemens came to a lande that is called Corasten and there they herde tydinges of the vndoynge of the Persyens of the kynges deth wherfore they wold go no farther but they thought to holde this sayde lande of Corasten for them selfe and thought that they shold kepe it well ayenst the sayd Sarasyns wherof it hapened that the Sarasyns brought a great hoost togyder and came agaynst theÌ„ the TurkmeÌ„s feryng the batayle dyde send theyr messeÌ„gers to the Calyfe of baldach ê“ferynge them to his coÌ„maundemeÌ„t the which thinge pleased moche the sayd Calyfe to the sarsyns and so the receyued the Turkmens to a trust and chased theym out of the sayde lande of Corasten and put them out to dwell iÌ„ a nother land where that they sholde nat fere their rebellion and ordayned that they sholde pay euery yere a tribute to the lordeshyp And in this maner abode the Turkemens vnder the lordshyp of the Sarasyns longe tyme to the tyme that the sarasyns toke the lordshyp of Persy Mede and of Calde And there they turned all to the false lawe of Mahomet And after it fortuned that the Calyfe of baldach coÌ„maunded to come before hym all the moost old wysest men of the Turkmens desyred them that they sholde beleue in Mahometes lawe And that they shold teche the other Turkmens to beleue so and promysed them to do them great grace honour yf they wolde do his commaundment the Turkmens that had no lawe were lightly consentynge to the Calyfes wyll wherof it came that the Turkemens that were .lxiiii. nacions were made all sarasyns except two kynredes that were deceyued of the others And thaÌ„ thei began to loue the Turkmens to do them honoure grace And so longe dwelled ther the TurkmeÌ„s that they multiplyed of goodes people and there humbly wysely kept themselfe And the sarasyÌ„s kept the lordshyppe of Asye .iiii. C. and .xviii.
yeres after they loste the sayde lordshyp as we shall deuyse here after ¶ A cuniuracyon amonge the sarasyns IN that tyme it happed that a great debate fell amonge the Sarasyns which lasted in coÌ„tynuauÌ„ce .xxx. yeres that the sowdans and the lordes of the landes wolde nat obey to the sowdan of Baldache but they rose agaynst hym so the Sarsyns power began to mynisshe In that tyme was in ConstaÌ„tynople a valiant Emperour which was called Diogines the which began valiantly to enter into the landes that the Sarasyns had taken from the cristen men in theÌ„perour Eraclos tyme and to recouer the noble cytyes of Antyoch sylice Mesopotamy the other landes the sarasins kept tyll the tyme that the Turkmens toke it from them as it shal be dyuysed here after ¶ The fyrst reygnynge of the turkes in Asye IN the yere of the Incarnacion of our lorde M.li. began fyrste the Turkmens to haue the lordshyp in Asye in suche maner that whan the TurkmeÌ„s wer multiplyed of men and goodes se the great trouble that was amoÌ„ge the sarasins they thought to haue rysen agayne wherfore they cam togyder and chose amoÌ„ge them a kynge that was Salyoth afore that they had neuer lorde of theyr kinred whaÌ„ they had that done they began so valyantly vpon the sarasyns that in shorte shace they had and ocupyed the lordship of Asye but to the Calyfe of Baldoche they dyde hym no grefe but they yelded hym great honour wherof it cam that the Calyfe more for fere than for loue ordayned Saliothe lorde of the Turkmens But not longe after themperour Salioth dyed after hym was his sonne made lorde which was called Doloryssa this man moued the warre agaynst themê‘our of Constantyple toke dyuers landes castels a Grece And after he send to the realm of Mesopotamy one of his cosyns which was called Artothe vnto the which he gaue men ynow and gaue hym the realme of Mesopotamy and al the other landes that he myght gete ayenst the Grekes than the great Artothe went with a great noÌ„bre of men layde sege to 〈◊〉 cytie of Rohays toke all the lande of Mesopotamy he toke his owne sege in the cytye of MeredyÌ„ there made hymselfe sowdan in that tyme dyed Dolorissa kynge of Persy his sonne which was called AlpasseleÌ„ kept the lordship after hym this Alpasselem had a neuewe that was called SolymaÌ„ which longe tyme had serued his father this Solyman was moche valyaunt in armes wherfore the forsayd kyng of Persy Alpasselem gaue a great nomber of men of warr to his neue we Solyman and send hym to Capadoce and grauÌ„ted hym to hold and kepe all that he coulde take vpoÌ„ the grekes And vpon that wente Solyman entred in the realme of Turky and there toke cytes realmes and castels almoost all the land put them vnder his lordship wherfore he dyd chauÌ„g his name and was called Solymansa and of these men the hystores maketh mencion of Godfray debullayns passage whan he fought with the pylgrimes and dyde them moche harme or they coulde passe the landes of Turky ¶ How the Grekes were dryuen out of Asye AFter that dyed Alpasselem the turkes emperour and thaÌ„ was his sonne made emê‘our which was called Melacaceraf the which send a commaundment to Artoth the sowdan of Mesopotamy and to Solimansa the sowdan of Turky that thei shold go and lay sege to the cyte of Antyoche wherfore they brought togither a great hoost and laid sege to Antyoche the which the grekes kept And not long after thei toke it and so were the grekes dryuen oute of all the landes of Asye by the myght of the enemys of the crysten fayth And than after Melacaceraf themperour of the turkes dyed laft two chyldern the fyrst was called Balryaro the whiche kept the lordshyp after hym but his brother that was more valyaÌ„t in armes ocupyed a great part of the landes of Persy and at that tyme that Godfray de bullen passed the sayd Balryaroth was emperour of Asye and Solymansa was sowdan of Turky and dyde many enterprises to the pylgrems or they coulde passe the landes of Turkey ¶ How the Crysten men layde sege to Antyoche WHan the Emperour of Persy vnderstod that the crysten men had layd sege to the cyte of Antyoche he brough togyder a great people of the realme of Turkey and sende for them for to socour the cyte Or the turkes coulde come that myght of the enemys were so great that they layde sege rounde about the cyte wherfore the cristen men that had layde sege before were themselfe beseged at the later end our pilgrimes fought ayenst this great nomber of enemys so well that by the grace of god the other were all discoÌ„fyted Corberam the chefe captayn slayne they that scaped out of the batayle went agayn into Persy And there the founde that theyr emê‘our Balryarothe was deed than his broder wold haue take the lordship but his enmis dyde rone vpoÌ„ hym kylde hym great trouble was amonge the sarasyns in somoch that neuer sithe they coulde nat agre to make no emê‘our nor generall lorde but they began to make war the one ayenst the other wherfore the Greces the Armenys of the great Armenye entred vpon them and droue theym oute of all the landes of Persye bothe theyr wyues and chyldern and so they went into Turky and there they kept the lordship i great prosperyte tyll the comyng of the Tartas the which ocupyed the lande lordship of Turky as it shal be declared here after ¶ How the Corasmyns coÌ„quered the realme of Persy IN the realme of CorasmyÌ„s was a maner of pepyll that dwelled in the mountayns and in the feldys fedynge theyr beestes the which were bolde men of armes these men vnderstode that the realm of Persy was without a lord wherfore they thought for to conquer it lightly And than thei cam togyder and dyde chose a lorde amoÌ„ge theÌ„ which was called IalaadyÌ„ whan they had so done they went to the noble cytye of Torys without any coÌ„tradictyon of any man and there they dwelled and made theyr lorde Ialaadyn Emperour of Asye for they thought to occupy other realmes of Asye as they had taken the realm of Persy this CorasmyÌ„s rested there certayn dayes and there they were al full of goodes ryches of Persy wherof they toke so great pryde that they entred into the realm of Turkye and thought to haue ocupyed it enioyed it but the sowdan of Turky that was called IalaadyÌ„ gethared his hoost and fought agaynst the Corasmyns and ouer cam them and droue theym out of Turky and Ialaadyn theyr Emperour was slayn in batayle and they that scaped went into the realme of Mesopotamy and than came to gyther into the playne of Royhas there they toke couÌ„sayl betwene them to entre into the realme of Syry which was at that tyme gouerned by a Lady then the Corasmyns cam
wyse conquered many landes lordships but at the ende as a man that hath a great hert he entred vpon the see And as he layde sege to an yle the which he wold haue takeÌ„ by the see syde The men of that lande that were subtyll send for men that coud swym vnder the water which meÌ„ entred vnder the vessel in the which Mango Can was in And there they taryed so longe vnder the water that they brake the vessell iÌ„ dyuers places so moche the the water entred into the sayd vessell of the which thing MaÌ„go Can toke no hede tyll the sayd vessell was well nygh full began to synke vnder the water And so was MaÌ„go CaÌ„ themê‘our of the tartas drowned his meÌ„ went home agayn made his brother lorde that was called Cobila Can the which kept the lordship of the tartas .xlii. yeres And made them christen men closed a cyte which is called Ioing that is gretter than Rhome And in this cytie dwelled Cobila Can which was the .v. emê‘our of the tartas tyll the last ende of his dayes We shall leue to speke of MaÌ„go Can and shall retorne to speke of Hoctoca Cans chyldren of Halcon of his heyres and of his warkes ¶ How Iochy conquered the realme of Turquestan Persy IOchy the first sonne of Hoctoca CaÌ„ rode toward OccydeÌ„t with all his men that his father had gyueÌ„ hyÌ„ And conquered the realm of Turquestan and of Persy the left and than he went to the flodde of Physon and there he founde the couÌ„treis full of all goodes and dwelled in the sayde countrey in rest and peace and multiplied in gret richesse And vnto this day the heyres of the foresayd Iochy holde the lordeship of the sayd lande And there be two lordes that holde the lordshippe of the sayd lande The one is called Chapar and the other Thochay they be brethern and lyue in rest and peace ¶ How Bacho and a great parte of his men wer drowned in the ryuer of Austrich BAcho the seconde sonÌ„ of Hoctoca CaÌ„ with the men that his father had gyuen vnto hym rode towarde the partyes of Septentrion dyde so moche that he cam to the realm of Comany The kyng of Comany thinkynge well for to defende his lande gathered his hoost and fought agaynst the tartas but at th ende the Comayns were discoÌ„fyt And they droue theÌ„ Comains vnto the realme of Hongrye and yet vnto this day be many Comayns dwellyng in Hongry ¶ After that Bacho had dryuen the Comayns oute of the realme of Comany He entred into the realme of Roussy and toke it and he conquered the realme of Gezere and the realme of Bulgary And after he rode to the realme of Hongry and ther he found some Comayns and toke them After that the tartas passed toward Almayn dyde so moch that they came to the ryuer syd the ran by Almain by the duchy of Austrych the tartas thought to passe by a bridge that was ther but the duke of Austrych caused the brydge to be garnysshed so that the tartas coude nat passe ouer whan Bacho se that he coude nat passe ouer the brydge Herydde into the water with his horse and dyde begynne to swym and than he commaunded to his men that they shold passe ouer swymming Wherin he put hym selfe and his men in great danger For before that they coude passe ouer theyr horses was so wery that they coude swymme no lengar And so Bacho and a great parte of his men were drowned in the foresayd ryuer of Austrych or they coude pas ouer or come to the other syde ¶ wHan the other Tartas that were nat entred into the water se theyr lorde Bacho theyr other company drowned Full sory and heuy they daê‘ted and went backe to the realme of Roussi and of Comany And neuer after the Tartas entred into Almayn ¶ The heyres of the sayd Bacho holde the lordshippe of the realme of Corasme the realme of Comany and the realm of Roussy And he that is nowe lorde was Hoctoca Canâ— thyrde sonne which was called Chacaday ¶ How Iochy receyued his broder Chacaday CHacaday the thyrde sonÌ„ of Hoctoca Can with his meÌ„ that his father had gyuen vnto him rode toward the Southe tyll he came to the ê‘ties of Inde the leest And there he founde moche voyd lande and no men dwellynge therin And so he coude nat passe but he lost his men and many of his beestes After that he went towarde the Occydent and dyde so moche that he came to his brother Iochy and rehersed to hym all his fortune ¶ Iochy receyued his brother his company full humbly gaue vnto them part of his landes that he had coÌ„quered And in contineÌ„t were the two brothers to gyder there men in good peace and rest And he that is nowe lorde is called Baretath ¶ How and whan the kynge of Armeny laft his owne countrey came to the kynge of the Tartas And how he required .vii. peticyons of hym IN the yere of our lord god a thousand two houderde and thre fyfti Hayton the king of Armeny of good remembraunce seyng that the tartas hadde conquered all the countreys and realmes to the realm of Turkey He toke counsayle for to go to the kyng of the Tartas to take with hym his goodes his frendes The king of Armeny by the counsell of his barownes send before for his brother sir Symme Batat constable of the realme of Armeny And than the constable went to the realme of the Tartas and to the lord Mango Can and brought hym many riche presentes and was courtesly receyued ¶ And whan he had accomplysshed well all his besynesses for the whiche his brother the kynge of Armeny had sende hym for Veryli he taryed foure yeres or that he came agayn into Armeny and whan he had tolde to his brother the kynge what he had done and founde By and by the kynge apparylled hym and his men of armens and wente pryuely he and his men by Turky for that that he wolde nat be knowen And he merre with a captayn of the Tartas the whiche had ouer come the sowdan of Turkey the kynge of Armeny gaue him knowlege and tolde to hym how that he was goynge to themperour of the tartas And than the sayd captayne gaue hym company to bryng hym to the port de ferr And after that the king found other company that brought hym to the cytye of Maleth and there was Mango Can themê‘our of the Tartas the which was eyght gladde of the kynge of Armenes coÌ„myng And receyued hyÌ„ honorably gaue hym great gyfâ—es and great graces After that the kynge of Armeny had taryed certayn dayes he made his requestes and required of themperour seuen thinges ¶ The first thing that the kynge required of theÌ„perour was that he and his men sholde becom cristen men and that they sholde be baptised The seconde that
coÌ„ming he durst nat abyde but fledde away hastely Albaga sende his men forward before that the sowdan myght come and retorne into the realme of Egipt The tartas ouer toke the last parte of the Sarasyns hoost in a place is called Lepas Blaur and entred into the sarasins hoste and toke .ii. M. horsmen gate great tichesse more ouer they toke .v. M. houses of Cordyns that were in the sayd parties And than Albaga had couÌ„sell that he shuld nat entre into the land of Egypt for the great hete that was ther for theyr horses that had so moch laboured And than Albaga retorned to turkey toke the landes the cites dyd so moche that he toke Parnana And sone after as the maner of the tartas was Pernana was put to dethe than Albaga coÌ„maunded that in all maner of his mete that he shuld ete shuld haue some of the flessh of Parnana and so Albaga dyd ete of the flesshe gaue some to his men And that was the vengeauÌ„ce that Albaga toke of the traitour Parnana ¶ How Albaga ê“fered the realme of Turky to the king of Armeny WHan Albaga had taken all the landes had ordred the realme of Turky to his plesure He dyde call before hym the kynge of Armeny profred hym to haue hold the realme of Turky at his pleasur by cause that the kyng of Armeni his kynred had euer ben true to the tartas The kynge of Armeny as a wiseman thaÌ„ked moch Albaga of so great a gift excused hym sayeng that he was nat sufficient to gouern two realmes For the sowdaÌ„ of Egypt toke moch labour for to do hurt to the realm of Armeni than the kyng of Armeny couÌ„selled to Albaga that he shuld nat gyue the lordship of the realm of Turkey to a sarasyn This couÌ„sell plesed moch to Albaga so he wolde that no sarasyn shuld haue no lande nor holde in Turkey ¶ After that the kyng of Armeni praied to Albaga that he wold go or sende his brother to delyuer the holy lande out of the sarasyns handê and to gyue it to the christeÌ„men agayn Albaga promised hym that he shuld do it with a good wyll coÌ„maunded to the kyng of Armeny that he shulde sende to the pope to the other kynges lordes of the christeÌ„men of the occydent that they shuld come or send their men to the helpe of the holy lande for to kepe the landes the cytes that thei shuld coÌ„quer Than the king of Armeny deê‘ted retorned into his landes sende his messaÌ„gers to the pope and to the kynges of the occident whaÌ„ he had ordayned that that was nedefull to the realme of Turkey He came to the realme of Corasten ther as he had left his housholde BeÌ„donedar was poysoned as he retorned to Egypt and coude nat retorne on lyue to the cyte of Damas Of Bendonaders deth wer the christeÌ„men glad and the sarasyns moche sory for he was a valy ant man of armes After BeÌ„dona der was one made sowdan that was called Melecset but he taried nat longe for he was put from the lordshippe And one that was called Esly was made sowdan ¶ Of the batayle betwene Mangadamor and the sowdan WHan the tyme and the season came that Albaga myght ryd for to entre into the lande of Egypt Firste he sende Mangadamor with .xxx. M. tartas and badde that they shuld occupy the kyng Anyne of Syri and he wolde ryde after And yf the sowdan shulde come agaynst theÌ„ that they shulde valyaÌ„tly fyght with hym And if the sowdan durst nat come in the batayle he coÌ„mauÌ„ded that they shuld occupy the landes and the cyties and that they shuld deliuer them into the christeÌ„mens handê to kepe MaÌ„gadamor rod with .xxx. thousand tartas that Albaga his brother had gyuen hym And the king of Armeny put him in his company with a grete nombre of horsmen whan Mangadamor and the kyng of Armeny entred into the realme of Syri they went wastyng the sarasyns landê to the cyte of Hames that is called la Chalemelle Which is in the myddes of the realme of Syrie Before this cyte is a fayre playne and ther was the sowdan with all his power The sarasyns on one parte the tartas and the christen men of an other parte Began to fyght The kyng of Armeny that coÌ„ducted the right part of the hoost sette them in aray and sette vpon the lyft part of the sarasyns hoost and discomfyt theÌ„ and droue theÌ„ be end the cytie of Hames thre leges and more And the constable of the tartas that was called Halmach Bech set vpon the right part of the sarasyns hoost and ouercame theÌ„ And than euery of them went to a cytie that is called Thara Mangadamor that taryed in the felde se come a company of Bednyns and putte hym in great fere as a man that had neuer sene batayle and without reason departed froÌ„ the felde with the victori And left the kyng of Armeny and the constable that were gone after theyr ennemys Whan the sowdan se that the tartas wer departed from the felde He went vpon an hyll with iiii thousand horsmen whan the kyng of Armeny retorned fro the disconfiture and found nat MaÌ„gadamor He was moche a basshed whiche way he was gone he rode after Ameleth the constable taryed .ii. dayes for his lord MaÌ„gadamor and also he was moche abasshed of the way that he went and whan he knewe that he was gone He rode after with his men tyll he came to the ryuer of Eufrates and coude nat ouertake MaÌ„gadamor And so by the faute of the sayd Magadamor they left the felde and the batayle whan they had the victory The tartas went agayne into theyr countreis but the kyng of Armeny suffred gret trauayle and moche losse of his people through faute of vitayle the meÌ„ and beestes were so wery that they coude nat go And than they departed a sonder and went by dyuers wayes there as the sarasins were and dwelled in the sayd couÌ„treis which toke and slewe many of the christeÌ„ men And so the moost part of the king of Armenis hoste was lost and almoost all the gentylmen were slayn This mysfortune happened In the yere of our lorde god M.CC.lxxxii ¶ How Albaga and his brother was poysoned by theyr famulyer seruauntes WHan Albaga vnderstode this tidynges he sende and coÌ„mauÌ„ded that his barownes shulde coÌ„e in all the hast vnto hym And so Albaga gathered a great hoost to thyn â—Lent to entre into the realme of Egypt but it happened that a sarasyn came into the realm of Persy the which dyde so moch and gaue gyftes to Albagas famyliar seruauntes that they gaue to Albaga and to his brother poyson and so they lyued but .viii. dayes after And so Albaga Can dyed In the yere of our lorde god a thousande two honderde foureskore two ¶ After the dethe of
pleasure of theÌ„ that had put him in the lordship aboue sayd but syth that he was fermed in his lordshyp He began to loue moch the christeÌ„men hated the sarasyns he dyde moch profet to the christen lande Fyrste he put to dethe all them that gaue hyÌ„ counsell to do hurt to the christenmen After that Casan coÌ„mauÌ„ded that all his men shulde be redy wtin a yere of all maner of thynges that they had â—â—ed to For he wold entre into the land of Egypt and put out the sowdan and sende to the kyng of Armeny to the kyng of Georgy and to the christeÌ„men of the parties of the Orient that they shulde be redy to come with hym Whan the season was come Casan rode with all his power came into the cytie of Baldache Whan Casan came into the sowdans landes he brought his men togyder The sowdan of Egypt that was called Malecuaser gathered all his power before the cytie of Hames that is in the myddes of the realme of Syrie Casan vnderstode that the sowdan was coÌ„myng for to fyght agaynst hym And for cause of that he wolde nat tary for to take castell nor towne but he went streight to the place there as the sowdan was lodged by the hoost within a dayes iourney In a medowe wherin was great plenty of grasse than Casan coÌ„mauÌ„ded that thei shulde gyue rest to all their beestes that wer laboured in commyng haste lye so ferre way In the company of Casan was a sarasyn that was called Chapchap whiche had ben baylie of Damas and was fledde away for fere of the soudaÌ„ Casan had don many honours graces to the said Chapchap and trusted hym well And than it happened that the sayd Chapchap sende by his letters to the sowdan of Egypt all the secrettes and counsell of the Tartas and sende to the sowdan that he shulde come hastely agaynst Casan to the batayle And as his men and his beestes were wery than it fortuned that the sowdan of Egypt which dyd purposlye tary for Casan went into the countreys of Hames by the counsell of the sayd Chapcha the traytoure And came hastely with all his power to begynne vpon Casan and to make hym a frayed The kepers of CasaÌ„s hoost gaue knowlege of the sowdaÌ„s coÌ„myng And than Casan commauÌ„ded to all his barownes that they shulde ryde all in ordre iÌ„ theyr batayles against the sowdan and his men and Casan rode euer with as many of his men that were by him and came agaynst the sowdan which came hastely with a great nombre of the beest men of his hoost Whan Casan se that he coude nat vndertake the tayle that his meÌ„ that were abrode coude nat come to hym so soone He taryed there coÌ„maunded to all them that were with hym that they shulde lyght a fote and that they shuld put theyr horses about them And with bowes and arowes they shulde bete theyr ennemys downe that were coÌ„myng roÌ„nyng as fast as theyr horses coud bere them than the tartas descended afore and put theyr horses betwene them held their bowes and theyr arowes redy in theyr handes abydinge tyll theyr ennemys were come nere to them Than the tartas shot theyr arowes all togyder and made theÌ„ that came roÌ„nynge fyrst to fall vpon the grounde and the other that came after fyll vpon them and so the one fyll vpon an other And they shot styll and well for they were good shoters so that fewe of the sarasins skaped but that they were slayne or hurt Whan the sowdan se that he went backe agayne And thaÌ„ Casan commaunded incoÌ„tinently to his men that they sholde lepe vpoÌ„ theyr horses and that they shulde valiantly set vpon their ennemys Casan was the fyrst that went to fyght agaynst the sowdan and ran into the prese with suche small coÌ„pany that he had with hym tyll all the barownes came to the batayle Than began the batayle that lasted from the sonÌ„ rising tyll none at th ende the sowdans hoost coud nat endure afore Casan For with his owne handê he dyd gret meruelles the sowdan with his people fledde away Casan and his meÌ„ chased them tyll it was darke nyght and they slewe as many of theyr ennemys as they coud take Than ther was so many sarasyÌ„s slayne that the grouÌ„de was all couered with them The sayd night CasaÌ„ taryed in a place that is called Caner full gladde of the victory that god had giuen hym This batayle was in the yere of our lord god a thousaÌ„de thre hondred and one the wednisday before Christmasse ¶ How the cytie of Hames was conquered AFter that Casan commauÌ„ded to the kynge of Armeni and to one of his barownes that was called Molay that with forty thousande Tartas they sholde go after the sowdan vnto the desert of Egipt that was well twelfe dayes iourney from the place there as the batayle was and coÌ„maunded that they shuld tary his commyng in the countrey of Cassore The kynge of Armeny Molay with .xl. M. tartas deê‘ted went after the sowdan as many sarasyns as they coude take they kyld them The thyrd day after Casan coÌ„maunded that the kynge of Armeni shuld coÌ„e backe again for he wold lay sege to the cyte of Hames coÌ„mauÌ„ded the Molay shulde go after the sowdan But the sowdaÌ„ ran away nyght day vpon coÌ„nynge horses in the coÌ„pany of Bednyns that were his gyde And iÌ„ this maner myserably the sowdan entred into Babylon without any coÌ„pany the sarasyns fledde away into dyuers wodes ther as they thought to skape better a great part of the Sarasins kept the way towarde Triple the which were taken kylde by the christeÌ„men that dwelled at the mount of Lyban The kynge of Armeny retorned to Casan and found that the cyte of Hames was yelded to Casan and all the riches that the sowdan and his men had was brought be fore Casan And they marueyled greatly all that the sowdan his men had brought with theÌ„ so gret riches ther as they though to feyght Whan Casan had brought to gyder all the tresure riches that wer goten he deê‘ted all to his meÌ„ And I fere Hayton hath ben present to all the great besinesse that the tartas had to do with the sarasyns From Halcons tyme hyderto but I herd neuer speke that no lorde of the tartas dyde so great a dede in two dayes as CasaÌ„ dyde For the fyrst day of the batayle Casan with a smale company of men proued hymselfe agaynst the sowdan a great noÌ„bre of his men of his person dyde sowell that he was named aboue all other in batayle of his person shal be spokeÌ„ among the tartas euermore The second day the fredome of Casan was great for all the riches that he had goteÌ„ that was wtout nombre he deê‘ted it to his men in such maner that he kept for hym selfe but one swerd a
yeres After that the sarasyns toke the landê and the Medyens that be called Cordins ocupied the lordshyppe of Egypt as we shall say here after ¶ How the christenmen were driuen out of Egypt IN the yere of our lord god a thousand .liii. kyng Almaur kynge of HierusaleÌ„ of good mynd gathered his hoost in all the lande of Hierusalem and entred into Egypt and conquered many landes and cytes as it is wrytten in the boke of the holy lande conquestes The Calyfe seynge that he coude abyde agayn the christeÌ„meÌ„s power send his messangers to the sowdan of Halap that kept Mahometez lawe And thought to haue a great treasour of the Calyfe that was called Saraton he and a great coÌ„pany of men a war came to helpe the Calyfe those men dyd so moch that they droue the christeÌ„men out of the lande of Egypt riche and delectable And the power of the Calyf was smale the sowdan coueyted the lordship wherfore he toke hym and put hyÌ„ in pryson than after he set vpon the lande valyantly and put it in his subiection and made hym sodan and lorde of Egypt this Paraton was of the Corasmyns nacion and was the fyrst lorde in Egypt of his nation ¶ After the dethe of SaratoÌ„ one of his sonnes was made lorde of Egipt that was called Salzadin And this Salzadyn dyd so moch that he vndyde the kyng of Hierusalem and toke his cyties byforce and toke dyuers other landes of the christeÌ„mens as it apperith by the boke of the coÌ„questes of the holy lande After the deth of Salzadyn his brother and one of his neuiewes one after an other kept the lordship of Egypt tyll the sowdaÌ„s tyme that was called Mellecasa This Mellecasa was sowdan of Egypt at that tyme that the Tartas toke the realme of Cumany the sowdan herde say that the tartas solde the Cumayns that they had takeÌ„ to a good shyppe And thaÌ„ he sende dyuers marchauntes with a great quantite of good for to by some of the sayd Cumayns and iÌ„ specylly of the yongest and many of them was brought into Egypt Malacasa dyde norysshed them loued them moche and lerned theÌ„ to ryde and to the armes and tru sted them well and kept them euer nygh him And in that tyme that the kyng of Fraunce Loys passed ouer the see and was taken of the sarasyns the aboue sayd CucumaÌ„s that were bought and solde kylde there lorde Malecasa and made one of them lorde that was called Turkmen and by the reason of this the kyng of Fraunce and his brother that were in the sarasyns pryson were the soner bought agayn and delyuerd out of pryson In this maner began the CucumaÌ„s to haue lordship in Egypt this kinred of the CucumaÌ„s is called chapchap into the OrieÌ„t partê nat many dayes after one of this Sclauons which was called Cochos kylled the sayd TurkemeÌ„t made hym sowdan and was called Melomees This man went into the realme of Syrie and driued out Gynbago and .x. thousaÌ„d tartas the which Halcon had left for to kepe the lande of Syrie As he retorned to Egypt an other of the sayde Cucumans kylde hym Which was called BeÌ„docdar and made hym sowdaÌ„ and made hym calle Meldaer This was moche wise and valyant to the armes to his power he rose moche the sarasyns power in the realme of Sirie and Egypt And toke many cyties and landes that the christenmen kept And toke byforce the noble cyte of Antyoch In the yere of our lorde god M.CC.lxviii ¶ In the realme of Cucumanie this maÌ„ dyde moch harme in this Bendocdar dayes Whan syr Edwarde kyng of Englande passed ouer the see The sowdaÌ„ thought to haue kylde hym by an Assasyn by the which Assasyn the kyng was hurt with a knyfe that was poysoned but he was hole agayne by the grace of god ThaÌ„ after it happened that the sowdan had a drinke with mortall venym and dyed in the cyte of Damas. After his deth his sonne that was called Melecsart was mad sowdaÌ„ but he kept nat long the lordshippe of Egypt for an other Cucumant that was called Elsy dryue hym oute of the lordship and the lande of Egypt made him sodan This Elsy was he that layd sege before the cyte of Triple and toke it byforce In the yere of our lorde god a thousand two hondred foureskore nyne ¶ How Elsy was poysoned IN the yer after the sayd Elsy brought all his power to gyder nygh Babylone taryenge forto put sege afore Acre Vpon a day as he put hym in a pleasaunte place for to ease hym selfe yt fortuned that a seruaunt the whiche he trusted well and had made hym constable of his hoost gaue hym poyson to drynke and dyed soone after This coÌ„stable occupyed the lordshyp but the other ran vpon hym and cutte hym all in pecys After that one of Elsy soÌ„nes was made sowdan that was named Melecasseraph the which toke the cytie of Acre and put out of the landes of Syrie all the christenmen This was in the yere of our lorde god a thousande CC. lxxxxi ¶ How Melcuaser was made sowdan of Egypt WHaÌ„ Melecasseraph was retorned into Egipt vpoÌ„ a day he went a huntyng and ther a seruaunt kylde hym in the wode and soone after the seruaunt was kylde by the other And after that he that is sowdan nowe was made sowdan in Egypt that is called Melcuaser which was Melecasseraph brother And bycause that this Melecuaser was yonge he was put vnder an ouersear which was of the tartas nacion and was called Ginboga this Gynboga putte away this chyld Melecuase and put hym inward into the crake of mouÌ„t royall and toke the lordship made hymselfe sowdan and was called Melecadell In this Melechadels dayes was so grete nede of vitayles that all the sarasyns dyed for hunger if it had nat ben for the false christenmen that brought them vitayle Inough for couytes of money Aft that it happened the tidynges came of the tartas coÌ„mynge thaÌ„ Ginboga gathered his hoste went into the realme of Syrie forto defend the lande agaynst the tartas This Ginboga honoured moch those that had beÌ„ tartas kept theÌ„ nere hym of this the CucumaÌ„s had great enuy Wherfore it happed that as Ginboga retorned to Egypt the Cucumans put hym out of his lordeship and made one of thaÌ„ sowdan that was called Lachyn was called after Melecuaser This Lachyn wold nat kyll Gynboga bycause that he wolde be his felowe but gaue him a couÌ„trey that was called Sarta and after that he gaue hym the lordshyp of Haman but he wolde nat suffre that Ginboga shuld dwell in Egypt This sowdan taryed .iii. yeres in the castell of Cayre for fere of his men except a day that he came downe to the playn and came there to play at the foreball his horse fyll vnder hym and brake his legge After it happed that vpon a day this sowdan Lachyn played at cheker had putte his
swerde nygh hym one of his owne seruauntes toke the swerde and strake hym sone after the other ran vpon hym that had done the dede cut hym all in pecis and after that the sarasyns wer in great debate for to make a sowdan but iÌ„ th end they agreyd and put Melecuaser aforesayd in the lordship the which Ginboga had last in the crake of mount royall This sowdan is he that ouercame Casan in the felde is yet sowdan of Egipt It shal be forgyuen me yf I speke to lange of the Cucumans that be subgettes bought solde of the sowdans of theyr kinred for I do to shewe that the sarasins can nat be long without such a fortune shuld come vnto theÌ„ by the whiche they might nat coÌ„e out of Egipt nor go with an hoost in an other lande ¶ How the lande of Egypt is watred with the water of flud Gyon THe realm of Egipt is moche riche delyctable It is .xv. dayes iourney of length thre dayes iourney in brede The land of Egipt is a yle for by both the sydes is desertes sand is and of the other part is the see of grece toward thorient is more nygh of the lande of Syrie than of any other lande Verily betwene the .ii. realmes is well .viii. dayes iourney of way all landes towarde thoccydent finysshed to one of the Barbare prouynce that is called Darta betwene these two landê is well .xv. dayes iourney of desertes toward mydday fynisshed with the realme of Nabye which be cristeÌ„men and all blacke for the hete of the sonne And bytwene the two landes is well .xii. dayes iourney and all sandes In the realm of Egypt be .v. prouinces The first is called Sayth the seconde Meser the thyrde Alexander the .iiii. Rychy This couÌ„trey is closed of the see and fluddes of an yle and the other Damyette The chefe cytie of the realme of Egypt is called Cayre and is nygh of an olde cytie that is called Meser These two cyties be vpon the fuld of Nyll syde which roÌ„neth by the lande of Egypt that is called Gion This fludde is moch ê“fitable for it watreth all the landes ther as it passeth and maketh all the laÌ„des fruit full and habondaunte of all maner of goodê In the flud of Nyll be fysshes ynough and bere great shippes for it is great depe and aboue all the fluddes the Nyll may be prased yf it were nat that there is a maner of beestes that be called dragons deuoured horses men that be vpon the water vpoÌ„ the see whan thei may haue them These beestes be called Cocalx the fludd of Nyll riseth ones in a yer and begynneth to ryse at myddes of August so risynge tyll saynt Michaels day And whan it is so high that it can no more the meÌ„ of the countrey let the water ron by bykes smale ryuers so that they water all the countrey And so the water tarieth there .xl. dayes and whan the gound is dry the peple sowe set all the ground And bycause of the sayd watryng all maner of goodes growe in the lande for in these partes is neuer rayne nor snowe nor ye ran nat knowe the winter from the somer yet the habytauntes of Egypt hath put a colombe of Marble in the myddê of the flude of Nyll in a lytell yle that is called meser haue made tokeÌ„s in the sayd colombe And whaÌ„ the fludde is flowen as moche as it may they loke vpoÌ„ the colombe tokens after the risyng of the water they shall knowe yf they shall haue great plenty of goodes that yere or toskant And vpon that thei set price vpon theyr marchauÌ„dyse The water of the fludde of Nyll is holsome to drinke but whan it is taken out of the fludde it is to hote But they put it in a vessell of yerth than it is clere colde holsome In the realme of Egypt be two see portes or hauens the one is called Alexander and the other Damyette In Alexanders porte may well come in shippes galyes the cyte is strong well walled The waters that they drinke in Alexandre cometh in cundittes from the flude of Nyll of that which they fylled their cesterns that thei haue ynough in the cyte They haue none other water that thei might drynke Wherefore yf the water that ronned in the cundytes myght be stopped they shuld be in great payne long they coude nat lyue by any other wise it shuld be hard to take Alexander biforce The cytie of Damyette is vpon the flude of Nyll which was well closed in the olde tyme but it was taken twyse by the christeÌ„meÌ„ Ones by the kyng of Hierusalem by the other crysteÌ„men of thorient And the other tyme by the kyng of Fraunce sayÌ„t Loys and bycause of that the sarasins brake it downe and transported ferre from the see they made no walles nor stronge place called this newe lande newe Damy ette And the old Damyette is all wasted with the portes of Alexandre and Damyette The sowdan hath great goodes the lande of Egypt yelde great haboundance of socour of almaner of goodê they haue nat moch wines but the wyne that groweth there is very good the sarasyns dare nat drinke wyn because that it is for bydden them by theyr lawe moten heÌ„nes and gottes thei haue ynough but thei haue nat moch befe And ere hors flesshe in the realme of Egypt be some christeÌ„men dwellynge ther that be called kepty hold the maner of the Iacobyns And in that parties they haue dyuers abbeys holde them fre and in peace and these Keptys were the oldest heyres of the lande of Egypt for the sarasyns began to inheryt the land sythe that they had the lordship the thynges that they can nat fynd in Egypt that the EgipcieÌ„s coude nat fynd if they shuld nat haue of other men they shuld haue great nede as yron other thinges bycause faute of that thei coud nat lyue longe in all the realme of Egypt is no cytie nor castell walled but the cyte of Alexandre that which is well walled The sowdan dwelled in the castell of Cayre whiche was nat stronge all the lande of Egypt is kept defended by knightes Than syth the hoost of Egipt was ouercome the land might be shortly coÌ„qÌ„red wtout any daÌ„ger ¶ Whan tyme is to moue warr IN fewe wordes I say that I may say these wordê Ecce nunc tempus acceptabile ecce nunc dies salutis For verily it is coÌ„uenyent tyme acceptable and counable tyme to moue warre agaynst his eÌ„nemys of the holy faith Nowe is tyme couenable to gyue helpe to the holy lande the which hath ben longe in the euyll beleuers handes nowe is tyme conuenyeÌ„t in the which the corages of Christes louers ought to be in mynde to the holy landes passage to thin tent that the holy sepulture of our lorde