with himself twenty thousand of his best horse who of themselves were able to make a new Battel if any mischance should befall the former For he understood that it was the custome of the Kings of China to enclose themselves in the middest of their Chariots with their footmen and not to hazard their persons but upon extremity The Chinois failed not to march directly unto Calibes the whole Army following and setting upon him Calibes with his six thousand Scythian horse after their usual manner in retreating gave many charges giving and receiving hurt The King of China marched with much gallantry with his Army which seemed to be twice so big as that of Tamerlane's He had very many armed Chariots wherein he put his principal trust they had much Gold and Silver as well in the trappings of their horses as one their Armour which glistered exceedingly against the Sun to the admiration of the Tartars Tamerlane who with a troop of horse beheld the Chinois marching after Calibes commended greatly the drawing forth of their men to compell Calibes to fight endeavouring to discover and note with his eye the place where-abouts the Kings person was having by him the Chinois Lord to instruct him who knew well the manner of their fight They had no Avantguard but were all in a gross commanded by the King inclosed with his Chariots which being shewed to Tamerlane by this Lord he turned to those Captaines that were neer him and said Yet must we disperse this guilded cloud and the King of China and my self must make a partition thereof Thus having sufficiently viewed the enemy and observed their maner of marching he thought it not convenient to suffer them to take breath nor to rally being something disordered in their march whereupon he sent to Calibes to will him to begin the fight and when those that were with him should be weary to retreat to him But as soon as his Scythians heard this word Fight they required the first charge with a young Lord that commanded over them called 〈◊〉 making it to appear to the Chinois to what end their former flight was charging very furiously upon the formost of the enemies which occasioned the first beginning of the Battel And indeed there could not be seen a more gallant onset wherein the Scythians desired to manifest the valour of their Nation and to procure honour to their Prince This sight endured a long hour before they had overthrown Calibes Tamerlane beheld all patiently saying that the great multitude how disorderly soever they were would at length carry it away from the order and valour of his souldiers yet could there not be discerned any alteration of his countenance adversity and prosperity being both alike so indifferent to him Calibes being wounded retired himself neer to the Emperor having with him two thousand horse that were rallied again many more flocking to him The Emperor viewed his wound causing him to be conducted behind his footmen and care to be taken for the dressing of his wound and of such others as were wounded with him Calibes with his thirty thousand Scythians was not able to charge thorow the Chinois but when they retreated Odmar with his Parthian horsemen advanced forward and used them more roughly for he ran clean thorow them and returned by the right wing of the Army where he fought most valiantly and having beaten them even within the Kings chariots he thought he should not do wisely to attempt the breaking of such forces The King of China coming forwards and the horsemen that had been broken by Odmar joyning themselves to him Odmar sent to Tamerlane desiring him that the Footmen and Artillery might advance forward sending him word that he might assure himself of the victory Hereupon Tamerlane commanded Axalla to advance with fifty thousand foot and part of the Artillery requiring him to set upon the Chariots and to make an entrance The Artillery marching in the first place did greatly astonish the enemy for the Governours of the horses belonging to the Kings Chariots could not rule them it made also a great spoile Axalla perceiving the disorder hasted forwards till they came to handblows The King of China had yet about his person a hundred and fifty thousand men Yet Axalla full of courage fought so valiantly that they never beheld any man to do more bravely During this fight Odmar againe charged the horsemen that were retired to the Kings aid and put them to flight Then did Tamerlane himself march forward with the rest of the Footmen for the aid of Axalla and brake thorow even to the person of the King of China who as yet was enclosed within a second rank of Chariots with about thirty or fourty thousand men and after he had fought two or three hours the horse assisting the foot and they principally whom the Prince had kept as a reserve the King at length remained wounded in the power of Tamerlane the battel being won and the enemies Camp forced The fight endured eight hours and the night coming on saved the lives of many of the Chinois There were slaine two Kings Allies to the King of China Inestimable riches were gotten in golden vessels preecious stones and as fair and rich Chariots as could possibly be seen The Emperor would not see the Captive King till the next day but being mounted on hoseback he rode about the field to stay the slaughter and to rally his men that the accustomed watch might be kept whereof he gave the charge unto Axalla commanding him also to keep the King of China in the middest of his souldiers who was dressed of the wound which he had received in his right arme It was a strange sight to see the diversity of the enemies weapons and the variety of their Streamers and Ensignes which seemed afar off as beautiful as the diversity of colours plentiful The King of China's Army was very great consisting of a hundred and fifty thousand horse and two hundred thousand footmen but the greatest part of them were rude and barbarous people far inferiour to Tamerlane's in valour who suffered themselves to be slaine one upon another not marking their advantages and having little skill in warlike affaires Tamerlane continued on horseback till about two a clock in the morning when as they brought him a Tart and his water for he never dranke wine and then lying down upon a Carpet he passed the rest of the night untill morning After this so great a victory there was never the least boasting or vauntiug heard to proceed out of his mouth The next day after the burial of the dead he publikly gave thanks to God for his victory Then caused the wounded to be cured and amongst others Calibes who more through the distemperature of the aire then from the danger of the wound found himself very ill yet would he not omit his duty in commanding the Van which was very
and that the chief of his faction remained prisoners with him as also to know what justice he would appoint to be inflicted upon those Citizens which were the authors of the revolt of this City and so after eight dayes he departed and not many daies after he had intelligence that the great Cham his Uncle had caused justice to be done on the chief movers of Sedition in Cambalu so that the people complained of the old Emperors cruelty but commended the mercy of Tamerlane When he came back to his Army he was received of all his souldiers with loud acclamations calling him Most great Emperor and most victorious Amongst his Captaines he discoursed of the beauty and greatness of the City of Cambalu and afterwards asked Odmars advise whether it were not best for him to visite the old Emperor and so with his Emperess to spend the winter with him at Quinsay Odmar remembring the honour which he had received there easily perceived his inclination to that journy yet by all means disswaded him from it to which Tamerlane answered that he had alwayes found his fidelity and love to him which he was sorry that he could not recompence to the full but saith he whereas I had thought to give my self some ease I perceive that instead of the delicacies and pleasures of Quinsay I must make the deserts of Cipribit my resting place after my travelles in this new victory yet a rumor being spread that the Prince intended to visite the Emperor every man began to desire to return into his own Country hoping to enjoy the sweetness of his native soile which Tamerlane being informed of calling his Army to a Rendevouz he thus spake unto them We have my faithful souldiers begun an enterprise against the King of China who hath of late repulsed even beyond the mountaines the Tartarian name but were hindred to our great grief by the foolish rashness of Calix and were driven to turn the bridle to punish him wherein you have all assisted me It grieves me that I cannot as well boast of the fresh spoiles of a stranger as I may by the means of your weapons of those of our unfaithful Subjects and as in times past of the fierce Muscovites against whom with your assistance I made trial of my first Armes but for this last victory being against our own Subjects I cannot speak of it without shedding tears desiring to bury such victories in oblivion together with all the glory and honour gotten thereby Neither do I recount these things to you but to shew that I forget not your faithfulness and the great travel you have endured for my sake We must not therefore be weary but must turn our weapons against those which imagine us to be full of troubles whereas we are indeed victorious Our companions and all our amunition is advanced neer to our enemy already we must in that place my souldiers and friendly followers pass over the rest of Winter Our Companions look for us our enemies are secure and look not for us at this season of the yeer and know that our Army that is already there is not sufficient for offence but only for defence You shall receive double pay the better to furnish you against the injury of cold and as we shall be apparelled with double garments so I hope we shall be clothed with double glory Having thus spoken his souldiers all cryed One God in Heaven and one Emperor on earth shewing their willingness to obey his commands The Prince after this remained there eight dayes longer sending back Zamai with twenty five thousand horse and fifty thousand foot to Sachethay for the safety of his estate in those parts and so after solemne and publike prayers the Army began to march forwards He forgat not likewise to dispatch away a messenger to the great Cham to acquaint him with all his purposes which he approved very well of By the same messenger he also beseeched him in the spring to send him fifty thousand men to recruit his Army and some moneys for the payment of his souldiers which also he granted sending also good store of warlike munition and plenty of victuals knowing how much the success of the war would advance the Tartarian greatnesse and profit The Army being upon their march in thirty eight dayes came to Cipribit yet met with many inconveniences by the way There they had news of Calibes who was glad to hear how businesses had passed and came to visit the Prince who entertained him very courteously acquainting him with his purpose and understood by him how all things passed in the Kingdome of China The next day the Prince came to Pazanfou where Calibes forces were who had often fought with and tried the valour of the Chinois but found it much inferior to their own There the Prince took a general Muster of all his Army caused them to be paid took notice of their countenance whilest they all cryed out God save the victorious and invincible Emperor according to their custome The Prince of Thanais who commanded the Army with Calibes had diligently viewed the wall and the wayes by which he might forcibly enter into China and had sent many Spies by certaine wayes thorow the mountaines into that Country by whom he was advertised of all their proceedings He had also gained by his curtesie a Lord of those mountaines called the Lord of Vauchefu who commanded over a great Country who being desirous of a new Master and to submit to Tamerlane had told the Prince of Thanais that he was able to do the Emperor good service and to help him much in his wars against the Chinois This the Prince of Thanais discovered to Tamerlane who was very desirous to speak with this Lord whereupon a day was appointed and Tamerlane without moving of his Army went to the tents of the Prince of Thanais where this foresaid Lord meet him and the Emperor having heaped upon him many gifts of fair horses and rich furs and other rare things this Lord spake thus unto him Know my Lord that it is but lost labour for you to think that with your Armies you shall be able to force this wall made by the Chinois to hinder the incursions of your Subjects the Defendants have too much advantage therein I doubt not of your souldiers valour and courage I know you have conquered many Nations with them and that whatsoever you command them they will effect it or die in the enterprize I know that you have great and wise Captaines with you and that you of all persons in the world are most worthy to command them But all this will be but in vain against the wall of the Chinois where I assare you are fifty thousand men to keep it neither can you stay there so short a time but there will come fifty thousand more to assist them led by one Xianxi who hath already received such a commandment The
the City there he continued two or three dayes giving the City many Alarms till the Infantry led by that brave Christian Genuois shewed themselves in the plaine of Paguinfou Then was the City summoned but they returned answer That they were resolved to live and die in the service of their Prince By the way you must understand that about fourty yeers before the Father of this present King of China had conquered this City and Country from the Tartars and had so planted the same with new Colonies that but few of the Tartarians remained but onely in the flat Country and some small walled Towns who all came with their keyes and willingly submitted to Tamerlane whereby he had great plenty of victuals in his Army which made him hope for good success there being nothing that doth sooner overthrow great Armies then the want thereof Thus was Paguinfou besieged round the footmen lying within a slight-shoot of the walls the Citizens and souldiers using their best indeavours for their defence and Tamerlane doing the like for their offence Axalla having viewed a great Suburb which was in length almost half a league supposed that the Citizens kept no watch there therfore acquainting the Emperor with his purpose in the first watch of the night his men being all ready with sealing ladders he assaulted the same in sundry places and after a great fight entred and cut in pieces at least eight thousand men which were within the same yet on one side where they expected to be assaulted he lost many of his men The tkaing of this Suburb did greatly astonish the Citizens who observing the valour of the Tartarians began to suspect their own safety by this Suburb there ran a river which being now under the command of Axalla he stopt all provision from going to the City In the mean time the King of China's Army approached which was very great whereupon the Emperor determined to go in person and meet him with the greatest part of his horsemen but to leave most of his foot to continue the siege being very desirous to take the City for the accelerating whereof he caused his Engines for battery to approach as Rams and such like so that the City was assaulted on two sides very couragiously and in the end thorow the valour of Axalla who gave an assault with twenty thousand of his best souldiers he won the wall and at the command of the Emperor lodged there who desired rather to have the City by Treaty then storme the City being great and rich and the enemy but thirty leagues from thence and therefore he feared lest his Army should be found in disorder and knowing also that rich souldiers never fight well Besides he intended to draw out of that wealthy City such things as he stood in need of and to make it his magazine for the time to come Yet though the wall was won the enemies wanted not heart to defend themselves valiantly hearing that their King was coming for their reliefe but it so happened that an Engine shooting a bullet slew the governour whereupon the Citizens were so discouraged that they resolved to yield saving their lives and the souldiers to march away with horse and armes The conditions were admitted and there came out of the City eighteen thousand souldiers almost all the inhabitants remaining behind This siege had lasted two moneths and the City had in it at first thirty thousand souldiers Axalla had the honour of winning this City and therefore was made Governour of it and all the Country belonging to it but he beseeched the Emperor to bestow it upon some other person reserving for himself the hope of his Master in whose fortune he would take part This gave great content to Tamerlane who much desired the service of Axalla and upon this refusal the charge was conferred upon the Prince of Thanais with the title of Vice-Roy Then did Tamerlane give notice of his affaires to the old Emperor and having paid his souldiers and settled all things in the best manner he could he marched forward and taking a general Muster of his whole Army Horse and Foot he found them to be diminished ten thousand men only And so with his Army he spent one whole day in prayer calling upon the immortal invisible and invincible and incomprehensible God and then went directly to meet the enemy who was at Sintehu with all his own the forces of his allies and as soon as he received news that Tamerlane's Army was advanced over the River of Chulifu the King of China marched directly to them with great magnificence there was nothing to be seen in his Army but Gold and precious stones He himself usually rode in a Chariot whereof every part shone with Gold Pearles Rubies and Diamonds He was of the age of about three and thirty and had been brought up in pleasures not under the bloody Ensigne of Mars So that he was very insolent in threatenings bravadoes and defying to the battel He often accused Tamerlane for surprizing him before he was ready not giving him warning c. The rumour of his riches sired the spirits of the Tartarians that they longed to be at the battel and so both sides hasted forwards and in the way there was a City called Tunichevoy surrendred to Tamerlane which afforded him much refreshing for his Army and thus the two Armies drawing neer together Tamerlane made choice of a place in his judgement most advantageous for the battel and having set down to Odmar the order which he would have to be observed he longed to see his enemy then did he send before him five or six thousand horse as Scouts under Calibes and himself went with them and having viewed the great confused Army of his enemies which came continually forward he commanded Calibes to retire himself so soon as they drew neer to him And bring saith he this great cloud to me which I hope soon to disperse and so retiring to his Army he encouraged them assuring them of the victory He placed all his footmen which were about a hundred and twenty thousand along a mountaine planting great store of Artillery for their guard many of his foot-souldiers were armed after the Christian manner who were all commanded by Axalla His horsemen were in Battalia in a great plaine who upon any disadvantage could retire to the assistance of the Footmen the horsemen were eighty thousand Calibes with the Scythians were in the Avantguard being thirty thousand horse who were to receive Odmar when he should retreat from the enemy as he was commanded thirty thousand more were appointed for Odmar and Tamerlane himself remained in the Areare at one of the wings of his footmen His purpose was to let that sixty five thousand horse under two such gallant Captaines to break the force of the enemy hoping after them to have a good market causing his foot to march forward and reserving
certainly resolved to come to a pitched Battel with him not so much trusting to the multitude of his men as to the experience and valour of his souldiers being long trained up in the wars At which unexpected news Tamerlane greatly rejoyced yet without insolency and vaunting but rather with the countenance of such an one as judged the event of Battels to be alwayes doubtfull saying some times That a small number well conducted did carry away the victory from the confused multitude Three daies after he stayed at Buisabuick causing his souldiers continually to march forward which at two places passed over the river Euphrates which he did the rather to maintaine his Army upon the spoile of the enemies Country chusing rather there to attend his coming then amongst his friends and allies All the Cities that yielded to him in the way as he marched he favourably received the other that refused to submit themselves to his obedience he used with all extremity especially the great and strong City of Sebastia where certaine of the forerunners of his Army were by the Turks that kept Garrison in it cut off and slaine and to despite him the more the City gates were set open in contempt of him whereupon being justly offended he sent out certaine Tartarian horsemen charging them upon paine of his displeasure so to behave themselves against their enemies that at his coming up to them he might finde either the City taken or at least the gates shut up against him and he had his men at so great command that no danger was unto them more dreadful then his displeasure neither did he punish any thing so severely as cowardize Now the Turkes in Sebastia seeing these Tartarian horsemen marching towards the City making little account of them because their number was not great issued out to meet them where they were so furiously charged by these few horsemen that they were glad to retire and for hast to shut the gates against some of their own men lest the enemie should have entered pell mell with them which Turkes were there slaine at the gates of the City Shortly after came Tamerlane with all the rest of his Army and sat down before the City where he lay still seven dayes not making any shew of violence at all The defendants because the City was of great strength thought that his purpose was by a long siege to distresse the same But about the eight day the Towers and walls being undermined in sundry places suddenly fell down leaving large breaches for the enemy to enter wherewith the Turks being dismayed surrendred the City to Tamerlane in hope so to have saved their lives but he caused them all to be buried quick and the City utterly to he razed and then calling the Governour whose life he had spared for that end he bade him go and tell his Master what had happened to his strong City of Sebastia and what himself had seen there of which Tragical action when the Governour had made report to Bajazet he demanded of him whither of the two Armies he thought bigger or stronger for he had now assembled a mighty Army of three hundred thousand horse and two hundred thousand footmen whereunto the Governour having first craved pardon answered That it could not be in reason but that Tamerlane had the greater Army for that he commanded over far greater Countries wherewith proud Bajazet being offended replyed in great Choller Out of doubt the sight of the Tartarian hath so affrighted this coward that he thinks every enemy to be two As Bajazet marched forward he heard a Country-Shepherd merrily pleasing himself with his homely pipe as he sat on the side of a mountaine feeding his small flock whereupon he stood still and listened to him to the admiration of many and at last brake forth into these words O happy shepherd which hadest no Sebastia to lose bewraying therein his own discontentment and yet withall shewing that worldly bliss consisteth not so much in possessing of much subject unto danger as in enjoying content in a little devoid of fears The rest of the Cities as Tamerlane marched forwards warned by the destruction of Sebastia yielded to him the Citizens whereof he used courteously especially the Christians whom he set at liberty for the Greek Emperors sake whom he sought therein to gratifie But Tamerlane had not gone far in the Turkes dominions before he was certainly informed that Bajazet was coming against him with a mighty Army and was now within thirty leagues of him which caused him from thence forward to march with his Army more close together Axalla leading the Van sent forth Chianson Prince of Ciarchan with four thousand Parthian horsemen to get knowledge of the Turkish Army and where Bajazet lay as also what manner of Country it was beyond Sennas and if he could learn any thing thereof to make relation of it to him This Prince of Ciarchan was Tamerlanes neer kinsman a man of great reputation and next to Axalla in whose absence he had the command of the Avantguard who also sent before him an other Parthian Captaine with five hundred horsemen who having advanced about ten leagues and surprized Sennas was certainly informed there of the state of Bajazets Army which was now at Tataia and so marching forward which Tamerlane being informed of commanded him not to retire from that place till he saw the arrival of the enemy and thereof to give him advertisement every hour resolving himself to pass on no farther being encamped in a faire large plaine which was very advantagious for him his Army being bigger then Bajazet's which made him make choise of those large plaines His Army also being compounded of sundry Nations he considered that he was not to fight against the Chinois a soft effeminate people as of late but against the Turkes a most warlike Nation and well acquainted with all manner of sights and warlick stratagems and therefore he judged it necessary to proceed warily against them Upon this consideration he presently sent for Axalla with him to view the said place and to have his opinion whether it would be advantagious for him to stay there or no Axalla not misliking his choice of the place yet withall advised him to keep Sennas as long as possibly he could and accordingly he sent word to them at Sennas that when they could keep the place no longer they should set fire of it and so retreat and this he did that the enemy should have no desire to encamp there but to march forwards to those places where Tamerlane desired to fight the rather because he was stronger in horse then Bajazet Accordingly the Prince of Ciarchan sent out a hundred horse toward the Turkes then divided the rest of his forces into two parts commanding the former that as soon as they perceived the enemy to pursue the hundred horse whom he had commanded to fly disorderly before them
behind me who shall march in two squadrons and for my Arereward I appoint fourty thousand horse and fifty thousand footmen who shall not march but to my aid And I will make choice of ten thousand of my best horse whom I will send into every place where I shall think needful within my Army for to impart my commands Over the first fourty thousand horse the Prince of Ciarchan commanded over the formost footmen was the Lord Synopes a Genovois kinsman to Axalla and his Lieutenant over the footmen a Captaine of great estimation The Prince Axalla's charge consisted of five squadrons of horsemen Bajazet's Army also being faire and great came bravely still on forwards towards their enemies who stirred not a whit from the place which they had chosen for the battel except certaine lighthorsemen Scythians Parthians and Muscovites who sent out as loose men hotly skirmished between the two Armies Tamerlane was informed by a Spie that Bajazet was on foot in the midest of thirty thousand Janizaries his principal men of war and greatest strength wherein he meant that day to fight and in whom he had reposed his greatest hope His battel of horse was very faire amounting to the number of one hundred and fourty thousand all old souldiers The Sultan of Egypt having also sent to his aide thirty thousand Mamelukes all excellent good horsemen with thirty thousand footmen so that his Army marching all in a front in the form of an half Moon seemed almost as great as Tamerlane's These Turkes with infinite number of horrible cries still advanced forwards Tamerlanes souldiers all the while standing still with very great silence Never was there a more furious charge then the Turkes gave upon the Prince of Ciarchan who was commanded not to fight till the enemy came unto him neither could there have been chosen a fairer plaine and where the skilful choice of place gave less advantage either to the one or to other only Tamerlane had a River of the left side of the Army serving him to some small advantage Now this young Prince of Ciarchan with his fourty thousand horse was in the first encounter almost wholly overthrown yet having fought right valiantly and entred even into the middest of the Janizaries where the person of Bajazet was putting them into disorder was himself there slaine About which time Axalla set upon them with his squadrons but not with the like danger for having overthrown one of the enemies wings and cut it all to pieces and his footmen coming to joyn with him as was appointed he faced the Battalion of the Janizaries who right valiantly behaved themselves for the safety of their Prince This furious fight continued an hour and yet you could not have seen any scattered but the one still resolutely fighting against the other You might there have seen the horsemen like mountaines rushing together and infinite numbers of men dying crying lamenting and threatening all at the same instant Tamerlane had patience all this while to see the event of this so mortal a fight but perceiving his men at last to begin to give ground he sent ten thousand of his horse to joyn with the ten thousand appointed for the Rereward commanding them to assist him when they saw that he had need and so himself gave a furious charge and made them to give him room causing the footmen also to charge over whom the Prince of Thanais commanded who gave a gallant charge upon the Battalion of Janizaries wherein was yet the person of Bajazet who before had sustained a great burden Now Bajazet had in his Army a great number of Mercinary Tartars called Destenses with many thousands of other souldiers taken up in the Countries of the poor exiled Mahometan Princes in whose just quarrel and the Greek Emperors Tamerlane had chiefly undertaken that war These Tartarians and other souldiers seeing some their friends and other some their natural and loving Princes in Tamerlanes Army stricken with the terror of disloyalty and abhorring the cruelty of the proud Tyrant in the heat of the battel revolted from Bajazet to their own Princes which much weakened Bajazet's forces who never the less with his own men of war especially the Janizaries and the help of the Christian souldiers brought to his aide from Servia and other places of Europe with great courage maintained the fight But the multitude rather then true valour prevailed for as much as might be done by valiant and couragious men was by the Janizaries the Mameluks and the rest performed both for the preservation of their Prince and for gaining the victory But in the end the horsemen with whom Tamerlane himself was giving a fresh charge and his Avantguard being rallied and joyning with him he with much ado obtained the victory Bajazet himself being wounded when he saw all desperate mounted on horseback thinking to have escaped but falling into Axalla's hands he yielded himself to him supposing him to have been Tamerlane neither did Axalla for a while know him but took him for some great Commander in the Turkes Army Musa sirnamed Zelabi or the Noble one of Bajazet's sons with divers others of his great Captains were there taken also and amongst the rest Georg Despot of Servia who notwithstanding his misfortune had that day by his valour gained the reputation of a great and valiant Captain inso much as Tamerlane in the very heat of the battel marvelled to see him and his Servians and the other Christians that he had brought to the aide of Bajazet to fight so valiantly whereupon turning to some of his Captaines that were neer him he said See how valiantly these Religious fight supposing them by their strange attire to have been some of the Turkes superstitious votaries But the Despot being now taken and afterwards brought to Tamerlane he was by him courteously entertained but withall reproved for that he had assisted Bajazet against him who was come in favour to the Christian Emperor and the other poor oppressed Princes such as the Despot himself was who thereupon boldly answered That indeed it was not according to his profession but according to the prosterity of Bajazet unto whom it seemed that all the world should bend and that he did it for his own safety Whereupon Tamerlane excused him and without any more ado gave him liberty at his own pleasure to depart Bajazet himself being afterwards brought to Tamerlane as a prisoner was by him courteously entertained who never shewed any token of submission at all but according to his proud nature without respect of his present state answered him presumptuously to what ever he demanded of him wherewith Tamerlane being somewhat moved told him that it was in his power to take his life from him whereto he answered no more but Do it for that loss will be my greatest happiness Then Tamerlane demanded of him what made him so proud as to enterprize to bring
for the defence of Alexandria as neerest to the enemy But understanding this news used such diligence that he entred into Caire with fourty thousand horse and sixty thousand foot even as Tamerlanes Army approached to it By this unexpected coming of that Sultan the great City that before was ready to have revolted was again confirmed in his obedience to the great prejudice of Tamerlanes affaires For to remaine long before it was impossible thorow want of victuals for so great an Army in an enemies Country Yet this discouraged not Tamerlane from approaching to it and with all his Army to encamp neer unto the same having caused a great trench to be made for the security of his horsemen and therein to lodge his Army more safely during which time he caused diverse attempts to be made as well to try the enemies confidence as to see how the people of the City especially the slaves which in that populous City are in great numbers were affected towards him who indeed were glad to see the state of his Army and the proud Mameluks still put to the worst but farther stirred not During this siege he thought good one day to draw forth his Armie before the Citie to try whether the enemie had any minde to come to a battel as also to view his own forces and so indeed to seek occasion to fight hoping that if the Sultan should come forth with his Army some revolt might happen at the same time in the Citie as well by the slaves unto whom by secret Spies he had promised liberty as by the Citizens themselves who were much discontented with the insolency of the Mamelukes and to whom Tamerlane by the same Spies had made it known that he came not to hurt them but to deliver them from the tyranny of his and their enemies But standing thus in battel array none stirred out of the Citie neither was there any tumult raised within according as he expected For the Sultan being plentifully provided with all things in that rich Citie resolved to weary out Tamerlane by lying still and not to put all to the hazard of a Battel Tamerlane perceiving his design yet resolved not to depart till he was victorious whereupon he thought fit also to attempt him in his greatest strength and in the heart of his greatest Citie though it could not be done without great hazard such confidence had he in the valour and multitude of his Army Now his purpose was first to take one of the Cities for Caire is divided into three and therein encamping himself by little and little to advance forwards as he could finde opportunity Upon this resolution he commanded a strong assault to be given and having conducted his footmen to the place chosen by him for the onset for the Citie was not walled but onely fortified with ditches and trenches he commanded the Prince of Thanais with fiftie thousand men to begin the assault even in the face of the enemy which he most valiantly performed which occasioned a great and terrible fight Axalla in the mean time deeming as the truth was that the Sultan had drawn the greatest part of his forces to that place fetched a compasse about and in another part of the City with small resistance passed the trenches where he presently left thirty thousand men to fill up the ditches thereby to make way for the Horsemens entrance himself with the rest advancing forwards against twenty thousand sent by the Sultan to oppose his farther passage the Prince of Thanais being at the same time almost beaten back by the Mamelukes But the ditches being presently levelled ten thousand horsemen entred who charged upon the backs of the Mameluks where the Sultan himself was they were likewise seconded by ten thousand more sent in in by Tamerlane himself following after with all his power Hereupon the Sultan retreated into a second strength which he had made in the next Citie This fight endured full seven houres wherein were slain of the Sultans men above sixteen thousand and of Tamerlane's between seven and eight thousand Tamerlane being well contented that he had dislodged his enemy and gained one of the Cities caused a retreat to be sounded hoping the next day to win all the rest as indeed he did For the next morning the Prince of Thanais storming the trenches in one part as Axalla did in an other the Sultan after a great fight finding himself hardly pressed by the obstinate enemy and unable longer to hold out retreated abandoning the Citie and encamping himself along the River Nilus resolving to retire to the Citie of Alexandria his second strength and onely refuge which Tamerlane suspecting followed after him with his Horsemen who onely were in order and some few foot hardly drawn from the Citie which their fellows were in plundering Tamerlane promising them both to regard and reward their good service Against these the Sultan upon a narrow cawse way had opposed twelve or fifteen thousand men to favour his passage who being of his best Souldiers maintained their ground stoutly the place being much for their advantage yet at length their enemies still encreasing and pressing hard upon them they were forced to cast themselves into the great River and made a most honourable retreat every man having his weapon in one hand and swimming with the other hand to the farther banke The Sultan flying with about eighteen thousand Horse the rest being either drowned or dispersed is said to have comforted his flying men by telling them they were not men but gods that had vanquished them Divers of the Mameluks that were taken prisoners being brought before Tamerlane were by him courteously used and asked if they would be content to serve him seeing their Master was fled and gone This they all utterly refused whom notwithstanding for their fidelity Tamerlane set at liberty to go again to their Master being no lesse desirous to be admired by his enemies for his goodnesse and bounty then to be feared for his force and valour The wonderful wealth of this so great and famous a Citie became a prey to his Souldiers who for the space of twentie four houres had the spoil thereof At the end whereof every man was straitly charged by open Proclamation to retire to his quarters Tamerlane would not suffer any of the Citizens to be taken Prisoners and such as were he released and so leaving ten thousand good Souldiers with many others that followed his Camp for the guard of the Citie and taking with him all such persons as he thought might hurt him he caused his Armie to passe over the River and to follow the Sultan to Alexandria that so his victory might be compleated Axalla hasting before with the Avantguard to hinder the Sultan from gathering up his forces together The rest of the Army was conducted by the Prince of Thanais Tamerlane himself with an infinite number of Boats and many Souldiers
grateful to Tamerlane for that he being a Scythian was greatly beloved of his Nation These things being dispatched he sent unto Axalla to bring forth his prisoner the King of China and when he approached the Emperor issued out of his Tent and went to receive him This King came with a very proud and haughty countenance and approaching neer to the Emperor he by his Interpreter asked of Axalla which was he and being shewed him he spake in an haughty language after this manner The gods whom I worship being provoked against my Nation and people have conspired against my good fortune and made me this day thy prisoner But for as much as it is reported over all the world that Tamerlane maketh war for the honour of his Nation thou shouldest be content with this glory that the Lord of the world and childe of the Sun is in thy power to receive such laws as thou pleasest to prescribe unto him This he spake in a brave manner without any other humbling of himself The Emperor on the other side saluting him very courteously led him into his Tent This King of China was a great Prince having two hundred famous Cities within his Kingdome which also is a fruitful and plentiful Country wherein are Mines of Gold and Silver much Musk and Rhubarb It abounds in Fish and Fowl and hath much Silk and Porclane with Cotton and Linnen c. Then did Tamerlane assemble his Captaines to consult about the disposal of the King and how the victory should be best improved At the same time he received news by Odmar that the Kings brother who escaped out of the battel was at Quantou which he had strongly sortified and that great store of forces began to adjoyn themselves to him Hereupon he commanded two thousand Parthian horse to convey the King to Paguinfou and from thence to Burda where he was to be kept carefully Then did he resolve upon the besieging of Quantou and if it were possible to shut up the Kings brother therein it being one of the principal seats that belonged to the King of China It was fourty leagues from the place where the battel was fought Thither therefore he sent a good party of his Army under Odmar who pitched his Tents about the City But the Kings brother was gone The Emperor in the mean time summoned and took in many lesser Cities which yielded wholly to his mercy making great lamentation for their Captive King yet the gentleness of the Conqueror made them to take all their losses with patience and the rather because they heard that he used their King courteously The Kings brother also sent Ambassadors to Tamerlane craving leave to see the King and to know of his health which the Emperor willingly assented to Now the Kings brother hearing of the estate of the besieged in Quantou he resolved either to relieve it or to fight a battel for which end he advanced strait unto Porchio making a bridge of boats to pass over the River But Odmar being informed when about fifty thousand of his men were come over suddenly set upon them being out of order and not informed of their enemies approach also to prevent the coming over of the rest to their assistance he sent a fir-boat down the stream against their bridge of boats which brake it in sunder and where it was resisted set all on fire and so in a great battel overthrew them the King of Cauchin-China who was amongst them fighting valiantly was slaine The Kings brother who was on the other side of the River not yet come over saw his men slaine and drowned and could not relieve them This second overthrow was of no smal importance though it was but the third part of the Kings brothers Army For the Citizens of Quantou hearing of it and despairing of relief sent out some proposals for their surrender Axalla which received them presently dispatched away a faithful messenger to the Emperor to know his pleasure therein This was more welcome news to him then the overthrow of his enemies wherefore he referred all to the sufficiency and fidelity of Axalla So that upon treaty the City was surrendred to Axalla who caused the Garison to come out and received the Inhabitants into the Emperors protection and all that would might continue in it unarmed afterwards he entered into it and was received with great signes of joy by the inhabitants who resolved to entertaine the Emperor with all the solemnity that might be Axalla put thirty thousand men into it for a Garrison injoyning the Citizens to pay the Emperors Army four hundred and fifty thousand Crowns Presently after he received a command from the Emperor to stay in the City himself and to send all the rest of his foot men unto him which he commanded the rather because he understood that Ambassadors were coming to him from the Kings brother to treat of peace and he presumed the sight of all his Army together ready to march would strike such a terror into them as would cause them the readilier to assent to good termes The Ambassadors sent by the Kings brother were of their chiefest men whom Tamerlane entertained with all humanity causing his greatness to appear to them as also the activity of his horsemen whereby they might discerne that it would tend to the destruction of their Country if they agreed not with him Then did the Ambassadors deliver their message which consisted of two branches One was for the delivery of their King the other for the preservation of their Country The Emperor answered that they should deliver their message in writing and he would give a speedy answer Their Propositions were to leave Paguinfou and all the Country beyond it with all the Fortresses of the mountaines in Tamerlanes possession That they would pay all the charges of his Army from that day forward And that they would give two millions of gold for the ransome of their King To this the Emperor answered that he would keep that which he had conquered within the Country being his own as taken by his Arms That he would have the River by which his Army was now encamped and so along to the Sea to be his Frontiers That the King of China should pay him yeerly two hundred thousand Crowns which should be delivered at Paguinfou for acknowledgement of his submission to his Empire That he should pay five hundred thousand Crowns in ready money for the charge of his Army That the King of China should be delivered and that all the other Chinois prisoners should pay ransomes to particular men that took them except those which carried the names of Kings who should pay ten thousand Crowns for their liberty and peace And that no Chinois should be kept for a slave nor sold for such hereafter being under the Emperors obedience That Traffick and entercourse of Merchants should be free between both the Nations That the
that they should receive them into their squadrons and so retire altogether He in the mean time with the other part stood close in a valley neer unto a wood-side wholly unseen where having suffered two thousand of the enemies horse the vant-curriers of the Turks army to pass by him he following them in the taile charged them home the other also which before retired now turned again upon them so that the Turkes seeing themselves thus beset and hardly layed to both before and behind as men discouraged fled but in their flight were most of them slaine the rest of them taken prisoners This was the first encounter between the Turkes and the Parthians All the prisoners taken were by the Prince sent as a present to Tamerlane and amongst the rest the Bassa of Natolia who led those Troops of whom Tamerlane earnestly demanded what caused his Master Bajazet so little to esteem him as to shew so great contempt of his Army Which saith he he shall finde strong enough to abate his pride To this the Bassa answered That his Lord was the Sun upon earth which could not endure any corival And that he rather was astonished to see how he from so far a Country had undertaken so dangerous a journy to hinder the fortune of his Lord in whose favour the heavens as he said did bend themselves to further his greatness and unto whom all the world subjected it self and that he committed great folly in going about to resist the same Unto this proud speech Tamerlane replied That he was sent from Heaven to punish his insolency and to teach him that the proud are hated of God whose promise is to pull down the mighty and to advance the lowly As for thy self said he thou hast already felt though I pitty thy mishap what the valour of my Parthian horse is against thy Turkish and I have already caused thy Master to raise his siege before Constantinople and to look to his affaires here in Asia He also asked him whether his Master did come resolved to give him battel Assure your self said he that there is nothing that he more desireth and would to God that I might acknowledge your greatness in giving me leave to assist my Lord in that battel Good leave have thou said Tamerlane go thy wayes and tell thy Lord that thou hast seen me and that in the battel he shall finde me on horseback there where he shall see a green Ensigne displayed The Bassa thanked him and swore that next unto his Lord he vowed unto him his service And so returning he related unto Bajazet how he had seen Tamerlane and reported to him truly all that he had willed him to say not forgetting above all to praise his courtesie and bounty who besides that he had frankly set him at liberty had also given him a very faire horse well furnished although he well knew that he was to serve against himself To this Bajazet answered no more but that he would shortly make trial of him and that he doubted not but before he had done with him he should make him acknowledge his folly The next day the two Armies drew neer together and encamped within a league the one of the other where all the night long you might have heard such noise of horses which filled the heavens with their neighings and the aire with sounds and every man thought the night long that they might come to the trial of their valours and the gaining of their desires The Scythians a people no less greedy then needy talked of nothing but the spoile the proud Parthians of attaining honour the poor Christians of their deliverance from an insulting adversary all to be gained by the next dayes victory Every man during the night-time speaking according to his humour All which Tamerlane walking privately up and down in the Camp heard and much rejoyced to see the hope which his souldiers had already conceived of the victory and so after the second watch returning into his Pavilion and there casting himself upon a carpet he purposed to sleep a while but his cares not suffering him so to do he then as his manner was called for a book wherein was contained the Lives of his Fathers and Ancestors and of other valiant worthies which he used ordinarily to read in as then also he did not vainly to deceive the time but to make use of it by imitating that which by them was worthily done and declining such dangers as they by their rashness or over-sight fell into After having slumbered a little he commanded Axalla to be sent for to him who presently came accompanied with diverse other great Lords and Captaines of the Army with whom after he had consulted a while about the order of the battel himself presently mounted on horseback and sent each of them to their charge to see their orders put in execution At which very instant he received intelligence that the enemy was marching forwards and come to chuse his ground for the battel whose order of marching Tamerlane was very desirous to see that so he might marshal his own Army accordingly For said he I do not so much trust to the Lions skin wherein I wrap mine arme but that withall I will make use of the Foxes therein to wrap mine head which my grandfather neglected to his overthrow in a battel against the Persians for being in a place of advantage he went out of it to seek his enemy that was lodged strongly contrary to the advice of all his Captaines which proved his ruine Then did he cause three thousand horsemen to advance forward with charge to begin the skirmish himself following after to lodge every part of his forces in such places as he had foreseen to be fittest for his advantage And seeing the Turkish Janizaries marching in a square battel in the middest of the Army and upon the two Fronts two great squadrons of horsemen which seemed to be about thirty thousand and another which advanced before and covered the Battalion of the Janizaries he thought this their order to be very good and hard to be broken and therefore turning himself to Axalla he said I had thought this day to have fought on foot but I see that it behoves me now to fight on horseback to encourage my souldiers to open that great Battalion of the enemies And my will is that my men come forwards to me so soon as may be for I will advance forward with a hundred thousand footmen fifty thousand upon each of my two wings and in the midest of them fourty thousand of my best horsemen And my pleasure is that after I have tryed the force of these men that they come unto my Avantguard of whom I will dispose and fifty thousand horsemen more in three bodies whom thou shalt command which I will assist with eighty thousand horse wherein shall be mine own person having a hundred thousand footmen