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
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
Prince was advertised of the pretences of Calix he marched one daies journy forward to the end that he might approach unto Calibes who what face soever he set on the matter yet hearkened what would become of Calix that he might likewise make some commotion This Calibes was by Tamerlane made Commander of his Avanguard which consisted of Parthians yet had joyned with him the Prince of Thanais without whom he could not do any thing Tamerlane also gave special commandment that the passages which were not many should be diligently guarded to the end that the King of China should not be advertised of these tumults and so giving to Odmar the leading of his Avanguard he hasted forwards And surely it was high time for him so to do or else all had been revolted for Calix having assembled a hundred thousand fighting men presented himself before the great City of Cambalu chief of the Province of Cathai the inhabitants whereof came out to meet him receiving him with all the joy that might be Tamerlane in his march went to Caindu and from thence to Calatia where he expected to meet with the forces of his native Country of Sachetai yet did he not neglect to send forward his Army towards Cambalu which caused the inhabitants to their great terror to think that all his forces were already on their neck Calix perceiving that the Citizens begun already to repent his entertainment thought it not safe to remaine amongst them and therefore withdrawing himself he sent for his forces from all parts resolving to meet Tamerlane in the field and to put all upon the event and hazard of a battel He drew out of Cambalu fifty thousand men whereof twenty thousand were Citizens the other thirty thousand were the Garison-souldiers placed there by the old Emperor Calix having corrupted their Leaders and so procured them to joyn with him in this revolt In short having assembled all his forces his Army consisted of fourscore thousand horse and one hundred thousand footmen which he gathered from all parts In the mean time Tamerlane's Army marching forward his Scouts which were two thousand horse had news of the Army of Calix which came forward directly towards them of which they speedily advertised the Emperor who thereupon presently sent two thousand horse more to the end that they should keep the passages of a certain River called Brore by which River victuals were conveyed to his Army as also to win time the Prince well knowing that the motions of a civil war are furious at the beginning and that therefore its best to resist slowly alwayes drawing them out at length if it be possible For when means money and victuals fail the people use to be sensible of their faults and to return home The old Emperor sent to him to adventure all upon a battel delivering up into his hands the safety of his life and estate that thereby he might end his daies in peace By this means forces came to Tamerlane on all hands whose Army daily encreased whereas on the contrary the enemies Army was then in its chiefest force and began to feel the want of victuals Calix was about fourty yeers old a Captaine renouned with the great Cham and one of the chiefest in dignity and place about him so that many of the Tartars had alwayes respected him as a person most worthy of the Empire if the glory of Tamerlane and his reputation had not so far exceeded The Armies began to be in view one of another about eight a clock in the morning and many skirmishes began betwixt them before they came to the maine battel The place wherein they met at that time was a great Plain with like advantage on either part Odmar led the Avanguard wherein were fourty thousand horse and eighty thousand foot which he divided into three squadrons the first whereof he sent before him to begin the battel Tamerlane marched in the same order but his squadrons were much stronger The footmen of both made the right and left wings Tamerlane had drawn out six thousand Parthian horsemen and two thousand Tartarian for his Areareguard which he committed to his faithful servant Axalla a man of a great judgement quick of conceit and in great esteem amongst the souldiers although he being a Christian worshipped God in an other manner then they and he had many other Christians with him whom he had drawn from the Georgians and the Euxine Sea who fought with great agility Calix on the other side who was a well spoken man was exhorting and encouraging his souldiers to fight for his Fortune and the liberty of their Nation he divided his Army into three maine Battels himself remaining in the middest encompassed with his footmen and so the Battels joyned where after a terrible fight Calix fell into Axalla's hands being taken fighting valiantly which Axalla caused to be presently proclaimed thorow the Army to the overthrow of the courage of all the adversaries who hereupon immediately fled Calix was kept till the next day and then by a Councel of War was adjudged to death whereupon Tamberlane caused his head to be stricken off the which he sent as a present to the inhabitants of Cambalu The like he caused to be done to all the chief Leaders not out of a cruel disposition but enforced thereto by necessity knowing very well that the way to cut off the foot of Civil War is to punish the heads of the same which as Hydra's grow up too fast After this Tamerlane with his Army marched into the Kingdome of Cathay a Country rich in grass and all kind of pastures abounding with great quantity of beasts and people which knew not what war meant and the Prince gave command that they should not be used as enemies but as his good Subjects and whereas diverse Cities had adheared to Calix they came now and humbled themselves before him craving pardon which he gave them enjoyning them only to provide victuals for his Army which also they willingly did This example of lenity was of no small importance for the appeasing of others which had put all their hope in extremity resolving to sell their lives deer and especially the inhabitants of Cambulu had taken this resolution but being informed of the Emperors clemency they changed their purpose yet as the Army daily approached neerer their fears encreased but Tamerlane was daily informed by his friends in the City that the inhabitants resolved to obey the Conqueror and therefore leaving his Army at Gonsa he only sent thirty thousand to the City which was the ordinary Garison and within two hours after entred the City himself where he was received with great magnificence yet would he not pronounce their pardon but referred all to the old Emperor and to the ordinary course of justice For which end he sent one of his favourites to the old Emperor to certifie him of his victory of the death of Calix
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
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
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
and and praising him with all manner of songs There he remained about a moneth In which space Axalla had rendevozed his Army at Ozara from which also he advertised Tamerlane of the proceedings of Bajazet Then did Tamerlane send for him to Samarcand to confer with him about seting forward of his Army For although he was still accompanied with renowned Princes and famous Captaines yet were they no body in comparison of Axalla whose sound judgement and counsel had won him such credit with his Lord and Master as by his advise he did al things and without him nothing which his so great authority and favor with his Prince wanted not the envy of the Court but that his great vertues and rare-found courtesie in so great fortune together with so many great services as he had done supported him against the malice of the same He upon this command from Tamerlane leaving the charge of the Army at Ozara with the Prince of Thanais came to Samercand and there discoursed with him at large concerning the estate and order of his Army and so shortly after they all departed to Ozara where a new consultation was held by which way he should conduct his Army as whether it was better to lead them by the coast of the Muscovite directly towards Capha or on the other side of the Caspian Sea by the skirts of Persia and after much discourse and sundry opinions with their reasons delivered it was resolved although the way were the longer to pass by the Muscovite so to come to the Georgians and to Trepizond and from thence to enter into the Ottomans Kingdom This being resolved on they marched forward till at length they came to Maranis where they stayed three dayes looking for the China forces whereof they received news there also Tamerlane mustered and paid his Army He had also news of fifteen thousand horsemen sent him by the Muscovite with a sum of money with leave for him to pass thorow so much of his territories as should be necessary being glad that he set upon others rather then on himself and that such great preparations should fall upon them whose greatness was as dreadful and dangerous to him as any other Tamerlane caused a great quantity of victuals and most part of the furniture of his Army to be sent along the Caspian Sea which was a great ease and commodity to his men which marching by Land was of necessity to pass some twenty leagues thorow places destitute both of victuals and water Himself all the way coasting along the Sea shore passed his time in Hunting and Hawking to make the journey less tedious his Army not coming neer him by ten leagues which was so great that it extended it self full twenty leagues Coming to the River Edel he stayed at Zarazich whilest his Army passed the River at Mechet and two other bridges that he had caused to be made of boats for that purpose Now that Circassians and Georgians hearing of the approach of Tamerlane with his huge army by their Ambassadors offered him all the help and assistance they could in his journy as he passed that way These Georgians were and yet were Christians a great and warlike people of long time tributaries to the Greek Emperors and afterwards sometime tributaries and sometimes confederates to the Persians but alwayes enemies to the Turk and therefore glad they were of Tamerlanes coming against them of these warlike people Axalla drew great numbers to the service of his Prince who not a little esteemed of them being all tall men very beautiful of great strength and courage and withall most expert souldiers as having many times resisted the power of the Ottoman Kings by reason of the advantage of their Country which was rough mountainous and hard to come to These people every where kindly entertained Tamerlane and plentifully relieved his Army with all necessaries In passing thorow which and other Countries he took such order with his souldiers that none of the people by whom they passed were any whit injured by them insomuch that if a souldier had taken but an Apple or any other trifle he died for it And one of his souldiers having taken a little Milk from a Country-woman and she thereof complaining he caused him presently to be hanged and his stomack to be ript where the Milk that he had lately drunk being found he payed the woman for it who had otherwise without mercy dyed for her false accusation Which his great severity was indeed the preservation of his Army being so great as that it was thought impossible to provide it with victuals whereof yet there was not want nor of any other thing necessary for the relief of man his Camp being still as a most populous and well-governed City stored with all manner of things whereunto both Artificers and Merchants resorted from far Countries with their commodities as to some famous Mart and the Country-people from every place without fear brought in their Country-commodities for which they received present money and so departed in peace So marching on he at length came to Bachichich where he stood to refresh his Army eight dayes and there againe took a general muster of them finding as some write four hundred thousand horse and six hundred thousand foot but others that were present with him say three hundred thousand horse and five hundred thousand footmen of all Nations There also he generally payed them and as his manner was made an oration to them informing them of such orders as he would have observed with much other military discipline whereof he was very curious with his Captaines In the mean time Bajazet would not believe that Tamerlane durst once look towards him yea so exceeding barbarous was he that he would not so much as suffer any man to speak of him or his Army to him by reason of his pride He also strictly forbade all the bordering people to make any vows or prayers for Tamerlanes prosperity But he was soon after awakened out of this Lethargy as we shall presently hear Indeed Tamerlane could hardly be perswaded that Bajazet having subdued the greatest part of Grecia and much distressed the Greek Emperor and having so great means to recover whatsoever he should lose in Asia would be so adventurous as to come over the streits out of Europe to try the Fortune of a battel with him but rather warily to protract the time to weary him with wants that in a strange Country drew such a world of people after him wherein yet he found himself much deceived for when he had passed the Georgian Country and was come to Buisabuich Axalla whom he had not seen in eight dayes before because he commanded the Avantguard of the Army came to him with such news as he knew would be most grateful to him which was that Bajazet had raised his besiegers at Constantinople to come and defend his new conquests in Asia and that he was
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
so noble a Prince as the Greek Emperor into his subjection He answered Even the same cause which moved thee to invade me namely the desire of glory and sovereignty But wherefore then said Tamerlane doest thou use such cruelty towards them that thou overcomest without respect of age or sex That did I said he to strike the greater terror into mine enemies Then did Tamerlane aske him if he had ever given thanks to God for making him so great an Emperor No said he I never so much as thought upon any such thing Then said Tamerlane It s no wonder that so ungrateful a man should be made a spectacle of misery For you saith he being blind of an eye and I lame of a leg was there any worth in us that God should set us over two such great Empires to command so many men far more worthy then our selves But said Tamerlane what wouldest thou have done with me if it had been my lot to have faln into thy hands as thou art now in mine I would said Bajazet have enclosed thee in a Cage of Iron and so have carried thee up and down in Triumph thorow my Kingdome Even so said Tamerlane shalt thou be served And so causing him to be taken out of his presence turning to his followers he said Behold a proud and cruel man who deserves to be chastised accordingly and to be made an example to all the proud and cruel of the world of the just wrath of God against them I acknowledge that God this day hath delivered into my hands a great enemy to whom therefore we must return thanks which he caused publikly to be performed the same day for the battel was ended about four a clock and there were diverse hours yet of day-light The next day he caused the dead to be buried where amongst the rest was found the body of the prince of Ciarchan dead in the middest of the Janizaries where he lay enclosed with their dead bodies shewing that he dyed not unrevenged whose untimely death Tamerlane much lamented causing his dead body to be Enbalmed and with two thousand horse and diverse Turkish prisoners chained together to be conveyed to Samercand untill his coming thither All other dead bodies were with all honour that might be buried at Sennas This great bloody battel was fought in the yeer of our Lord 1397. not far from mount Stella where formerly the great king Mithridates was by Pompey the great in a great battel overthrown It continued from seven a clock in the morning till four in the afternoone victory as it were all the while hovering with doubtful wings over both Armies as uncertain where to light until at length the fortune of Tamerlane prevailed whose wisdome next unto God gave him that days victory for that the politick tiring of the strong forces of Bajazet was the safeguard of his own whereas if he had gone unto the battel in one front assuredly the multitude finding such strong opposition had put it self into confusion whereas this successive manner of aiding his men made them all unto him profitable The number of the slaine is variously reported The Turkes themselves say that Bajazet lost there his noble son Mustapha with two hundred thousand of his men and Tamerlane not many fewer Others say that the Turkes lost about sixty thousand and Tamerlane not past twenty thousand But likely it is that the carnage was very great in so long a fight between two such Armies as probably never before met a in field together By this dayes event is plainly seen the uncertainty of worldly things and what small assurance even the greatest have in them Behold Bajazet the terror of the world and as he thought superior to fortune in an instant by the event of one battel thrown into the bottom of misery and despaire and that at such time as he thought least of it even in the middest of his greatest strength It was three dayes before he could be pacified but as a desperate man still seeking after death and calling for it Neither did Tamerlane after he had once spoken with him at all afterwards use him courteously but as of a proud and insolent man made small account of him And to manifest that he knew how to curb the haughty made him to be shackled in fetters and chaines of Gold and so to be shut up in an Iron Cage made like a grate that he might be seen on every side and so carried him up and down as he passed thorow Asia to be made a scorn and derision to his own people over whom he had before Tyrannized And to his further disgrace upon festival dayes he used him for a footstool to tread upon when he mounted on horseback and at other times scornfully fed him like a dog with fragments that fell from his table A rare example of the uncertainty of worldly honours and greatness that he unto whose ambitious minde Asia and Europe two great parts of the world were too little should now be carried up and down cooped up in a little Iron Cage like a dangerous wild beast How might he have taken up that speech of Hecuba in Seneca Quicunque Regno fidit magna potens dominatur in aula me videat Non unquam tulit Documenta Fors majora quà m fragili loco starent superbi Tamerlane used this severity not so much out of hatred to the man as to manifest the just judgement of God against the arrogant folly of the proud And when on a time he was requested by one of his Nobles to remit some part of this rigour to so great a man he answered I do not use this rigor against him as a King but rather to punish him as a proud ambitious Tyrant polluted with the blood of his own brother and many other innocents This so great an overthrow brought such a fear upon all the Countries possessed by Bajazet in Asia that Axalla being sent before Tamerlane with fourty thousand horse and a hundred thousand foot without carriages to prosecute the victory came without resistance to Prusa whither all the remainder of Bajazet's Army was retired with Bassa Mustapha all places as he marched along still yielding to him Yea the great Bassa with the rest hearing of his coming and not thinking themselves in safety in Asia fled over the streit of Hellespont to Callipolis and so to Hadrianople Axalla coming to Prusa had the City without resistance yielded to him which by his Army was plundred and there with other of Bajazet's wives and concubines he took prisoner the faire Despina Bajazet's best beloved wife to the doubling of his grief Emmanuel Paleologus now hearing of Tamerlanes coming to Prusa sent honourable Ambassadors thither before to Axalla by whō they were entertained till the coming of Tamerlane who received them with all the honor that might be shewing them all his magnificence and the
order of his Camp to their great admiration For it resembled a most populous and well governed City by reason of the order that was therein which brought it plenty of victuals and of all manner of Merchandise as well for delight as necessity By these Ambassadors the Greek Emperor yielded his Empire together with his person unto Tamerlane as his most faithful subject and vassal which as he said he was bound to do for that he was by him delivered from the most cruel Tyrant of the world as also for the long journy he had undertaken for his sake and the discommodities he had endured with the hazard of his person and loss of his subjects which could not be otherwise compensated but with the offer of his own and his subjects lives to him which for ever he therefore dedicated to his service with all the fidelity loyalty that so great a benefit might deserve besides that his so many virtues and rare endowments which made him famous thorow the world did oblige him the more hereunto and that therefore he would attend him in his chief City to deliver it into his hands as his own together with all the Empire of Greece Now these Ambassadors expected no less then to fall into the bondage of Tamerlane judging that which they offered to be so great and delicate a morsel as that it would not be refused especially of such a victorious Prince as was Tamerlane and that the acceptance thereof in knindness and friendship was the best bargaine they could make therein But they received an answer from this worthy Prince far beyond their expectation For he with a mild countenance beholding them answered thus That he was not come from so far a Country nor undertook such paines for the enlargement of his dominions big enough already too base a thing for him to put himself into so great danger and hazard for but rather to win honour and to make his name famous to future posterities And that he would make it appear to the world that he came to assist their Master as his friend ally at his request and that his upright intentions therein were the greatest cause that God from above had favoured him and made him instrumental to bruile the head of the greatest and fiercest enemy of mankind that was under heaven and therefore to get him an immortal name his purpose was to make free so great and flourishing a City as was Constantinople governed by so noble and ancient an house as the Emperors That he had alwayes joyned faith to his courage which should never suffer him to make so great a breach into his reputation as that it should be reported of him that in the colour of a friend he should come to invade the dominions of his ally That he desired no more but that the service he had done for the Greek Emperor might remaine for ever engraven in the memory of his posterity to the end they might for ever wish well to him and his successors by the remembring the good he had done for them That he wished that long might the noble Emperor live happily to govern his estate and that before his return he would so well consider for the establishing of the same as that he should not lightly fall into the same jeopardy Easie it is to judge what joy the Ambassadors did conceive upon hearing this so gracious an answer from the mouth of Tamerlane who rather then he would break his Faith refused an Empire offered him together with one of the stateliest and magnificentest Cities in the world After the testification of their joy and thankfulness these Ambassadors were by the command of Tamerlane royally feasted by Axalla having all the honour done to them that might be And one of them being sent back to carry this unexpected news to the Emperor filled both him and all the City of Constantinople with exceeding joy and gladness which both he all his subjects testified by making of Bonefires and other signes of joy and pleasure And the Emperor the more to shew his gratitude by the advise of his Councellors passed over the streit into Asia to see Tamerlane in Prusa and in person himself to give him thanks who hearing of his coming being glad thereof presently sent Prince Axalla to meet him and to certifie him of the joy he conceived to have the good hap to see him as also to conduct him to Prusa where those two great Princes with the greatest magnificence that might be met and so spent one whole day in conversing together and the Greek Emperor the next day taking his leave was by Tamerlane with mach honour conducted out of the City Now had Tamerlane himself conceived a great desire to see the famous City of Constantinople from which he was not now far yet would he not go thither as a Conqueror but as a private person which by the meanes of Axalla was accomplished and he thereinto by the Greek Emperor privately received and with all familiarity possible entertained the Emperor shewing unto him all the rare and excellent things that were contained therein and the other Greek Princes devising all the meanes they could to do him pleasure and them that were with him who were all in a manner clothed after the Greek fashion The Greek Emperor was curious to shew him all the beautiful Gardens along the Sea-cost and so privately conducting him about spent five or six dayes with all the mirth that mighty be Tamerlane by the way often saying that he had never seen a fairer City and that of all others considering the scituation of it it was right worthy to command all the world He wondred at the costly buildings of the Temples the faire engraven pillars the high Pyramides and the excellent gardens afterwards saying often that it nothing repented him to have undertaken so long and dangerous a journy if it had been only to preserve so notable a City from fire and sword In the Greek Emperor he greatly commended his mild nature courtesie who knowing that above all things he took pleasure in fair serviceable horses gave unto him thirty of the fairest strongest and reddiest that were possibly to be gotten all most richly furnished He sent likewise great presents to all the Princes and great Commanders of the Army and bountifully caused to be delivered to them all things which he thought necessary for the army So after these great kindnesses and a strict bond of friendship made and by solemne Oath confirmed by these two great Princes Tamerlane with great contentment took leave of the Emperor and returned to his Army at Prusa wherewith now at pleasure he spoiled and wasted all the dominions of Bajazet in Asia no man daring to make head against him The winter now drawing on Tamerlane dispersed his Army into diverse Provinces of the lesser Asia expecting daily when some of Bajazet's sons or great friends should