got the advantage but at last when Calibes had been wounded and his Squadrons broken the Enemy for a time seem'd to have won the Victory The Prince who was an Eye-witness of this first charge before he withdrew back to his Reer saw this dishonour without any alteration in his Countenance His mind was so setled and unmoveable in prosperity and adversity he only said That the vast numbers of his Enemy though in a Confusion had oppress'd the courages of his men These thirty thousand Horse already defeated were almost all Tartarians that fight not in the same manner as the Parthians nor in that good order Two thousand of them retreated with their wounded Commander behind the Prince who caused his Wound to be search'd before him and ordered him to go back behind his Infantry with the other wounded Men where a great many other Tartars rallied That which Calibes could not perform with the Tartars Odmar did with the Parthians he charg'd and broke into the Enemies with that fury that he made a way through their whole Army and afterwards fell upon one of their Wings forcing them to retreat to their Chariots where the King was in person It had been wisdom to stop there or turn another way but his fury made him think nothing impossible for his Courage to perform this perswasion caus'd him to assault that dreadful Barricade that kept in the King of China who had march'd forward to help his Cavalry in their Retreat and obliged them to rally after they had been broken by Odmar But in this Attempt he found a strong resistance and lost a great many Men to no purpose This caused him to stop his Men and send to the Prince for Infantry and Artillery with which he assur'd him that he should gain the Victory At this news the Prince commanded his Party to stand and sent him fifty thousand Foot with some of his Artillery under the Command of Axalla whom he had order'd to force the Barricado of Chariots This brave Captain with all speed march'd up to Odmar and having put his Artillery in the Front with which he caus'd such a disorder amongst the Chariots that their Governours oblig'd the King to fight the Tartars He had an hundred and fifty thousand Men about his Person but Axalla was not terrified with this vast number of Enemies he was thereby more encouraged to fight so that he was never observ'd to have behaved himself more bravely and with greater success In the mean while Odmar slept not he knew that the Kings Cavalry that he had broken were rallied behind their Body of Foot he charg'd them again afresh scatter'd and put them to flight At the same time Tamerlan came in with a choise Body of Horse and the rest of his Infantry which he had commanded to advance to succour Axalla without any delay he charg'd and cut all in pieces that stood before him getting as far as the second Barricado of Chariots where the King of China was with forty thousand Men untouch'd Here the Fight was cruel for two or three hours every one striving to overcome but at last the Reserve of Horse with which the Prince had charg'd so vigorously assisting the Foot in good time got the Victory and put the Chineses to flight The Day was won in this manner after a bloody Fight of eight hours the Night put a stop to the Slaughter and favour'd the Chineses in their Retreat Their Camp was taken and plunder'd by the Tartars the King himself wounded with an Arrow in the Arm became a Prisoner two Kings that assisted him lost their Lives in the Hurly-burly and two others were taken with him This compleat Victory enrich'd the Souldiers with Plunder The Spoils were infinite and inestimable nothing but Precious Stones and Vessels of Gold and Silver appear'd every where with such rich and beautiful Chariots that they could not be too much admir'd After this happy success the Prince rode round about the Field as well to hinder more Effusion of Blood as to rally his Men and place his Guards he unburden'd himself of the rest of his cares upon Axalla leaving the King of China in his Custody in the middle of his Infantry He intended to see him the next day in the mean whiles he gave order to have him cured of his Wound and well treated There was nothing more beautiful to the Eye than the rich Armour which the Chineses had put on that day and the many Ornaments with which they had trimmed themselves for the diversity of colours yielded at a distance the most satisfying prospect in the World Their Army was more numerous than the Tartars but they had neither the dexterity nor the courage of Tamerlan's Men. They say that the King had in the Field three hundred and fifty thousand Horse and two hundred thousand Foot but the most part of them were unskilful Brutes who suffer'd themselves to be butcher'd without resistance and without making use of their Numbers for they had no knowledge in the Art of War or so little that they were not much the better for it Threescore thousand Men died in this Battle Tamerlan gave his orders for the burying of the dead and for thanks to be given to God for the Victory afterwards he caus'd all the wounded to be carefully healed of both Armies He went to visit Calibes who was ill with the Infection of the Air and of a Wound which hinder'd him not from performing his duty and commanding the Van as carefully as if he had been in perfect health The Prince was well pleas'd with him he look'd upon him as the chief Commander next to himself amongst the Tartarians for he was so well beloved by them that he was very well obeyed Tamerlan received news that one of the King of China's Brothers was fled with fifteen thousand Horse he sent thirty thousand to pursue him and commanded Panihu at the same time to yield This City readily obeyed sending their Keys which caused the Army to advance forward into the Country Tamerlan had been almost a day and a night on Horseback from which he lighted about two a Clock in the Morning they brought to him a Loaf of Bread and Water for he never drank any Wine afterwards he laid himself down upon a Carpet discoursing with his Officers afterwards till Sun-rising I was saith Alhacent always near him at that time and could never hear the least word from his Mouth which might discover any pride that he took in his good success he only pitied the King of China because of his unhapiness caused by his refusal of surrendring into his Hands what belong'd to him by right He told Odmar that God had led him as it were by the Hand to obtain that day without the loss of any of his chief Officers a great Victory that he was sorry for the death of his other Souldiers but he thought them happy because they had lost their Lives in the service of
all to their several Commands Immediately after news came to him That the Turks were drawing near and entring into the Field He was very desirous to see them in their march that he might be better able to order his Army according to that manner He moved them from the place where he stood sending before three thousand Horse to begin a light skirmish whiles he appointed to every one his Rank and Place In this view of the Enemy he had taken notice That the Turkish Infantry named Janisaries kept the middle having upon each Wing two Bodies of Horse amounting to about thirty thousand and that there was another Body that went before and covered all the Foot This order seem'd to him very strong and not easie to be broken I was once resolved said he to Axalla to fight on foot but now I see I must be on Horseback to encourage my men to break through that great Body of Janisaries which I shall suffer advance as far as they please I will have fifty thousand Foot on each Wing and forty thousand Horse of my best Cavalry in the middle behind them there shall be fifty thousand Horse in three Bodies which you shall command and I will follow and second you with fourscore thousand Horse more where I intend to be in person behind me I will have one hundred thousand Foot who shall march in two Battalions the Reer shall be composed of forty thousand Horse and fifty thousand Foot who shall not strike a stroke till I shall want them The reserve shall be ten thousand of my stoutest Horse whom I will send to the places that shall have most need The Prince of Ciarcan a famous Commander of great worth led the first forty thousand Horse The Lord Synopes a Genoese and Relation of Axalla his Lieutenant-General of the Infantry a Captain of a great Reputation was at the Head of the first Infantry Prince Axalla followed him with fifty thousand Horse Bajazet's Army seem'd to be very beautiful and numerous marching towards the Tartars who stood to their Ground without stirring only some single Troops Scythians and Muscovites went sometimes between the two Armies to skirmish a little but these bold Fellows performed nothing of consequence for the winning of the Victory At that moment a Spy was taken who inform'd Tamerlan That Bajazet who was then on Horseback encouraging his Men intended to fight that day amongst his Janisaries a-foot These Janisaries are certain brave and faithful Souldiers brought up from their Infancy in Feats of Armes and chosen out of all the Christian Nations beautiful and strong of Body and of a good Constitution They are train'd up from their Child-hood together and are esteem'd invincible They fight for their Prince and Lord with a strange resolution in the form of a Half-Moon about his Person They were then about thirty thousand in number Bajazet confided most in them not regarding the rest of his Infantry which was numerous for they were People gathered together from several places He had a brave Company of Horse about one hundred and forty thousand very well experienced in all manner of Fights He had also above thirty thousand Mameluks very good Horsemen and forty thousand Foot sent to him from the Souldan of Egypt to help him So that his Army seem'd to be as great as Tamerlan's which stood closer together and march'd in several Lines whereas Bajazet's had but one and appear'd in one Front It march'd on with a great noise and grievous threatnings whereas Tamerlan's Army observed a great silence in expectation of the Signal As soon as publick Prayers were ended the Emperour appear'd in the Van to be witness of the first On-set causing Axalla to advance forward he himself returned to his resolved Station when he had called upon every one to behave themselves well It is not to be imagin'd how furiously the Turks assaulted the Prince of Ciarcan who had orders not to fight until the Enemy were in their march and had begun to attack him The place was a large Plain of a vast extent where the advantage was equal for both Parties only there was a River on Tamerlan's left hand which he look'd upon as a benefit to his Army so that he gave an express and a strict Command not to suffer the Turks to take it from them because of that side which he esteem'd the best for his Men to fight It was always his Practise in War to suffer his Enemy to begin the Encounter therefore he ordered the Commanders of his Van-Guard to stay till the Enemy did first assault them In the mean while the Prince of Ciarcan with his forty thousand Horse was almost overthrown He did all that could have been expected from a great courage and a judicious Commander He broke into the middle of the Janisaries where Bajazet was and disorder'd them but his valour that overturn'd all things in his way was soon stop'd with an Arrow that struck him to the heart At that time Axalla went on with his Men and charg'd one of the Enemies Wings where he meeting with no great resistance cut them all to pieces His Infantry came then up to him according to appointment and with it he assaulted the Janisaries The Prince considering the difficult Task that Axalla was to have sent him ten thousand Horse out of his Body as well to favour the rallying of such as should be disorder'd as to charge a Body of Foot which were marching on to help the Janisaries who behaved themselves gallantly for the glory and safety of their Prince The Fight lasted a full hour before any Person did offer to retreat The Turks and the Parthians with a wonderful obstinacy killed one another in heaps Men and Horses covered the Ground in their Gore-Blood lying one upon another Here you might have seen some falling dead upon those that they had newly kill'd There you might have beheld some breathing out their last Gasp with threatning looks In every place were heard lamentations groans and the cryes of the wounded and dying Souldiers The Prince beheld this fight patiently looking for the end but when he perceived that his Men decreas'd and seem'd to be too weak he sent ten thousand Horse to second the ten thousand appointed for the Reserve and commanded them to fall on as soon as they should see that need requir'd In the mean while the Emperour enter'd into the Battel with his Party and broke through all that stood in his way and the Infantry Commanded by the Prince of Tanais advanc'd and assaulted the Janisaries where Bajazet was yet in Person They found no easie work to overthrow them but when the Emperour had again charged them the second time and followed by his Reer he overcame them rather by his number than by valour or courage for they performed all that could be expected from brave Men but so many Onsets one upon the Neck of another by fresh Souldiers oppress'd them Bajazet forsook this Body
the victory and killing When therefore this Body of Horse appear'd first Tamerlan's Army being in disorder they had no great difficulty to overcome them The Victory was almost lost This oblig'd him to retreat in fighting according to the manner of the Parthians The Prince had been dismounted but rescued at the same moment which caus'd him to look to his Reer which could not yet come up to him His Infantry had open'd it self when he gave the onset It had not yet been assaulted but only upon the skirts in the several Encounters At the same time therefore that Calix pursued so vigorously the Princes Army that by a stout resistance had lessen'd the number of the Enemy Axalla who commanded the Reserve or the Reer came up to the Infantry which had scarce been ingag'd in the fight The Clouds of dust hindered Calix from perceiving this Body that was in the Reer and that was falling upon him and his men who advanc'd in very good order bearing all down before them At that very instant these words were often heard repeated Give back give back give back Axalla had commanded a thousand or twelve hundred of his Body to advance and free the Prince They charg'd home to the Enemy so bravely that Calix began to conjecture what would become of his Empire of his Glory and ambitious designs by what was then acted The displeasure made him pensive a little moment but resolution caus'd him to send a Party to stop the Enemies fury while he rallied his scattered Troops He gathered together about eleven thousand with them he thought to have beaten Tamerlan's Reer But he was not a little troubled because the dust hinder'd him from distinguishing the Foot from the Horse he imagin'd therefore that all Axalla's Party were Horse In this occasion he shew'd his courage and resolution with a setled countenance by exhorting his men to play their parts and pursue their good fortune which they had already and assuring them that the remainder of Tamerlan's men before them were nothing but such as had already fled who endeavoured to rally and that with a stout onset it was easie to hinder them Whiles he was speaking his Party increas'd But Axalla considering that his Master had put into his hands that day the fortune of two great Empires was resolved to answer his expectation by hazarding his life for his interest and glory with a resolution of dying upon the place or of carrying away the Victory he call'd to such as were nearest to him to follow his example therefore with an incredible fury he broke through the Squadron led by Calix This Prince was wounded with a Lance in the mouth when he had performed the duty of a Commander and common Souldier and express'd sufficiently his undaunted courage In the hurley-burley he was taken Prisoner by Axalla himself It was immediately nois'd abroad all over the Field together with the advantages that Tamerlan had obtain'd for he himself had defeated a Body of Horse by charging them in the Flank Axalla before had broken them but they were rallied together again and had not Tamerlan seasonably come in they might have snatch'd the Victory out of his hands This bad news broke the hearts as well as the Troops of the Enemy that fled immediately upon it In this Fight there died above fifty thousand men on both sides so that Tamerlan purchas'd the Victory at a dear rate and was forc'd to confess that in all his life-time he never was more likely to be undone than at that time He imbrac'd and extoll'd Axalla for his couragious behaviour and wise Conduct that day This Noble Captain presented Calix before him wounded with a Lance in the Mouth and with an Arrow in his Side Tamerlan ask'd him some questions but Calix's pride and insolency would make no answer pretending that he could not well speak He was kept till the next day the last of his life for he was judg'd worthy to die by a Council of War His Head was chopt off and sent as a Present to the Inhabitants of Cambalu All the other Commanders were treated in the same manner There was a necessity for this severity to hinder all Civil Broils from rising again it was therefore needful to cut off the Chieftains After the Fight Tamerlan's Army meeting with no resistance march'd into the Province of Catay which is full of all kind of Fruits Grass Beasts and Fowl more than in any other part of Tartaria The Prince gave a severe Command to all his Souldiers not to offer to abuse the Inhabitants whom he would deal with as with his best Subjects The Cities of Cangi Sochgi Gonzae Tagin Togara and Congu that had revolted staid not for a Summons to yield but wisely sent their Deputies to Tamerlan to implore his mercy This good Prince forgave them requiring nothing from them but that they should furnish his Army with Provisions telling them that for the future they should be better advised than to be so easily perswaded with the empty promises of ambitious persons who would endeavour to draw them from that obedience which they owe to their Lord and Master This kind and courteous dealing being divulg'd all over the Provinces wrought a great change in the minds of those who expecting no favour from Tamerlan's hands were yet resolved to venture all and ruine themselves and their Country The Citizens of Cambalu had taken this strange resolution to sell their lives at a dear rate if they were to lose them for this City was full of those Mutineers who knew themselves as guilty as their Commanders that had been punish'd already expecting therefore no mercy for themselves they thought it might mitigate their punishment if they could but draw into it the rest of their Citizens But this kind and gracious dealing of their Prince put other thoughts into their Souls and rais'd their hopes Nevertheless the Armies approach to the City increas'd daily the fears and apprehensions of the people Tamerlan had notice of all that was there acted from those that favour'd his Interest They sent him word that at last every one was resolved to obey the Conquerour and perform his Commands therefore he left his Army at Gonza only thirty thousand men he order'd to march thither to fill up the ordinary Garrison When they were enter'd they put all things in a good posture and caus'd every one to submit to the Princes pleasure without murmuring He himself was received into the City two hours after his Garrison in a triumphing manner for the Inhabitants laboured in this occasion to make him forget the wrong they had done him He had only pardon'd the meaner sort of people the rest he left to the will of the Emperour his Uncle unto whom he had dispatch'd a Messenger to inform him of the Victory of Calix's death and of the imprisonment of some of the chief Commanders and Leaders of the Faction and to desire to know what punishment he would have
know the inclinations and courages of your Captains and Soldiers Do you doubt whither they will prefer the advancement of your glory to their own lives wherefore do you inquire from us our resolutions Lead up only and you shall see whether the great affection we have alwayes had for you be now deminish'd do you think that the walls of Cairo are strong enough to resist our Courages and stop your Cavalry The first horse-man that shall put his head within the walls will open a way to the whole Army Assoon as Axalla had ended his speech all the Captains cried out and intreated to be led to the fight protesting that they were ready to Sacrifice themselves for the Honour and Glory of their Prince The Emperour was mighty well satisfied with their affectionate expressions for which he return'd them his hearty thanks Therefore at the same time he gave Orders for the assault and divided his Infantry into three Bodies The Lieutenant General was to lead thirty thousand men The Prince of Tanais was to follow him with fifty thousand more Axalla was to succeed him with a like number of Infantry with four thousand Horse arm'd with Lance and Buckler The Prince came a little after with ten thousand Horse before him and he himself in the midst of fifty thousand Foot who were followed by the rest of the Cavalry whom he commanded in person having given the charge of the Infantry to Axalla in whom he placed his chiefest trust The Princes intent was to win one of the Towns of Cairo and there to lodge himself that he might be able to advance by degrees But it concerns us to know that the Sultan was in the City with all his forces which amounted to threescore thousand foot and fifty thousand horse of whom thirty thousand were Mamelucks brave Souldiers train'd up in the art of war The Tartars had found what they were by experience But his Infantry were not so skilful for they were but fresh Souldiers newly rais'd in Arabia Persia and Lybia and a great many were but Slaves lately set at liberty for his ordinary and standing Foot had been overthrown in the last Battles The Prince had discovered to none but to Axalla the hopes that he had in the rising of the Slaves and Moors When therefore all things where readily provided he caused the first boâ—â—y of Foot to advance to the place that he had appointed to attack the Enemy in the Front when he saw them charge home and force the Sultans men into their Trenches he caused them to be followed and seconded by the Prince of Tanais with fifty thousand under his command Then the fight was most cruel and bloody In the mean whiles Axalla march'd along certain palm trees in a place that he imagin'd was forsaken to go to the assistance of his men by another way He was not mistaken he found little or no resistance so that with ease he broke into the Trenches he applied himself next to perform Tamerlans orders and fill up with boards and other materials the holes and ditches that the Horse might get over but as he was busie in this work the Enemy came upon him with twenty thousand men to hinder him Axalla left three thousand to end the work begun and make a way with all speed for the Cavalry and with the rest he charg'd the Enemy The Mamelucks were coming to him in good order They were too hard for the Prince of Tanais and had some advantage upon him but it lasted not long for as soon as the way was made for the Horse the ten thousand men charg'd the Mamelucks in the Rear where the Sultan was in person after these ten thousand more were sent by the Prince who with all his Cavalry followed next All together broke in upon the Enemy without delay so that they had no time but to fly to the second Trenches which they had made in the second Town The fight lasted seven whole hours all this time it was not to be judged which party should gain the Victory The Enemies defended themselves stoutly but when the Prince had driven them from their first Trenches he sounded a retreat and was contented to lodge all night in that place resolving the next day to pursue the Victory One third of the Town was already in Tamerlans possession whose Infantry were quartered next to the Enemies second Trenches which gave occasion to several small skirmishes which hapned most times to the advantage of the Tartars who behaved themselves most couragiously That day fifteen or sixteen thousand men were killed on the Enemies side and seven thousand of Tamerlans Dragnen Lieutenant General of the Infantry of the Sultan died with many other Officers who were in the heat of the battle It was generally confessed that Axalla's experience and good judgement this day were very useful in getting the Victory The same night news being brought to the Prince that the Sultan had a design to pass over the River he gave order to ten thousand horse to post themselves along the banks when the Sultan heard of it he imagin'd that all the Army had been there therefore he was not so bold as to venture his person at the passage At the break of day the Emperour caus'd the Trenches to be fill'd up and the fight to begin by the Prince of Tanais of one side and by Axalla on the other But after a slight resistance when the Sultan perceived that his Infantry drew back and left their Trenches to their enemies the fear of the coming of the Cavalry caus'd him to forsake the Town He performed this design which he had fail'd of in the night by drawing up his Army in the void space between the River and the Town that he might be able to escape over into Alexandria In the mean while the Prince having taken by force the second Trenches the Souldiers broke into the City and kill'd every one they met with none being able to keep them in when the Emperour was inform'd of the way the Sultan took to pass over the River he followed him with all his Cavalry and all the foot that he could pick up from the plunder and spoils of the City unto which they were furiously bent But the Sultan had provided in time to secure his retreat and passage by getting into his power a narrow peice of ground secur'd from the Rivers violence with strong stakes there he posted fifteen thousand of his best Souldiers whom he called his slaves The scituation was such that they were able to defend themselves and could not be forced without Infantry Such as were brought to find them were loath to leave their companions to take all the plunder therefore they march'd but slowly and without courage until the Emperour himself had promis'd them to take notice of them and give them rewards At their first coming up they assaulted these Troops not without difficulty and loss of many men but the enemies made an honourable
for the most part a foot and unprovided so that they easily ran over them But as they were advancing they met with another Trench which had been drawn in opposition to theirs This stopp'd them a while and gave time and leasure to the Tartars to arm and succour their Companions Their enemies wanted no courage to resist and assault them for they won the Trenches which they laboured with the assistance of some foot to level In this place the hurly burly was great and the fight bloudy for the Infantry being suddainly broken could not easily rally but were almost all cut in peices But as they advanced further than they should have done they gave an occasion and time to six thousand of Axalla's horse who were upon Guard about half a mile distant to come in good time to charge them in disorder In this manner Camares passed over the first Trenches and was advancing forward to disingage his men when Axalla came in suddainly to him with two or three thousand horse whom he had found ready seeing therefore the danger of his men he charged without dispute the enemy who was looking about for a way to retreat with no intent to hazard a battle Doubtless they had escaped through a passage where they thought there had been no body if they had not met with six thousand men whom Axalla had appointed to stop there Cameres attackt them in vain he was driven back with loss which caused him to try another place lower with a purpose to fight his way through if he could not break through otherwise When he saw himself pursued so close at the heels by Axalla with seven thousand Parthian horse and Stradiots he faced about with twelve or thirteen thousand men that he had yet left and then like a furious beast in despair he fell upon Axalla's party In this moment of time he shewed his wisdome and courage and received the enemies charge without losing much ground At the second charge Axalla's horse was killed under him with a Lance but he was as soon mounted again had it not been for the coming in of Damacen whom he expected and who had orders to follow him with eight or ten thousand fresh horse he had been forced to a retreat When this party came in they found Axalla's men broken though they yet obstinately held out against the furious enemy But the coming of these fresh Troops routed and utterly defeated them When Camares saw unto what necessity he was driven he endeavoured to rally all his broken Army and to make way through his enemies but in this last attempt he was killed in the fight performing actions worthy of an immortal Name All this was done in the night by the light of the Moon The Prince of Tanais was then in the Camp to guard it The next day the Emperour himself arrived where the battle was fought when he saw the number of the slain he could not sufficiently praise Axalla for his wisdome care and carriage but he would not pardon the unworthiness the negligence and slothfulness of those Captains that were then upon the Guard who had been surprized unawares He caused two to be examin'd and tried they were found guilty and punished according to the Law of Arms. The Inhabitants of Archiecho had received into their Town five or six thousand of the sad remains of the Persian Army but when they saw the rest defeated and Camares head they had no courage to withstand or make resistance they desired therefore Articles The Emperour granted them peace upon condition that those Souldiers that were within their Walls should not return to Tauris but to any other place whither they desired to go They intreated leave to march to Lovain and promised to perform whatsoever the Inhabitants of Tauris should agree to This misfortune of Camares astonish'd them all they could not but wonder that he had shut himself up If he had had as they thought more discretion he had easily found work for the Enemy a while and doubtless in a retreat he might have met with an opportunity to fall upon the Tartars with advantage At that instant the Emperour caused his Army to decamp and went to lodge at eight leagues from Tauris The body of the Army was at Sederva and the Van at Chiara As soon as Axalla had appeared with his Vanguard before the Walls of Tauris The whole City was full of fears but much more when Tamerlan had sent in a Trumpeter with a message They were then in their Town house The faction of Guines though the weakest began to lift up their heads when they saw the contrary party troubled requiring earnestly that the Emperours commands might be obeyed When they saw the others wavering they seized upon one of the Gates of Tauris resolved to let in Tamerlan with his Army for they trusted in his generosity and good disposition But that we may better understand in what trouble these people were in we must know that as soon as they heard that Tamerlan was upon their borders they chose Talismahar for their Prince who before had been but their General They swore to him to die rather a thousand deaths than to yield to the Empire of the Tartars or to hearken to any accommodation when they saw how all things were changed they repented of their former resolution and of the choice they had made so unconstant are the minds of the common people They were so much the more dissatisfied with Talismahar because before he had declared that he was strong enough not only to withstand the Tartarians but also to drive them again into their Country Now all these promises seem'd to be but vain on the contrary they saw the enemies Army victorious and full of many sorts of people Camares and his men lately overthrown and the Tartars drawing near their Walls to block them up and punish them if they offered to resist They knew also that the Emperour had sent them word that if they would submit to him he would deal with them kindly and not suffer the Army to approach nearer than four leagues of their City Their Priests were the most obstinate to hold out for fear of being constrain'd to submit to the reformation of Guines But his superstitions began to appear less frightful to these Inhabitants They commonly said to one another Shall we for fear of that which may chance never to happen run headlong into our certain ruine Shall we be any longer cozen'd with the promises of our new Prince who hath been defeated Have we not heard of the plundering of Cairo and of the many Towns which Tamerlan hath conquered Who knows whither he will force us to be under Guines Whither he will not rather choose to keep us in his own hands that we may watch over that ambitious Prince whose wicked designs he perceiveâ—â— cloak'd with an appearance of Devotion and counterfeit Piety Let us free our selves from these fears by a bold resolution Let us
have neither their Courage nor Virtue They are but a rabble led on by Insolency and Brutality who would never be so audacious were it not for their numbers I shall only recommend to you the remembrance of your Ancestors Glory and these considerations that your Prince is in the Encounter with you that he never knew what it is to run away or flye from an Enemy that he hath made you pass over the River never to go back without Victory in your Hands and that he puts all his trust upon your undaunted Courages and Faithfulness These words caus'd strange Transports in the minds of the Souldiers which made them break out into loud cries to be led on to the Battel Their furiousness was so great that they were not to be kept in at the sight of the Enemy Odmar soon satisfied them by sending to Tamerlan for the Sign and word of Command when he saw the time convenient but he was prevented by the Moscovites who charged first and gave a furious onset The Parthians received them with an undaunted resolution which had caused them to give back if Odmar at that time had not by his fall disorder'd his squadron By this accident his Cavalry began to shake and was afterwards broken and himself hurried away in the Croud so that he was forced after a considerable loss of Men to shelter himself under the left Wing of his Infantry on that side of the Mountain whither the Prince had sent already six thousand Horse as a recruit When he was mounted again he rallied all his Men that he could pick up and fell upon the sides of the Moscovites Army where the Hungarians were who this day behaved themselves so bravely that only with three thousand Men they broke through Tamerlan's Battel At this he retreated according to the Parthians manner which made the Enemies imagin them to run away This fond conceit had so puft them up that they thought the Victory to be already in their Hands But assoon as the Reer was come up led by the Prince of Tanais who had rallied together about fourteen thousand Horse and all the Foot he obliged the Moscovites to run away in their turn after such extraordinary resistance that one may justly say that their Vertue and Courage was forced to yield to the greater number When the Parthians perceiv'd that Victory smil'd upon them they pursued their advantage so fiercely that their Enemies had neither time to rally nor to understand themselves Tamerlan was here wounded in the Forehead and near the left Eye having left two Horses kill'd under him The Moscovites Army was totally routed many Lords and chief Officers taken Prisoners the Emperour himself was once fallen into the Hands of a Parthian Souldier incognito but he happily sav'd himself and met with ten thousand Horse that had not been broken with them he retreated ten Leagues and for his greater security he pass'd over a River in the Night beyond which he rallied together all that he could save of his Army His Cavalry behav'd themselves in the Battel like Men of Courage but when they saw themselves forsaken of the Foot in the hottest Encounter when they were fiercely charged and Fortune seem'd to turn them her back they were then forc'd to yield to the Conquerour They suffer'd therefore more than the Infantry that sav'd themselves along the Mountains in the dark of the night which favour'd them in all their flight Tamerlan having pursued them three Leagues return'd to the Field where he solemnly gave God the praise for the Victory obtained The next day assoon as it was light he review'd all his Army and understood that he had lost not above seven or eight thousand Horse and between three and four thousand Foot whereas the Moscovites wanted seven and twenty thousand Foot and about fifteen or sixteen thousand Horse We must acknowledge that Odmar this day was the safety of his Prince and of the whole Army and that after his disgrace he behaved himself wonderfully well and wisely in that he assaulted the Enemy upon the Flanks when they had beaten both the Van and the Main Battel and were going to fall upon the Reer led by the Prince of Tanais under whose Wings Tamerlan was retreated If Odmar had not acted in this manner the Moscovites would have doubtless and with ease defeated the Reer and won the honour of that glorious day By this 't is easie to understand how great is the advantage of that Commander who having pitch'd upon a Field and chosen a favourable Ground and Place waits stedfastly for his Enemies coming chiefly when he hath both Wind and Sun to fight with him Tamerlan forgot not to mind his Souldiers and Captains of this happiness It is also certain that when the Reer is well commanded it is able to restore the Battel when it is in a most desPerate condition and to snatch the Victory out of the hands of the stoutest Enemies Assoon as Tamerlan as I have already said had given thanks to God and taken a review of his Army he commanded all the dead both his own men and the Enemies to be buried and afterwards he rewarded all those that had well behaved themselves in the Fight But his joy for the Victory was qualified with the grief for the death of Haly he was killed with an Arrow as he was going to the Fight after that he had gain'd the Mountain and performed Actions worthy of an Immortal Glory Tamerlan caus'd his Body to be embalmed and to remain with him in his own Tent till he return'd to Samarcande where he caused a stately Sepulchre to be made for him which renders his name famous in succeeding Ages and gave a beginning to the glorious Structures which he caused afterwards to be erected in his Capital City and which have made it to be one of the most famous Cities of the World Tamerlan after this Victory was not puft up with Pride as some of his Age are in such great successes many times they are so apt to forget themselves that they become unsufferable to their best Friends But after the slaughter when he beheld so many thousands reeking in their Blood he lamented at the hard and unavoidable fate of such as command in great Armies and addressing himself to those that were about him O how happy is my Father in his choice of Peace and in preferring a solitary and quiet life to this troublesome painful and cruel employment of a Souldier which he must sometimes embrace that governs a Kingdom Is it not grievous that such an one cannot purchase to himself Glory but by the Death of so many millions of his own Species and oftentimes the destruction of his dearest Friends In this manner Tamerlan receiv'd with displeasure such bloody successes purchas'd at the price of so many lives In the mean while he supply'd the duties of his place and gave Orders to advance into the Moscovites Country marching after their flying Army that
Strength and Courage When the King of China understood that the Tartars were marching towards him he advanc'd with his Army to meet them in such a glorious manner as if he had intended only to shew them his Grandeur and Riches Nothing appear'd to the Eye but Gold and Silver in his Army and the Chariot upon which he was mounted was so beset with Diamonds Rubies and Pearls that it was not possible stedfastly to fix the Eye upon it in the Sun This Prince of about thirty three years old had been brought up from his infancy in the delights and pleasures of the Court and not in the troubles of the War which requires a Body inur'd to pains and hardened against the inconveniences of the Seasons He was in his discourses insolent from his Mouth drop'd nothing but Threatnings Words of Contempt and Defiance complaining that he had been surpris'd by the Tartars and engag'd in a War without notice given as it is the Custom of his people Three or four of his Neighbouring Kings accompanied him in the same State and Splendour so that the hopes of such rich Spoils as were to be gotten with the Victory strangely encouraged the Tartarian Souldiers to behave themselves like men Whiles the two Armies were drawing nearer together Tamerlan took the Town of Thiauchevoi in his march which happened to be very useful to his Army in regard of its good scituation in the midst of Waters and Pasture Grounds for Cattel so that when Tamerlan saw it first he resolved to pitch there his Tents and see whether the Enemy would have so much boldness to attempt upon him in that place that would prove disadvantageous to him To engage the Chineses the sooner to a Battel he sent them a defiance and at the same time laid siege to Panihu which was a little behind him This Town was strong and well furnished with a stout Garrison Panihu was distant from Thiachevoi about ten Leagues so that it had not been convenient for the Emperour to return and assault it himself for then he had been forc'd to turn his Back to the Enemy he judg'd it therefore more fit for him to beset it with his Troops of Horse for these two Reasons First to hinder the Enemy from breaking in upon his Army and next that he might with more ease approach nearer to the King of China But this Precaution was not needful nor the Consultation that happen'd thereupon for when Odmar was return'd he assur'd him that the Chineses were within a Days March and that in all likely-hood the Battel would be the Day following At this news the Prince sends for Calibes who was with ten thousand Horse before Panihu commanding him to come to him with speed In the mean while he was careful to provide all things needful and to seek his advantages to win the Victory The Army advanc'd softly within a League of Thiauchevoi and the next day understood for certain that the Chineses were in their march towards him The Emperour with a merry Countenance as soon as he had acquainted Odmar with the Order that he intended to observe and drawn up his Men in the Field that he had chosen look'd upon the Enemy in their march at the head of six thousand Horse with which he advanc'd before his Army having Calibes with him He used thus to view the Enemy himself without trusting to other Mens Eyes He endeavour'd to draw them into the Field where his Army was ready for the Battel When he had well considered this vast Army he commanded Calibes as soon as he should be assaulted to retreat back in good order and draw the Chineses nearer to the Tartarian Troops He returned afterwards to his Army to prepare them for the fight disposing of his Infantry upon the decline of the Hill with their Artillery to defend them They were in number sixscore thousand men armed according to the Christians fashion under several Captains who obeyed Axalla as their Lieutenant-General The Cavalry was drawn up in a plain Ground having their Enemy at their right hand and their Infantry at the left to withdraw towards it in case of necessity They were in number fourscore thousand Horse Caliâ—â—es with the Tartars led the Van He was to command thirty thousand divided into three Bodies of ten thousand a-piece who had orders to join to him as soon as he should have drawn the Enemy into the Field according to the Prince's Orders Odmar was commanded to second him with thirty thousand more and Tamerlan led the Reer which he placed near one of the Wings of the Foot which he look'd upon as the chief strength of his Army His intention was to let those threescore thousand Horse begin the Battel led on by those two great Commanders He hop'd when they should have broken the Enemy or shaken them he would quickly defeat them He commanded them therefore to advance forward staying behind with his Infantry and twenty thousand chosen Horse able to win another Battel if his Men had been beaten When these things were thus order'd Calibes by retreating from the Enemy drew them on forward but sometimes he charg'd them home It was a beautiful sight to behold that great Army stronger than ours full of armed Chariots with which the Chineses expected to get a great advantage over Tamerlan's Army The Chineses were full of Gold and Silver their Armour Horses and Cloths were so loaden that the Tartars had just cause to wonder In the mean while the Emperour's Eye was every where he was well pleased to see Calibes execute his Orders so punctually and to behold the Chineses draw towards him in good order He endeavour'd to understand in what place their King was for that purpose he had near him the Lord of Vauchefu who was well acquainted with their Rules and Manners This Lord caus'd the Prince to take notice that they had but one Body which was not divided into Van and Reer and that the King was in the middle of his Chariots and Infantry Upon this Tamerlan turn'd back to his Men telling them That they must scatter that Golden Cloud and that the King of China must give them a share of his Riches As soon as he had spoken these words he gave not time to the Enemy to rest after a march of a long League but sent order to Calibes to begin to charge with his Van-guard and that he should send back his ten thousand wearied Horse to him Calibes could not prevail upon them to retreat but they as soon as the signal was given desired earnestly to go in the Front and give the first On-set under the Command of a young Lord named Ziocoatanes This Lord charg'd the formost of the Chineses Army so stoutly that he made them give back The Battel was Bloody for every one endeavour'd to shew his Courage and fight for the honour of their Prince and the safety of their Nation In an hours time it was not known which Party had