for to change in such sort as euery one retired into his quarter beeing resolued with the losse of their citie to lose also their liues Now you must vnderstand that the situation of the citie was of hard accesse being seated vpon a plaine the which was enuironed round about with mountaines one of them only approching the citie which ouerlooked it on front vpon the North side where was a valley by the which they passed and there did runne a riuer on this side was the suburbe situated which had beene taken so as the meanes to succour the Citie was stopped our souldiers keeping the passages of these Mountaines the which were in the old time the borders of the kingdome for Paguinfou was once gouerned by the Tartarians which kept it for a defence against the Chinois but had lost the same and these mountaines were the limits of China against the foresaid Tartarians who gouerned Paguinfou at that time so as these mountaines were of hard accesse and there remained no other way but on the side of the suburbe the which a riuer compasseth about running all along the side of a bordering mountaine vpon the which we caused many bridges to be built for to haue thereby a way for to succour our souldiers which kept the passages of the mountaines on the enemies side so as it could not be but hardly succoured or else by a battell the which the Prince did earnestly desire as all conquerors should do I will declare also that during this time Odmar Calibes and the Prince of Thanais were cōmanded often by the Prince to make warre as well for to heare certaine newes of the enemie as also for to maintaine his horsemen and to keepe the place the which he had chosen as the field for the battell to the end that he might liue there with his horsemen He gaue also commandement vnto his men to gather together great store of victuals so as they sacked many small townes out of the which they brought a great quantitie In this meane time the king of Chinaes armie approched euen like faire weather the which was very great as they brought vs word dayly the Prince determining to go in person meete with the enemy accōpanied with his principall horsemen and to leaue the greatest part of his footmen at the siege wherunto he had a great desire omitting nothing that might wearie the besieged who defended themselues couragiously So the Prince began to batter causing his engines to approch as rammes and other munitions the which he had made for to come neere vnto the walles to the end they might come to hand-blowes with the enemies insomuch as the Citie was assaulted on two sides very coragiously They within began to be more affeard then before there beeing set vp for the safegard of the munitions and of a wall which was fallen down a Caualier raised vp very high within an arrowshot which did greatly annoy them so as they were constrained to forsake the wall in the day and this caused them to begin a trench for to couer themselues the which was 22. foote in height and as much in depth and fiftie foot in bredth the which being declared vnto our men they determined to trie their fortunes and to giue thē an assault before they had ended the same or at the least to win the wall lodge there at the instant So the Prince sent for Axalla who was in his own quarter this affaire depending vpon his charge and hauing by his industrie ordered in a manner all the siege and hauing acquainted him with his pleasure commanded him to execute it The next day putting his mē in order they assalted the wall the which was valiantly defended but in the end through the valor of Axalla who gaue an assalt with 20000. of his best souldiers he won the wall lodged there the Prince hauing so cōmanded him to do to stop the heat of the soldiers frō going any further Now the Princes purpose was to cōpound for the citie not to force it for two reasons The first was for that he feared the citie being great and rich that when the souldiers should sacke it the enemie who was but thirtie leagues from thence should come vpon them and by this meanes his army should be found in disorder also rich souldiers neuer serue well The other was for that he would draw out of that citie which was rich and wealthie those commodities which were necessary for the sure accomplishing of his enterprise seeing it was necessarie to haue such a citie for to make a store-house of necessarie things for the army Thus although the wall was won the enemies wanted not courage yet to defend themselues valiantly looking for aide according to the newes they had receiued that the kings army marched forward Whilest these things were in doing one of our engines shooting a bullet and hauing ouerthrowen a peece of Anuber the same did hurt the Gouernour who at the end of three or foure houres yeelded vp the ghost the which caused the souldiers to change their resolution there being none which made them obstinate but he so as they determined before the Prince should be aduertised of the losse of their head especially of the great slaughter of men which they had lost in the fight of the wall all of them with one cōsent did resolue for to yeelde themselues vnto the Princes mercie sauing their liues and the souldiers enioying their horse and weapons Now I haue forgotten to declare how this assault had alreadie endured the space of eight dayes such delay did greatly vexe the Prince and on the other side the king of China made no great hast but at such time as he vnderstood of the Gouernour his death doubting of that which happened The Prince then who was aduertised that the enimies army marched vnto a batel was very glad of these news the which Axalla who was aduanced vpon the walles had declared vnto him and brought the Embassadors vnto the Prince who receiued them verie curteouslie assuring them on the one side of his gentlenesse and on the other of the power he had to punish their disobedience The conditions were agreed vpon and there came out of the citie eighteen thousand souldiers the inhabitants remaining in a maner all there were therin thirtie thousand soldiers at the beginning the siege cōtinued two moneths Now the king of China in his marching receiued newes of the yeelding vp thereof he caused the Lieutenant of the late Gouernor to be punished and many of the Captaines but pardoned the souldiers he stayed in that place attēding for our marching forward which could not bee before eight daies after he had taken order about this new cōquest the which was necessarie for him to settle before hee proceeded any further Our Prince caused a muster to be made of his soldiers hauing encreased their payes and contented euery one according to his desertes The honour of
The great humilitie of the Tartarians vnto their Emperour The notable answer of the Emperor vnto Odmar Tamerlan his oration vnto his soldiers vpoÌ„ his going forward against the king of China The crie of the souldiers vpon the Emperours oration A wall builded by the king of China forty leagues long The temperature of China The Prince of Thanais ouerthrew a troupe of horsmen led by the king of Chinas brother The Prince of Thanais gaineth a Lord of the mâ—untains to doe the Emperour seruice Vauchefu Conference between the Emperour and the Lord of Vâ—châ—fu The speech of the mountaine Lord vnto Tamerlan Hostages offered by the mountaine Lord vnto the Emperour Calibes oration vnto Prince Tamerlan Fiftie thousand men sent into China by a secret passage vnder the leading of the Prince of Thnais and Axalla A secret way found into China by the conduct of the mountaine Lord. Axalla ouerthrew the Chinois that kept the wall of partition The custome of the Chinois The Emperour wonne the wals of China The mountain Lord rewarded with great gouernement The Chinois cruell vnto their enemies A good aduertisement for Generals Warres in China made by Tamerlan with his wise proceedings therein Axalla made Captaine generall of all the footmen The siege of the citie of Paguinfou A great suburbe wonne by Axalla in the night The Gouernors speech vnto those of the city to stay them from yeelding The situation of the citie of Paguinfou The siege of Paguinfou The citie of Paguinfou yeelded vnto Tamerlan vpon the death of their Gouernor Reward for deserts Axalla skilfull in besieging of Cities Tamerlan his godlines The king of China his magnificence The customi of the Chinâ—iâ— The proceeding of Tamerlans army towards the enemie The order of the Princes battaile against the king of China The beautie richnesse of the king of Clâ—â—â—â— Army Tamerlan his speach of the king of China The battailâ— between the king of China and Tamerlan The king of China wounded and taken prisoner Tamerlans victory ouer the king of China The custody of the king of China deliuered vnto Axalla A great slaugh ter of the Chinois Tamerlan thankeful vnto God for his victorie Calibes wounded Tamerlan his speech vnto Odmar of the goodnesse of God The comming of the king of China prisoner vnto the Emperor TamerlaÌ„ Tamerlan his prinâ—ely entertainment and godly speech vttered vnto the prisoner King of China The cruell custome of the Chinois A description of the king of China A dâ—scription of China The proceedings of the Emperors Armie after the victory his resolution in the same â— Maxime Tamerlan straitely obserued his promise and kept his word truly Embassadours sent from the kings brother of China vnto Tamerlan to visite the king Odmar set vppon the kings brother at the passing of ariuer and slue fiftie thousand of his men A stratagem The king of Cauchina slairâ— The citie of Quantoufou yeelded into the haâ—â—s of Axalla who besiâ—ged the same Axalla his entrance into Quantoufou with great magnificence An Embassage from the king of Chinas brother vnto Tamerlan to treat for peace the kings deliuerance The answer of Tamerlan vnto the Embassadors Conditions agreed vpon betweene Tamerlan the Chinois Odmar left Gouerner of China for Tamerlan A good aduertisment vnto Conqueâ—ours The tribute paid by the king of China vnto TamerlaÌ„ fiue hundred thousand crownes yearly Tamerlan caused all the idols within his conquest to be beateÌ„ downe establishing the worship of one God Tamerlan turned his fauour vnto Axalla Two hundred thousand crownes of yearely rent giuen vnto Axalla by Tamerlan The meeting betweene the great Cam Tamerlan at the City of Cambala in Caâ—aio Axalla rewarded by the great Cam for his good seruice and faithfulnesse A message sent by Tamerlan vnto Baiazâ—t The proud answere of Baiazet Heaâ—iâ— parting A notable saying of Tamerlan Tamerlan his dreame Tamerlan his iourney against the Turke Tamerlan returneth from the conquest of China vnto Samarcand The Moscouite â—â—leth Tamerlan against the Turke A sound deliberation Axalla gouerned all the â—state his commendation The commeÌ„dation of Prince Axalla Consultation about the way the armie should take to the Turkes Empire Tamerlan his chiefest trust Bachu Tamerlan huÌ„ted by the way towardes the Turke Baiazet marched vnto the siege of Constantinople Axalla a principall worker against the Turke for the relieuing of the Greeke Empire and against Capha the place of his natiuitie The gouernment Axalla did chase Tamerlan marched within his armie â— description of the Georgians with theâ—â— countrey Notable iustice amongest the Tartarians Guines a great Astrologian The custome of the Tartarrians towards their Emperor Tamerlan his saying of battels A good aduertisement for Princes The causes of Tamerlans warre against the Turkes Foure thousand ParthiaÌ„ horse sent to descrie A stratageme A proud answer of a Bassa made vnto Tamerlan Tamerlans reply vnto the Bassa How Tamerlans army passed the night before the battaile fought against the Turke Tamerlan his custome before a battaile The maner of the march of the Turkish footmen The order of Tamerlan his battaile What the Turks I anizaries be Tamerlan his principall Maxime of warre The battaile betweene TamerlaÌ„ and Baiazet Tamerlan his notable victory obtained against Baiazet wherin he was taken prisoner Tamerlan his wisdom the cause of the victory wherin performed Baiazet brought before Tamerlan with his pride Tamerlan his saying of Baiazet The despaire of Baiazet after he was taken prisoner Baiazet Tamerlans footstoole to mount on horsebacke Tamerlan his pollicie for to encrease his citie Samercand Axalla cruell against the Ottomans for the deliuery of Greece Presents sent by Tamerlan vnto the great Cham his vnkle The effect of the Greek Emperors Embâ—ssage vnto Tamerlan Thâ— worthy answer of Tamerlan vnto the Greek Embassadors The worthy mind of Tamerlan Bonfires made in Constantinople for the worthy answer receiued from Tamerlan The meeting of Tamerlan and the Greek Emperor at Bursia Tamerlan his secret going to Constantinople The rare things in Constantinople The Greeke Emperor gaue vnto Tamerlan faire horses The Empresse deliuered of a goodly boy Tamerlan his oration vnto his souldiers at Calestria perswaâ—iue to follow him vnto new enterprises Tamerlan his care of his sicke soldiers verie commendable and imitable The Soldan his braue resolution A battell betweene the Soldan of Egypt and the Emperor Tamerlan Axalla taken prisoner Tamerlan his victorie ouer the Soldan The Emperour Tamerlan his army deuided into three seuerall parts marched sundry wayes Certaine Citieâ— submit themselues vnto the Emperour Tamerlan Damascus taken by assault Coracin yeelded vpon Composition Tamerlan his comming vnto Ierusalem and his godly reuerent behauiour thereiâ— Cherit Tamerlan called the Iews the accursed of God Damieta woâ— by intelligence in the night Practise with â—â—â—ues of Caire The Sige of Caire Perswasiue reasons of Tamerlan for to â—oue his souldiers not to returne before they had won the City of Caire from the Soldan Consultation Axalla his worthy
as assured to execute it to the end the honour of a happie conducting might be ascribed vnto him onely Now our Prince hauing satisfied euery one of the Kings and Lords that did accompanie him he appointed the meeting place for his armie to be at a certaine place where he meant to chuse fiftie thousand fighting men and deliuer them vnto the commandement of the Prince of Thanais vnto whom he ioyned the Lord Axalla a Geneuois for that he knew him to be discreete for to accompanie him commaunding him to giue credite vnto him for his experience and fidelitie The day appointed being come the Lord with his brother came to the Emperor hauing viewed the place againe found it to be forceable fit to passe assuring the Prince once again of the happy successe of their enterprise the Prince being assembled with them to conferre together resolued in the end that his person with al the army shold approch vnto the walles directly ouer against Quaguifou in which meane space the 50000. men should march forwards vnto the place appointed and where they were assured to passe conducted by the Chinois Lord vnder the charge of the Prince of Thanais Axalla Geneuois The Emperor hauing not failed to deliuer vnto theÌ„ the best souldiers of his armie hauing set downe the order by them to be obserued hee willed that the Lord Axalla should leade twentie thousand of them shold march the first the rest led by the Prince of Thanais and that euery one should haue one of those Lords to guide them that by their meanes the enterprise might be more safely directed So hauing marched x. leagues they arriued at the passage the which was won not finding any man there to resist them and hauing taken a light repast they beganne to march forward other ten leagues which yet remained where the Chinois were who suspected no such thing hauing only an eye vnto them which marched for to force their walles assuring theÌ„selues to haue the maistry considering their aduantage But it fell out much otherwise for euen at the very same time the Chinois did perceiue the Princes armie to approch vnto their wall as soone did they disâ—ry Axalla with twenty thousand men who aduanced forward being followed by the Prince of Thanais with thirtie thousand souldiers chosen out of the whole army who without any coÌ„municacion set vpon the Chinois who came presently vnto theÌ„ hauing left a certaine number of their campe for the guard of the wall but they were presently won by the footemen led this day by Odmar who passed ouer so as the Chinois were cut off between our armies When Axalla beganne the battell he ouerthrew them in a manner all the Prince of Thanais not hazarding himselfe therin there was great riches gotten this day the king of China his cosin whom he called king was taken prisoner there was a great quantity of gold amongst theÌ„ as well on their armes as on their horse and furniture they shewed no great stoutnesse The newes hereof being come vnto the king of China who at that present time was at Quantiou brought vnto him great astonishment for that he iudged it a thing that could not possibly come to passe you might haue seene euery one filled with fright teares cries bewailing the losse of their friends The king although he had not beene vsed but to see Fortune alwaies friendly with a mild countenance now to see her turned backward with her haire brisseling he made thereof notwithstanding no great shew but gathering together souldiers from all partes as the custome is of these people he caused all the Priestes and such as had the charge of holie thinges to come vnto him and after exhortations vsed he as their head commaunded them to offer sacrifice vnto their Gods of whom the Sunne is the principall commaunding in heauen whom they hold opinion to be the chiefest cause of their being accounting it immortall and impassible mouing it selfe onely for the benefit of liuing creatures this did he coÌ„maund to be obserued thorough out all his Cities and the second thing was that euery one able to beare armes should mount on horsebacke and come vnto the king at Paguinfou whither he doubted that we would go because it was one of the neerest townes vpon the borders I haue forgotten to declare that this Lord who had the charge to conduct fiftie thousand men vnto the froÌ„tiers at such time as they which were there had need thereof was soone in a readinesse and came to oppose himselfe against the Princes armie which entred and beeing skilfull in the wayes of the countrey troubled much the armie for a great number of his men were on horsebacke The Prince determined to beate downe all the wals the better to assure his returne as also all the fortresses which were there vpon all the passages all of them hauing yeelded theÌ„selues after his victorie shewing himselfe very courteous vnto the people of these mountaines he gaue vnto this Lord a small portion of land wherein there be seuen or eight good townes Archij Ymulij Faliquien Fulij Cohensen Quialij Pulij Quianlu who came and deliuered vp their keyes vnto him being neighbours vnto this Lord and gaue him the gouernment of the frontier prouince of Xianxij shewing himselfe to be a Prince of his word and acknowledging the notable seruices the which this Lord had done him He referred the honouring of his brother vntill he had meanes to doe the same all which mildenesse was of no small importance to fauour the conquest of this countrie for the people thereof are great wonderers especially when as they see the curtesie of the men of warre a thing which is altogether against their custome for they are very cruell vnto their enemies ouer whom they haue the victorie holding that of the Indians who haâ—e often entercourse with them Now in our Prince there was not any thing noted but curtesie vnto the conquered insomuch as this made him admired and honoured Now the question being after all the fortes of the borders were beaten downe to knowe what course the armie should take the Prince had receiued newes how that the king of China assembled his forces and marched forwardes and that he was there in his owne person and that he strengthened also his Cities which are sufficiently fortified and more then in any countrey adioyning vnto him so as this caused the Prince to determine not to assault any strong citie and to leaue any of them behinde him this were a great discommoditie vnto him for the victualing of his armie for to leaue the enemie behind him being assured to haue him on his front this seemed to him nigh Therfore vpoÌ„ these doubts he thoght good to haue the aduise of his Captaines hauing asseÌ„bled theÌ„ together he propounded all these difficulties vnto them in the end after sundry opinions his resolution was to leaue nothing behind him
themselues would make triall thereof rather then to accuse the Gods of their ingratitude towards the Chinois repenting themselues that they did not satisfie our iust demands at the first comming of our army that they wold pay for it the which was reasonable and therfore they came to receiue the law of him seeing he was the conquerour and that nothing they should opposse against him could cut off his good happe they must needs be one of his limits vnto posterity The Prince hauing heard them the same being declared vnto him by Interpreters hee answered them that they had reason to trust vnto his mildnesse because that was alwaies more for the benefit of them that would trie it then were his armes and that the same was before any force offered vnto them the vse of the one being more agreeable vnto him then the other but the endes of the warres were for the most part enterprises for to come vnto peace and to make those vnderstand reason that refused the same but seeing at this present they desired it he would yeeld thereunto And this was the first word of curtesie he wold pronounce at their first comming it belonged now vnto them to offer the conditiōs wherewith he would acquaint his counsell Thereupon the Prince rose vp caused to be sayd vnto them that they shold deliuer their offers in writing that present answer should be made thereunto Thus went they out of the Princes presence with great ioy and as it were assured of peace and to recouer their former prosperities The cōditions which they offered were to leaue Paguinfou all the country beyond it with all the fortresses of the moūtains that they wold pay al the charges of his army since the day of answer made vnto his Embassadors that they wold giue two millions of gold for their king This being presēted vnto the Lord he made answer therunto which was that he wold keep that which he had cōquered within the coūtry the which was his owne iustly seeing his arms had giuē it vnto him that he wold haue the riuer where he was now encamped to be his frontier stretched vnto Hochioy Tahaucezug Cauchio Lulun euen vnto Poschio bordering vpon the sea that the king of China should pay vnto him yearly three hundred thousand crowns the which shold be deliuered at Paguinfou for acknowledgment of submission vnto the Empire as well for his successors as himselfe that they should pay fiue hundred thousand crownes in ready mony for the charge of the army that the king of China should be deliuered and all the Chinois prisoners shold pay ransome vnto particular men that took them except those which caried the name of kings who should pay one hundred thousand crowns for peace with his armes that no Chinois should be kept as slaue nor sold for such hereafter being vnder the Princes obedience that trafique and entercourse of Marchantes should be free betweene both the nations that the king of China should deliuer his brother as prisoner and two kings named with twelue principall men of the countrie for assurance who should come yearely with money for assurance of the peace Behold the Emperors answer his resolutiō but alas the armes of the Chinois and their forces were so weakened that they were yet glad to heare that they should be suffered to inioy that which yet remained they accounted al things so certaine by lost considering the ill haps which on euery side did ouerwhelme them their best men were dead and they which remained astonished The flower of their best mē of war with their king taken two battels lost and the two principall Citis of the kingdome taken and the hardest passages wonne so as they did see nothing but a certaine destruction of the conntry if they came againe vnto the triall of armes The king whose captiuity did greatly concerne them could not be recouered but by peace they were also aduertised that great store of new forces marched forward to refresh our army so as they did exspect nothing but their certaine destruction Therefore they accepted of such conditiōs of peace as pleased the conqueror hoping that time would bring againe vnto them their auncient liberty and that for a time it behoued them to beare with patience the yoke of their bondage Now the Prince had sent two thousand horse to fetch the king of China to the end that being at liberty he might sweare to the peace solemnly the which hee hauing performed at Quantoufou whither the Prince caused him for to come he brought with him vnto Paguin all the pledges and amongst the rest the kings eldest sonne and his brother The king being departed for to performe his promise according to the treatie by him confirmed hee was receiued and as it were worshipped within his countrie with all the ioy that might bee In the meane time the Emperour after he had prouided for the assurance of his newe conquest hee left Odmar there to gouerne them and gaue vnto him an estate of thirtie thousand horse and fifty thousand footemen to furnish all the fortresses and strong places the Prince hauing led with him many of the new conquered people desiring to haue them for to dwell within his country and to send other Colonies in their places to assure himselfe the better of the lightnesse of this people hauing noted them to be inclined vnto nouelties He gaue in charge vnto Odmar to make his principall abode at Quantoufou and to fortifie well the passage and also commanded a fortresse to be made at Dermio the better to strengthen his borders and after he had left him all thinges necessary he recommended vnto him the seruices of that Lord who had manifested vnto him his great affection The Emperour hauing well tried his faithfulnesse in his affaires as they fell out he caried with him a brother of his vnto whom he gaue great gifts within Sachetay Then we turned our faces straight vnto Cambalu hauing aduertized the great Cham of the happie successe of our affaires wherof many sayd he had lost the oportunity of vtterly rooting out the Chinois but they do nothing consider the difficulties therein as yet remaining and that we must sometimes content our selues with the meane and know how to preserue them without desiring at some time extreames whereby doth often happen such accidents as bringeth the losse of all and maketh that we retaine nothing of that which we accounted most assured for that we sought more then we should haue desired The Prince remained in deed king of China holding in his possession two of the fairest and greatest Cities of all the whole Countrie hauing an hundred good leagues thereof vnto himselfe and many lesser Cities hauing extended his borders vnto a riuer by which he might go vnto the enemy but they could not come vnto him without passing ouer the same hauing good meanes to keep it and with aduantage The king of China moreouer was
Buisabuiche and we caused our souldiers continually to aduance forward and to passe ouer Euphrates for to find better meanes to maintaine our armie vppon the spoyle of the enemie in attending their comming rather then vppon our owne selues or on our Allies From that place the Emperour did dispatch vnto the Emperour his vnkle one of the greatest fauourites he had about him for to certifie vnto him of the deliuerie of this noble Citie of Constantinople and how the Ottomans came fully resolued to giue battell and for to preuent dangers he gaue cōmandement that they should keepe the borders strong all his forces on horseback vpon the enemies side for often times as in prosperitie all your neighbours do smile vpon you and encline towards you so whensoeuer an ouerthrow happeneth euery one setteth vpon you do help to spoile you For this cause shold wise Princes assure well that which they do alreadie possesse least the victorious enemie pursuing his good fortune take from you the meanes to raise your selfe vp againe Our Emperour had alwayes this wisedome when such blowes happened for to aduertise his countries to stand vppon their guard rather then to publish vnto them his victorie So wee departed from thence after the Prince had assembled all the principall men of his armie to impart vnto them his purpose and for to receiue counsell of them the which his courtesie did vse of custome that made him to be beloued For the farther you were from him then did hee most honour you there were so manie seuerall Nations within our armie so many Captaines sent vnto him for his succour and then was the time when he principally was humble and layd aside his grauitie feasting them for the aide and succour they gaue vnto our armie Amongest the straungers this Chinois Lord did ordinarily receiue great honour of the Prince who was alwayes wont to say that the vertue of Axalla and the loue of this Lord towards him had made him Lord of the fairest kingdome of Asia The Emperour was verie desirous to acquaint and instruct this Lord with the manners and fashions of those people by whom we passed for he was alwayes neere vnto the Emperours person and all the forces he had cōducted vnto our armie wherein the Prince made shew to put great confidence they had marched with vs these two monethes and carried themselues very well as all our other forces did victuals being there in great plentie that which gaue vs so much thereof was the great iustice therein obserued So our armie came vnto Garga where it passed the riuer Euphrates the auantgard at Chinserig and the generall meeting of the armie was appointed to be at Gianich the which did yeeld it selfe and there had wee newes that Baiazet his armie was neare vnto vs within some thirty leagues which caused vs to march more close All the cities yeelded the Emperor receiuing them graciously and those which refused obedience were cruelly punished especially such inhabitants as were Turkes but the Christians set in full libertie vnder the name of the Greeke Emperour Emanuell whom the Emperour would wholly gratifie Axalla hauing receiued this commaundement from the Prince so he caused them to sweare fidelitie vnto Emanuell his purpose beeing to set him againe into his Empire and to punish this Baiazet for being so rash as to enterprise to destroy so flourishing an Empire as that of the Greekes his Allies Now the Emperours quarrell was iust against this proud lightning from heauen especially in respect of his execrable cruelties hee vsed against all sexes and ages vsurping an Empire the which had sought all possible meanes to make peace with his Armes but he soone broke it and falsified his faith vnto this poore Emperour according as he found the meanes by litle and litle to vsurpe almost all from him there remaining no more vnto him but some small townes belonging vnto his Metropolitan Citie the which he had also besieged It was then an honourable thing for the Emperour to deliuer this noble Empire from such great tyrannie an Empire so famous in the world and a citie so auncient out of the hands of so wicked and accursed an off-spring This was the cause that made the Emperor to hope for to haue God his great God for an helper in this enterprise But before I beginne I am desirous to speake a word of the vprightnesse of the Princes cause and also for to note the worthinesse of his courage in giuing helpe vnto the weake and punishing of the proud representing by such deedes the image of the diuinitie the which should be marked in Princes in vpholding the weake ones and those that require succour against such oppressions So God being with vs the armie fully replenished with ioy and hope we departed from Gianich Axalla who was in the auantguard hauing commaunded foure thousand Parthian horse for to get knowledge of the armie vnder the charge of Chianson Prince of Ciarcian commaunding him to put all vnto fire and sword and also to bring word vnto him of the place where Baiazet was and what countrie that was beyonde Sennas and if hee could learne anie thing thereof he should make relation thereof vnto him This Captaine was of great reputation and next vnto Axalla he had the commanding of the auantgard in his absence this man sent before him a Parthian light-horseman with fiue hundred horse So hee had not ridden tenne leagues but they heard newes of the armie and hauing surprised Sennas they vnderstood there the estate of the Turkes armie the which was at Tataya and marched forward The which being certified vnto the Emperour commandement was giuen vnto them not to retire from that place vntill they did see the arriuall of the enemie and thereof to giue aduertisement euerie houre the Prince determining to passe on no further hauing seene a faire plaine and a countrie of aduantage for the order of his battell for he knew that he had to deale with people expert in warres and which were accustomed to fight against the Christians who are verie actiue and war-like people who wanted not the knowledge of war-like stratagemes They knewe also that his armie was greater then Baiazets but it was yet of diuerse parts so as it behooued to be well aduised for it was not against the Chinois soft and effeminate people but against souldiers well acquainted with all manner of fights that are to be fought Then the Emperour did not omit any vigilancie for to keepe his aduantage Axalla was sent for by the Emperour to come and accompanie him for to view the said place and to consider whether it would be for his aduantage and to haue his aduise This place is between the sea Gianche on the side of Sēnas boūded of one side with a litle riuer which runneth into Euphrates And he was aduised to keepe Sennas as long as he could possibly and sent word vnto those which were within the same to set
rest of the army to march thither Axalla hauing summoned them and declared to the inhabitants who were most of them Christians the mildnesse curtesie of the Prince who himself was what religion he held causing many of the Greeke Emperours captaines to speake vnto them and made them vnderstand the miserie wherein they were obeying barbarous Mores Mamelus they determined to venter their liues for to put all the Mamelues out of the citie and all those that fauored the Soldan So as they hauing taken arms in the night made themselues maisters of one quarter of the citie and deliuering one gate to Axalla all the Mamelues were either slaine or taken and the citie put vnder the obedience of the Prince These newes being come vnto the Emperour who was alreadie marching forward made him hope for a good ende of his affaires for to leaue such a citie within the armes of the riuer Nilus and himselfe to passe on further would be the destruction of his army He trusted also that by this hauen victuals should come vnto him from all the parts of Greece according as the Emperour Emanuell had promised him and wherein he nothing failed him vnto the which the Prince hauing made his entrie there were left in garrison two thousand souldiers of the Emperour Emanuell his forces and there he placed a Gouernour and caused them to take an oth of obedience the Prince desiring to become maister thereof for to hold the Soldan thereby the more short The Prince found this citie to be very faire they of Arissa did the like and he put garrisons into all the walled townes vpon the sea coast for to make victuals come as I haue sayd conueniently vnto vs for this was the Princes chiefest care considering the multitude of his army the which had felt no want thereof The Prince hauing remained a space at Damieta he caused his auantguard to march towards Alexandria and hauing passed ouer the riuer euen in an instant he went directly vnto Caire a thing which did greatly astonish the Soldan who made prouision for the defence of Alexandria as soone as he vnderstood these newes he vsed so great diligence that he entered thereinto euen as we approached the same and he himselfe in person determined for to defend it and for to keepe vs from passing ouer the riuer of Nilus for to go vnto Alexandria they reported that the Soldan entred thereinto with fortie thousand horse and threescore thousand foot-men The Emperour could not beleeue it and then was our army at Buldac seuen leagues from Caire at such time as the Soldan arriued there who came thither in necessarie time for the slaues whereof there be an infinite number began to settle themselues for to rebell and had entered into the same without doubt the which was very euill newes for the aduancement of our affaires for to remaine long time before it was impossible for vs to do by reasō of the want of victuals yet the Prince notwithstanding all this did not leaue to draw neare vnto it and encamped with all his army neare vnto the same hauing caused a great trench to be made for to couer his horsemen and thereby for to lodge his army the more safely So the Prince during that time caused diuerse onsets to be made the which he did both to know the enemies countenance as also for to cause thereby slaues to issue out who did bring vs newes in what estate they were against whom we alwayes had the better and shut thē into the city Now it happened that the Emperor one day thought good to shew his army before the city for to trie whether the enemiy had a desire to come vnto a day of battell and to view what forces he had and indeed to seeke occasion for to fight he hoped also that if the enemies did put out all their army some reuolt would happen within the citie as well by the slaues vnto whom liberty was promised as of many discontented with the insolencies of the Mamelus whom the Soldan had caused to enter with him So the Emperour was betimes in battell array but no body issued out contrary to our expectation The Emperour in the meane while viewed the situation of the city and shewed vnto them his power hauing certified the inhabitants that he sought not their destruction but only of the Mamelus his enemies so as the same being declared by certain slaues of the nation who fained to fly from our army he be thought thē of the meanes how to driue out the Mamelues the which being made knowne vnto the Emperor by the slaues he determined to aduance forward his foot-men within halfe a league of the city and there to encampe the same determining so thereby the more to fauour the Mores enemies vnto the Mamelues who promised to take arms in his behalfe The Emperour hauing sent for the principall leaders of his army he propoūded vnto them that which he had determined for to do the which he did as well for to haue their aduise as also if the same were concluded vpon for to make them know his pleasure and the order wherein they should march and he declared vnto his Captains how he was come on a sudden before this city not imagining the Mamulus shold enter into the same knowing there being none but the inhabitants he might easily haue takē it out of the same draw cōmodities for the maintenāce of his army but the sudden arriual of such an army did put great difficulties before his eyes The first was that he could not long remaine before the City for the want of victuals and the season by reason of the excessiue heat was very hurtfull vnto his men for that they had not bene thereunto accustomed that he doubted least he going about to famish others mortality should ioyne it selfe vnto the famine so come into his army that he had bounded his enterprises vpon that part betweene the Cities of Caire and Alexandria and this being taken he would returne victorious into his countrie and loaden with the spoyles of all Asia that it were dishonourable for him to recoile before the enemies Armie with that victorie which he had obtained a victorious Armie before a conquered and flying Armie the which had done nothing else but seeke the deserts and strong places since the time of the ouerthrow that the same had receiued not daring for to shew it selfe before ours very neare these three monethes that at this present it was within a great Citie acknowledging that therin they had a great aduantage But on the other side in number of souldiers he was much their superior so as the forces being greater which he had did counteruaile the enemies wals and that he did not doubt but our victorious arms already ouer thē wold be a terror to make them fly before vs as soone as we came to hand-blowes with thē that it was a thing whereon the enemy did not
and to assault some famous citie take it by meanes wherof he may nourish his armie and secondarily call the enemie vnto battell The which the conqueror should alwayes seeke and the defender the latest he can hazard the same For that it is a very doubtfull thing to commit themselues vnto a battell his dutie being rather to delay vndermining the conquerour by length and by wearinesse and light skirmishes then to sight in open field For when a Generall hath wisely set his men in order and hath exhorted them to performe their duties what can hee do more then commit all vnto Fortune and to the will of the Lord of Hosts And it seemeth vnto me that in no feates of armes doth fortune shew her trickes more often then in the successe of battels fauouring often the weakest and deceiuing them sooner which trust in their skill of ouercomming The examples thereof are verie common in the historie of the affaires of the world where small armies haue ouercome innumerable numbers I speake here by way of a preamble of things which you shall hereafter heare and of the euill councell which the king of China receiued Now for to returne againe vnto my historie it was concluded and the aduise of euerie one was to conquer the countrie by litle and litle so as their enterprise was to draw directly vnto Paguinfou which as it was a great Citie and one of the chiefest so is it also strongly fortified and well replenished with people but the Prince made account that the king of China would hazard a battell Now the Prince before hee would cause the same to be summoned had informed himselfe well of the situation thereof and causing all the countrie which is champion to be represented vnto his view which are for the most part plaines this increased the more his hope of bringing to good end his enterprise the riches on the other side gaue courage vnto the souldiers and principally vnto the Tartarians desirous of spoyle who carried with them cartes to conuey away their spoyles Paguinfou being accounted an exceeding rich and wealthie Citie Then he dispatched Odmar with fourteene thousand horse to aduance forward and summon the same as for to hinder victuals from being conueyed thereinto out of the champion countrey to the end that the cattell remayning in the fieldes shoulde bee a meanes to maintaine and nourish his armie I had forgotten to tell you that for the acknowledging of the Lord Axalla his seruices the Prince had made him Captaine generall of all his footemen which was one of the principall honours of the armie He caused the sayd Lord Axalla to march after Odmar with all the footmen which was verie neere a hundred and fiftie thousand men well trayned vp in the warres and good expert fighters Hee marched himselfe immediatly after with all his horsemen artilleries engines and other munitions belonging vnto warre directly vnto Paguinfou Odmar did ride twentie leagues this day so as he arriued there contrarie to their expectation looking rather for the king then for the enemie and hauing taken much cattell wherewith the countrie greatly aboundeth he pitched his tents leauing the citie betweene him and vs and stayed for his footmen who marched forwards in the meane space sending continually vnto the warre for to wearie the enemie This endured three or foure dayes vntill our footemen ledde by this braue Christian Geneuois shewed themselues in the plaine of Paguinfou Then the Citie was summoned to yeeld obedience vnto the Emperour or else they should receiue the law of the conquerour They made answere that they were determined to liue and die in the seruice of their Prince Now you must vnderstand that it was fortie yeares or thereabouts since the Father of the king which raigneth at this present ouer the Chinois had conquered it from the Empire of the Tartarians and hauing driuen out all the inhabitants they had planted therein newe Colonies so thoroughly that there were but few of the first remembrance but onely they of the flat country and small walled townes who came from all partes and brought their keyes most willingly submitting themselues vnto the obedience of the Prince so as there was great aboundance of victuals within our armie and if we had beene within our owne countrie there could not haue come greater store a thing which made our Prince hope for a happie successe there beeing no other difficultie which for the most part can ouerthrow a great armie as ours was and withdraw them from their enterprise And thus the Citie of Paguinfou is besieged and our footemen camped round about within an arrowes shot of all the walles They within the citie did vse great endeuor for their defence and our Prince omitted nothing for their offence Axalla hauing viewed a great and strong suburbe which was in length almost halfe a league supposed that those of the Citie kept no watch there that this must needes be for that they would not make him obstinate hee had a determination to winne it in the night and hauing imparted it vnto the Prince vpon the first watch all his men were readie all of them hauing made prouision of ladders and of such things as are necessary for winning thereof with hand-blowes and hauing assaulted it on sundrie partes after the fight had continued two houres Axalla remained the conquerour and cut in peeces eight thousand men at the least which were within the same the spoile was great there were many of Axalla his mē slain of one side which was that by the which they doubted to be assaulted But on the other side by the which it was taken there was scarce any one slaine The taking of this suburbe did greatly astonish those of the Citie who had marked the lustinesse of our men and beganne to enter into doubt of their safetie which vnto this day they accounted as most assured On the other side they did see that the Princes promises to be there within fifteene daies fayled they did see this great army which daily wanne footing the engines and artillerie readie to offer violence on one side by them commaunded the which did greatly annoy them so as diuerse principall men of the Citie desired rather to make triall of the conquerors clemencie then of his rigor But hee which commaunded within who was one of the greatest Lords of the countrey and one of the best beloued with the king assured them of the kings approch so as they should not want succour in time of necessitie that there was no neede therof at this present and although they had lost a suburbe it should be great folly not to be willing to defend a citie and their fortresses being as yet entire that for his part hee would make proofe of his fidelitie vnto his Prince with the hazard of his life and goods These words were of no small importance and being vttered in the assembly of the people it caused their courages
taking the citie and the happie successe therein was attributed vnto Axalla to whom was giuen the gouernment of the citie with the country already conquered But he beseeched the Prince that it would please him to bestow it vpon some other and for himself he reserued the hope of his maister wherein he should haue part This answere did greatly content the Prince for he greatly desired the seruice of Axalla for that he was a Captaine who besides his valour had great practise in the knowledge of Armes and full of inuention but principallie at such time as the question was for the besieging of any place The Prince offering it vnto him rather to acknowledge his seruice done vnto him then for any desire hee had to employ him in any other place then about his person Vpon his refusall this charge was bestowed vpon the Prince of Thanais with the title of Viceroy Now as I haue already told you our Prince after he had giuen such order as was necessarie and aduertised his friendes in all partes and aboue all the Emperour he marched forward hauing contented his souldiers and made a generall muster of his Armie as well of the horse as footmen the which hee found to be diminished of tenne thousand men onely Nowe our Prince after he had solemnlie called vpon the immortall inuincible and incomprehensible God and spent one whole day in prayer we enterprised to goe on forward and to go directlie vnto the enemie who was at Sintehu with all his owne forces and of all his Allies As soone as he receiued newes that our Armie was passed ouer the riuer of Chulifu it is reported that barbarouslie he caused to be published throughout all his Campe that euerie one should prepare himselfe vnto the Battaile for that he was determined to stay no longer for the enemie within his owne countrie because hee could not endure to see his subiectes spoyled any longer But certainlie he made it manifestlie appeare how his mischiefe and euill fortune followed him too neare euen at the verie heeles for if that hee had drawne out the warre in length he had gotten a great aduantage of vs hauing manie strong Cities the which we must needes haue assaulted and had bene sufficient to ouerthrow vs vtterlie and after he might haue had a good bargaine of vs. For the wisedome of our Prince would not endure to leaue any thing behind him which might hinder vs from victuals for great Armies cannot otherwise be maintained Our Prince was wont to say vnto his famiars for he neuer boasted himself and at such time as fortune was most fauourable vnto him then had he most doubt that if the king of China were so euill aduised as to offer him battaile hee should commit a follie whereof he would repent him being well assured that he had braue Captaines and souldiers well experienced in the warres who knewe well what belonged vnto battailes Now the king of China marched directlie vnto vs with great magnificence there was nothing to be seene but gold and precious stones in his Armie he himselfe was commonlie in a chariot wherein there was such a quantitie of golde and rich stones that euerie part was full of Diamonds Rubies and Pearles The king of China was of the age of three and thirtie yeares vvho for the most part had bene brought vp in pleasures and not in militarie exercises nor vnder the bloudy ensigne of Mars loaden with yron boisterous and furious not with gold precions stones and with such kinde ofriches so as he was very insolēt in thretnings brauadoes and in defying vnto the battaile He often said that we had surprised him and had not warned him to prepare himself and that we had stroken him without speaking any word for this is the custome of the people in those parts to do in this maner He had two or three kings also with him his neighbours and Allies who marched with the same preparation The rumour of these riches gaue great courage to the soldiers for they were couetous of iust gain as is that gotten by a battaile So both our armies went forward each to approch the other there was a city yeelded vnto the Prince called Tunicheuoy the which helped our Armie greatly so as the Prince hauing well marked the situation of the Camp found it to be much for his aduantage and the waters and pastures in great aboundance in so much as we determined abiding in that place to behold the enemies countenance who if he were so rash as to set vpon him at all aduenture this place seemed vnto him verie conuenient to teach him a newe lesson in The next day to the end we might giue occasion vnto the enemie for to approch nearer we sent to summon and at the same time to take possession of the citie of Pannihu the which in aduancing forward we left a litle behind vs. The king of China had put manie men thereinto and it was a citie sufficiently well fortified from Tiaucheuoy to Paguinuhu there were ten leagues It vexed the Prince greatlie that in returning directlie vnto Pannihu he should turne his backe vnto the enemie This was the occasion he went to content himself with this inuesting onely for two reasons the one to cause the enemie the sooner to approch the other for to hinder the incursions which the might make but it fell out much otherwise for this matter was no sooner put in deliberation but that Odmar who had bene at the warre brought certaine newes that the enemies Armie was within a dayes iourney of vs and that the battaile in his opinion would bee the next day The Prince foorthwith dispatched one vnto Calibes who was gone thither with 10000. horse that hee should come vnto him and in the meane time made prouision of all thinges necessarie wherewith he might preuaile for obtaining of the victorie So he aduaunced his Army within a league of the citie Tiaucheuoy about noone the next day they had more certaine aduertisement of the enemies comming The Prince who had as merrie a countenance as might bee after he had commanded his Armie to take the place for the Battaile which he had chosen in his iudgement with most aduantage and hauing set downe vnto Odmar the order he would haue to be obserued hee desired to see the comming of this Armie so sending before him fiue or sixe thousand horse as scouts he aduanced forward and Calibes with him Now there were two causes wherefore hee marched the foremost the one was for that he wold iudge of his enemies countenāce the other he hoped to draw him to fight in his place of battaile the which he had chosen and to deale in such sort as the enemie might be the assailant So after he had seene this great confused Armie which continually came forward he commanded Calibes to retire himselfe as soone as they drew neere vnto him and bring vnto him this great cloud the which he
so great successe obtained against so many and sundrie warlike people You my souldiers whose reputation flieth through all the world shall I beleeue this of you I will not neither ought I to beleeue it therefore follow me and let vs go and assault the Mamelues who you know of long time haue opposed themselues how farre soeuer from vs against our happinesse hauing ioyned themselues vnto the Ottomans for our destruction Would you that I should punish their rashnesse without you Would you that the Scithians and my allies should haue part in my victories and in the meane time you should go rest your selues and lose the glorie alreadie gotten The Prince had no sooner made an end but they all cryed with a loud voice that they wold liue and die with him and as they followed him into China so would they also follow him throughout all the world but they besought him to haue regard vnto their woundes to comfort their old age and that he would giue thē hope of rest the which the Prince promised vnto them Vnto the others the Emperour spake nothing at all for they were very glad to haue this glorie ouer the Parthians in perceiuing them willing to returne insomuch as when the Prince came to passe before the Scithian horsemen they all cryed in their language Victorious Emperour what doest thou march forward for we will follow thee The which did greatly content the Emperour Now the Parthians and Scithians were the principall forces the Prince had in his armie now the Emperour did nourish wisely emulation betweene them which of them should best manifest his faithfull affection The Pince commanded that the sick and wounded should be viewed throughout all the armie and that the Treasurer of the wars should distribute money among the companies ouer and aboue the ordinarie pay due vnto euery souldier so our armie departed and in the auantguard with Axalla was placed Andronicus together with him for to leade the head of the armie and it was reported vnto the Emperour that the Soldan of Egypt prepared forces from all parts for to resist the power which came against him but hee knew that he should haue much to doe and that it was very hard to stoppe a victorious armie wherein there were such a multitude of men who had ouerthrowen the strongest and most warlike Monarch that was in all Asia Insomuch as this gaue a great terror vnto the Mamelues But the Soldan who commanded ouer them at that present was a young Prince who had bene chosen for the great vertue and courage which was in him rather then for his great experience in war like affaires insomuch as he had not as yet since his election shewed his affection and as litle his valour vnto his subiects he had indeede his courage puffed vp by seeing himselfe through this choise Lord of many great cities well fortified so as he resolued to be ouerthrowen brauely In such sort as he put his hope in the winning of a battell frō the which what chance soeuer did happen he might retire himself at any time into a place of such aduātage that he might haue the means to hazard again another and hope thereby for a reuenge Whereof the Emperor was aduertised after he had conferred with Axalla Andronicus for to be aduised whither he should direct the head of his army for to constraine the enemie the sooner to come vnto battel it was in the end concluded that he should passe by Caramania directly vnto Geuolache the which was the first citie of the Mamelues Empire being one of the Soldans frontier townes which did separate him from the Turke euen there where the peace was sworne betwixt them the which Baiazet had sought to the end he might haue aide frō him to strēgthen himselfe thereby against the army which came vpon him So this place was well defended by the Soldan and it was well fortified Axalla aduancing forward his auantgard did summon the same to yeeld or else they shold receiue the iust reward of their rashnesse folly They made answere that they were children of obedience had commandement to die therein And that willingly they would there endure vntill death for their Prince country This wilfulnesse put the Prince into great choler who since he departed from his kingdom had not seene any one place which brought not to him their keies twentie leagues off before he came vnto thē to see a meane citie dare to stay his comming for to prepare to let his army The which the Emperour perceiuing he commanded Axalla to march on to lodge neare Aleppo the which he summoning did yeeld it self hauing no other then the inhabitants within the same The Prince in the mean time prepared himself vnto the siege whereto hauing caused his footmen to march his artillery to bee planted there was an assault giuen which was brauely defēded by thē within there were of our men slaine to the nūber of 1200. The Emperour greatly stirred determined to assault thē once againe hauing giuen a fresh assalt wherin the Prince of Thanais was wounded our men lodged vpon the wall and leauing no respite vnto them within they killed a great nūber of thē The Prince vnderstanding that the Soldan had promised thē aide whereof he was well aduertised and did certainely know that he marched forward he supposed that he had committed a fault in causing Axalla to aduance so farre so as he determined to set forward to ouertake him hoping by that meanes to surprise the enemie who came directly towards Axalla for to fight with him But the enemie did not looke for him so soone so hauing left all his cariages behind at the siege where the Prince of Thanais remained with thirtie thousand men only the rest he caused to march with him without any baggage vnto Bogras thither did Axalla send him word that the Soldan had passed the riuer at Confincan and that he came for to aide the besieged and it was reported that hee had 74000. horse and an hundred thousand footmen Now the Emperor being arriued at Aleppo vnderstood where the enemie was determining with himselfe to surprise him he caused Axalla to aduance forward with his auantgard himselfe staying halfe a day and then presently he followed his auantguard Axalla hauing set forward some fifteene hundred horse they were encountred and almost all slaine he not being able to aide them as he desired by reason of the vnfitnesse of the countrie and iudging that they were compassed about he did not assist them Now the enemies thinking to deale with none but those which were at Aleppo led by Axalla they came forward vnto the fight ill aduised so as Axalla had them vpon him before he supposed he aduertised the Emperor to come forward sent him word that he wēt vnto the battaile but that he would dally with the enemie as long as hee could to the end hee might haue leasure
depend in thinking himself inuincible by meanes of the trēches they had made within their streets who do you thinke will arme themselues when as they shall see vs to set vpon them vnlooked for I hold opinion we shall haue a happie ende for it is a more honourable thing then shamefully to retire and shew our backes vnto the enemie who haue so often seene our faces vnto their hurt A thing which the great God hath granted vs hauing bene these twentie years passed in cōtinual warres against so many warlike nations notwithstanding by you euen the Parthian name hath bene victorious To be short in doing of this we must by that meanes bury our reputation and all our victories if we should retire this day shamefully from before this Citie the which will come out after vs hindring vs from victuals on euerie side and spreade a rumour of our disgrace so as they which do now incline vnto vs will make head against vs and they which do obey wil rebell against vs if we hauing lost this occasion wold bend our selues against them they will presently run into their dennes so as on euerie part we shall haue great difficulties Aduise your selues herein for there are but two waies either to raise the siege and retire before their armie or else to assault them The Prince by his speech made all the Captaines astonished not knowing well which of the matches for to take considering the waightinesse of the matter This was also a fight which they had not tried for to force an army within their wals notwithstanding they must preferre their reputation before death and run into all hazardes At the last the Prince seeing that none did speake he commanded Axalla for to begin and to declare his aduise who did rise vp and after he had taken leaue of the Emperour to shew his opinion he sayd aloude My Lord what is this thou dost of vs demand hast not thou alwayes tried the courages of thy Captaines and souldiers prefering the honour of thy reputation before their owne liues What is it then thou requirest at our handes leade vs against the Mamelues thou shalt see whether the loue and true affection to thy seruice and desire of the immortality of thy name be any thing diminished Dost thou thinke according to thy speech vnto vs that the wals do hinder our valour the force of our horses The first horse of ours that shall put his head within Caire will giue entrance for all the Army Axalla had no sooner made an end of speaking but all the Captaines cried that they might be led vnto the fight that they were ready to die for the greatnesse and glory of their Prince The Emperor hauing thanked thē began to declare the maner of the order he would his army should march in he deuided his footmen into three parts the Lieutenant generall of the footmen marched with 30000. mē The Prince of Thanais had the head assisting him with 50000 footmen about his person and all his horsemen after him this day all the horsemen being reserued to attēd vpon his person hauing giuen vnto Axalla in whom he had his chiefest trust the charge of the whole army who was on foot Now the Princes determination was to take one of the Cities of Caire there to encampe himselfe so to aduance forward by litle and litle fighting with the enemy Now within the city the which was ouer against vs was the Soldan encamped all his forces he had 60000. footmen 50000. horse wherof there were 30000 Mamelues braue men exercised in warlike affaires of whose arms we made triall in the last war as for the footmē they were gathered together out of Arabia Persia Libia with many slaues vnto whom he had giuen freedom his experienced soldiers being ouerthrown in the last battell The Emperor who had not declared any thing of the hope he had in the slaues Mores did now vtter the same vnto Axalla So after this conclusion was taken the Emperor determined to giue an assault hauing brought his footmen vnto the place where he would haue them giue the onset euen vpon the face of their enemies as soone as he did see that they had set lustily vpon their trenches hee commanded the Prince of Thanais to assault them with 50000 men this was a furious fight In the meane time Axalla went along by certaine palme trees for that he iudged the enemy had forsaken that place to go assist their owne men as soone as they perceiued the Prince of Thanais to enter wherein he was not deceiued for hauing found but small resistance he passed ouer the trēches and hauing receiued cōmandement frō the Prince that they should presently make rome for the horsemen to passe whither during the time he employed himself therein the enemy sent 20000 men for to stop him thē did Axalla aduance forward leauing 3000. of his men to make an end of filling vp the ditches himself went to the fight he found the Mamelues who fought on horseback had almost beaten backe the Prince of Thanais As soone as the way was made plaine the 10000 horse set forward who charged the Mamelues behind where the Soldā himself was Now the Emperor caused 10000 more to aduance forward after them he followed with all his power then did the enemies retire vnto a second trench the which they had made in another City The fight had continued ful the space of seauen houres and it could not be iudged to which side the victory enclined for they did couragiously defend their aduantages But the Prince hauing in the end caused a retraite to be sounded contented himselfe in hauing driuen the enemies out of their trenches and won their lodging from them hoping the next day to win all the rest we possessed a third part of the Citie all the footmen lodging vpon the enemies trench and there were continuall assaults giuen so desirous were our men to ouercome There were slaine this day of the enemies sixteene thousand men at the least and of ours betweene seuen and eight thousand Draguen Lieutenant generall of the footmen was slaine with manie of his souldiers for he sustained all the brunt of the fight the stratageme of warre vsed by Axalla and his iudgement was for vs a great aduantage The Prince about night hauing aduertisment that the Soldan would retire passe ouer the riuer he foorthwith commanded ten thousād horse to lodge themselues that night for garding of the riuer bankes But the Soldan thinking those to be all the horsemen durst not passe ouer hauing bene informed that the whole army was there The break of day being come the Prince caused them to begin to fill vp the enemys trēches to set his army in batel aray The Prince of Thanais did once againe begin it Axalla vpon an other side but after they had fought the Soldan determined for to make a
retraite so to go out of the city For these footmeÌ„ did so obstinatly presse on vnto the battell and after he had performed his indeuor seeing our men already maisters of the trenches doubting lest he shold haue our horsemen vpoÌ„ him likewise he determined to go out and encamp himselfe all along the riuer and to accomplish the purpose he had failed in the night They determined to retire vnto Alexandria if he could passe ouer the water and hauing withdrawne his men from the fight as well as he could he encamped him between the water and the City for to passe ouer the same As the Prince had passed ouer the treÌ„ches the souldiers killed and sacked all the whole city as conquerers The Prince hauing present knowledge of the Soldans flight setled himselfe to follow him with his horsemen who onely were in order and hauing knit together as he might some of his footmen busied in the spoyle of the city and being informed that the enemy passed the water with great diligence he set forward directly towards him for to stop him vpon a narrow cawsey where were certaine marishes made for to stay the ouer flowing of Nilus but the Soldan had opposed 12. of 15. thousaÌ„d men whom he called his slaues to fauour his passage who were his best souldiers stood firmely the place being greatly for their aduantage Now our footmen with whom it be hooued vs to fight were busied in pillage and did come forward softly and vnwillingly leauing the city the which others did spoile so as the Prince was driuen to promise to regard especially and to acknowledge their good seruice Now as soone as they were come they forced the enemies but not without great losse they seeing that they could not resist so gret a multitude and such a force they cast themselues to swimming and made an honourable retraite for euery man had his weapons in one of his hands and with the other hand swimming did arriue vpon the other banke one part of the horsemen were cut in peeces and the other drowned This was the ende of the Soldan who staying a long time as it is reported did busie himselfe in beholding from farre how they did spoile this great city Now when the night came vpon vs hee thought our men should be sufficiently troubled in enioying of the victorie without following of him It is reported he sayd vnto his souldiers in comforting of them that they were not men which had conquered them but rather some God so great wisedome force and valour did hee obserue in our souldiers There went away with him some eighteene thousand horse the rest were fled sundrie wayes and manie drowned On the morrow hee withdrew himselfe directly vnto Alexandria making much of those slaues which remained aliue who had so well endeuored themselues for the safegard of their Maister hauing resisted the force of all our Armie for the space of two long houres yea euen after they had made such a glorious and memorable a retraite The Prince caused diuerse of those which had bene taken in the battell to come before him and gratified them in what hee might hee gaue them presentes and desired to be serued by them but they all refused that offer notwithstanding the Emperor seeing their fidelity towards their maister did not forbeare to giue them libertie to go and find againe the Soldan for the Emperour did make himselfe to be noted in his victories for some notable act of clemencie a thing verie well be seeming great men for bountie is the part which maketh vs to beloued and valour and force maketh vs to be feared and admired The Emperour after he had beheld this spectable withdrew himselfe and caused his pauilion to be placed betweene the riuer of Nile and the Citie for to assure his armie the which he did foresee was easie to be ouercome during the sacking of so rich wealthy a citie That night he mounted on horsbacke and accompanied with some of his most faithfull seruants did ride thorough all his campe visiting his guards himselfe making much of his souldiers and coÌ„mending them for their endeuours on the morrow he made his entry into the city where there was speech of receiuing the Castell wherein the Soldans had put their riches for it was their ancient dwelling the which the Prince did in his own person and lodged himselfe with all his armie round about the same fortresse the which is at one of the ends of the citie hauing giuen coÌ„mandement to cease the pillage the same hauing continued the space of 24. houres and euery souldier being also enioyned by the same proclamation to returne vnder their ensignes and lodge in the armies quarter The Prince commanded the next day that they should set at libertie all the inhabitants of the citie and that he adiudged none vnto bondage There was within this city an infinite quantity of riches and treasure â—ound the which they report the Soldan Princes haue of long time kept there not being suffered to employ any part thereof but vpon great necessitie And this was in my opinion one of the chiefest occasions that made the Soldan come thither with such diligence as he did They report also that in the night time he had conueyed out of the same place much thereof and some say that he did not enter therinto and that he tooke out nothing for feare of making his souldiers for to thinke that hee would retire a thing which might bewray the retrait he meant for to make others hold opinion that all the treasure was there and that he did not thinke euer to be forced in such a citie with such forces as he had put into the same referring such a deed of armes vnto the Diuinity wherin his men had bin ouercome with such aduaÌ„tage Now the Prince after he had certified Calibes of this victory who was all along by the riuer of Euphrates with his army which daily increased hauing taken many cities it was a great astonishment vnto all Persia there rained at that present time ouer those Nations a multitude of small kings some of them obseruing the law of the Prophet the other being Christians The Prince had a purpose in his returne to subiect all that vnder his obedience he sent Calibes word of his victorie and that he gaue him the gouernmeÌ„t of all Egypt So the Prince hauing taken order for all that was necessarie for the keeping of such a citie he caused his armie to passe ouer the riuer for to go and follow the Soldan vnto Alexandria to the end he should not leaue his victorie vnperfect And hauing caused his auantguard to passe ouer and distributed vnto euery one before the passage a reward according to their deserts Axalla passed ouer with the auantguard to go with all speed into Alexandria for to hinder the Soldan from ioyning of his forces together The Emperour remaining with the maine forces of
to giue an attempt vpon the Emperors person and there were full foure thousand Mamelues receiued into the Princes seruice who should haue done this execution within Alexandria where the Prince did cōtinue intending the establishing of his new conquests Now the enterprise was appointed in the morning when the Prince shold giue audience to euerie one according to his custom hauing of his guard only 1200. souldiers appointed euery day out of 10000. ordained for the preseruation of the Princes person he had also imparted this enterprise vnto diuerse of the inhabitants who shold haue taken armes as soone as the same should be executed Now as the enterprise was dangerous so seemed it easie as he thereof perswaded himselfe hauing caused all his men to enter one by one into the armie whither they had yeelded themselues and it was three weekes since he deuised this enterprise So the day came when he should do this execution the Prince hauing the day before made him a present of one of the most coragious horses of his stable and hauing cōmanded his men to shew all curtesie and good entertainement vnto him and his company Now in the morning he drew neare vnto the Emperour who was in his tent whither euerie one repaired that had any businesse with him Now you must vnderstand that Alexandria is builded in such a fashion that they go vpon the tops of the houses the which are in maner of vaultes where the traitor had secretly placed those who should assist him after the mischief were cōmitted He came then shewed himselfe a far off the Prince full of gentlenesse asked him what he desired astonished notwithstāding that he came into that place which was not fit for his dignity the Prince only ministring iustice for those which had not accesse vnto his persō as were the poore people soldiers but he knew not yet that custome so as the Prince perceiuing him change colour in holding some petition the Prince had alwaies an eye to that he did on a suddaine hee drew neare vnto the Prince with his sword in his hand the Prince hauing his ready assoone as he missed not him as he had done the Prince retired back one pase for to auoide the thrust he cast at him the Emperor hauing striken him did almost cut off one of his armes the which he put forward for to strike him In this instant they ran vnto the Princes succour and one of his seruants comming did giue him another blow vpon the head but a small matter wherewith he fell downe The Prince hauing stayed them from killing of him to the end he might know his companions then cried he out with great lamentations bewailed his good maister sending vnto him this his deed as the last witnesse of his fidelitie The Prince demanded of him wherefore he did not kill him in the battell but would traiterously at this present vnder the pretence of friendship and seruice take his life from him The other answered onely let me die let me die The chiefe Iudge of the Imperiall Iustice tooke and examined him together with the Princes most priuie Councell In the meane time they caused euery man to take armes the Princes horsemen mounted on horsebacke the gards were increased they made the hauen sure the Prince withdrew himself into his lodging being happie that he had saued his life frō this blow You might haue seene both Captains souldiers run vnto the Emperors lodging wold haue forced the guards for to see whether the Prince were well who was desirous to take rest he was cōpelled to shew himselfe vnto his Captains souldiers for to assure thē of his health yea he was constrained to mount on horsbacke and to go euery where euen into the campe And at such time as they did see the Prince you would haue said that the heauēs did breake with cries through the ioy they made ouer all for the health of their Prince so great Idolaters were the souldiers of their Emperour The other was presently put to the torture who couragiously confessed all the enterprise requiring death Some wēt vnto the place where the named were there were three hundred yet shut vp who were all tyed and put in prison the others sought out here and there He missed not to accuse those of the citie vnto whom he had deliuered letters of credit from the Soldan The Prince who was an enemie vnto crueltie perceiuing that the end of this businesse would prooue long hee went out of Alexandria for that he knew the discouerie of all the partakers to the end execution might be made of those of the enterprise It was a miserable spectacle to behold all these thinges thus perfourmed within the Citie at such time as they apprehended the conspirators who being conuinced were put to death openly and the game began at Arzambei who being strangled his head was set vp for a memorie of that treason vpon the market place and his body deuided into foure quarters And the verie same punishment was taken of all the conspired inhabitants of the citie or any others Those which were suspected and might anie wayes be detected were led away prisoners and made slaues being changed from that place Beholde the end of this conspiracie the which the valorand maiestie of the Prince alone did defend and no other force at all but as I haue often heard the Prince say he had an imagination that this mad fellow wold do him some mischiefe aud if it had not bene for feare of committing any thing vnworthy his greatnesse and faith giuen he would haue caused him to be apprehended but he had good regard vnto his practises The Prince was often wont to say that he did not feare such wicked murtherers for that he had a good keeper neere vnto him and this hee meant as I vnderstood afterwards by a defending Angell whom he called Meaniel vnto whom it was enioyned as he said by God for to defend him against all dangers whose picture he caried as a mark in his ensignes impreses causing the croissant mark of the Ottomans to be blotted out of all Asia and his owne to be planted there Now Axalla hauing passed further and made the Princes armes to be felt ouer all hauing also brought all the neather Libia to be subiect vnto Alexandria the Prince finding this countrie to be verie faire and pleasant he looked daily for the comming of Calibes and he in the meane time ordered the affaires of his new estate causing his Armie to refresh it selfe the which was spread ouer all he suffered none but Axalla to keepe the order of an armie before him The heate was very great at that present the which our souldiers did endure with great discommoditie the Parthians especially whose temperate climate doth incline more vnto cold then heate This being ended the Emperour returned into Alexandria whither diuers Embassadors from the kings of Libia and Barbary came vnto him swearing
affection vnto Ierusalem did declare the same to be free from all subsidies and garrisons of men of warre He gaue great giftes vnto the Monasteries and honoured them as long as he remained in that place I will returne to declare how the great Chamberlaine as soone as hee was come into his Armie had besieged a City called Meleg vpon the riuer of Euphrates staying for the Emperour the which being brought vnto great necessity and euen after he had greatlie battered the same was constrained for to raise the siege from before it being succoured by all the Lords of Quilean of Câ—ldâ—r and others assembled beleeuing the Emperoâ—s was ouerthrowne by one onelie report they had receiued from certaine false messengers in so much as that which was peaceable before presently was in armes and he had vpon his arme all the forces thereabout Hee in the meane time remained within his Campe hauing no commaÌ„dement froÌ„ the Prince to giue any battaile and being retired himself all along the riuer of Eâ—phrates the enemies paâ—sing ouer the riuer began to presse vpon him for to fight he which had no such commission kept himselfe as well as he could within his trenches hauing already aduertised the Emperour of all that had passed and not thinking of the enemies rashnesse could not imagin they would come assault him within his trenches but being growne vainglorious by repulsing of him from before the Citie they did attribute vnto themselues therefore a great glorie and vnto vs a great disgrace so as they desired when their souldiers had this aduaÌ„tage to win a greater for theÌ„ if they could So they determined to force our Campe ouer the which commanded a Captaine who was as they supposed more trained vp within the Court then in Armies And certainely the feare and reputation of Calibes was great the which made him feared for when they reckened vp the names of our chiefe Captaines next after Axalla they put the name of Calibes for his valor and experience So farre foorth that despising this new head they busied their heads in thinking the victorie to be on their sides most certaine for lacke of experience in him which commaunded it by reason of his youth So in a morning they came and lodged their Campe neare vnto ours the great Chamberlaine hauing coÌ„manded his soldiers not to issue out of the Campe but for to defend theÌ„selues with the aduantage they had by reason of their trenches set his army in order disposing thereof for the better defence of the same hauing of that as of other matters taken the aduise of hiâ— Captaines he stâ—â—ed for the enemies with this resolutioÌ„ assuring himself by that means they wold not disobey the Princeâ— coÌ„mandement The enemies failed not with all sorts of cries forceably to come and assault our Campe they were in number 50000 footmeÌ„ who in two seueral places gaue the assalt Now the campe was made in that fashio that a certain place to issue out was left in the same by the which the horsmen might go vnto the battaile and fight vnder the safegard of the trenches of which cunning the enemies did nothing at all doubt For they had sent their horsmen vnto the other side of a litle riuer by the which they doubted that our men not hauing the courage to sustaine the fight and seeing themselues assalted would flie away to the end they might set vpon them in their retrait Now our men were no more but eighteen thousand horse and fortie thousand footmen there was indeed therein a great multitude of cariages and prisoners whom the great Chamberlaine had caused to worke so well in the intrenching that they were stronger then the Citie they had besieged and from whence they had raised their siege So the â—ight endured two or three houres when as he perceiuing that our men did couragiouslie repulse them and that an infinite number of the enemies were slaine the Chamberlaine thought it a â—it time to assalt them so he issued out of the Campe by the same place that I haue declared with tenne thousand of the best horses within his Armie and hauing first giuen order to busie them he came and set vpon them on a suddaine and slâ—e a great number of them in so much as ouâ— men became wearie with killing their horsmen being aduertised oft his euill hap befallen vnto their â—ootmen thought good to repaâ—â—e againe this riuer the which the great Chamberlaine percâ—â—â—ing foundeÌ„d the retraite not willing to hazard any thing to no good purpose for their horsmen were in nâ—â—erfull 〈◊〉 thousand This day did they lose fiue and twentie thousand men that were slaine as well in the field as in the fight of the trenches The 〈◊〉 of the faction was â—â—aine who was called 〈◊〉 king of Aâ—â—eâ—â—ia In this meane time the Prince who had receiued newes of his Armies disgrace had dispatched Axalla with speed for to aduance himself forward with the Parthian horsmeÌ„ for the assistaÌ„ce of the great Chamberlain And Axalla hauing receiued newes of the victorie within two or three dayes iourney he sent word of the same vnto the Emperour during which time hee remained at Damasco staying for the Princes commandement who after he had receiued these newes did publish the same ouer all and especially aduertised Calibes thereof to the end the same should stay their troublesome spirits who already did beleeue that the Armie of the great Chamberlaine was ouerthrowne I will declare by the way that I marked in the Prince a greater ioy for this victorie then I did note in him for any other he had where his owne person commanded And this he did in my opinion for that he reioyced that he was not deceiued in the choise which hee had made of the great Chamberlaine who was as yet too young for such a charge For he thought this same would yeelde matter vnto some for to blame him not to haue sufficiently weighed such a charge but seeing the wisdom he had shewed in keeping his aduantage and likewise the obedience and respect he had vnto the Princes commandement this same did greatly content him Some also report that the Prince would not busie himselfe any longer desiring to returne vnto his ancestors kingdomes for to assure them fearing least the long time of his absence should cause some â—edicions by reason of some disgrace his Armie might receiue at the length and therfore he would returne and passe ouer the Mountaines of Imaâ—s before the rigor of winter came the which drew neare Prince Axalla was commanded to abide and attend the Emperours comming who marched forward putting garrisons in the strong forts of Iudea and Siria and dispeopling all those places he thought were likely to reuolt in his absence The which was not done without dismanteling of all those townes he meant not for to keepe commanding the like to bâ—e done throughout all Egipt I haue forgotten to declare howe the Prince dismissed the
belonged vnto Calibes to dispose of all within his gouernement for to fight at the verie same time according to the enemies countenance with the whole armie the enemies being within their trenches if in case he did seuer himselfe from his footemen to assist his armie vppon the water or else if he went about to put fresh souldiers into his boates and Galliottes for we were within two thousand paces the one from the other so as euery one was assured that the day would not passe away but they would set vppon the enemies within their trenches especially they which knew the heate of this young Prince the which had come to passe but that the Emperour had placed two olde Counsellers neare about him who knewe how to temper this his forwardnesse who was notwithstanding greatly coÌ„mended for animating of the souldiers accustomed vnder the good fortune of the Emperor to attempt any thing although very hard and daungerous So the Prince of Thanais hauing heard news of the army by water he sent thither with all speed thirteene or fourteene thousand of the most expert souldiers within his armie vnder the conduct of the Colonell of his footmen who was his Lieutenant when as the Emperour himselfe commaunded in his armie called Synopes brought vp a Captaine vnder Prince Axalla at such time as he had the generall commandement ouer the footmen The Prince at the same very time he supposed the fleete to drawe neare vnto that place the enemie had fortified with oakes with botes and galliots caused all the armie to mount on horsebacke appointed fortie thousand souldiers to march directly vnto a place the which he had noted to be most easie for his best aduantage for that the enemie had as he thoght traueled least in that place who doubting the Prince would lodge betweene the citie of Caire and him had there emploied the most of his time There was also in this place a litle mountain the which he dâ—sired this day for to win which he had reserued vpon this occasion to force the better to entertaine the enemies restraine them if they went about to succour their men that were assaulted by water Now as he had determined so did he force this place strongly but the greatest matter was to stay the fury of those which had giuen the onset for they would haue gone vnto the second trench the which the Soldan did thinke and the Prince of Thanais making shew to giue the onset busied the Soldan so in the mean time that he could not succour his men hauing enough to do for to defend himselfe so as during the time he was thus hindered he did behold our Nauie fighting all his Gallies to be broken in peeces and yet could not aide them for our men hauing landed in an Iland froÌ„ whence they were greatly annoyed hauing assaulted it they did force it and whatsoeuer was intrenched within the same and then this IlaÌ„d which was as a Caualier for the defeÌ„ce of their meÌ„ who defended the bridges of boats they had made being takeÌ„ was a great disaduaÌ„tage vnto theÌ„ insomuch as this fight after it had coÌ„tinued for the space of three houres the victory inclined on our sides by the valor of Synopes who seeing Calibes drowned most part of his men in flight he renued the fight and being resolute caried away the victory and vtterly ouerthrew the enemies bridge the which they had forsaken by the means of a currant of water full of artificiall fire the which coÌ„ming to rush against it did burne the whole bridge which was one of the principal causes of the victory So the victuals passed and our victorious army encamped within this Iland the which our men had wonne for to giue passage vnto the rest of the victuals The Prince of Thanais caused three engines of artillerie to be imbarked presently for to shoot into the enemies campe vpoÌ„ the riuers banke at such time as they should shew theÌ„selues for to hinder our victuals It was a great losse of Calibes because he was a person in whom the Emperor put great trust and hee had done him great seruices They busied theÌ„selues in seking for his body the which could not be found by reason of the great multitude of bodies which were within the riuer They hold opinion that there died twentie thousand men this day on both sides few of Calibes men being saued who had giuen the onset vpon the left wing of the enemies Synopes obtayned great honour and this day was the occasion of his good fortune Also he had done a notable peece of seruice worthie to be remembred there being no possible meanes to succour Caire but by that same place for this great citie was so weakned that it required a long time for to repaire it the which could not be done by land but only by the riuer looking for the reuolt the which could not be sooner theÌ„ three moneths Now after this victorie Synopes encamped himself within this Iland to hinder the Soldans men from passing notwithstanding they passed ouer in the night from the one shoare vnto the other they iudged that the enemies were forced vnto the fight or vnto a shamfull flight the which could not be but by the other side of the water for by land he had no retrait at all but by the swords point hauing no place but beyond the water the which bred suspition that he would make his retrait by water For he might wel thinke that Caire was not for him that his enterprise on that side was weake As for those which fauoured him within Alexandria all was changed there in a manner euery where Therfore it behoued the Prince of Thanais to haue a watchful eie vnto the enemies new practises and to prouide well for the maintenance of his army the which could not be done without difficultie by reason of the scarcenesse of the victuals for by feeding his armie he famished Caire For there could not come victuals sufficient neither by land nor water for to victuall it being encamped so neare vnto the enemie our army hauing made prouision for victuals but for 8. dayes keeping theÌ„selues encamped in one place so as it was resolued by the Counsell to retire themselues assoone as they had deliuered Caire seene the same victualled For they supposed the enemies had made great prouision of victuals to be able to continue in their campe their armie not being so great as ours Insomuch as it was resolued to passe ouer halfe our Armie vnto the other side and that Synopes should not remooue out of the Iland our purpose being no other then to hinder that the enemies should not keepe the victuals from entring into Caire This counsell was verie secret in so much as the enemies perceiuing their victuals for to faile had the same purpose that we had the which was to retire themselues the which they could not do but in the night Hauing