Persye which was called Cosserossath he rose ayenst the emê‘our of Rome and made hym selfe to be called the emperour of Asye This emê‘our toke the lordeshippe of Persy of Mede of Armeny of Calde his power encerased somoch that he droue themperour of Rome his men from all the foresayd landes And the Persyens reygned in Asye the space of CCC yeres And after the Sarasyns toke the sayde lordship from them as here after shal be declared ¶ Whan the sarasyns entred into Syri IN the yere of the incarnacion of our lorde .vi. C. and xxxii yeres the euyllsede of Mahomet cam into the realme of Syri· And fyrst they toke froÌ„ the grekes handes then oble citie of Damas after they ocupyed all the realme of Sirie After they came be seged the cytye of Antyoche Whan themperour Eracles men were come to a playne that is named Pofferit the sarasyns came and met theym and thrre began a great batayle that lasted longe but at the ende the sarasyns had the victory And so many meÌ„ wer slayne in the same batayle that the bones yet be sene in the felde of the whiche thynge the grekes that kept the citie of Antioch were so a frayed in so moche that they delyuerd the lande into the sarasyns handê by appoyntmeÌ„tes Than the enemys of the holy faythe ocupyed Cylice Capadoce Lyconie and other ryche landes wherof they rose in so great pride that they apparellyd galeys and shippes and went to Constantynople fyrste they aryued in Cipres and there they toke a cytie that was called Constance there was the graue of saynt Barnabe the apostle and whan they had taken all the ryches of the sayd cytie they brake the walles downe to the foundacion and neuer syth the sayd citie was inhabyted And than they departed came to the yle of Rhodes toke it with other dyuers yles of the Rhomayns landes and brought prysoners without nombre And after they went to ConstaÌ„tinople and layd therto sege bothe by see by lande in great fere wer the cytizens in somoche that they cryed our lorde mercy wherof it fortuned god that is mercyfull sende a great tempest of wynd rayne in that somer That all the galeis of the sarasyns were broken and the enemis almoost all drowned and than the sarasyns retorned without doinge any other thynge ¶ How that the sarasyns entred into the realme of Mesopotamy WHan the christen meÌ„ of ConstaÌ„tynople se that they were delyuerd by the grace of god they made a soleÌ„pne day for to worshyp god for the honour of theyr saluatioÌ„ which day is kept euery yere to this day with great worship After that the sarasyns were refresshed a certen tyme after thei thought to gather a great nomber of people to take the realme of Mesopotamy and Calde That were of the lordship of the realme of Persy the kynge of Persy that was called Asobari othe feringe the great myght of the sarasyns sende his messangers to the kyng to the lordes his neyghbours that were at the syde of the flode of Phison and required theÌ„ of helpe and socoure promysinge great gyftes to all theym that shold come And vpon that thei came togyther to the realme of Turky aboute foure thousande men of armes that were called Turkmens and thei moued for to com helpe the kinge of Persy agaynst the sarasyns and so they passed ouer the flode of Physon But for cause it is the maner of that peple to cary wyues and chyldern with theym where so euer they go they coude nat take great iourneis The sarasyns that were in the realme of Calde that had taken the sayd realme thought that yf the hoost of the Turkmens shold come to gether with the hoost of Persy they sholde not lightly acoÌ„plyssh there owne men of the realme of Persy and toke counsayle to sende to the kyng of Persy the kyng of Persy that coude nat chuse put hyÌ„ ayenst theÌ„ And therby a cytye that is called Maraga began a great batayle which lasted loÌ„ge in that which was of bothe partes many men slayn and at the later ende the kinge was slayne in the batayle and so dyed this was in the yere of our lorde god .vi. C. and .xxxiii. ¶ How the sarasyns chose theyr sowdan AFter that the Sarasyns had taken the lordshyp of Persye and dyuers realmes in Asye they chose there amonge them a lorde the which they called the Sowdan that is to say kynge in latten tonge the foresayd Sarasyns toke the lordshyppe of the lande of the great Asye except the realme of Abcas that is in Georgy and a countray in the realme of Armeny that is called GlaÌ„segarfordis these two countreys holden agaynst the Sarazyns so well that they coude neuer haue the lordship of it And there the crysteÌ„ men fledde a way for fere of theyr enemys of the Turkmens that came for to helpe the kyng of Persy we shall say some thynge shortely bycause that their hystory shall be of more clere vnderstandyng the abouesayd Turkemens came to a lande that is called Corasten and there they herde tydinges of the vndoynge of the Persyens of the kynges deth wherfore they wold go no farther but they thought to holde this sayde lande of Corasten for them selfe and thought that they shold kepe it well ayenst the sayd Sarasyns wherof it hapened that the Sarasyns brought a great hoost togyder and came agaynst theÌ„ the TurkmeÌ„s feryng the batayle dyde send theyr messeÌ„gers to the Calyfe of baldach ê“ferynge them to his coÌ„maundemeÌ„t the which thinge pleased moche the sayd Calyfe to the sarsyns and so the receyued the Turkmens to a trust and chased theym out of the sayde lande of Corasten and put them out to dwell iÌ„ a nother land where that they sholde nat fere their rebellion and ordayned that they sholde pay euery yere a tribute to the lordeshyp And in this maner abode the Turkemens vnder the lordshyp of the Sarasyns longe tyme to the tyme that the sarasyns toke the lordshyp of Persy Mede and of Calde And there they turned all to the false lawe of Mahomet And after it fortuned that the Calyfe of baldach coÌ„maunded to come before hym all the moost old wysest men of the Turkmens desyred them that they sholde beleue in Mahometes lawe And that they shold teche the other Turkmens to beleue so and promysed them to do them great grace honour yf they wolde do his commaundment the Turkmens that had no lawe were lightly consentynge to the Calyfes wyll wherof it came that the Turkemens that were .lxiiii. nacions were made all sarasyns except two kynredes that were deceyued of the others And thaÌ„ thei began to loue the Turkmens to do them honoure grace And so longe dwelled ther the TurkmeÌ„s that they multiplyed of goodes people and there humbly wysely kept themselfe And the sarasyÌ„s kept the lordshyppe of Asye .iiii. C. and .xviii.
wyse conquered many landes lordships but at the ende as a man that hath a great hert he entred vpon the see And as he layde sege to an yle the which he wold haue takeÌ„ by the see syde The men of that lande that were subtyll send for men that coud swym vnder the water which meÌ„ entred vnder the vessel in the which Mango Can was in And there they taryed so longe vnder the water that they brake the vessell iÌ„ dyuers places so moche the the water entred into the sayd vessell of the which thing MaÌ„go Can toke no hede tyll the sayd vessell was well nygh full began to synke vnder the water And so was MaÌ„go CaÌ„ themê‘our of the tartas drowned his meÌ„ went home agayn made his brother lorde that was called Cobila Can the which kept the lordship of the tartas .xlii. yeres And made them christen men closed a cyte which is called Ioing that is gretter than Rhome And in this cytie dwelled Cobila Can which was the .v. emê‘our of the tartas tyll the last ende of his dayes We shall leue to speke of MaÌ„go Can and shall retorne to speke of Hoctoca Cans chyldren of Halcon of his heyres and of his warkes ¶ How Iochy conquered the realme of Turquestan Persy IOchy the first sonne of Hoctoca CaÌ„ rode toward OccydeÌ„t with all his men that his father had gyueÌ„ hyÌ„ And conquered the realm of Turquestan and of Persy the left and than he went to the flodde of Physon and there he founde the couÌ„treis full of all goodes and dwelled in the sayde countrey in rest and peace and multiplied in gret richesse And vnto this day the heyres of the foresayd Iochy holde the lordeship of the sayd lande And there be two lordes that holde the lordshippe of the sayd lande The one is called Chapar and the other Thochay they be brethern and lyue in rest and peace ¶ How Bacho and a great parte of his men wer drowned in the ryuer of Austrich BAcho the seconde sonÌ„ of Hoctoca CaÌ„ with the men that his father had gyuen vnto hym rode towarde the partyes of Septentrion dyde so moche that he cam to the realm of Comany The kyng of Comany thinkynge well for to defende his lande gathered his hoost and fought agaynst the tartas but at th ende the Comayns were discoÌ„fyt And they droue theÌ„ Comains vnto the realme of Hongrye and yet vnto this day be many Comayns dwellyng in Hongry ¶ After that Bacho had dryuen the Comayns oute of the realme of Comany He entred into the realme of Roussy and toke it and he conquered the realme of Gezere and the realme of Bulgary And after he rode to the realme of Hongry and ther he found some Comayns and toke them After that the tartas passed toward Almayn dyde so moch that they came to the ryuer syd the ran by Almain by the duchy of Austrych the tartas thought to passe by a bridge that was ther but the duke of Austrych caused the brydge to be garnysshed so that the tartas coude nat passe ouer whan Bacho se that he coude nat passe ouer the brydge Herydde into the water with his horse and dyde begynne to swym and than he commaunded to his men that they shold passe ouer swymming Wherin he put hym selfe and his men in great danger For before that they coude passe ouer theyr horses was so wery that they coude swymme no lengar And so Bacho and a great parte of his men were drowned in the foresayd ryuer of Austrych or they coude pas ouer or come to the other syde ¶ wHan the other Tartas that were nat entred into the water se theyr lorde Bacho theyr other company drowned Full sory and heuy they daê‘ted and went backe to the realme of Roussi and of Comany And neuer after the Tartas entred into Almayn ¶ The heyres of the sayd Bacho holde the lordshippe of the realme of Corasme the realme of Comany and the realm of Roussy And he that is nowe lorde was Hoctoca Canâ— thyrde sonne which was called Chacaday ¶ How Iochy receyued his broder Chacaday CHacaday the thyrde sonÌ„ of Hoctoca Can with his meÌ„ that his father had gyuen vnto him rode toward the Southe tyll he came to the ê‘ties of Inde the leest And there he founde moche voyd lande and no men dwellynge therin And so he coude nat passe but he lost his men and many of his beestes After that he went towarde the Occydent and dyde so moche that he came to his brother Iochy and rehersed to hym all his fortune ¶ Iochy receyued his brother his company full humbly gaue vnto them part of his landes that he had coÌ„quered And in contineÌ„t were the two brothers to gyder there men in good peace and rest And he that is nowe lorde is called Baretath ¶ How and whan the kynge of Armeny laft his owne countrey came to the kynge of the Tartas And how he required .vii. peticyons of hym IN the yere of our lord god a thousand two houderde and thre fyfti Hayton the king of Armeny of good remembraunce seyng that the tartas hadde conquered all the countreys and realmes to the realm of Turkey He toke counsayle for to go to the kyng of the Tartas to take with hym his goodes his frendes The king of Armeny by the counsell of his barownes send before for his brother sir Symme Batat constable of the realme of Armeny And than the constable went to the realme of the Tartas and to the lord Mango Can and brought hym many riche presentes and was courtesly receyued ¶ And whan he had accomplysshed well all his besynesses for the whiche his brother the kynge of Armeny had sende hym for Veryli he taryed foure yeres or that he came agayn into Armeny and whan he had tolde to his brother the kynge what he had done and founde By and by the kynge apparylled hym and his men of armens and wente pryuely he and his men by Turky for that that he wolde nat be knowen And he merre with a captayn of the Tartas the whiche had ouer come the sowdan of Turkey the kynge of Armeny gaue him knowlege and tolde to hym how that he was goynge to themperour of the tartas And than the sayd captayne gaue hym company to bryng hym to the port de ferr And after that the king found other company that brought hym to the cytye of Maleth and there was Mango Can themê‘our of the Tartas the which was eyght gladde of the kynge of Armenes coÌ„myng And receyued hyÌ„ honorably gaue hym great gyfâ—es and great graces After that the kynge of Armeny had taryed certayn dayes he made his requestes and required of themperour seuen thinges ¶ The first thing that the kynge required of theÌ„perour was that he and his men sholde becom cristen men and that they sholde be baptised The seconde that
brought prysoners One of Ginbogas neuiewes was in that couÌ„trey went after the christen men with a smale coÌ„pany a horsebacke and as he began to blame them of that that thei had done and wold take the prey that they brought Some of the christen men ranne vpon hym and so kylde hym whaÌ„ Ginboga vnderstode that the christen men of Saiect had slayn his neuiewe He rode with his men came to Sarepte and as many christen men as he founde put theÌ„ to the swerde but the peple of Sarepte wente away in the yle but fewe slayne Ginboga dyde putte fyre in the cyte and brake the walles and neuer sythe Ginboga had neuer trust nor loue with the christen men of Syrie nor his men After that the Tartas were dryuen oute of the realme of Syrie by the power of the sowdaÌ„ of Egipt As it shal be declared here after ¶ How the sowdaÌ„ of Egipt droue the Tartas out of Syri IN that tyme the Barca began warre agaynst Helcone as we haue sayd before the sowdan of Egipt gathered his armye and came into the Palestins countreys In a place that is called Haymelot and ther he fought with the Tartas but they coude nat abyde the sowdans power so they fled backe with theyr captayns It was sayd that Gynboga was slayne in the batayle the Tartas that scaped from the said batayle went into Armenie At the tyme the realme of Syrie torned to the sowdans power but some cytes that were by the see that the christen men kept Whan Helcon vnderstode that the sowdan of Egipt was entred into the realme of Syrie and that he had betyn his meÌ„ and kylde them He gathered his hoost and sende to the kynge of Armenie to the kynge of Georgy and to the other christen men of the parties of Syrie that they sholde be redy to go with hym agaynst the sowdan of Egipt And whan Halcon had all his army redy for to go to the realme of Syri a sharpe synenesse toke hym that helde hym .xv. dayes of which he dyed and so his deth lette the goynge into the holy lande After hyÌ„ his sonne Albaca heâ—deÌ„ the lordeshippe of Halcon This Albaga wolde the Ambyla his vncle sholde confirme hym his lordship which thinge he dyde with a good wyll bycause that he knewe well the Albaga was the best and the wysest sonne that Halcon had and so he was called Albaga Can. And began as raygne in the yere of our lorde god a thousand CC.lxiiii ¶ How Albaga wolde nat become christen which fortuned hym yll ALbaga that was moch valyant kept wysely his lordeshyp and was moche fortunat in all maner of thinges saue that he wold nat become christeÌ„ as his father HalcoÌ„ was and so he was any doâ—…er And an other thing was that he made warr vpon his neyghbours whiche caused hym that he coude nat ouercome the sodan of Egipt and bycause of that the â—…dan of Egiptes power encreases moche yet the sowdan of Egipt dyd an other subtyll poynt for he sende his messangers to the taâ—tas that were in the realme of Comany and of Roussy made couenable peace and loue with them And ordayned if Albaga wolde come into the lande of Egipt that they shold inuade his landes and that they shold warre vpon hym And for this coÌ„posicyon the sowdan had great â—y to haue the christeÌ„mens landes of Syri and for that cause the christeÌ„men loste the cyte of Antyoch and many other As it is wryten in the cronicle boke of the holy lande ¶ Bendonedar which was sowdan of Egipt was moche mighty and puysaunt He sende his hoost into Armeny but the kynge was gone to the tartas Than his two sonnes gathared the hoost of Armeny which was at that tyme of great power and came agaynste their ennemys fought with theÌ„ The batayle was great but at the ende the christenmen were ouer come of the two sonnes the one was takeÌ„ prisoner and the other slayn in batayle And than the sarasyns entred in the lande wasted all the playn of Armeny The christeÌ„mens power was moch minyshed bycause of that the puytaunce of the sarasyns power was moche enhaunced Whan the kyng of Armeny vnderstod this tidynges of his sonnes and of the lande he was moch sorowfull thought in his mynde how that he myght do harme to his ennemys Thanne went he to Albaga and to the other tartas desiryng and prayeng theÌ„ that they wolde come to helpe the christeÌ„men The kyng trauayled moch but Albaga wold nat go for bycause that he had warre with his neyghbours The kyng seyng that he coude nat haue helpe so shortly of the tartas send his messaÌ„gers to the sowdan of Egipt and coÌ„firmed peace with hym to thyntent that he myght haue his sonne out of prison And the SowdaÌ„ made poyntment with the kyng that he shuld rendre vnto hym one of his felowes which was called Sangolagar that the tartas kept and that he shold yelde to hym agayn the castell of the lande of Halap that he helde he shulde gyue to hym his sonne agayn The kyng dyde so moch that the tartas gaue hym SaÌ„golagar the sowdans felowe aboue sayd and the kynge yelded to the sayd felowe the castell of Trepessache two other castels that he brake downe at the sowdaÌ„s request And in this maner the king of Armenis sonne Baron Lynon was delyuerd out of the prison of the sarasyns ¶ After that the kyng Hayton of good remeÌ„brauÌ„ce which had donÌ„ grete good to the christeÌ„dom iÌ„ his lyfe gaue his realme lordship to his sonÌ„ Lynon aboue named and left the pryde of this world toke the order of relygion chauÌ„ged his name after the gife of the Armins and was called Macayres than the kyng HaytoÌ„ dyed monke In the yere of oure lorde god a thousande two honderd .lxx. ¶ How Albaga toke the traitour Pernana and put hym to deth THe sonÌ„ of kyng Hayton Baron Lynonâ— was wise and valy 〈◊〉 and gouerned his realme and his lordship wisely He was well beloued of his people the tartas dyde to hym great honour This fayd kyng LynoÌ„ toke moche labour for to graue the sarasyns by the tartas And diuers tymes send his messangers to Albaga that he shold come for to helpe to recouer the holy lande and to confound the power of Egipt At that tyme the sowdan of Egipt entred with his power into the realme of Turky he kyld and drope out all the tartas that were ther toke many landes and countreys By a traitour that Albaga had made chefe captain of Turky that was called Parnana whiche torned was obeydient to the sowdan of Egipt and toke moch labour for to dryue the tartas out of Turky Whan Albaga vnderstod this tydinges He gathered his hoost rodde hastely for of .xl. dayes iornay he made but .xv. and came to Turky WhaÌ„ the sowdan knewe of the tartas
yeres After that the sarasyns toke the landê and the Medyens that be called Cordins ocupied the lordshyppe of Egypt as we shall say here after ¶ How the christenmen were driuen out of Egypt IN the yere of our lord god a thousand .liii. kyng Almaur kynge of HierusaleÌ„ of good mynd gathered his hoost in all the lande of Hierusalem and entred into Egypt and conquered many landes and cytes as it is wrytten in the boke of the holy lande conquestes The Calyfe seynge that he coude abyde agayn the christeÌ„meÌ„s power send his messangers to the sowdan of Halap that kept Mahometez lawe And thought to haue a great treasour of the Calyfe that was called Saraton he and a great coÌ„pany of men a war came to helpe the Calyfe those men dyd so moch that they droue the christeÌ„men out of the lande of Egypt riche and delectable And the power of the Calyf was smale the sowdan coueyted the lordship wherfore he toke hym and put hyÌ„ in pryson than after he set vpon the lande valyantly and put it in his subiection and made hym sodan and lorde of Egypt this Paraton was of the Corasmyns nacion and was the fyrst lorde in Egypt of his nation ¶ After the dethe of SaratoÌ„ one of his sonnes was made lorde of Egipt that was called Salzadin And this Salzadyn dyd so moch that he vndyde the kyng of Hierusalem and toke his cyties byforce and toke dyuers other landes of the christeÌ„mens as it apperith by the boke of the coÌ„questes of the holy lande After the deth of Salzadyn his brother and one of his neuiewes one after an other kept the lordship of Egypt tyll the sowdaÌ„s tyme that was called Mellecasa This Mellecasa was sowdan of Egypt at that tyme that the Tartas toke the realme of Cumany the sowdan herde say that the tartas solde the Cumayns that they had takeÌ„ to a good shyppe And thaÌ„ he sende dyuers marchauntes with a great quantite of good for to by some of the sayd Cumayns and iÌ„ specylly of the yongest and many of them was brought into Egypt Malacasa dyde norysshed them loued them moche and lerned theÌ„ to ryde and to the armes and tru sted them well and kept them euer nygh him And in that tyme that the kyng of Fraunce Loys passed ouer the see and was taken of the sarasyns the aboue sayd CucumaÌ„s that were bought and solde kylde there lorde Malecasa and made one of them lorde that was called Turkmen and by the reason of this the kyng of Fraunce and his brother that were in the sarasyns pryson were the soner bought agayn and delyuerd out of pryson In this maner began the CucumaÌ„s to haue lordship in Egypt this kinred of the CucumaÌ„s is called chapchap into the OrieÌ„t partê nat many dayes after one of this Sclauons which was called Cochos kylled the sayd TurkemeÌ„t made hym sowdan and was called Melomees This man went into the realme of Syrie and driued out Gynbago and .x. thousaÌ„d tartas the which Halcon had left for to kepe the lande of Syrie As he retorned to Egypt an other of the sayde Cucumans kylde hym Which was called BeÌ„docdar and made hym sowdaÌ„ and made hym calle Meldaer This was moche wise and valyant to the armes to his power he rose moche the sarasyns power in the realme of Sirie and Egypt And toke many cyties and landes that the christenmen kept And toke byforce the noble cyte of Antyoch In the yere of our lorde god M.CC.lxviii ¶ In the realme of Cucumanie this maÌ„ dyde moch harme in this Bendocdar dayes Whan syr Edwarde kyng of Englande passed ouer the see The sowdaÌ„ thought to haue kylde hym by an Assasyn by the which Assasyn the kyng was hurt with a knyfe that was poysoned but he was hole agayne by the grace of god ThaÌ„ after it happened that the sowdan had a drinke with mortall venym and dyed in the cyte of Damas. After his deth his sonne that was called Melecsart was mad sowdaÌ„ but he kept nat long the lordshippe of Egypt for an other Cucumant that was called Elsy dryue hym oute of the lordship and the lande of Egypt made him sodan This Elsy was he that layd sege before the cyte of Triple and toke it byforce In the yere of our lorde god a thousand two hondred foureskore nyne ¶ How Elsy was poysoned IN the yer after the sayd Elsy brought all his power to gyder nygh Babylone taryenge forto put sege afore Acre Vpon a day as he put hym in a pleasaunte place for to ease hym selfe yt fortuned that a seruaunt the whiche he trusted well and had made hym constable of his hoost gaue hym poyson to drynke and dyed soone after This coÌ„stable occupyed the lordshyp but the other ran vpon hym and cutte hym all in pecys After that one of Elsy soÌ„nes was made sowdan that was named Melecasseraph the which toke the cytie of Acre and put out of the landes of Syrie all the christenmen This was in the yere of our lorde god a thousande CC. lxxxxi ¶ How Melcuaser was made sowdan of Egypt WHaÌ„ Melecasseraph was retorned into Egipt vpoÌ„ a day he went a huntyng and ther a seruaunt kylde hym in the wode and soone after the seruaunt was kylde by the other And after that he that is sowdan nowe was made sowdan in Egypt that is called Melcuaser which was Melecasseraph brother And bycause that this Melecuaser was yonge he was put vnder an ouersear which was of the tartas nacion and was called Ginboga this Gynboga putte away this chyld Melecuase and put hym inward into the crake of mouÌ„t royall and toke the lordship made hymselfe sowdan and was called Melecadell In this Melechadels dayes was so grete nede of vitayles that all the sarasyns dyed for hunger if it had nat ben for the false christenmen that brought them vitayle Inough for couytes of money Aft that it happened the tidynges came of the tartas coÌ„mynge thaÌ„ Ginboga gathered his hoste went into the realme of Syrie forto defend the lande agaynst the tartas This Ginboga honoured moch those that had beÌ„ tartas kept theÌ„ nere hym of this the CucumaÌ„s had great enuy Wherfore it happed that as Ginboga retorned to Egypt the Cucumans put hym out of his lordeship and made one of thaÌ„ sowdan that was called Lachyn was called after Melecuaser This Lachyn wold nat kyll Gynboga bycause that he wolde be his felowe but gaue him a couÌ„trey that was called Sarta and after that he gaue hym the lordshyp of Haman but he wolde nat suffre that Ginboga shuld dwell in Egypt This sowdan taryed .iii. yeres in the castell of Cayre for fere of his men except a day that he came downe to the playn and came there to play at the foreball his horse fyll vnder hym and brake his legge After it happed that vpon a day this sowdan Lachyn played at cheker had putte his
Albaga Can the barownes came togyder and ordayned one of Albaga CaÌ„s brothers that was called Tangader this Tangader was greter than any of the other brethern Whan he was a chylde his name was Nychole but after that he was made lorde he toke the sarasyns company and dyde call hym selfe Mahomet Can. He putte all his wyt to coÌ„uert the tartas to the false lawe of Mahomet Whan many of the tartas wer conuerted to the sarasyns lawe This Mahomet that was the deuyls sonne dyde breke downe all the christenmens churches and coÌ„maunded that they shulde nat worshippe the lawe of Chryst nor the name of Chryst put away all the christeÌ„men prestes and relygiousmen and dyd prech Mahometes lawe through all his landê And he send his messangers to the sowdan of Egypt and made promyse of peace and loue and promysed to the sowdaÌ„ that he shulde cause all the christeÌ„men that were in his lande to tornÌ„ and to be sarasyns or els he shuld put them all to dethe Of this the sarasyns were all gladde and the christeÌ„men were sory and of great disconfort In so moche that they wyst nat what they shulde do but put theym selfe into the mercy of oure lorde god For they se come vpon theym great persecucions The sayd Mahomet sende to the kynge of Armeny to the kynge of Georgy and to the other christen men of the Orient that they shuld come to hym The good christenmen were in great thought and great fete All the whyle that the christeÌ„men werein so moche trybulation vnder the lordshippe of this euyll Mahomet but god that is with theÌ„ that belyue in hym sende to the christeÌ„men a great confort For a brother of the sayd Mahomet and one of his neuewes that was called MorgoÌ„ rose agaynst hym for his euyll warkes gaue knowlege to themperour Cobyla Can how he distroyed and preched to the tartas that they sholde torne to the sarasyns lawe Whan Cobyla Can vnderstode that he sende a commaundement to Mahomet that he shold leue his euyl warkes or els he shulde ryse agaynst hym Of this mater Mahomet was sore dyspleased and dyd so moche that he toke his brother and kylde hym And than after he went for to take Argon but ArgoÌ„ putte hym in a strong castell that was in a mountayne Mahomet dyde lay sege to the sayd castell at the ende Argon yelde hym selfe sauynge his owne lyfe and his seruauntes ¶ How the false Mahomet was slayne by his neniew Argon WHan Mahomet had his neuiewe vnder his power he delyuerd hym to one of his constables for to kepe And after ordained that his men shulde come softly after hym and he hyÌ„ selfe wolde go towarde Thoris there as he had lefte his wyfe And commauÌ„ded to the coÌ„stable that he shulde secretly kyll his neuiewe Argon and that he shulde bryng hyÌ„ his heed to Thoris A great myghty man founde hym that which Argons father had norysshed and done moche good to hym This sayd man had gret pyâ—e vpon Argon and than vpon a nyght came and slewe the constable and all them that were of his company And delyuerd Argon from dethe and out of pryson and made Argon lord ouer them all and to hym they were obeydâ—ent and redy to do hym seruyce Whan this was done ArgoÌ„ rydde hastely and dyde so moche that he ouertoke Mahomet Can or that he came to Thoris and incontynently he cutte hym all in peces And after this maner the cursed dogge Mahomet fynisshed his lyfe the seconde yere of his reygne ¶ In the yere of our lorde god a thowsande two honderde .lxxxv. After that Mahomet was deed Argon was made lorde of the Tartas and the great emperour confermed hym in his lordship and wolde that he shulde be called Argon Can. And bycause of that Argon was moch more worshipped than any of his auÌ„cytours This Argon was fayre and plesaunt of visage and a storng man of body and kept his lordshyppe wysely He gouerned well his lordshippe and he loued well and honoured moch the christeÌ„men And the churches of the christeÌ„men that Mahomet brake downe Argon caused theÌ„ to be newe made agayn And than came to hym the kyng of Armeny the kyng of Georgy and the other christeÌ„men of the Orient prayed Argon that he wolde take payne to delyuer the holy lande Wherupon Argon toke aduysmeÌ„t entendyng to make peace fyrst with his neyghbours to thyntent that he myght go the more surer agaynst the sowdans power And as it happened that Argon was in that good purpose In the fourth yere of his raygne as it pleased god he dyed And one of his brethern that was called Kalgato was made lorde after hym This sayd Kalgato was the vnprofitablyst lord that euer reygned in that couÌ„trey sith CaÌ„gius Can was made lord as it shal be rehersed here after ¶ How Kalgato was drowned by his owne people IN the yere of our lorde god M.CC.lxxxix After the deth of Argon Can his brother Kalga to helde the lordship This sayde Kalgaro beleued nat well nor he was nothyng worth iÌ„ armes but demeaned hym selfe lyke a foule beest in etyng of denteth meres drinkynge of swete wynes to fyll his belly Non other thyÌ„g dyd he in .vi. yerê whyle he kept his lordshippe For the great peuisshnesse that was in hym his owne people began to hate hym to disprayse hym and so at the ende his owne peple drowned hym After the deth of this Kalgato one of his cosyns was mad lord which was called Baydo This sayd Baido was a gode christeÌ„maÌ„ dyd moch good to the christeÌ„men but he lyued nat longe in this worlde ¶ After the deth of Kalgato Baydo had the lordship of his brother This man as a good christeÌ„man caused the churches of the christeÌ„men to be buylded vp agayn and coÌ„mauÌ„ded that none shulde prech the lawe of Mahomet in his laÌ„de Of that the sarasyns that were multyplied were sore greued and thaÌ„ the sarasyns the tartas send pryuely to Consan messaÌ„ges which was Argons sonne promysed hym that they wold make hym lord that they shulde gyue hym Baydos lordship if he wolde forsake the christen fayth Casan that set nat moche by the fayth of Christ was lightly torned for he was moche couytus to haue the lordship and was content to do after theyr desyre Wherupon CoÌ„san rose than Baydo gathered his hoost cam agaynst Consan and knewe nat the treason of his people ¶ How Casan was deceyued by the traytour Chapchap WHan Baydo thought to come agaynst CoÌ„san all they that kept Mahometz law deê‘ted weÌ„t towarde Casan Whan Baydose that his men had betrayed hym he torned backe agayn but Casan send after and toke him so as Baydo fledde away he was kylde than Casan toke the lordshippe ¶ After Baydos deth CasaÌ„ kept the lordship he shewed hym selfe moch proude to the christeÌ„men that dyde he for the
purse of ledderfull of writinges dedes of the lande of Egypt And all the remnant he gaue frely marueyll it was that so lytell a body myght haue so great vertu for among a M. men coud nat be so skleÌ„der a man nor so euyl mad nor a fouler maÌ„ he surmouÌ„ted all other in prowesse vertue And for bycause that Casan is of our tyme we must speke of hym leÌ„ger than of the other for this sowdan that was ouercome by Casan is yet lyuenge And moreouer all them that tary the passage of the holy lande may take there many good examples ¶ How they of Damas yelded them selfe to Casan AFter the CasaÌ„ had rested certain dayes ordred his besinesses he rode to the cyte of Damas whaÌ„ they of Damas vnderstode the coÌ„mynge of Casan they wer afrayed for if Casan sholde take theÌ„ by force he shuld take all without any mercy And thaÌ„ they sende theyr messangers to Casan with great giftes and sende to hyÌ„ the keys of the towne of Damas. Than it happened that Casan receyued the gyftes coÌ„mauÌ„ded to the messangers that they shuld retorn to Damas. And that thei shuld make vitayle redy for his hoost that they shuld nat fere his commyng for he wolde do no hurt to the cite of Damas but wold kepe it as his chaÌ„bre The messangers deê‘ted full gladde for the good answere that Casan gaue theÌ„ And thaÌ„ Casan rod after lodged nere the riuer of Damas coÌ„maunded that no man shuld hurt nor oppres the cyte They of Damas send to Casan great gyftes habondaunce of vitayle for him his hoost and so Casan soiorned many dayes in Damas with his hoost besydde the xl M. tartas that wer with Molay the which wer at Acasere tarieng for CasaÌ„s comyng As Casan and his people taryed reposed them at Damas there came a messaÌ„ger that brought tidyngê that Baydo was entred into the realme of Persy that he had donÌ„ moch harme in the lande they thought he sholde do more hurt thaÌ„ he had done wherfore Casan coÌ„mauÌ„ded to Catholasa that he sholde tary for to kepe the realme of Syri and coÌ„mauÌ„ded to Molay and to the other tartas that wer with hym in Casere that thei shold obey to Catholasa that which CasaÌ„ had laft in his plac And than after he ordayned baylies gouerners in euery cyte and made Cachap baylie of Damasse Casan vnderstode nat the Cachap was a traytour After all that Casan called the kynge of Armeny shewed hym how he wold retornÌ„ to Persy Casan sayd we haue delyuerd you the lande of Syrie to kepe for the christeÌ„men if they come we leue our coÌ„mauÌ„dement to Catholasa that he shall delyuer the holy lande to the christeÌ„men that he shuld gyue couÌ„sell helpe to make the laÌ„des agayn whan CasaÌ„ had done that he went toward Mesopotamy whan he was at the flode of Eufrates He coÌ„maunded to Catholasa that he shold leue Molay with .xx. M. men to kepe the land that he shold come in all the hast to hym with the remnaÌ„t of the hoost of the kyng Anyne of Mesopotamy And so Catholasa departed dyde as Casan coÌ„mauÌ„ded hym Molay taried for to kepe the lande of Syri by the couÌ„sell of the traitor Capchap Molay weÌ„t into the ê‘ties of HierusaleÌ„ into a place that is called Gant wher was gode pastur for their horses whan the soÌ„mer was com Capchap send his messangers to the sowdan ê“mysed to delyuer hym Damas all the other landê that the tartas kept of the realme of Syri And the sowdan promised to Capchap that he shold gyue hym the lordship of Damas a great part of his tresure and his syster to be his wyfe than Capchap rose and made to rysse all the countres for he knewe well that the tartas coud nat come vpon them bycause of the great hete of the soÌ„mer Whanne Molay se that Damas the other couÌ„treis wer vp he durste nat abyde in the realme of Syrie with so fewe men but went towarde Mesopotamy and there he found Casan and rehersed to hym what Capchap the traytour had done Whan Casan vnderstod those tydinges he was greatly displeased but he coud no remedy for the great here that was there Whan the soÌ„mer was paste and the wynter began Casan gathared a great hoost vpon the flode syde of Eufrates and sende firste for Catholasa with .xxx. thousaÌ„de tartas And coÌ„maunded that they shold go toward the cyte of Antioche and that he shold sende for the kynge of Armeny and for the christeÌ„men that wer at that tyme in realme of Cipres and so they came by the see to the cyte of Corcose there was the lorde Sut brother to the kyng of Cipres which conducted the lordes and knyghtes and ther was the maisters of the temple and of the hospitall And as they wer apparelled to do our lorde god seruice tydingê came that a sore sykenesse had taken Casan Wherfore Catholasa was fayn to retorne to Casan with his men the kyng retourned to his couÌ„trei And the christeÌ„men that wer com to the yle of Carcon went to Ciprez for this cause the warr of the holy lande was last This mater was in the yere of our lorde a thousaÌ„de thre honderde and one ¶ Whan the kynge of Armeny Catholasa toke the cyte of Hames IN the yere of our lorde god M.CCC .iii. Casan gathared his hoost agayn vpon the flodde of Eufrates to th entent that he myght enter into the realme of Siri and to distroy the sowdan of Egipt And to recouer the holy laÌ„de and delyuer it to the christeÌ„men agayne Whan the sarasyns vnderstode the coÌ„mynge of Casan and that they were nat able to fyght agaynst his power they wasted brende all the lande and countrey by they which thei sholde passe with theyr beestes and catell all that they coude fynde the brought to a stronge place and all they remnaÌ„t they sette on fyre for cause that theyr horess sholde fynde name at whaÌ„ Casan vnderstode this that the sarasyns had done thinkynge that the horses shold fynde no mete to lyue on He toke counsell to tary the same wiÌ„ter at the flode of Eufrates And whan the grasse shold begyn to springe they wolde take theyr waye but they had more thought for their horses mete thaÌ„ they dyd for themselfe as men but of smale fedynge Casan was vpon the flod syde with his hoost and sende for the kyng of Armeni CasaÌ„s hoost was so grete that it lasted .iii. dayes iourney of length From the castell that is called Racale to another that is called la Bire these two castels wer longing to the sarasyns but they yelded them to CasaÌ„ and as Casan was tarieng at the flod of Eufrates for the seson wether forto delyuer the holy land out of the sarasyns power he herd tidyÌ„ges that Baydo was come agayn into his lande and how he
Armeny retorned into his countrey but syth his coÌ„mynge ther he had but lytell rest For the sowdan send in the same yere almoost euery moneth a great noÌ„bre of men a warr that ran almoost all the lande of Armeny wasted all the playn wherfore the realme of Armeny was worse than euer it was before but god almighty that is with them that serue hym had mercy of the peple christeÌ„men of Armeny wherof it happened that in the moneth of Iuly .vii. M. sarasyns of the best of the sowdaÌ„ of Egiptz house entred into the realme of Armeni ronned all the playn wastyng robbing to the cyte of Tersot In the which saynt Paule was borne This ennemys dyde moche hurt and as they were goynge backe agayne The kyng of Armeny gathered his hoost met with them nygh the cyte of Layas was the batayle And by the grace of oure lorde god theyr ennemys were ouercome in suche maner that of the vii M. sarasyns skaped nat .iii. hondred but they wer slayn or taken And that was vpon a sonday the .viii. day of Iuly after that batayle they durst nomore come iÌ„ the realme of Armeny But the sodan sende made truese with the king of Armeni And I frere Hayton maker of this warke was present to this thinges longe tyme afore that I was purposed to take the order of relygioÌ„ But I coud nat for the great besinesse that the kyng of Armeny had at that tyme. I coud nat for myne honour forsake my lordes and my frendê in all nedis but sith god of his grace hath gyuen vs the victory agaynst our ennemys And also gyuen grace to leue the realme of Armeny in suffycient good state shortly after I thought forto make an end of my bowe And than I toke leue of the kyng of my kynred frendes in that tyme that our lorde gaue vs the victory agaynst the ennemys of our fayth I toke my way caÌ„ iÌ„ to Egipt ther into our lady Delepiscopie chirch of the order of Premontrey I toke the abyte of relygion longe I had ben knyght in this world to thyntent forto serue god the remenauÌ„t of my lyfe And this was in the yere of our lorde god M.CCC.v. grace mercy to god for the realme of Armeny is reformed in better state than it was by the yonge kinge my lorde Lynon in the old tyme baron the which is full of vertue and grace And also we trust that in this yonge kyng of Armenys dayes The realm of Armeni shal be in his gode first state with the helpe of our lorde Ihesu Christ ¶ The auctour ¶ yet I that hath made this boke se all that is in the thyrde parte of this boke I knowe it in .iii. maners For from the begynnyng of Cangius Can that was the first emperour of the tartas tyll Mango Can that was the forth emperour I se all as the Tartas historis rehersed And from Mango Can tyl HalcoÌ„ dyed I speke as I haue herde and lerned of my lorde myn vncle the kyng Hayton the kyng of Armeny which hath ben preseÌ„t in great dilygence rehersed to his sonnes and to his neuewes dyd vs put in writynge for a remembraunce And froÌ„ the beginnyÌ„g of Albaga Halcous sonÌ„ tyll the thyrde part of this boke there as the tartas hystorie finysshed I speke as he that was present in person and of that I haue sene I may reherse truely We haue sayd of the tartas dedis hystoris yet we shal speke of theyr power ¶ Of the thre kynges that dyd honour to the great emperour THe great emê‘our of the tartas that kept the lord shype is called Tamor Cann which was the vi emperour held his sege in the realme of Catay in a cyte that is called Iunig the which his father fouÌ„ded The myght of this emperour is great for hym selfe alone might do mor than all the tartas princes themperours men be takeÌ„ for more noble more riches and more garnisshed of all thingê than others For in the realme of Catay is a great haboundaunce of riches And after the .iii. kynges of Tartas that haue a great power and do all reuerence to the great emê‘our and obedient by his Iugement The first of these kynges is called Tapar the seconde Totay and the thyrde Tarbanda Tarpar held the lordship of Turkesten and is more nygh of themperours landê than the others this kynge may bringe with hym in batayle .iiii. C. thousand men of warr an horsbacke this men be valyant hardy thei haue gode harnis gode horses Somtymes themperour maketh warr against Chapchap wolde take his landes from him but he defended hym valyantly The lordshippe of Capar was all vnder one lorde how beit that his brother Totay helde a great part of his lande ¶ Totay the kynge of the tartas helde the kyng of Cumanys lordship and his sege in a cytie that is called Sarra This prynce may bring to the batayle .vii. C. thousande men an horsbacke as the sayeng is but they be nat so valyant in batayle and iÌ„ dede of armes as Capars men be How be it that they haue better harnes better horses Somtyme they make warre agaynst CarbaÌ„da somtyme they make warr agaynst the kynge of Bulgarie soÌ„tyme they haue war amonge them But nowe Totay kepeth the lordship in rest peas ¶ How they of Lices haue know lege by birdes whan any of theyr ennemys be coÌ„myng toward theÌ„ CArbaÌ„da held his power in the great Asie and kept his sege in the cite of Toris he may bring to the batayle about .iii. C. thousande men of armes an horsbacke but they be men of dyuerse nations rych and well furnisshed of all maner suche thinges as thei haue nede Capar Totay make warre often tymes agaynst Carbanda but he defended his lande wisely Carbanda medled nat with no warre agaynst no man but the Turke of Egypt to the which all his auncestours haue had warre with the aboue sayd princes Tapar and Totay wold fayne putte Carbanda out of his lordship yf thei coud but thei haue no might How beit that they be more mighty of men and of landes this is the reson how Carbanda defended his landes from the myght of his neybours For Asie is deuyded in .ii. partes the one parte is called the depe Asie the other is called the maior Asie And in that part Carbanda dwelled there is no more but thre wayes by the which they may entre out of Asie the ê“fonde and Asie the great The one way is by the which thei go from the realme of Turquesten to the realm of Persy the other way is by the ende that goeth nigh to the cyte that Alexander founded that is called Port de ferr The other way is towarde the see of Maior and passe by the realm of Dabcas by the first way Capars meÌ„ can nat entre in CarbaÌ„das landes without great danger and payne
yeres after they loste the sayde lordshyp as we shall deuyse here after ¶ A cuniuracyon amonge the sarasyns IN that tyme it happed that a great debate fell amonge the Sarasyns which lasted in coÌ„tynuauÌ„ce .xxx. yeres that the sowdans and the lordes of the landes wolde nat obey to the sowdan of Baldache but they rose agaynst hym so the Sarsyns power began to mynisshe In that tyme was in ConstaÌ„tynople a valiant Emperour which was called Diogines the which began valiantly to enter into the landes that the Sarasyns had taken from the cristen men in theÌ„perour Eraclos tyme and to recouer the noble cytyes of Antyoch sylice Mesopotamy the other landes the sarasins kept tyll the tyme that the Turkmens toke it from them as it shal be dyuysed here after ¶ The fyrst reygnynge of the turkes in Asye IN the yere of the Incarnacion of our lorde M.li. began fyrste the Turkmens to haue the lordshyp in Asye in suche maner that whan the TurkmeÌ„s wer multiplyed of men and goodes se the great trouble that was amoÌ„ge the sarasins they thought to haue rysen agayne wherfore they cam togyder and chose amoÌ„ge them a kynge that was Salyoth afore that they had neuer lorde of theyr kinred whaÌ„ they had that done they began so valyantly vpon the sarasyns that in shorte shace they had and ocupyed the lordship of Asye but to the Calyfe of Baldoche they dyde hym no grefe but they yelded hym great honour wherof it cam that the Calyfe more for fere than for loue ordayned Saliothe lorde of the Turkmens But not longe after themperour Salioth dyed after hym was his sonne made lorde which was called Doloryssa this man moued the warre agaynst themê‘our of Constantyple toke dyuers landes castels a Grece And after he send to the realm of Mesopotamy one of his cosyns which was called Artothe vnto the which he gaue men ynow and gaue hym the realme of Mesopotamy and al the other landes that he myght gete ayenst the Grekes than the great Artothe went with a great noÌ„bre of men layde sege to 〈◊〉 cytie of Rohays toke all the lande of Mesopotamy he toke his owne sege in the cytye of MeredyÌ„ there made hymselfe sowdan in that tyme dyed Dolorissa kynge of Persy his sonne which was called AlpasseleÌ„ kept the lordship after hym this Alpasselem had a neuewe that was called SolymaÌ„ which longe tyme had serued his father this Solyman was moche valyaunt in armes wherfore the forsayd kyng of Persy Alpasselem gaue a great nomber of men of warr to his neue we Solyman and send hym to Capadoce and grauÌ„ted hym to hold and kepe all that he coulde take vpoÌ„ the grekes And vpon that wente Solyman entred in the realme of Turky and there toke cytes realmes and castels almoost all the land put them vnder his lordship wherfore he dyd chauÌ„g his name and was called Solymansa and of these men the hystores maketh mencion of Godfray debullayns passage whan he fought with the pylgrimes and dyde them moche harme or they coulde passe the landes of Turky ¶ How the Grekes were dryuen out of Asye AFter that dyed Alpasselem the turkes emperour and thaÌ„ was his sonne made emê‘our which was called Melacaceraf the which send a commaundment to Artoth the sowdan of Mesopotamy and to Solimansa the sowdan of Turky that thei shold go and lay sege to the cyte of Antyoche wherfore they brought togither a great hoost and laid sege to Antyoche the which the grekes kept And not long after thei toke it and so were the grekes dryuen oute of all the landes of Asye by the myght of the enemys of the crysten fayth And than after Melacaceraf themperour of the turkes dyed laft two chyldern the fyrst was called Balryaro the whiche kept the lordshyp after hym but his brother that was more valyaÌ„t in armes ocupyed a great part of the landes of Persy and at that tyme that Godfray de bullen passed the sayd Balryaroth was emperour of Asye and Solymansa was sowdan of Turky and dyde many enterprises to the pylgrems or they coulde passe the landes of Turkey ¶ How the Crysten men layde sege to Antyoche WHan the Emperour of Persy vnderstod that the crysten men had layd sege to the cyte of Antyoche he brough togyder a great people of the realme of Turkey and sende for them for to socour the cyte Or the turkes coulde come that myght of the enemys were so great that they layde sege rounde about the cyte wherfore the cristen men that had layde sege before were themselfe beseged at the later end our pilgrimes fought ayenst this great nomber of enemys so well that by the grace of god the other were all discoÌ„fyted Corberam the chefe captayn slayne they that scaped out of the batayle went agayn into Persy And there the founde that theyr emê‘our Balryarothe was deed than his broder wold haue take the lordship but his enmis dyde rone vpoÌ„ hym kylde hym great trouble was amonge the sarasyns in somoch that neuer sithe they coulde nat agre to make no emê‘our nor generall lorde but they began to make war the one ayenst the other wherfore the Greces the Armenys of the great Armenye entred vpon them and droue theym oute of all the landes of Persye bothe theyr wyues and chyldern and so they went into Turky and there they kept the lordship i great prosperyte tyll the comyng of the Tartas the which ocupyed the lande lordship of Turky as it shal be declared here after ¶ How the Corasmyns coÌ„quered the realme of Persy IN the realme of CorasmyÌ„s was a maner of pepyll that dwelled in the mountayns and in the feldys fedynge theyr beestes the which were bolde men of armes these men vnderstode that the realm of Persy was without a lord wherfore they thought for to conquer it lightly And than thei cam togyder and dyde chose a lorde amoÌ„ge theÌ„ which was called IalaadyÌ„ whan they had so done they went to the noble cytye of Torys without any coÌ„tradictyon of any man and there they dwelled and made theyr lorde Ialaadyn Emperour of Asye for they thought to occupy other realmes of Asye as they had taken the realm of Persy this CorasmyÌ„s rested there certayn dayes and there they were al full of goodes ryches of Persy wherof they toke so great pryde that they entred into the realm of Turkye and thought to haue ocupyed it enioyed it but the sowdan of Turky that was called IalaadyÌ„ gethared his hoost and fought agaynst the Corasmyns and ouer cam them and droue theym out of Turky and Ialaadyn theyr Emperour was slayn in batayle and they that scaped went into the realme of Mesopotamy and than came to gyther into the playne of Royhas there they toke couÌ„sayl betwene them to entre into the realme of Syry which was at that tyme gouerned by a Lady then the Corasmyns cam
brought togyther agayne the hoost entred in to Siry And this noble Lady brought her men togyder in the cyte of Halap nygh to the flode of Eufrates cam to mete the Corasmyns fought there great was the batayle but at the later ende the Corasmyns were ouercome and fled awaye towarde the desert of Arabe and after they passed ouer the flod of Eufrates nygh to a castell that was called Racabe entred into the realme of Syry and cam to the prouince of Palastyne that is in the realme of HyerusaleÌ„ and dyde great damage to the cristen meÌ„ as it apereth in the historis of the passage of Godfray debullayn at the last this Corasmins began to murmure wolde not obey to theyr lorde and than they departed so that some went to the sowdan of Harmes and to other sowdans Which were .v. in Syry Whan that the Corasmins duke that was called Beretall se that his men were wasted send his messaÌ„gere to the sowdan of Babilon profered hym his seruice wherof the sowdan was ryght glad and receyued hym with a good wyll dyde great honour to the duke and to them that came with hym and departed the Corasmyns by all his landes bycause that he wolde nat haue theym all togyther And because of that the sowdans power of Babylon rose moche for the coÌ„myng of the Corasmyns that before was ryght smale And in conclusyon in short tyme the natyon of the Corasmyns cam to nought And then after the Tartas began to haue the lordshippe ¶ What couÌ„tray the Tartas inhabited fyrste THe lande countrey there as the Tartas dwelled fyrst is betwene the grete mouÌ„tayne of Beligian of this mountayn speketh the hystores of Alexander there as he maketh meÌ„cyon of the wylde men that he founde In that couÌ„trey dwelled fyrst the Tartas as beestysshe men that had no faythe nor lawe But went from place to place as beestes fedynge And of other natyons they were kept subgettes to the which they were seruauÌ„tes to dyuers natyoÌ„s of Tartas that wer named Malgothz came togyther ordayned captayns gouernours amonge theym And so they multyplied so moche that they were departed in vii nations And to this day these nations be taken more noble then the other The fyrst of this nation is called Tartar the second TaÌ„gothe the thryde Curach the .iiii. Iason the .v. Sonithe the syxte Mangly and the .vii. Tebethe And as it happened that these .vii nations dwelled in the subgectioÌ„ of theyr neyghbours as is before sayd It fortuned a poore olde maÌ„ that was called Cangius sawe in dremynge a visyon the which to hym semyng was a knyght in armour vpon a white horse that called hym by his name And sayde vnto hym Cangius that wyll of thy immortall god is suche that he oweth to beshortli gouernor made vpon the .vii. natyons of the Tartas that ben called Malgothz and that by hym they shal be delyuerd oute of the saruage that thei had longe ben in shall haue worship vpon theyr neighbours Cangius rose vp merily herynge the worde of Christ and rehersed the vision that he se to all the gentilmen but they wold nat beleue but skorned hym wherfore it fortuned the night folowynge the captayns of the .vii. nations se the white horse in visioÌ„ as Cangius had rehersed Which coÌ„maunded by the immortall god the they sholde obey all to CaÌ„gius and that they sholde kepe all his coÌ„maundemeÌ„tes wherfore the .vii. captayns abouesaid brought the people togyther and dyde make obesaunce and reuerence to Cangius And they them selfe dyde so as to theyr naturall lorde ¶ How Cangius was elect emperour of the Tartas AFter that the Tartas ordayned a seat in the myddes of them all putte there vpon the grouÌ„de a blacke carpet and made Cangius to syt therupon And the vii captayns of the .vii. natyons reysed hym vp with the sayd carpet set hym vpon the seate And named hym Can and with knelinge dyde hym all honour and reuerence as to theyr owne lorde ¶ Of the solempnyte that the Tartas dyde to theyr lorde In the tyme sholde no man maruayle of it for ê‘aduenture they coulde do no better or they had no fayrer clothe to set hym on but for that they wold nat change theyr first vsage It is marueyle seynge that they haue conquered so many landes and realmes yet they kepe theyr fyrst maner for thei wyll chuse their lorde and twyse haue I ben at thelectyoÌ„ of the Tartas emperour they assemble togyther in a great felde he that sholde be theyr lorde they caused hym to sytte vpon a blacke carpet and put a ryche seate in the myddes of them all And than after cam the noble men and the chefe of his kynred and lyft hym vp on hye and set hym vpon the seate after dyde hym all honour reuerence as to theyr naturall lorde for al the lordship or riches that they haue conquered they wode neuer chauÌ„ge theyr fyrst gyse And after that CaÌ„gius Can was made emperour by the coÌ„men wyll and coÌ„sent of all the Tartas First of all or Cang Can wold do any other thinge he wolde knowe if they all wolde be obedient vnto hym and than he coÌ„maunded .iii. coÌ„maundemeÌ„tes The fyrst coÌ„maundemeÌ„t was that they sholde all beleue worshyp one god immortall by the which he was made emê‘our And forthe withall the Tartas began to beleue and worship god and reclamed the name of god in all theyr warkes and dedes The seconde coÌ„maundemeÌ„t was that they shold viewe and nombre all them that were able to bere harnes and ordayned that vpon euery .x. sholde be a captayn ouer C. a captayn and ouer .x. M. was a captayn they called the company of the .x. thousande Thoman ¶ After that he coÌ„mauÌ„ded to the captayns of the .vii. natyons and lynages of the Tartas that they sholde yelde vp all theyr armes lordships And that they sholde hold and pay vnto hym as he sholde or dayn them The .iii. commauÌ„demeÌ„t that CaÌ„gius Can made was thought moche cruell to them all for he coÌ„maunded to the foresayd vii great captains that euery one sholde brynge his eldest sonne before hym and whan they had so done He coÌ„mauÌ„ded them that euery captayn sholde stryke of his sonnes heed the which coÌ„maundmeÌ„t they thought was moche felon not for because that they shold fere the people But bycause that they knew well that Cangius Can was made emperour by coÌ„maundement of the immortall god And so euery one of the .vii. captayns strake of his sonnes heed And than whan CaÌ„gius Can knewe the good wyll of his people and se that they wolde obey hym vnto the dethe Than he coÌ„maunded that they sholde be apperylled in knyghtes armour with hym ¶ How Cangius Can was saued by a byrde WHan Cangius Can had ordayned well wyselye his batayle he entred into the laÌ„des of theÌ„ that had loÌ„ge tyme kept the Tartas
subgettes and fought with theym and ouer came them all and put theyr landes in his subiectyon After that Cangius Can went forthe coÌ„querynge landes and countreis and all thingê went as he wolde VpoÌ„ a day it happened that Cangius Can rode with a smale coÌ„pany met with a great nombre of his enemys which set sharpley vpon hym CaÌ„gius Can defended him valyantly but at the last his hors was slayne vnder hym And whaÌ„ Cangius men se that theyr lorde was in the prese incontynent they lost their corages and began to fle away And theyr enemys chased after theÌ„ and toke no hede to CaÌ„gius Can themperour that was a fote Whan CaÌ„gius Can se that he hyd hym in a lytell busshe that was nere The enemis that had the victory began to serche for theym that were fled and as they wolde haue serched the said busshe wherin CaÌ„gius Can was hyd A byrd that is called a duke cam and sat vpon the sayd busshe And whan they that sought for CaÌ„gius Can se the byrde syttynge vpon the sayd busshe ther as CaÌ„gius Can was they supposed no body to be there And deê‘ted sayenge if any body were ther the byrde wolde nat syt ther and so they went away with out any more serchinge thinkyng that no body sholde be in the sayd busshe ¶ How and wherfore the Tartas were fethers WHan that nyght cam Cangius Can wente out of the busshe and dyde so moche that he cam to his men and couÌ„ted to theÌ„ all his auenture And how the byrd lyght vpon the busshe there as he was hyd and for that cause his enemys serched nat for hym And than the Tartas reÌ„dred grace to god from thensforthe they had the sayd byrde which was called duke in great reuerence For who that myght haue a feder of the sayd byrde gladly wolde were it vpon his heed Of this history I haue made mencyon to th ende that ye sholde knowe wherof the Tartas were the feders vpon their heedes Cangius Can rendred grace to god that he was so delyuerd in that maner ¶ After that he assembled his hoost togyder and fought with his enemys and discomfyt theym put theym all in his subiection And Cangius Can conquered all the landes that were from thens to the mountayn of Belgyan and helde them so moche that he se an other vision as it shal be deuysed here after ¶ Whan Cangius Can had conquered the lordships of all those countreis that were a this syde the mountayne of Belgyan vpon a nyght it happened that he se in vysion the white knyght agayne the which sayd vnto hym Cang Can the wyll of the immortall god is that thou passe the mountayn of Belgyan and thou shalt coÌ„quere the realmes couÌ„treis of dyuers nations shalt reygne be lorde ouer them And to th ende that thou shalt know that this that I say is the wyll of the immortall god Ryse vp and goo to the mount of Belgian with all thy men whaÌ„ thou shalt come there where the see is ioyning to the sayd mouÌ„tayn thou shalt discende with all thy men shalt knele .ix. tymes agaynst the Orient and shalt pray to the immortall god that he wyll shewe that the way And he shall shewe that the way so thou mayst passe with al thy people Whan Cangins Can was waked out of his slepe he beleued well in the vision forthwith coÌ„maunded his men that thei sholde get theÌ„ to horse for he wolde passe the mountayn of Belgian Than they rode forthe tyll they came to the see and there they coulde nat passe ouer bycause there was no passage greate nor smale And in contynent Cangius Can descended from his horse and coÌ„maunded to all his army that they sholde lyght and knele downe .ix. tymes towarde the Orient and that they sholde pray to almighty god immortall that he wolde shewe theÌ„ the way to passe And all the nyght Cangius Can his men abode i prayers And on the morowe CaÌ„gius Can se that the see was gone from the mountayn .ix. fote they had a fayre large way whan CaÌ„gius Can and his people se that thing they marueyled moche of it wherfore they yelded grac to god and passed all toward the partes of the Orient as it is rehersed in the Tartas histores ¶ How Cangius Can fell sycke AFter the Cangius Can had passed the mountayne of Belgian he founde moche water marese the lande desert so moche that or he his people coude come in a good land they suffred great penure After that they founde gode landes and plentyfull of all thynges wherfore they dwelled in the couÌ„trey many dayes and reposed them And as it plesed god a gret sykenesse toke Cangius Can and than he coÌ„mauÌ„ded to come before hym .xii. sonnes that he had and coÌ„maunded them that they sholde euer be all of one wyll and acorde gaue theym suche example He coÌ„maunded that euery one of theÌ„ sholde bringe an arowe And whaÌ„ the .xii. sonnes were com togyder he coÌ„maunded to his fyrst sonne that he sholde take all the arowes and that he shold breke them with his handes And so his first sonnÌ„ toke the sayd arowes but he coude nat breke them with his handes and than he toke theym to his seconde sonne but he coude nat breke theÌ„ And than Cangius coÌ„maunded that the arowes sholde be deê‘ted and coÌ„maunded to the leest of his sonnes that he sholde take euery one of the arowes by theymselfe and that he shold breke them And thaÌ„ the chylde brake all the .xii. arowes And than CaÌ„gius Can torned hym towarde his chyldern sayd to them wherfore coulde you nat breke the arowes as I coÌ„mauÌ„ded you and they sayde bycause that they were all togyder And than he sayde wherfore hath this lytell chylde broken them and they answered that bycause that he brake them euery one by theÌ„selfe Than sayd Cangius Can it shall come so by you for as longe as ye shal be all of one wyll one acorde your lordshyps shall euer last whan ye shal be departed one from an other soone after your lordshipes shall torne to nought and shal nat contynue Dyuers more coÌ„mauÌ„demeÌ„tes and examples gaue CaÌ„gius Can to his chyldren and to his men which the Tartas kepe yet in great reuerence ¶ How Cangius Can themperour dyed WHan Cangius Can had that done seyng that he coulde nat lyue long he made one of his sonnes the best wysest lorde and emperour after hym And coÌ„mauÌ„ded that they all sholde obey vnto hym and serue hym as theyr naturall lorde And this sayd sonne was called Hactoca After that the good emperour and fyrst of the Tartas dyed and passed out of this worlde and his sonne Hoctoca held the lordships after hym And before that we make an ende of thistory of CaÌ„gius CaÌ„ we shal say how the Tartas haue the noÌ„bre of .ix. in great reuereÌ„ce and honour in worship of the
.ix. knelynges and of the .ix. fote that the see went backe from the coost and made way of .ix. fote Where they passed all they mountayn of Belgyan by the coÌ„maundemeÌ„t of god the Tartas haue the noÌ„bre of .ix. in great reuereÌ„ce Wherfore he that wyll present any thinge to his lorde and wolde that his present sholde be receyued graciously He must present the nombre of ix and so is the vsage of the Tartas vnto this day ¶ How Hoctoca Can made war in Asie HOctoca Can that was emê‘oure of the Tartas after the deth of his father CaÌ„gius CaÌ„ which was valyaÌ„t good and wyse also his people loued hym well were to hym faythfull and true euermore Hoctoca Can thought to conquere all the lande of Asie and before that he deê‘ted from the lande ther as he was he wolde knowe the power of all the kynges that were in Asie wold knowe which was the moost pusaunt Purposynge to fyght fyrst with hym for he thought that he sholde lightly ouercome the other if he might coÌ„quer the moost mighty ThaÌ„ Hoctoca Can send a wise and a valiant captayn which was named Gebesabada and sende with hym .x. thousande fightynge men and coÌ„mauÌ„ded them that they shold entre into the landes of Asie And to viewe the state and condicyon of the sayd lande and if thei fouÌ„d any mighty lorde whom thei wer nat able to resyst they shold shortly retorne backe agayn As Hoctoca Can coÌ„maunded it was acomplysshed for the sayd captayn with his x. thousand Tartas entred sodeÌ„lye into the landes of Asie there he toke cyties and landes Or the inhabitauntes were ware or before that thei coude make them redy to batayle or defende theÌ„ they kylde all the men of armes but they dyde no harme to the people They toke horse harnes vitayle and all suche thynges that they neded and went so farre in the land that they came to the mouÌ„tayn of Cocas For this mouÌ„tayn of Cocas one can nat passe the depe of Asie into great Asie but by the lycence of the peple of a cyte that the kynge Alexander closed vpon a narowe see that toucheth the mouÌ„tayne of Cocas This sayd cytye was taken by these .x. thousande Tartas in suche maner that the inhabytantes of the sayd cyte had no space nor tyme to defend them selfe And than they toke this cyte and all that was therin and put all the meÌ„ and women to the swerd And after that they brake downe all the walles of the cyte bycause that whaÌ„ they sholde come agayn they shold fynde nothing agaynst them This cytie was in the olde tyme called Alexander but nowe it is called porte de ferre The renowne of the Tartas was sprede ouer all the countreis and landes wherof it fortuned that the kynge of Georgi which was caled ynaims brought his hoost togyder came agaynst the tartas fought with them in a playne that is called Morgam The batayle lasted longe but at th ende the Georgyens were constrayned to fle away as discomfyt The tartas passed so ferre that they came to a cyte of turkey that is called Arseon and than they vnderstod that the sowdan of turkey was nere and how he had assembled his hoost togyder Therfore the tartas durst go no farther seynge that they were nat able to encounter agaynst the sowdaÌ„ of turkey they went backe agayne by an other way to theyr lorde The which they founde in a cyte that is called Amelect and tolde hym all that they had done and founde in the lande of Asie ¶ Whan the tartas lerned fyrst letters WHan Hoctoca Can vnderstode the maner condicyon of the lande of Asie He thought that there was no prynce that was able to withstand hym And than he called thre sonnes that he had and gaue them great ryches with a great nombre of men of armes And coÌ„mauÌ„ded them to entre into the lande of Asie conquering all the realmes landes And coÌ„maunded to his sonÌ„ Iochi that he sholde go toward the parties of Occident vnto the flode of Physon And to his second sonne that was called Bacho he coÌ„mauÌ„ded that he shold kepe his way towarde SepteÌ„trion and to the leest that was called Chasada coÌ„mauÌ„ded that he sholde ryde toward the South In this maner he departed his thre chyldren and send theÌ„ for to conquer these landes prouynces After that Hoctoca Can sprede his hoost abrode by the couÌ„treis so moche that the fore fronte of his hoost rought to the realme of Cathay the other front to the realme of Trase In those partes the tartas lerned leters for before that tyme thei had no letters and therfore the dwellers of the sayde couÌ„trey were all ydolatours The tartas began to honour the ydols but many of them confessed the immortall god gretter than the other ¶ After that themê‘our Hoctoca Can gaue to his eldest sonne that was called Bacho .xxx. thousande tartas that were called Tanachy that is to say conquerers and coÌ„maunded that they shold go that way that the .x. thousaÌ„d tartas kept and that they shold tary in no lande tyll they sholde come into the realm of Turky more ouer he coÌ„mauÌ„ded that thei shold proue if thei wer able to fyght agaynst the sowdan of Turky if that they dyde se that the sowdans power wer to great they sholde nat fyght with hym but they sholde do so moche to one of his chyldren which sholde be next them that he wolde gyue them helpe and men of warr And than after they met began the batayle of Bacho with .xxx. thousand tartas went so moche by theyr iourneis that they came to the realme of Turkey there he vnderstode that the sowdan that had dryued away the .x. M. tartas was deed After hym one of his sonÌ„es that was called Giriacadyn was made lorde this sodan was in great fere for the tartas coÌ„mynge and than he gathered and waged all maner of men that he coude haue as Barbarins and Latyns that had two captayns of the which one was called Iohn de la limynate which was of the ple of Cipre And the other was called Bonyface de moulins and he was of the cyte of Venyse ¶ Of the batayle the was betwene the sowdan of Turky the tartas WHan the sowdan of Turky had gathered his hoost of all the parties He came fought with the tartas in a place that is called Asadache the batell was grete and many men slain of bothe parties but at the laterend the tartas had the victory entred into the landes of Turky coÌ„quered the sayd landes In the yer of our lorde god M.CC.xliii And than nat longe tyme after Hoctoca Can themê‘our of the tartas dyed And after hym one of his sonnes was made lorde which was called Guyot CaÌ„ this Guyot CaÌ„ lyued nat long after hym One of his cosyns was made lord which was called MaÌ„go Can the which was moche valyant
he requyred that perpetuall peace and loue sholde be betwene the tartas and the christen men The thyrde he required that in all the landes that the tartas had coÌ„quered and sholde conquere the churches of the christen men as preestes clerkes and all the relygious ê‘sons shold be fre and delyuerd of all seruagl The .iiii. that the kynge required of Mango was to gyue helpe couÌ„sell to delyuer the holy lande oute of the Sarasyns handes and to put it agayn into the christenmeÌ„s handes The fift he required that he wolde gyue coÌ„maundement to the tartas that were in Turkey that they sholde helpe to distroy the cytie of Baldach and the Calyf that is chefe and techer of the fals lawe of Mahomet The sixt he requyred a priuilege and coÌ„maundmeÌ„t that he myght haue helpe of the tartas that were nygh to the realm of Armeny whan he sholde requyre them The .vii. request was that all the landes that the sarasyns had taken that were of the realme of Armeny that after was come into the tartas handes sholde he restored frely vnto hym And also all the landes that he myght conquer agaynst the sarasyns that he myght holde them without any coÌ„tradiction of the tartas in rest and peace ¶ How themê‘our Mango Can and his barownes agreed to the vii peticioÌ„s of the king of Armeni WHan MaÌ„go Can vnderstode the requestê of the king of Armeny before his barownes and all his court answered sayd Bycause that the kyng of Armeny is come froÌ„ ferre countreis into our empyre of his owne frewyll It is metely that we shall fulfyll all his requestes To you kyng of Armeny we shall say as we be emê‘our we shal be baptysed first and shal beleue in the faith of christ shall do christen all theÌ„ of our house And shall kepe all the fayth that the christeÌ„men holde to this day and to the other we shall gyue them counsell that they shall do lykewise for the fayth wyll haue no body by force The seconde request we answer and wyll that ê‘petuall peas loue shal be amoÌ„ge the christeÌ„men and the tartas but we wyll that ye shal be pledge that the christenmen shall holde good peace and trewe loue towarde vs as we shall do towarde theÌ„ â–ª And we wyll that all the churches of the thristenmen prestes cleckes and all other persons of what degre or condicyon so euer they be seculer or relygiouse ê‘sons shall be free and delyuerd of all seruages And also they shal be defeÌ„ded from all maner of hurt both of body and goodes ¶ And vpon the dede of the holy lande we say that we shall go personally with a right gode wyll for the honour of our lord Ihu christ But for bycause that we haue moch to do in those parties we shall coÌ„maunde to our broder Halcon that he shall go with you for to fulfyll this warke And shall delyuer the holy land fro the sarasyns power and shall restore it to the christenmen And we shall sende our commaundement to Bacho and to the other Tartas that be in Turky to the other that be in that couÌ„treys that they shall obey to our brother Halcon And he shall go to take the cyte of Baldach shall distroy the Calyfe as our mortall ennemy ¶ Of the priuilege that the kyng of Armenye requyringe to haue helpe of the Tartas we wyll that the priuilege shall be diuysed all after his owne mynde and pleasure all we coÌ„maunde confirme ¶ And all the landes that the king of Armeny requyred that sholde be restored vnto hym we graunt it with a right good wyll And coÌ„maunde to oure brother Halcon that he yeld to hym all the landes that were of his lordshyppe and more ouer we gyue vnto all the laÌ„des that he may coÌ„quere agaynst the sarasyns And of outspecyall grace we gyue hym all the castels that be nere to his lande ¶ How MaÌ„go Can was christened at the request and desyre of the kynge of Armeny and dyuers other of his people And how the kynge of Armeny and Halcon wente to the Assasyns countreis WHan Mango Can had fynisshed all the peticions and requestes of the kynge of Armeny Soone after he caused a bysshoppe to christen hym which bysshoppe was chaunceler to the sayd kyng of Armeny And after he caused all his housholde seruauntes to be chrystened and many other both men and womeÌ„ Than after he ordayned men of warre that sholde go with his brother And than Halcon and the king of Armeni with a great compani of men of armes rodde tyll they came to the flodde of Physon and dyde so well that or syx monethes were at an ende Halcone occupyed the realme of Persy and toke all the laÌ„des and countreys there as the Assasyns dwelled That be men wtout any fayth or belefe saue that thei haue a lorde the which is called the olde mountayn dyde teche them to beleue and they be so moch obedient to their lorde that they put themselfe to deth at his coÌ„maundement ¶ In the sayd lande of Assasyns was a stronge castell well fornysshed with all maner of thingê that was called Tigado Halcon commauÌ„ded to one of his captayns of the tartas that he shold lay sege to the sayd castell and that he sholde nat depart away tyll he had taken the sayd castell And than the tartas taryed to besege the sayd castell without any deê‘ting .xxvii. yeres And at th end the Assasins yelded the castell for defaut of clothyng for no other thyng Whan Halcon vnderstod the taking of the sayd castell the king toke leue of HalcoÌ„ retorned vnto Armeny taryed ther .iii. yeres and a halfe after in good helthe thanked be god ¶ After that Halcon had ordayned the gard of the realme of Persy he went into a delycate couÌ„trey that was named Soloch there he taryed all the soÌ„mer in gret rest whan the wether was cold again Halcon went beseged the cyte of Baldach and the Calyf that was maister and techer of Mahometz lawe And whan he had gathared his hoost he caused the cite of Baldach to be assayled vpon all ê‘ties And dyde so moche that they toke it by force and as many men and women as they found thei put theÌ„ to the swerd The Calyf was brought alyue before HalcoÌ„ so moch richesse they found in the cytie of Baldache that it was wonder to beholde it And than Halcon commaunded that the Calyf with all his treasoure sholde be brought afore hym And than he sayd to the Calyfe knowest thou nat that all this tresour was thyn and he answered ye Than sayd Halcon vnto hym wherfore dyde you make no good ordinance prouysioÌ„ for to defende your landes from oure power And than the Calyf answered hym he thought that the olde women had ben sufficyent to defende the land Than sayd HalcoÌ„ to the Calyf of Baldach bycause that thou art maister and techer of Mahometz lawe we shall
coÌ„ming he durst nat abyde but fledde away hastely Albaga sende his men forward before that the sowdan myght come and retorne into the realme of Egipt The tartas ouer toke the last parte of the Sarasyns hoost in a place is called Lepas Blaur and entred into the sarasins hoste and toke .ii. M. horsmen gate great tichesse more ouer they toke .v. M. houses of Cordyns that were in the sayd parties And than Albaga had couÌ„sell that he shuld nat entre into the land of Egypt for the great hete that was ther for theyr horses that had so moch laboured And than Albaga retorned to turkey toke the landes the cites dyd so moche that he toke Parnana And sone after as the maner of the tartas was Pernana was put to dethe than Albaga coÌ„maunded that in all maner of his mete that he shuld ete shuld haue some of the flessh of Parnana and so Albaga dyd ete of the flesshe gaue some to his men And that was the vengeauÌ„ce that Albaga toke of the traitour Parnana ¶ How Albaga ê“fered the realme of Turky to the king of Armeny WHan Albaga had taken all the landes had ordred the realme of Turky to his plesure He dyde call before hym the kynge of Armeny profred hym to haue hold the realme of Turky at his pleasur by cause that the kyng of Armeni his kynred had euer ben true to the tartas The kynge of Armeny as a wiseman thaÌ„ked moch Albaga of so great a gift excused hym sayeng that he was nat sufficient to gouern two realmes For the sowdaÌ„ of Egypt toke moch labour for to do hurt to the realm of Armeni than the kyng of Armeny couÌ„selled to Albaga that he shuld nat gyue the lordship of the realm of Turkey to a sarasyn This couÌ„sell plesed moch to Albaga so he wolde that no sarasyn shuld haue no lande nor holde in Turkey ¶ After that the kyng of Armeni praied to Albaga that he wold go or sende his brother to delyuer the holy lande out of the sarasyns handê and to gyue it to the christeÌ„men agayn Albaga promised hym that he shuld do it with a good wyll coÌ„maunded to the kyng of Armeny that he shulde sende to the pope to the other kynges lordes of the christeÌ„men of the occydent that they shuld come or send their men to the helpe of the holy lande for to kepe the landes the cytes that thei shuld coÌ„quer Than the king of Armeny deê‘ted retorned into his landes sende his messaÌ„gers to the pope and to the kynges of the occident whaÌ„ he had ordayned that that was nedefull to the realme of Turkey He came to the realme of Corasten ther as he had left his housholde BeÌ„donedar was poysoned as he retorned to Egypt and coude nat retorne on lyue to the cyte of Damas Of Bendonaders deth wer the christeÌ„men glad and the sarasyns moche sory for he was a valy ant man of armes After BeÌ„dona der was one made sowdan that was called Melecset but he taried nat longe for he was put from the lordshippe And one that was called Esly was made sowdan ¶ Of the batayle betwene Mangadamor and the sowdan WHan the tyme and the season came that Albaga myght ryd for to entre into the lande of Egypt Firste he sende Mangadamor with .xxx. M. tartas and badde that they shuld occupy the kyng Anyne of Syri and he wolde ryde after And yf the sowdan shulde come agaynst theÌ„ that they shulde valyaÌ„tly fyght with hym And if the sowdan durst nat come in the batayle he coÌ„mauÌ„ded that they shuld occupy the landes and the cyties and that they shuld deliuer them into the christeÌ„mens handê to kepe MaÌ„gadamor rod with .xxx. thousand tartas that Albaga his brother had gyuen hym And the king of Armeny put him in his company with a grete nombre of horsmen whan Mangadamor and the kyng of Armeny entred into the realme of Syri they went wastyng the sarasyns landê to the cyte of Hames that is called la Chalemelle Which is in the myddes of the realme of Syrie Before this cyte is a fayre playne and ther was the sowdan with all his power The sarasyns on one parte the tartas and the christen men of an other parte Began to fyght The kyng of Armeny that coÌ„ducted the right part of the hoost sette them in aray and sette vpon the lyft part of the sarasyns hoost and discomfyt theÌ„ and droue theÌ„ be end the cytie of Hames thre leges and more And the constable of the tartas that was called Halmach Bech set vpon the right part of the sarasyns hoost and ouercame theÌ„ And than euery of them went to a cytie that is called Thara Mangadamor that taryed in the felde se come a company of Bednyns and putte hym in great fere as a man that had neuer sene batayle and without reason departed froÌ„ the felde with the victori And left the kyng of Armeny and the constable that were gone after theyr ennemys Whan the sowdan se that the tartas wer departed from the felde He went vpon an hyll with iiii thousand horsmen whan the kyng of Armeny retorned fro the disconfiture and found nat MaÌ„gadamor He was moche a basshed whiche way he was gone he rode after Ameleth the constable taryed .ii. dayes for his lord MaÌ„gadamor and also he was moche abasshed of the way that he went and whan he knewe that he was gone He rode after with his men tyll he came to the ryuer of Eufrates and coude nat ouertake MaÌ„gadamor And so by the faute of the sayd Magadamor they left the felde and the batayle whan they had the victory The tartas went agayne into theyr countreis but the kyng of Armeny suffred gret trauayle and moche losse of his people through faute of vitayle the meÌ„ and beestes were so wery that they coude nat go And than they departed a sonder and went by dyuers wayes there as the sarasins were and dwelled in the sayd couÌ„treis which toke and slewe many of the christeÌ„ men And so the moost part of the king of Armenis hoste was lost and almoost all the gentylmen were slayn This mysfortune happened In the yere of our lorde god M.CC.lxxxii ¶ How Albaga and his brother was poysoned by theyr famulyer seruauntes WHan Albaga vnderstode this tidynges he sende and coÌ„mauÌ„ded that his barownes shulde coÌ„e in all the hast vnto hym And so Albaga gathered a great hoost to thyn â—Lent to entre into the realme of Egypt but it happened that a sarasyn came into the realm of Persy the which dyde so moch and gaue gyftes to Albagas famyliar seruauntes that they gaue to Albaga and to his brother poyson and so they lyued but .viii. dayes after And so Albaga Can dyed In the yere of our lorde god a thousande two honderde foureskore two ¶ After the dethe of
be long to reherse The second reson I say that no man ought to be in doute for the holy church of rome which is lady maisters of all the world hath wyll power by the grace of god and with the helpe of the good kynges and princes of the cristen fayth And the seruauntes of Christ to delyuer the sepulture the holy lande from the sarasyns power the which lande they hold and occupy by our synnes Of the thyrde reason the fourth I speke it is to knowe the maner and condicion of his eÌ„nemys and to chose tyme place and season conuenyeÌ„t forto begyn warre I must speke more at length for a good surgyen that ought to knowe the syckenes of that which he wyll gyue helth Likewyse a kyng or a priÌ„ce ought te enquer thintent condicyon and state of his ennemys to thintent that he may begyn his warre wisely maynteyn and bringe to a good end To a prince in dedes of war the secrete of his ennemys ought nat to be hydde from him For the thynges that be proued before hand can do no grefe and in the maters vnpurueyed somtymes trouble Many meÌ„ coragious is dedes of armes and bataylles whan they haue no tyme nor rome to beware of the people and dangers that be redy to come in all other maner of warkes A remedy may be found except in batayle if it be any faute in for soone after the payn foloweth aft the cost wherfore to thiÌ„tent that more euydent vnderstaÌ„dyng shuld be vpon oursayeng we shal speke of the passage of the holy land And also we shall say some thingê of the state condicyon of the lande of Egipt the hoost of Babylon of the ennemys power ¶ How the sowdan ordereth his barownes and his knyghtes THe sowdan that holdeth nowe the realm of Egypt and of Syrie is named Melcuaser is a Cumany by his natyon The knyghtes and the hoost of Egypt be men of dyuers partê and of strauÌ„ge landes for the men of that countrei be nought bowed a fote nor an horsbacke nother by see nor land The sowdaÌ„ of Egiptes power of fotemeÌ„ is nat great but of horsmen is mighty Verily the moost part of theÌ„ be Sclauys that haue ben bought solde the which the euyl cristeÌ„men brought there forto sell them for couetise of money And other be they that were takeÌ„ in batayle which be coÌ„strayned to forsake the lawe of Christ But the Sclauys that be solde be more praysed and more honoured and dyuerse tymes it happened that many wolde be sold bycause that they shall be the better beloued of theyr lord and maister The sowdaÌ„ of Egypt is euer in great dout and suspection of his men for thei be of such coÌ„dicyon that they euer take the lordshyppe of their pryÌ„ce And by reason of that many sowdans hath ben slayne The hoost of Egypt may be about .xx. thousand knyghtes and some of them be good warryours vsed to do verily the grettest parte is but of small price whan the sowdaÌ„ goeth with his hoost he taketh with hym a great quantyte of stoffe and of laden horses for the warre They haue resonably of goodes lyght forto ronne theyr horses and mules be but small nor they caÌ„ nat do moch labour and thei haue great nede of good kepyng The hoost of Egypt is euer redy and apparylled to the sowdans coÌ„maundement for all they inhabit in the cyte of Cayre The condicyon of the hoost of Egypt is suche euery maÌ„ of armes hath his wages whiche passeth nat .vi. skore floryns and euery man is bounde to kepe .iii. horses and a camell forto bere his stoffe And whan the sowdan bringeth his men out of the realme of Egypt he gyueth them somwhat more if it please hym The sowdaÌ„ departeth his wages and offices and gyue them in kepynge to his barownes that he called Admiralles to some he gyueth a hunderd to some .ii. honderd more lesse After that he wyll do more honor and profet to one than to an other For if the sowdan gyue power to one admyrall to kepe an hunderd or two honderd knightes he shall gyue hym for all the hole wagê as moche as it shall come to in a hole somÌ„e And by reason of this the sodan hath great faure iÌ„ his seruice For this Admyrall that gyue seruyce to an huÌ„derd or two huÌ„derd knyghtê thei be SclauoÌ„s of their owne money delyuerd harnes horses and put them in seruyce for men of warre and receyued theyr wagis And sykemeÌ„ of small price and gaue them some thinges and delyuerd them horses and harnes And receyue wages for them all the remenaÌ„t thei put iÌ„ their purses Wherfore diuerse tymes amonge sur he men is found but fewe valyant men ¶ Of the subtyltie of the sowdan of Egypt to conquer cyties THe myght of the sowdaÌ„ in the realme of Syrie may well be .v. M. knightes that haue theyr lyueng vpon the rentes of the lande yet there is a great noÌ„bre of Bednyns turkmens that be woodmen do great helpe to the sowdan Whan he wyll put sege to any lande for if he wyll without any wages but gyueng them some He may haue them forto go in batayle or forto defende his lande The aboue sayd BednyÌ„s turkmens wolde do nothyng for the sodan without great wages and yf the sowdan wolde cause theÌ„ to do byforce they shuld go away The turkmeÌ„s ioyned to the mouÌ„tayns and the Bednyns ioyned to the desertê of Arabe yet the sowdaÌ„ hath a sergeantre a fote in the couÌ„treis of Moyllebech about the mouÌ„t Lyban in the lande of the AssasyÌ„s And myght haue helpe of theÌ„ to put the sege to a cyte or to a castell or forto kepe the lande in their couÌ„trey But out of theyr couÌ„trey they wolde nat go for the sowdan nor he can nat constrayn them for the great mouÌ„tayns ther as they be The sowdaÌ„ of Egypt is moch subtyll for to take cytyes castels and iÌ„ diuers maners they set vpoÌ„ the landes Forby trosbowes stones mynes vnder the grounde and by fyre that caÌ„ nat be put out And by other maner that thei take the landes lyghtly without any ê‘yll ¶ Why they of Egypt yelded theÌ„ to the sarasyns THemê‘our of Grece kept the lordshyp of Egypt And gouerned the lande by dukes and by officers that he sende euery yer to receyue the rentes of the landes and sende them to theÌ„perour of ConstaÌ„tinople and so the lordshyppe of the grekes was in the lande of Egypt tyll in the yere of our lorde god .vii. C. hunderde .iiii. They of the lande of Egypt coude nat suffre the wronges that the Grekes dyd vnto theÌ„ and than they yelde them to the sarasyns and chose a lorde amonge them of Mahometz kynred named hym Calyfe and all theyr lordes were called Calyfe And kept the lordshippe of Egypt those of Mahometz kynred CCC.xlvii