Army Calibes had orders sent him to besiege them and scatter the Troops that gathered themselvs together about that place to incommode and rob the persons who brought provisions to the Army This retreat of the Sultan into Arabia was but a meer pretence and a flying report He was gone into Aegypt towards Cairo having left behind several parties to disturb and assault the Army in their march and chiefly in the narrow lanes and passages He caus'd a grievous destruction to be made in the Country round about to famish the Army but Tamerlan's Cavalry followed him so closse at the heels that he had not time to do all the mischief that he intended The Inhabitants also for their own as well as for the enemies sake opposed and hindred the full execution of his design When the Emperour was at Miserit he caused a Proclamation to be made to forbid any to go beyond Jordan that he might the better preserve the Country from whence his Army had their Provisions He went as he had Promised to Jerusalem in the company of his greatest Favourites guarded with a party of Horse to visit as a religious Prince that Sepulcher which is honoured by all the Nations of the world and to present his gifts When he was in the City where the Inhabitants received him with all possible honours he saught for all the Antiquities of the old Temple of Solomon and was led as the Pilgrims through all the places where Christ had preach'd and wrought Miracles When he had ended his Prayers at the Sepulcher he gave large gifts Two things chiefly gave him great content when he inquir'd of certain Monks and Religious Men at the Sepulcher where their Lords Body was He is said they in Heaven at the right hand of God Then turning to his Mahumetan Train he ask'd them where they thought that this Prophet was The Cherif that stood next to him replyed that he was a true God that he was gone before to sit in the first place in Heaven where he should be received also As he came from Heaven so he was departed thither again Then the Prince fell upon his knees and held his Name in great veneration And at his return to Samarcand he built him a sumptuous Temple taking a great delight to hear men tell of his Miracles and commanded that some should mention them often in his hearing The other thing that gave him a delight and admiration was when in viewing all the places of devotion he came to that at last where Christ leaving his Disciples ascended up into the glories of Heaven There he left behind the fashion of his foot which caus'd him to wonder at it extraordinarily And when one told him that a Pilgrim had been here ravish'd in Spirit he thought him happy Axalla with many other Christians were then with him In this manner Tamerlan by visiting the holy places and relicks gave a great satisfaction to all the people but the Jews could not indure but exclaim'd against him openly He had never any affection for them but named them Wicked Men and Cursed of God He loved to see men sincere in their piety and devotions and was glad to have seen Axalla so liberal of his offerings to the holy Sepulcher In the mean whiles the Army was in their march to Tema towards Aegypt the Emperour had notice that the Slutan gathered his Troops togeher from all parts and was then at Alexandria He himself after the performance of his devotions followed the Army and commanded the Van-guard to go towards Damietta He had been told that it was not to be taken by force The Sultan had secur'd it with a strong Garrison It was a maritine Town one of the most noted of all Aegypt so that it was in great reputation Many of the Emperours followers labour'd to diswade him from attempting it advising him to adventure upon something else telling him that it was no discreetion to run his numerous army into a narrow peice of Land but that he should rather march higher into the Country but all their reasons could not perswade him from going thither for he judged that there was nothing that could put a stop to his good Fortune He therefore commanded Axalla to block up the Town and he followed him thither with the remainder of the Army When Axalla was there he sent in a summons commanding them to submit and declaring to the Christian Inhabitants who were there very numerous what a folly it would be for them to oppose his Emperours power That his mildness and goodness should rather oblige them to free themselves from the Tyranny of the Moors and Mamelucks who oppressed them beyond measure He told them that he was a Christian as well as they and therefore should be alwayes very glad to serve them He caused also some of the Greek Captains to argue the case with them They dealt so effectually that they perswaded them to adventure their lives and endeavour to drive out of their City the Mamelucks and all those who held for the Sultan They delayed not in the execution of this design but with their weapons in their hands they got the command of one quarter of the City and open'd one of the Gates to Axalla All the Mamelucks were either kill'd or taken Pris'ners and Damietta was yeilded to the Prince This News which the Emperour received in his march caused him to expect a happy success in the prosecution of his great design He could not have hoped for such an easie accomplishment of it if this strong City had been in the Enemies hands for by its advantageous scituation upon one of the branches of Nilus it would have ruin'd his Army and cut off all their provisions But now that it was in his power he could reasonably expect from all parts of Greece as the Emperour Emanuel had promis'd him all manner of things necessary for his Souldiers which were already coming to him by Damietta He appointed there a strong Garrison of two thousand Grecians with a Governour to keep for him the City They took the Oath of fidelity The Prince found this place according to his mind and stronger than he had at first imagin'd The Inhabitants of Larissa submitted likewise and would not stand out against his invincible power Garrisons were placed in all the places scituate near he Sea that provisions might not be hinder'd to be brought to the Army This was one of his greatest cares to provide well for so vast a multitude that they might not want Tamerlan stopt a few dayes in Damietta but sent his vanguard towards Alexandria but immediately after he followed them and caused them to march about towards Grand Cairo The Sultan who had provided himself for a stout resistance in Alexandria was surpris'd to hear of this unexpected charge he had no time to deliberate but with all speed made what haste he could to prevent Tamerlan He enter'd into Cairo as the Army was in sight of it with
upon two reasons first because he was afraid that Calix would return and spend the Winter at Cambalu where he should be forc'd to go and fight him This would cause the total destruction of that famous City for he doubted not of the Victory secondly because if he did win that City by assault he was afraid that his Army should grow too rich and wealthy with the plunder and by that means would be less fit for the great Actions in the prosecution of which he intended further to imploy them This resolution that he was forc'd to take griev'd him he was not willing to enter into the possession of his Empire by Bloodshed and Cruelty This consideration caus'd him once more to summon Calix and advise him to lay down his Arms with promises of pardon and to receive him into his favour The unadvised Calix whose courage was not contemptible slighted all these gracious offers his ambition render'd him cruel to himself and caus'd him to look upon all other conditions of life under that of a Soveraign as unworthy of him He could not submit but chose rather though but for a day as a Prince to govern than to live many years as a Subject He could not trust nor relye totally upon the promises of his Prince with whose generosity and good nature he was never acquainted He thought the destiny of men in his condition condemns them either to a fatal Ruine or raises them up to a Throne Tamerlan's Army went over to Chincy marching seven Leagues as soon as the Enemy understood it they alter'd their design and returned back with an intention to venture a Battel It is reported that Calix turning himself then to some of his followers told them with his eyes lifted up to Heaven that in all his life-time he had never received a more pleasing news The Parthians saith he have pass'd over the River and are coming towards us If therefore Tamerlan who dallied with us before will suffer us now to end our Quarrel by a Fight my happiness is great whatever be the event it must needs procure me an immortal glory If the advantage happen on my side what Prince is there in all Asia that may contend with or be compared to me for I shall be Lord of all Tartary and Zagatay for I fight against the Armies of these two Kingdoms which I have divided but if I be overcome the greatness of my undertaking will leave behind me a great deal of Reputation in the world seeing that I have stopt with my Army during two Months between the Rivers of Brior and Ostan all the Armies of Zagatay Therefore if we chance to lose the Victory it will prove for our honour During this discourse his Attendants took notice in his looks of a Noble Air which made him esteem'd and admir'd of every one When the Armies drew near the Scouts met and those of Tamerlan's Army were driven back into their Camp which accident vext Odmar that commanded then the Van. The Prince told him that at the approach of the Enemy he ought to have increas'd the numbers he excus'd himself in that he imagin'd that Calix would not be so bold as to advance three Leagues towards the Army at that instant The next day was spent in giving out Orders to every one The Captains went about in the Ranks exhorting their Souldiers to behave themselves well and both Captains and Souldiers incouraged one another to fight valiantly by declaring the Encounters where they had been already Calix was forty years of age much respected because of the Nobility of his Blood and the considerable Rank that he held in his Country The Emperour esteem'd him so much for his experience in War that before Tamerlan appeared in Tartary he was always look'd upon as worthy of the Empire The Armies stood one against another for eight hours in the morning skirmishing sometimes according to the Tartarian manner before the Battel A great Plain and even ground lay between them Odmar commanded the Van where were sixty thousand Foot and forty thousand Horse which he separated into four great Squadrons causing one to go before the other to the Fight Tamerlan marched on in the same Order but his Squadrons were stronger The Infantry of the Van and of the Main Body were on the right hand and on the left He had taken out of his Army to make up the Reer six thousand Parthians and two thousand Tartarians giving the Command to Axalla a Genoese but as I have said had been brought up with him from his Infancy He had by his affection for him by his vertue experience and valour deserved his Princes esteem and confidence Tamerlan order'd him not to fight but in the extremity and to have a care to gather together all that should be broken in the Army Axalla performed this so exactly that he did this day notable service to his Prince He was no less esteem'd by the Men of War though he professed a Religion contrary to theirs for he was a Christian and imitated by many whom he had sent for out of Georgia and beyond the Pontus Euxinus these accompanied him with their courages and persons in the Battel Calix on the other side was Eloquent and naturally a great Speaker he incourag'd therefore his Souldiers with the honour and liberty of their Nation to play their parts like men and follow his example He had divided his Army into three Bodies only he had placed his Infantry at the right hand and his Cavalry at the left he himself was in the middle Body surrounded with his Foot as with a Circle according to our manner of fighting Odmar a crafty and experienced Commander stopt when he saw the Enemy coming and observed their motion but when he perceived that their greatest Body was shaken at the onset of his first Squadron he caused his two others the one to charge at the right hand and the other at the left They were so furious and happy as to put the three Bodies of Calix's Army into a disorder so that they were forc'd to reunite in one At that time Tamerlan came in and cut in pieces all that stood before him nothing was able to resist his fury he made way through the thickest of his Enemies some he put to flight others he laid in heaps the cries and lamentations of the dying were heard in every place the disorder and hurley-burley was generally all over the Field here you might have seen weak Squadrons disarming others more numerous there you might have beheld Troops of Horses taken by such as were more greedy of prey than honour every where Tamerlan's Army seem'd to have gain'd the Victory when fifteen thousand fresh Troops led by Calix himself came into the Field and gave a furious charge upon the Princes Battalion and broke it all to pieces This Reserve proceeded from some that at the first onset fled to the Carts and Carriages where they had rallied whiles Tamerlan's men were pursuing
the rewards due to their services and labours That therefore they ought to go to be known to him and that for him he would never forsake them whiles breath was in his body he would assist and recommend them to his Majesty After this discourse Axalla chose the Souldiers whom he intended to leave with the Governour of the Province to keep the Country in awe and hinder the enemies invasions after some other Orders given he marched away with the rest of the Army and advanc'd two great days journey towards Persia Whiles Axalla is in the way let us take notice of some particulars of the death of this great Prince who left not behind him his felâ—â—ow in the World He had often sought in vain for help from the skill of the most famous Physitians but when he saw notwithstanding all their endeavours that his distemper increased more and more and that he could not avoid the payment of the ordinary tribute of Nature He called for Sentrochio his eldest Son to whom he spake in the presence of Odmar and of the chief of his Council He gave him an account of all the actions of his life beginning by the retreat of his Father the Prince of Sachetay from all worldly business to employ himself in divine contemplation and Prayers He told him that when he left him the Soveraignity of his Dominions he gave him three great men to assist him to bear part of his burden and advise him for the best That onely Odmar the youngest of the three was then alive That he had been willing to submit to their good Counsels in things relating to Peace and War and had never any cause to repent of it That the great credit and reputation that he had gain'd when he was very young by the famous Victory over the Moscovites who were become so dreadful to all Asia was the effect of their wise counsels rather than the work of hazard or fortune He told him that the bringing down of the Moscovites whom he had made to be tributary to him and the lusire of some vertues that shined in him had obliged his neighbours and his kindred to seek his acquaintance and affiâ—â—ity and caused the Emperour his Uncle to alter his design of dividing his Empire amongst the greatest Lords of his Court whom he loved best before but then he rejoyced to prefer to them the Conquerour of the common enemy of their Nation and a Nephew for whom nature and the nearness of blood pleaded in his heart That it was this that had raised him to the Empire of the Tartars that gave him the Emperours Daughter in marriage because he hoped that he would ease him of his burden in his old age by managing for him his publick affairs and scattering away all divisions and parties through the reputation and dread of his forces He told him that the Emperours expectation had not been disappointed that whiles he lived he honoured and loved him as his Lord and Father That he had behaved himself so uprightly as well towards his Father as towards his Subjects that when the Emperour died he succeeded to the Throne without any contradiction or commotion for all shewed themselves willing to obey So that he succeeded as well to the affections of the people as to the authority over them That since twenty years that he had enjoyed this vast Empire he had been alwayes faithfully served That he gave God thanks that the promises which the Emperour his Unkle had made of the rewards which were due to his Subjects for their services he had had opportunity and means to discharge for the happiness of his Armies had inabled him to pay all his Unkles and his own obligations and debts He continued to him his discourse in this manner I leave thee my Son these for thy Servants who deserve all of them to be Kings Honour them and reign amongst them They will serve thee affectionately and will pardon the mistakes and miscarriages of thy youth Their remembrance of Tamerlan and their own vertues will oblige them to be true to thy concerns and to their duty After this taking Odmar by the hand he removed him from the place where he sat to make him go to the right side of his bed and then casting once more his eyes upon his Son on the left side he spoke to him thus again This side shall be kept for Axalla who is absent His faithfulness and his affection for me and his Noble Actions are so known and famous all over the Empire and to my self that I will say no more of him I command you my Son to believe Odmars and Axalla's Counsells as I have alwayes done to my advantage for the Prince of Tanais I shall say nothing of him his serviceâ—â— and fidelity speak sufficiently for him He told him also that because he was his Kinsman he knew that the Prince would suffer death rather than act contrary to his duty That he recommended to him all the Princes Lords and Captaines who were then before his eyes and those that were absent who had served him so faithfully in so many Wars whereof the Victories and successes had gained so much glory to the Parthian name and rendered the Empire one of the most flourishing of the World That he left it to him to command it because he was his Son though there was no other deserveing in him but the hopes that he gave of his person Afterwards he reached out his hand to all the Princes and Lords about his bed with these words directed to his Son In these persons cheifly your Empire and happiness will consist Then he beckned to his Chancellour to draw near and ask'd from him his Seal which he delivered to the young Prince and caused the Prince to restore it again to the Chancellour He was afterwards a while without speaking but presently he began again my Son said he Love justice shew it to the poor as well as to the rich to the mean man as well as to the great it is your Office your Chancellour will sometimes help you Remember that the sword that you bear is only to put in executionâ—â— the decrees of justice therefore the Wars that you shall undertake must be just then you may promise to you self success Whiles he was talking thus to the Prince the Chancellour being near his person a great noise was heard in the next Chamber The Emperour enquired what might be the cause A Lord at that instant coming in sent from Axalla brought with him tydings of two great Victories which his Army in Natolia had obtained against the Turks This messenger gave him an account of all the passages of the two ingagements which had been manag'd with Wisdome and valour by his brave General he told the Emperour at last that his Valliant Soldiers were in hopes to see his Majesty amongst them assoon as the season of the year would permit to subdue the Empire of Greece which would be easily
the victory and killing When therefore this Body of Horse appear'd first Tamerlan's Army being in disorder they had no great difficulty to overcome them The Victory was almost lost This oblig'd him to retreat in fighting according to the manner of the Parthians The Prince had been dismounted but rescued at the same moment which caus'd him to look to his Reer which could not yet come up to him His Infantry had open'd it self when he gave the onset It had not yet been assaulted but only upon the skirts in the several Encounters At the same time therefore that Calix pursued so vigorously the Princes Army that by a stout resistance had lessen'd the number of the Enemy Axalla who commanded the Reserve or the Reer came up to the Infantry which had scarce been ingag'd in the fight The Clouds of dust hindered Calix from perceiving this Body that was in the Reer and that was falling upon him and his men who advanc'd in very good order bearing all down before them At that very instant these words were often heard repeated Give back give back give back Axalla had commanded a thousand or twelve hundred of his Body to advance and free the Prince They charg'd home to the Enemy so bravely that Calix began to conjecture what would become of his Empire of his Glory and ambitious designs by what was then acted The displeasure made him pensive a little moment but resolution caus'd him to send a Party to stop the Enemies fury while he rallied his scattered Troops He gathered together about eleven thousand with them he thought to have beaten Tamerlan's Reer But he was not a little troubled because the dust hinder'd him from distinguishing the Foot from the Horse he imagin'd therefore that all Axalla's Party were Horse In this occasion he shew'd his courage and resolution with a setled countenance by exhorting his men to play their parts and pursue their good fortune which they had already and assuring them that the remainder of Tamerlan's men before them were nothing but such as had already fled who endeavoured to rally and that with a stout onset it was easie to hinder them Whiles he was speaking his Party increas'd But Axalla considering that his Master had put into his hands that day the fortune of two great Empires was resolved to answer his expectation by hazarding his life for his interest and glory with a resolution of dying upon the place or of carrying away the Victory he call'd to such as were nearest to him to follow his example therefore with an incredible fury he broke through the Squadron led by Calix This Prince was wounded with a Lance in the mouth when he had performed the duty of a Commander and common Souldier and express'd sufficiently his undaunted courage In the hurley-burley he was taken Prisoner by Axalla himself It was immediately nois'd abroad all over the Field together with the advantages that Tamerlan had obtain'd for he himself had defeated a Body of Horse by charging them in the Flank Axalla before had broken them but they were rallied together again and had not Tamerlan seasonably come in they might have snatch'd the Victory out of his hands This bad news broke the hearts as well as the Troops of the Enemy that fled immediately upon it In this Fight there died above fifty thousand men on both sides so that Tamerlan purchas'd the Victory at a dear rate and was forc'd to confess that in all his life-time he never was more likely to be undone than at that time He imbrac'd and extoll'd Axalla for his couragious behaviour and wise Conduct that day This Noble Captain presented Calix before him wounded with a Lance in the Mouth and with an Arrow in his Side Tamerlan ask'd him some questions but Calix's pride and insolency would make no answer pretending that he could not well speak He was kept till the next day the last of his life for he was judg'd worthy to die by a Council of War His Head was chopt off and sent as a Present to the Inhabitants of Cambalu All the other Commanders were treated in the same manner There was a necessity for this severity to hinder all Civil Broils from rising again it was therefore needful to cut off the Chieftains After the Fight Tamerlan's Army meeting with no resistance march'd into the Province of Catay which is full of all kind of Fruits Grass Beasts and Fowl more than in any other part of Tartaria The Prince gave a severe Command to all his Souldiers not to offer to abuse the Inhabitants whom he would deal with as with his best Subjects The Cities of Cangi Sochgi Gonzae Tagin Togara and Congu that had revolted staid not for a Summons to yield but wisely sent their Deputies to Tamerlan to implore his mercy This good Prince forgave them requiring nothing from them but that they should furnish his Army with Provisions telling them that for the future they should be better advised than to be so easily perswaded with the empty promises of ambitious persons who would endeavour to draw them from that obedience which they owe to their Lord and Master This kind and courteous dealing being divulg'd all over the Provinces wrought a great change in the minds of those who expecting no favour from Tamerlan's hands were yet resolved to venture all and ruine themselves and their Country The Citizens of Cambalu had taken this strange resolution to sell their lives at a dear rate if they were to lose them for this City was full of those Mutineers who knew themselves as guilty as their Commanders that had been punish'd already expecting therefore no mercy for themselves they thought it might mitigate their punishment if they could but draw into it the rest of their Citizens But this kind and gracious dealing of their Prince put other thoughts into their Souls and rais'd their hopes Nevertheless the Armies approach to the City increas'd daily the fears and apprehensions of the people Tamerlan had notice of all that was there acted from those that favour'd his Interest They sent him word that at last every one was resolved to obey the Conquerour and perform his Commands therefore he left his Army at Gonza only thirty thousand men he order'd to march thither to fill up the ordinary Garrison When they were enter'd they put all things in a good posture and caus'd every one to submit to the Princes pleasure without murmuring He himself was received into the City two hours after his Garrison in a triumphing manner for the Inhabitants laboured in this occasion to make him forget the wrong they had done him He had only pardon'd the meaner sort of people the rest he left to the will of the Emperour his Uncle unto whom he had dispatch'd a Messenger to inform him of the Victory of Calix's death and of the imprisonment of some of the chief Commanders and Leaders of the Faction and to desire to know what punishment he would have
possibilities of a retreat he dispatched away twenty thousand Horse more to second the Persians who seem'd to be almost all broken Then the Tartars were forced to give back with great loss if the Lord D' Halicen had not come in with a fresh party to assist the Prince of Tanais they had been routed for the Prince lost two Horses under him and was mounted upon the third Stucan was kill'd and all his light Horsemen overthrown When Axalla perceived the fault of the Prince of Tanais he was in dispair to see so glorious a Victory which God had given him useless or lost through other mens miscarriage and folly Turning therefore to his men in haste Now my dear Comrades Cryed he we must fight not so much for the glory of the Parthians as for their lives and safety and for the preservation of the whole Army Go said he to a body of ten thousand Horse which he commanded to ride forward Go and keep up the fight I will follow to relieve you or dye with you that our enemies may see that we will not part with the Victory out of our hands at so cheap a rate A few minutes after he advanced at the Head of forty thousand Horse divided into thâ—â—ee bodies which marched all three in a front keeping a Trot. And with them he charged the Turks who were already grown insolent and proud of their success For since the first onset of the Prince of Tanais they had alwaies had an advantage upon him and overthrown him in the third charge this poor Prince was cast to the ground and left as dead so that his fall had left them the Victory had not the ten thousand Horse sent by Axalla given a furious onset and beaten the enemies back By this means Axalla had time to advance He was desirous to revenge the Parthians losses and snatch the Victory out of the Turks hands and because it was then within two hours of night the shortness of the time required them to make haste He marched therefore strait to the Enemy with an intent to oblige him to fight At that time the Bassa having yet had no hand in the action wondered to see his men instead of driving before the ten thousand Horse led by the Lord of Halicen give back and retreat He advanced therefore with fifteen thousand fresh Horse with a resolution to end the difference and gain the Victory His first charge caused the Tartars and Parthians to give back but Axalla entered into the fight in that moment with all his Horse and forced the Bassa's men to give ground for they were not able to abide the furious onset of the Parthians who had a full intent to be reveng'd for the loss of their Companions for that purpose they cut in pieces a great many Spahis and of the rest of the Turkish Caâ—â—alry A Governour of Natolia named Lenauen who commanded a reserve of ten thousand Horse coming up to Axalla to joyn with him adventured against the Turks but to his loss for he had been broken and his men disorder'd The greatest part of them rallied near Axalla's person and charged with him to be reveng'd They drove back the Turks Cavalry with that success that they made them run in upon their Infantry and forsook them immediately afterwards Fear had so great a power upon their minds and infused a swiftness into their heels The Tartarian Horse seeing all out of order amongst the Turks foot dallied not with them but broke in amongst the thickest had it not been for the dark night they would have killed every man of them Above twenty thousand most part Janisaries retreated in good order they got over a River and hindered by that means the Tartarian Horse from obtaining so compleat a Victory as they desired The next day as soon as it appeared Axalla sent a party of Horse with the Governour of Natolia to pursue after the flying Turks and to hinder them from rallying together in one body It was a difficult matter to overtake them for they had marched all night without stopping and that in good Order commanded by the Captain of the Janisaries named the Aga. They complained of their Horsemen who had forsaken them basely when they were couragiously resolved to die for the Service of their Prince rather than to yield or give ground Axalla remaining still behind upon the bloudy field caus'd all the dead to be put into the ground the wounded to be taken care of and sent the Prince of Tanais into a secure place to be healed of a dangerous wound in his Leg received by an Arrow He marched next after the Turks for he had heard that the Bassa had got together near fourteen thousand Horse And that he might be able to follow them with more speed he left behind him all his bag and baggage And to separate them from the body of Janisaries he took a nearer way to them that he might get in with them before they were joyned together The Janisaries also marching a great pace got as far as the Sea side Axalla had commanded ten thousand Horse to follow them and all his foot that had not yet been ingaged to pursue and hinder them from escaping if it were possible They had marched a great way before and frustrated all the speed that could be made after them at Gallipoli they took Shipping and sailed over into Europe to seek for Callepin who was mightily incensed against the Bassa for he accused him for having forsaken his Army by a shameful slight because he had not chosen an Honourable death to the safety of his Life In this last ingagement the Turks lost above five and forty thousand men and Axalla about twenty thousand In both his courage and prudent acting met with great success and happiness Much was ascribed to chance and fortune Stucan was found dead under his Horse and his Buckler over his Face His death was much lamented all over the Army though his furiousness and indiscretion was likely to have ruined them all They rejoyced all for the safety of the Prince of Tanais who had been as it wâ—â—e snatched out of the Jawes of death by a Miracle Axalla congratulated him for his deliverance but afterwards with mild and yet significant words shewed him his unadvisedness in venturing to fight as he did and obliged him to purchase the Victory at a very dear Rate with the loss of twenty thousand men whereas they might have gained it without any danger or spilling of blood with a little patience The Prince of Tanais laid the fault upon Stucan and his light Horse who were advanced too far and protested that he imagined not the body of the enemies Army so near him as it was Prince Axalla told him that the fear of what might happen had obliged him to draw with his Army as near to the River as he could All these great successes and Victories which were able to puff up the minds of the
all to their several Commands Immediately after news came to him That the Turks were drawing near and entring into the Field He was very desirous to see them in their march that he might be better able to order his Army according to that manner He moved them from the place where he stood sending before three thousand Horse to begin a light skirmish whiles he appointed to every one his Rank and Place In this view of the Enemy he had taken notice That the Turkish Infantry named Janisaries kept the middle having upon each Wing two Bodies of Horse amounting to about thirty thousand and that there was another Body that went before and covered all the Foot This order seem'd to him very strong and not easie to be broken I was once resolved said he to Axalla to fight on foot but now I see I must be on Horseback to encourage my men to break through that great Body of Janisaries which I shall suffer advance as far as they please I will have fifty thousand Foot on each Wing and forty thousand Horse of my best Cavalry in the middle behind them there shall be fifty thousand Horse in three Bodies which you shall command and I will follow and second you with fourscore thousand Horse more where I intend to be in person behind me I will have one hundred thousand Foot who shall march in two Battalions the Reer shall be composed of forty thousand Horse and fifty thousand Foot who shall not strike a stroke till I shall want them The reserve shall be ten thousand of my stoutest Horse whom I will send to the places that shall have most need The Prince of Ciarcan a famous Commander of great worth led the first forty thousand Horse The Lord Synopes a Genoese and Relation of Axalla his Lieutenant-General of the Infantry a Captain of a great Reputation was at the Head of the first Infantry Prince Axalla followed him with fifty thousand Horse Bajazet's Army seem'd to be very beautiful and numerous marching towards the Tartars who stood to their Ground without stirring only some single Troops Scythians and Muscovites went sometimes between the two Armies to skirmish a little but these bold Fellows performed nothing of consequence for the winning of the Victory At that moment a Spy was taken who inform'd Tamerlan That Bajazet who was then on Horseback encouraging his Men intended to fight that day amongst his Janisaries a-foot These Janisaries are certain brave and faithful Souldiers brought up from their Infancy in Feats of Armes and chosen out of all the Christian Nations beautiful and strong of Body and of a good Constitution They are train'd up from their Child-hood together and are esteem'd invincible They fight for their Prince and Lord with a strange resolution in the form of a Half-Moon about his Person They were then about thirty thousand in number Bajazet confided most in them not regarding the rest of his Infantry which was numerous for they were People gathered together from several places He had a brave Company of Horse about one hundred and forty thousand very well experienced in all manner of Fights He had also above thirty thousand Mameluks very good Horsemen and forty thousand Foot sent to him from the Souldan of Egypt to help him So that his Army seem'd to be as great as Tamerlan's which stood closer together and march'd in several Lines whereas Bajazet's had but one and appear'd in one Front It march'd on with a great noise and grievous threatnings whereas Tamerlan's Army observed a great silence in expectation of the Signal As soon as publick Prayers were ended the Emperour appear'd in the Van to be witness of the first On-set causing Axalla to advance forward he himself returned to his resolved Station when he had called upon every one to behave themselves well It is not to be imagin'd how furiously the Turks assaulted the Prince of Ciarcan who had orders not to fight until the Enemy were in their march and had begun to attack him The place was a large Plain of a vast extent where the advantage was equal for both Parties only there was a River on Tamerlan's left hand which he look'd upon as a benefit to his Army so that he gave an express and a strict Command not to suffer the Turks to take it from them because of that side which he esteem'd the best for his Men to fight It was always his Practise in War to suffer his Enemy to begin the Encounter therefore he ordered the Commanders of his Van-Guard to stay till the Enemy did first assault them In the mean while the Prince of Ciarcan with his forty thousand Horse was almost overthrown He did all that could have been expected from a great courage and a judicious Commander He broke into the middle of the Janisaries where Bajazet was and disorder'd them but his valour that overturn'd all things in his way was soon stop'd with an Arrow that struck him to the heart At that time Axalla went on with his Men and charg'd one of the Enemies Wings where he meeting with no great resistance cut them all to pieces His Infantry came then up to him according to appointment and with it he assaulted the Janisaries The Prince considering the difficult Task that Axalla was to have sent him ten thousand Horse out of his Body as well to favour the rallying of such as should be disorder'd as to charge a Body of Foot which were marching on to help the Janisaries who behaved themselves gallantly for the glory and safety of their Prince The Fight lasted a full hour before any Person did offer to retreat The Turks and the Parthians with a wonderful obstinacy killed one another in heaps Men and Horses covered the Ground in their Gore-Blood lying one upon another Here you might have seen some falling dead upon those that they had newly kill'd There you might have beheld some breathing out their last Gasp with threatning looks In every place were heard lamentations groans and the cryes of the wounded and dying Souldiers The Prince beheld this fight patiently looking for the end but when he perceived that his Men decreas'd and seem'd to be too weak he sent ten thousand Horse to second the ten thousand appointed for the Reserve and commanded them to fall on as soon as they should see that need requir'd In the mean while the Emperour enter'd into the Battel with his Party and broke through all that stood in his way and the Infantry Commanded by the Prince of Tanais advanc'd and assaulted the Janisaries where Bajazet was yet in Person They found no easie work to overthrow them but when the Emperour had again charged them the second time and followed by his Reer he overcame them rather by his number than by valour or courage for they performed all that could be expected from brave Men but so many Onsets one upon the Neck of another by fresh Souldiers oppress'd them Bajazet forsook this Body
of Janisaries and took Horse wounded but he fell into the Hands of Axalla unto whom he yielded himself Prisoner thinking he had been Tamerlan He was at first taken for some great Lord of the Turkish Army Twenty thousand of the Tartars never acted but after the Fight in pursuit of the flying Enemy whom they kill'd by heaps The Prince had his Horse run through and kill'd with a Lance but he was quickly mounted again One may justly say that his Conduct alone won the Victory for had his Army ingag'd all at once they had been in that strange confusion that might have overthrown them but his cunning to weary the Turks in fighting and recruit his own Parties when they were in want got him the Victory Threescore thousand Men were kill'd of the Turks and about twenty thousand Tartars The Prince of Ciarcan and the Captain of the Georgians both lost their Lives to the great sorrow of the whole Army Calibes that brave Commander who brought up the Reer was vex'd to meet with such small resistance and to have had so little hand in the Action The Despot of Servia a Christian who fought for Bajazet was taken Prisoner every one prais'd him for having well behaved himself that day The prince received him very kindly after that he had blamed him for serving Bajazet against him that intended nothing but to assist and set at liberty his Emperour The Despot answered That what he had done was not out of Duty or Inclination for the good of Bajazet but only for fear of losing his Dominions which he saw were exposed to the ambition and at the mercy of him to whom all the World before seem'd to yield obedience Tamerlan pretty well satisfied with this excuse gave him his freedom to depart when he thought convenient The Emperour had a great care to secure Bajazet's Children and to cause their Father to be cured of his Wounds afterwards he commanded him to be brought before him Bajazet shewed no sign of humility The Prince seem'd to be displeas'd at his proud carriage he told him therefore That his Life depended upon his will and with a word-speaking he could take it from him Speak the word I intreat thee reply'd Bajazet for it will be my greatest happiness How comest thou said Tamerlan to him to be so bold to take away the Empire from the Prince of Greece The desire of glory answer'd Bajazet and of enlarging my Kingdom But wherefore said the Prince dost thou commit so many Cruelties and use thy conquered Subjects so barbarously as to spare neither Age nor Sex I act thus answered he to terrifie mine Enemies the more For the same Reason replyd'd the Prince thou shalt be treated in the same manner With that he sent him away and turned to his Commanders Behold said he a proud and haughty Man that deserves to be punish'd and made an Example to all such cruel and barbarous People as he is I confess God hath this day subdued and put in my power a great Enemy I am bound to return him thanks Afterwards he sent for Bajazet's Children to be brought to him he seem'd to pity their misfortune and commanded them to be civilly and courteously treated as the Children of a great Monarch He commanded next that to bury the dead The Body of the Prince of Ciarcan was found amongst the Janisaries where he was ingag'd Tamerlan express'd a great deal of sorrow for the loss of this young Prince who was his Kinsman and likely to do him great service A great number of Captains were killed this day and almost all the Officers of the Turks for the Fight was fierce and bloody for the Fight continued from seven a Clock in the Morning till four in the Afternoon and then it was not well known who should win the Victory On the third day after the Fight the Army march'd away for the first was employed in burying the dead every one render'd that Duty to their Friends and Kindred The Body of the Prince of Ciarcan was Embalmed and conducted with a Guard of two thousand Horse to Samarcande to be there kept till the Emperour's return The other Corpses were buried in Sannas with honour Axalla was grieved for the death of his Kinsman a brave bold and couragious young Man well beloved of the Prince His Command was given to his Brother who shewed then great signs of a noble courage Alhacent saith That he could not but make that day a Reflexion upon the unconstancy and vanity of worldly things sufficiently represented in this Battel At the beginning Bajazet the dreadful Emperour of the Turks thought himself above all changes of Fortune having met with nothing on Earth able to withstand his Power but a few hours after he is cast down and with a blow his flourishing Estate overthrown when he least expected it This caused him to confess since that he had been deservedly punished for having despised great Armies and placed all his confidence in the valour of his Horsemen and of his Janisaries He was three days as it were in a despairing condition fretting and tormenting himself he sought to kill himself and called for Death to deliver him out of his Captivity Tamerlan who was the mildest the most courteous and compassionate Prince yet could he not be perswaded to pity him for he dealt with him as with a furious Beast so that when he mounted upon his Horse upon solemn Festivals Bajazet was brought to him that his Shoulder might serve him as a step to leap upon his Horse This he did not out of any Ostentation but only to humble Bajazet and discover to him the folly of Men who seek in themselves and not in God all their greatness and confidence The next day the Army marched the way that leads to Bursa whither the sad remains of Bajazet's Army were fled under the Command of Bassa Mustapha All the Country through which Tamerlan pass'd submitted He commanded all the Fortresses to be demolish'd and punish'd severely those that offered to withstand him and endure a Siege Tamerlan had caus'd several Pris'ners to be led in Chains after the Body of the Prince of Ciarcan to Samarcande He intended to enlarge that City and increase the Inhabitants that it might be a Testimony of his Glory and a Monument of his Grandeur to future Ages For that purpose he had caus'd many Chineses taken in the former Battels to be carried thither and some he had invited out of Pekin and Quanton This famous Battel that overthrew Bajazet filled all his Subjects with fears and obliged them to submit to the Conquerour Nothing was able to resist Tamerlan till he arrived with his Army before Bursa whither his defeated Troops were fled and shut up with two of his Male Children very young In the mean while Axalla advanc'd forward with forty thousand Horse and an hundred thousand Foot without any incumbrance or Baggage with them he hinder'd the Enemy from rallying and made a terrible
had been successful sent word to the remainder of his army to adventure over the night following and that as many as could should get aboard And to incourage his men the more and hasten them he passed over again himself to them for he knew nothing of the supply of men which Sinopes had received from the Land Army As soon as Sinopes saw the enemies he charged them desperately without delay The Sultan himself was wounded in performing the duty of a great Captain he passed over the water with a great number of his men to joyn with the other party In this dispute the Sultan lost a great many men and some Boats were sunk only twenty thousand were remaining behind in their Camp without any hopes of retreat to their Prince The Tartars assaulted and won their next Trenches but the innermost were so well fortified and guarded that the Commanders thought it no wisdome to venture upon them but rather to stay where they were than to hazard all upon an uncertainty They incamp'd therefore within the Trenches in expectation of that which they were to have by reason and the rules of War sooner than by force Which happen'd accordingly for as soon as the enemies saw themselves pen'd up and not able to look about by reason of the Tartars approaches they sent to desire to parlâ—â—y with them which was granted They sent to the Prince of Tanais a Parthian Officer who had a long time served under him but being left behind sick and taken by the Sultan he enter'd himself in his service After some demonstrations of his strength this Prince had made him Major General of his Infantry He desired to speak with the Prince of Tanais He told him that he had been sent with his Comrades from the Troops which he besieged to intreat him to shew them mercy and not to spill any more humane blood but without it to accept of the Victory which they offered into his hands upon the conditions that he should propose As the Prince of Tanais was visiting the Trenches he heard the offer of this Collonel with Joy He gave them liberty upon this condition that for the time to come they should be Subjects and Slaves to the Emperour and serve him in his Wars wheresoever they should be commanded All which they promised to perform Some were commissioned by the Prince of Tanais to receive their Oath Only the Lieutenant Geneneral of the Sultan and some other Captains departed in a Ship the night before to follow after their Master This Prince as we have taken notice was wounded at the passage of the River which caused him to retreat with his Cavalry twenty leagues to a place that belong'd to him yet As soon as he was arrived he died of his wounds to the great sorrow of his followers The Prince of Tanais who as soon as he could pursued him entered into this place named Palema a few dayes after his death and finding that he was not buried shed Tears for his unhappy end commanding that he should be interred according to his Quality and received very courteously all his Servants He had left behind him a Son who had carried with him all that would not yield to the Emperour They fled to the borders of Lybia into certain Towns of a difficult access because of the Wilderness that lies in the way to them There these poor men lived in hopes to be revenged of the Tartars and one day to restore their broken and ruined fortunes In this manner ended this last War with the Mameluâ—â—ks The Emperour was so troubled at it that he once resolved to march thither him-himself but the news of the Victory and of the Sultans death hindered him The Prince of Tanais was mightily applauded for his prudent conduct but Calibes's unhappy death dasht all the Emperours joy He was so worthy a man that he could not be sufficiently lamented chiefly by Tamerlan who lost in him a faithful servant and and a Great Captain The Prince of Tanais had his Offices and Government bestowed upon him with order to make his ordinary abode in Syria and Aegypt to watch and look over them and keep those Provinces in peace Sinopes was made Major General of the Imperial army which was commanded to return into Persia under the leading of the great Chamberlain who came to the Army at the close of the War with a considerable body of men For it was Tamerlans custome to cause one Army to march after another towards the places that wanted assistance This happy success of his Lieutenants shewed how much it concerns a Prince to dwell in the midst of his Dominions that he might with more ease and more speedily send forth his succours to defend any part or Corner The King of China was then at the Emperours Court to wait upon him according to the Articles of agreement concluded with him which he confirmed in the Princes presence and swore obedience and did him homage The Emperour endeavoured to render himself dreadful to this Heathen King who never kept his promises but when he pleased by shewing him his strong Towns well furnished with people He was astonished to see so many men cloathed so simply chiefly the Emperour that wore nothing but a garment of coloured Cloath without any Ornament He took notice also that all his attendants and Officers about him look'd as so many Kings by their Majestick contenances and behaviour Whiles he was at the Court news came of the Victory obtained upon the Sultan he was eye witness of the publick rejoycings which lasted eight dayes spent in sports feasting and other divertisements after that he returned to his own Country The Emperour gave order next to distribute double pay to his Army which was returning out of Aegypt into Persia with the Great Chamberlain and Sinopes Major General Afterwards he went to Quinzay to see his Son and satisfie the impatient wishes of this great City that desired passionately to enjoy him His presence was also needful to regulate all affairs as he had done in other places Axalla had no mind to be too busie because he had to do with a numerous people inclinable to commotions He was therefore afraid so far to concern himself as to give Tamerlan a disgust or cause the people to murmur Therefore he often spoke it that the ordering of the publick affairs was a great business which none was capable of but the Emperour For the intent of Tamerlan was to appoint the same Laws every where in his great Empire to command the use of the same Weights and Measures that the same Tributes should be setled in all parts according to each mans ability resolving as soon as his Incomes were regulated that he would make provision of Victuals which should be carried from place to place according as his Army should need He was wont to compare an Army with the humane body saying that the Captains were to be look'd upon as the head the Souldiers as the
feet and hands Mony was the strength and the spirits which keeps this body in motion and food as the belly from whence it was entertain'd Therefore he said that when an Army can represent a perfect man in all respects it is invincible because it fights when it pleaseth and may chuse whether it will hazard any thing but upon good terms When an Army miscarries this proceeds from some imperfection in the body which may be lame or wounded or from the starved belly or the diseased head Therefore when he sent the Prince of Tanais against the Sultan he was afraid of the head and of the belly of his Army For the Prince was but young and his men unfurnished with necessary provisions for he was wont a year before hand when he intended to make War to gather up stores of food and fill up his Magazins now this year they had neglected this piece of policy his victory therefore he ascribed to his good fortune which was loath to forsake him rather than to the Wisdome of his young General When the Emperour was near Qâ—â—inzay Axalla went out to meet him at two dayes journey from the City with the greatest Lords of the Country and the chief Citizens whiles the rest were making ready to welcome him in the most magnificent manner that they were able This City is one of the richest in the world and one of the largest very well scituated upon small Islands or Channels cut from one end to the other with stately buildings and a great many bridges for the convenience of the Inhabitants It is a place of so great Trade that there comes to it continually all sorts of Goods Stuffs Precious Stones and chiefly spices Tamerlan at his first arrival was presented with the richest things of the City They were valued above two Millions of Gold to not reckon many other rare things which were given him as tokens of their subjection to him and affection for him He seem'd to be very desirous to see his Son who was then but about seven years old He was brought up with much state and with the care answerable to his Quality When he was first brought to him he took notice that his head was carefully covered but he commanded that they should keep it uncovered because as he said He that is called by his birth to govern Nations ought to use himself to heat and cold and to painful exercise and not to indulge himself in an effeminate life Some told him that the Child was but tender what reply'd the Emperour will you make him a Woman If he be not able to endure the troubles and inconveniencies of War he is not worthy to succeed me for there must be no dainty and soft Prince to keep up the Empire of the Parthians He had sent the Empress to Samarcand to be there brought to bed she was received with all the honours due to her Dignity and the affection that the people could express This was the first time of her visiting of this City A little after the Emperour had news brought him that she was safely delivered of her second Son which he publish'd abroad and seem'd to rejoyce at it appointing Tilts and magnificent Sports to express his gladness for several dayes In this time nothing but feastings and publick divertisements were seen in all parts The Emperour himself took a great delight in such pastimes because it gave him an opportunity to shew the agility of his body and his dexterity to his Court and people for he was judged the more worthy to command them the more he excelled in such like exercises After a months abode in Quinzay and after he had visited the maritine Towns near adjoyning he went to Samarcande travelling softly for in the Road he employed himself in hunting all sorts of beasts and yet in the mean while took a great care to provide for the safety of the Empire for it was his usual saying that Pleasures and Sports were to him as Wings to lift him up and ease him from the Labours which God had put upon him for the preservation of his Subjects in peace The Inhabitants of Quinzay had so sincere a Love for him that when he called them together to oblige them to receive and submit to his new Laws they made no difficulty to yeild to him but embrac'd them with as much respect and devotion as if they had been commanded by God himself for their reverence and affection for his person made them submit Whiles he continued in the City the most part of the people were employed in looking upon him as the chief object of their affections Some of his Courtiers took notice of it particularly Axalla Therefore they told him that this City was worthy of his constant abode Not at all reply'd the Emperour if they did alwayes see me they would quickly despise me for it is a Maxime of State that the Soveraign of this great City must not come to it oftner than once in ten years and then he must act as if he were upon a Theatre in view of all the World he must act a serious and grave person because the Inhabitants are naturally apt to be disgusted with their Prince He ought therefore if he will be esteem'd to seek to give them the best impression that he can Before his leaving of Quinzay he sent with all speed Prince Axalla towards China with a Commission to examine and end some differences between Odmar and the King of that Countrey that he might be able by his Wisdome to compose them and give him a just account at his return As he had a great affection for his faithful servants he long'd to see Odmar with him who had been absent many years He desired him to take the time of Axalla's abode in those parts The Emperour was resolved not to leave Cambalu till after Axalla's return from China This was a very pleasing and an honourable Commission to be sent into those parts where his courage was so well known and fresh in the remembrance of all the Inhabitants by his late noble exploits but he was overjoyed to go thither that he might do service to Odmar his intimate friend Tamerlan had an excellent maxime but contrary to that of most Princes he laboured to keep all his Servants at Unity and recommended to them love to one another and faithfulness in his service The chief cause that obliged the Emperour to send Axalla into China was to put a period to a dispute between that King and Odmar about the restitution of a place which had been promised to the King There seem'd to be some personal differences between them So that Axalla was judged as the most pleasing person to this King to terminate this affair because of his mildness and courteous behaviour When Axalla was upon the borders he met with Prince Odmar waiting for him who received him with great Pomp and State and feasted him three dayes After this he gave him an