for the meanest amongst them had much gold about him vpon the trappings of their horse The Lords had such store of precious stones as of nothing more They did bring all the prisoners before the Prince and when the two Allies of the king of China did come the king rose vp and did them great reuerence Then the Prince demanded of him by an interpreter who they were He answered him that they were his Allies and that he lamented more their fortune theÌ„ his owne and that he would die with them Now this barbarous king thought the matter should be handled after their maner when as they put to death their prisoners and feed of meat made of them as some of those countries are accustomed to doe Nowe the Prince hauing receiued them curteouslie did assure them of good entertaiment for the which the king of China did shewe himselfe greatly contented The one of them was the king of Chiampa the other of â—anchuichina vndervassals and tributories to the king of China Nowe he was of the age of thirtie yeares hee had a long visage his eyes blacke and great his beard long the which he stroaked often his nose was of a reasonable bignesse hauing a graue behauiour and well beseeming a great king These prisoner-prisoner-kings did as it were worship in saluting of him and hee keeping his grauitie only commaÌ„ded them to rise froÌ„ the ground He is surely a great Prince and which hath had two hundred famous Cities within his kingdome There be manie mynes of gold and siluer much muske and also of an hearbe which the Christians call Rubarbe There bee in like maner within the kingdome of China fifteene verie large Prouinces the which haue Gouerners It is reported that he hath threesore and ten kings wearing crownes tributaries vnto him We call this region China the which they in their language name Tamé and the people Tangis the which we call Chinois This kingdome doth abound in fish and in great numbers of wilde-foule by reason of the great aboundance of running waters which doe ouerflowe the countrie the which is reasonable temperate they abound greatly in silkes and the meanest are apparelled therewith hauing small quantitie of woll and not vsing the same they haue much cotten and linnen in steed thereof The men do weare their haire long the women combe them they haue as many wiues as they are able to maintaine Next vnto the king there is a Gouernor generall whom they call Tutan the which was the brother vnto the imprisoned king This is the cause wherefore he must not forsake the countrie but he requested his brother to accompanie him vnto this Battaile where they thought assuredlie to ouercome and was so wilfull that he did appoint a Lord in his place vpon whom the king of China did not relie so much as vpon his brother in so much as this made him sad considering the follie which he had committed in suffering him to come with him and to be both of them at one battaile Now for to returne vnto the king of China the Prince hauing assembled his counsell to the end he might be aduised how he should vse his prisoners and the rest of the victorie hee receiued newes by Odmar how that the kings brother was arriued at Quantou the which hee had fortified and that great store of forces did ioyne themselues vnto him This was the cause that the Prince hauing somewhat rested his forces commaunded two thousand Parthian horse to conuey the prisoners vnto Paguinfou and from thence after they had made abode there to passe ouer the mountaines and to remaine at â—urda a Citie of olde time faithfull vnto the Emperors of Scithia and there to keepe them faithfully This charge was giuen vnto Malaxen Lieutenant generall in the charge of Axalla Then the Prince made dispatches vnto the Emperour and to his Lieutenant ouer the Parthians and made them partakers of this great and happie victorie wherein had bene slaine so manie thousandes of the enemies and hee had lost so fewe of his owne I returne vnto the deliberation which the Prince tooke after that hee had discharged himselfe of much carriages the which hee had sent with the king of China before hee would goe anie further forward Nowe hee had also sent to hasten the fortie thousand footmen which should come from Sachetay and thirtie thousand Scithian horse making his account that they should haue come vnto him before the forces of the king of China could oppose themselues against him So the purpose and resolution of the Prince was that it behooued to assault Quantou and to shut vp if it were possible the kinges brother within the same being one of the principall seates belonging vnto the king of China and a citie greatly peopled and strong it was fortie leagues from the place where the battaile was fought But Odmar being aduanced thither would not retire before hee had expresse commandement from the Prince who hauing sent thither pitched his tentes round about the said Citie hauing summoned many small cities the which yeelded themselues wholly vnto the Princes mercie making great lamentation for their king taken and for the estate of their affaires the abasement being verie great throughout all the kingdome for all the diligence the king of Chinas brother could vse for the quieting of their astonished mindes and to exhort euerie one to take new courage Notwithstanding the gentlenesse vsed by the Conquerour made them to take all their losses with patience and because it was also reported that hee had vsed the king most friendlie and all the prisoners for the Prince cause his clemencie to bee published vnto all that would vouchsafe to cast themselues into his armes as he would also shewe his sharpnesse vnto all those which disobeyed him and would withstand his commandementes For it was the Princes custome to pardon the humble and to punish the proud throughlie knowing that reward and punishment are the thinges which doe greatlie increase estates And Princes must learne this as a generall rule that whensoeuer they vse those which are rebels vnto them as those that are obedient they shall receiue hurt thereby because euerie one will take libertie of ill doing seeing that the one and the other are equallie weighed and regarded by the Prince who ought to be a iust iudge and moderatour of euerie ones deserts Now our Prince had besides another maxime that is he straightly kept that which hee promised although his estate depended therupon if his word were once passed And you must beleeue that none of his seruants durst be so bold as to make request and speake to the contrarie so as this same being spread amongst the barbarous people they were assured when they had once his word now you must know that this is of no small importance vnto a victorious Prince to make his victorie perfect But to returne vnto my purpose our Prince hauing caused praiers to be celebrated
all our munitions be there wee must in that place my souldiers and friendly followers passe ouer the rest of winter our cōpanions look for vs. The enemie is secure and looketh not for vs at this season of the yeare for he perceiueth that our Armie which is there is not sufficient for offence but only for defence You shall receiue double pay the better to furnish you against the iniurie of cold and as we shall be cloathed with double garmēts I hope we shal be also apparelled with double glorie Let vs march on merrily I my self will go with you and be companion of your glorie After he had thus spoken vnto his souldiers they all cried One God in heauen and one Emperour on the earth and bowing downe al their heads in token of humilitie they shewed how agreeable they were to obey that which he commanded Thus euerie one returned into his tent where they abode yet eight dayes more The Prince sent back again Zamai vnto Sachetay with some fiue and twenty thousand horse and fiftie thousand footmen for the saftie of his estate in those parts Thus after prayers were sayd all the Armie being assembled together in the presence of the Prince according to the custome of our Emperours our Armie began to march forward He forgat not likewise to dispatch one vnto the Emperour his vnkle to giue him vnderstanding of all this resolution the which he verie well liked of The Prince by the same messenger did beseech him to send vnto him in the spring of the yeare some fiftie thousand men to repaire his Armie and certaine money also for the payment of his men of warre which he graunted him Moreouer the conducting of good store of warlike munition plentie of victuals for to renew ours for this war was principally enterprised for the profit and greatnesse of the Tartarians for the importance which the losse of the Lordships of Paguin Quifu was vnto them wherby the king of China had greatly strēgthened and assured his estate in so much as he might at his pleasure enter vpon the Tartarians and the Tartarians could not enterprise against him without great forces for that hee had caused a wall to be made between the spaces of the mountains which was fortie leagues long so as they were defended hereby frō the ordinary incursions the which continually did greatly enrich thē because they brought much cattel through the same wherin the cūtry of China doth greatly abound by reason it is situated in a temperate aire being neither too hot nor cold This was the cause that made the Emperour his vnkle to desire this warre whom our Prince according to his duty would to the vttermost of his power gratifie as also his new subiects So we began to march and in eight thirty dayes we arriued at Cipribit the Army hauing found great discōmodities there had we newes of Clibes who was very glad to vnderstand how the affayrs had passed he came to visite the Prince who shewed vnto him a very good countenance and gaue him particular vnderstanding of his determination and vnderstood at large of Calibes al that had passed within the kingdom of China The next day the Prince mounted on horsebacke and came vnto Pazanfou where the forces commaunded by Calibes were at that present the which had often fought with and tried the forces of the Chinois but found thē much inferiour vnto their owne The Emperour caused a generall reuiewe to bee made of all the forces which were vnder Calibes and after hee beheld the countenances of these soldiers throughout all their ranks he caused thē to muster to receiue money euery one crying God saue the victorious inuincible Emperour according to their custome I had forgotten to declare vnto you how the Prince of Thanais who was left to command ouer the Parthian nation by the Prince at such time as Calibes went to meet him was left in the army to commād it where being desirous to shew his courage had made warre and meeting with foure thousand horse of China led by the king of China his brother he so allured thē to him that hauing entrapped thē he fought with and ouerthew them bringing a great number of horse and spoiles away and there remained dead vpon the ground fiue or sixe hundred the enemies being retired in disorder if the night had not bene hee had obtained a most notable victorie He had for this good fortune much honour at the arriuall of his Prince and he had also daylie greatlie wearied the Chinois with ordinarie incursions hee was sonne vnto one of the Princes sisters they greatlie honored him as wel for his vertues as the place frō whēce he was descēded He was as yet but young his father being dead old who had worthily serued the Prince as you haue heard against the Moscouites commaunding ouer the arereward who was notwithstanding a most sufficient politick Captaine Now he was desirous of glorie during the abode which he had made being the formost on the enemies fide and with great diligence had marked the wall and the places by the which he might enter by force and sent many spies into the countrey of China by certain litle wayes that were within the mountains who aduertised him of all He had also gained through his courtesie a Lord of the same mountaines called the Lord of Vauchefu who ruled a great Countrey with whom he had so well profited that he made him desirous of a new master and to submit himselfe vnto the Emperour receiuing daily great discommodity by the warres which the Tartarians and Chinois made so as he comming to visite the Prince of Thanais he assured him of his desire to doe the Prince seruice and to helpe him in the warre against the Chinois the which the Prince of Thanais had wisely cōcealed frō Calibes But as soone as the Prince was arriued hee imparted the same vnto him the which made Tamerlan desirous to haue some speech with him so that as soone as the Prince had receiued commandement from the Emperour hee sent vnto Vauchefu to aduertise him of the Princes arriuall and of the commaundement which he had receiued whereof the other was very glad and hauing appointed a day the Prince tooke his iourney without stirring of the army into the campe of the Prince of Thanais which was neere vnto the riuer of Languenne whither he had caused this foresaid Lord to come who met him there The Prince hauing spoken with him by his interpreters hee assured him of much friendship and the said Lord him of great fidelitie and seruice and after many promises made by the Prince vnto him for his greatnesse and quiet he discouered vnto him a passage by the which hee assured him of entrance into the kingdom of China with facility to set vpō the forces of the king of China which were appointed for safegard of the wall the which as I
haue said contained fortie leagues a matter which gaue cause of good aduisement vnto the Prince for Calibes who was an old Captaine found it a matter of great difficultie to go through this passage by force according to the view he had taken thereof and had caused the same to be reuiewed by others For it was carefully kept by the kings forces who was not wearie to be mounted on horsebacke assuring himselfe that fiftie thousand men the which he had placed for the guarde of the wall were sufficient to stoppe all that would enterprise to force the same So this Lord much made of and gayned thorough the good countenance of the Prince was a great furtherance vnto the good successe of this enterprise Then the Prince after he had heaped vpon him gifts of faire horses rich furres and other rare things he willed him to vtter that which he had to say vnto him This Lord spake then in this manner Know my Lord that it is but losse of time to thinke that with your armes you shold be able to force the wall which the Chinois haue built against the incursions of your subiects the defendants haue too much aduantage therein I doubt not of your souldiers stoutnesse of their courage I know you haue cōquered many Nations with them and that whatsoeuer you commaund thē they will die or do the same I know you haue great and wise Captaines with you that your person is only of all the world worthie to commaund them but all this will be but in vaine against the wall of the Chinois where I assure you there are fifty thousand men to keep it and you cannot stay there so short a time but there will come thither fiftie thousand more led by the Xianxi who hath such a commaundement The king of China will himselfe march forward also who will giue you battell with two hundred thousand horse and as many footemen After you haue fought I beleeue that the fortune and valour of your men may obtaine the victorie the which will cost you deare but for to shew vnto you how much the reputation and mildnesse of your men hath bound me vnto them I will shew you a meanes by the which you may cause fiftie thousand men to enter into the kingdome of China whom I my selfe will conduct and they shall be on them which keepe the wall in a manner as soone as they shall perceiue it In the meane time you shall cause your men to go vnto a place that I will tell you which will be very discommodious vnto the Chinois by reason of a mountaine ouer against them which you must cause them to win for I assure my selfe that when they shall perceiue your souldiers to be passed they will loose their courage and you may easily win the passage for to fauour those men of yours which shall be passed ouer with me And for to shew vnto you the affection fidelitie of that I speake I will deliuer into your hands an only sonne I haue and two little daughters with my wife I haue also one brother who I am assured will follow me to do you seruice The Prince hauing heard this Lord speake receiued great ioy thereof hoping that his affaires should happily succeede and this he kept very secret for euen the Prince of Thanais knew not the meanes that this Lord had seeing there was onely present the Prince an interpreter and the Prince after he had thus spoken vnto him gratifying him with all hee could possibly this Lord retyred himselfe accompanied with the Prince of Thanais who conducted him backe againe with all the honour that might be So the Emperour returned from thence into his quarter and the next day after he had imparted the whole vnto Odmar and heard Calibes concerning that which he had learned of the departing of the king of China and of his preparation which was great This enterprise seeming hard vnto him after due reuerence yeelded vnto the Prince he spake vnto him in this manner Know my Lord that I am your slaue for to obey you but seeing you require me to giue you an accoūt of all that I know of the estate of the kingdome of China for that I haue remained these sixe moneths vpon the borders by your cōmandement to hinder them from passing the same wherby they might hurt your enterprises I can affirme vnto you that the king of China who raigneth at this present is of great reputation and hath increased the limits of his kingdome more then any of his predecessors he is proud and bold he causeth himselfe to be named of his people Lord of the world All his strength consisteth in this wall opposed against vs the which he hath caused to bee made by reason of the ordinarie roades of our Nation I am of opinion that there be between fiftie and threescore thousand men at the guard of that wall men for the most part trained vp in the garrisons of the king of China and his best souldiers I know no good means to force this wall without great hazard and much losse of your men I haue vnderstood that towards the lake Hogeen you may find more easie entrance into the kingdome but this will be 7. or eight daies iourney for your army and there are many straite places where your army which is great will be long time a passing on the other side this will be a space of time wherein the king of China may giue order for his affaires who supposeth that hee hath not to deale but with me whom you haue left with cōmandement only of defence Yet I thinke this to be most for your aduantage for that victuals will be more easily conducted vnto your armie you know that this is the principall sinew to bring forth a strong and furious combat Therfore vnder correction of your graue and more wise aduise this is as much as I know hereof leauing vnto your selfe for to discourse of the inner parts of the countrey whē we shall haue set foot thereinto we will talke with you of the same The Prince hard him very attentiuely but he knew not at all that which the Prince had further learned insomuch as the Prince who would that his reputation and glorie should be attributed vnto his valour and vnto those of his army what practise soeuer he had in hand and after euerie one had declared his opinion he saied that he hoped the great God the vnitie of whom he would maintaine against such idolaters and his iust right should answere the reasons which do cōtradict his purpose and the valiant arme of his souldiers shall quite ouerthrow whatsoeuer opposeth it self against the same Behold how Princes make themselues wondered at for their forces whereas oftentimes they vse more the Foxes craft then the Lions strength Our Prince would wisely attribute vnto himselfe the reputation of ouercomming by open warre and concealed from his souldiers that which he held
would he affoord this honor vnto the Empresse that she shold assist the bringing of the body going neare vnto the same This he did the more to make appeare how much he honored the memory of the late Emperor in his wife being his daughter also to the end that if God did take him away his childrē being small she shold haue the greater authority be the better acknowledged worthy to gouerne in the minority of his children and also for that she had bene brought vp alwayes in authority euen since she was married The Prince desiring thereby the more to acknowledge the honour the Emperour his vnkle had done him by adopting him as his son and in hauing left him so great and large an Empire as that was whereof he left vnto him the possession Now the Emperour loued her onely hauing no other affection in such pleasure but only the happinesse of a faire of-spring the which he hoped for Now the body of the late Emperour being come vnto Cambalu he determined to conduct it vnto the buriall according vnto the accustomed ceremonie and to put the body with the kings Emperors his ancesters After he had from point to point performed the last will and testament of the late Emperor hee returned from thence vnto Cambalu where he spent all winter in tilt turneying going a hunting making his abode there because he was in a place nearest vnto the kingdome of China to know how matters passed there hauing now brought thither his last affaires purposing to go thither in person the next winter if Odmar did not make an end of the wars already begun and if the king of China did not submit himselfe wholly vnder his obedience hauing determined not to depart from Cambalu vntill this country were pacified the marke hee shot at being only to keepe that which his valour was able to conquer through his good fortune being desirous to spend the rest of his life in enioying the frutes of his trauels for to publish his praises vnto his people and with millions to maintaine them in peace He had also a purpose to bring vnto an end that which he had determined to do at Samarcand Now Axalla was at Quinzai as well vnto the cōtentment of al the men of war as the inhabitants who desired much to see their Prince and hauing caused Prince Axalla in their behalfe to beseech it that it wold please the Emperor to cause his son to be brought vp amongst them there the which he did grant vnto thē in fauour of the sayd Prince Axalla establishing him for to command in the absence of the Prince his sonne whom he made gouernour of Quinzai from Cambalu euen vnto the sea This country was replenished with some three hundred cities and was in largenesse more then foure hundred leagues besides an finite number of villages To make short it was that the Emperour his vnkle gouerned where this Prince Axalla was his Lieutenant general vnder the authority of the yong Prince his son vnto whom he deliuered him in charge for to be his gouernour authorising him vnto the gouernement generall of all his kingdoms for the great wisedome that was in this knight made him beloued in all the countries vnder the Emperours obedience the seruices also and great victories the which he had caused the Emperour to obtaine by his stout courage and good conduct who for these occasions put his principall trust in him and after himselfe he thought him onely worthy to preserue for his children his kingdome and Empresse Now he receiued newes that the Prince of Thanais set forward for to go into Syria and to ioyne with the gouernour for that the Soldan had these three moneths besieged Caire with a great army notwithstanding the inhabitāts had shewed great faithfulnesse they were indeed all new colonies not trusting vnto the old Citizens for had not that course bin taken there should haue bin many reuolts seene the gouerner not hauing sufficient forces to be able to assist it The Emperor once againe had giuē cōmandement vnto the Prince of Thanais to march thither in diligence with his army wherin were the old soldiers ordained by the Emperor his cōpaniōs in all his warres there were of them an hundred thousand of this kinde of warfarre amongst the which there were thirty thousand Parthian horse remaining continually in the armie Now they lamented much the absence of Axalla but next vnto him the Prince of Thanais was most beloued of them this Prince was the Emperours cousin germaine who as you haue heard had serued him very well he had bene continually in all the enterprises of warre vnder Axalla whom the Emperour had commanded fo◠to leade him vnto all the seruices of warre to the end he might be made fit for to do him seruice so as the Prince of Thanais being in Syria and Prince Axalla at Quinzai they were established in the two furthermost partes of his kingdomes Princes and Captaines who had alwayes assisted and serued him faithfully So the Prince of Thanais being with Calibes and hauing gathered together part of the Great Chamberlaines forces vpon the coast of Babilon he marched directly vnto Aleppo hauing their forces ioyned together being two hundred thousand fighting men The Soldan perceiuing the Prince of Thanais to draw neare remembred well that those were they which had ouercome him But he encouraged him self because this great Tamerlan his fortune were not there present that he had to deale with a yong Prince desirous of glory who peraduenture to get it would do something vnaduisedly to resolue him selfe for to fight was a thing he had too much proued vnto his hurt except the hot bloud of this yong Prince did moue him inconsiderately to seeke for to force his trenches and succour the necessitie of those of Caire whose victuals failed thē So he intrēched himself all along the riuer by the which onely the inhabitans might be relieued for so great a citie cānot be victualltd by cartes but verie hardly he made his trenches euen at his pleasure our armie aduancing forward slowly The counsell of ours was to send throughout all Siria to gather together store of corne and to cause it to be brought vnto Alexandria by sea for to victual therewith Caire aswell from all the Isles of Greece as from all the sea coasts Being obedient vnto his cōmandemēt they shewed great diligence so as within short time there was gotten together a great quātity of corne Our army in the meane time marched continually forward drawing neare vnto Caire the enemy being retired at the same present seeing our armie come along by the riuer side hauing made great prouisiō of boats to passe ouer his armie for to keepe vs from the riuer In the end the Prince of Thanais hauing approched his army and marked the enemies countenance who was intrenched within his campe he entred into Caire where hauing with
and for these reasons he was not therby more insolent for it was the custome of the Parthians retaining the same from the glorie of their ancesters that in aduersitie their courages doe nothing at all faile them and that prosperitie likewise doth in no sort blind thē so far that they shuld not be mindful of iustice as wel in good as bad fortune That it was iust they should satisfy the victor should promise not to enterprise any more the troubling of his allies then should they haue peace with his armes He also required that they should become tributaries of a hundred thousand Duckats and should pay all the charges of the warre amounting vnto the sum of three hundred thousand Duckats he then would send back again all the prisoners withdraw his armie that for security hereof they shuld giue him pledges which should be changed euery yeare vnto all which they agreed So was this warre ended to his contentment returning with glorie vnto the Prince his father in whose countenance no bodie could perceiue any ioy for his sonnes prosperitie as hee whom the care of heauen had so rauished that hee no longer set his minde on earthly things Now Tamerlan was receiued into all his countries with much honour and triumph the great Cham of Tartaria brother vnto his father sent presentes to gratifie him making offer vnto him of his daughter in marriage and that in marrying of her he would cause him to bee acknowledged as Emperour throughout all his kingdomes as his next heire himselfe being nowe old and out of all hope to haue anie more children Hereupon he presently tooke his iorney towards him being in the citie of Quauicay where he was receiued with all kind of triumph and magnificēce there did he shew himselfe braue in all maner of gallant shewes and combats as well in iest as in earnest And as these nations are full of vanitie and desirous to make shew of their strength agility Tamerlan caried away the prize therein whether it were in shooting neere with his bowe or in changing horses in the middest of the courses or in breaking an yron in running at the Quintaine he made euery one wonder at his dexterity and was crowned the sixt day after his comming thither with the ioyfull consent of all the subiects of the Emperour his vnkle and of all the Court. After that he maried the Emperours daughter desiring first to bee crowned before the marriage to the intent that none should think that the Crown came vnto him by means of her but by succession the daughters not at all succeeding into Empires It was also to assure his estate hauing remained in that place by the space of two moneths he returned from thence with his wife to Samercand in which citie he delighted greatly to remaine because the situation thereof was verie faire and for that the citie is accompanied with a faire riuer which causeth great trafique and maketh it richer then any citie within that countrey As he abode there the Moscouite sent to visit him with many presents of faire horses many excellēt furres the which did greatly content him for he had receiued newes that the Moscouite did arme himselfe the which was true but it was against the Polonians and other of his neighbors Who made their repaire vnto him for his assistance earnestly desiring his aid which he would not do making answer vnto them that he had giuen vnto the Moscouite the dearest thing he had in the world which was his faith Manie notwithstanding of the Court corrupted by the Embassadors of the king of Polonia vsed perswasions to mooue him to fauour the Polonians declaring vnto him that it was a Maxime that it behooued him not to suffer his neighbour to waxe too strong especiallie of so mighty a kingdome as was Polonia and that this was the means to make the Tartarians and Parthians terrible vnto the Moscouites That it was necessary at the beginning to oppose himselfe against such greatnes the which being suffered to increase would in the end prooue hurtfull vnto vs and then would it be verie hard to ouerthrow the same The Prince answered that at what time soeuer the Moscouit would not performe that which he had promised vnto him he had sufficient means to punish him seeing he had alreadie ouercome him with the Parthians which was but a small prouince within Tartaria and that at this day being increased to so great an estate as the whole Empire of the Tartarians he had occasion to feare him the lesse he hoped that his of-spring would also adde more Empires if it did maintaine equity that in the meane time the Moscouite should breake his forces in one enterprise hee would likewise bring to passe his wherein he should iustlie get honour and augment the limits of his reputacion That the peace betweene him and the Moscouite was notoriouslie knowne vnto all his neighbours the breach whereof should not proceed of his part and that it was beneficiall both for him and his subiectes that God doth punish those who vniustlie enterprise warre against their neighbours that this hath bene the occasion of the greatnes of our house that his ancesters haue alwayes had this iustice before their eyes in as much as they haue neuer enterprised warre but in their owne defence notwithstanding it is 300. yeares since they knew what it was to haue fortune cōtrary vnto thē and that he beleeued certainly that proceeded frō that Iustice which the God of hostes obserued towards his that if he were desirous of warre and therby to get honour and reputation he had many things to demaund of his neighbours who during the raigne of his father which sought onely heauen and neglected the earth desirous of peace hath permitted the which he might iustly redemaund and vpon refusal by armes make way vnto the liberty of his subiects tyrannised vnder vnlawfull Lords Odmar seemed greatly to allow of the Princes reasons although hee had bene one of the first which entred into this cōsideration to feare the greatnesse of the Moscouite and he wondered at the maner he vsed in counterpeysing so vprightly in equal ballances iustice with his magnanimitie the which notwithstanding was not transported beyond the course of equitie what reasons soeuer diuerse wise men of his Councel declared concerning the ancient enmitie betweene the Moscouits and Parthians especially for the controuersie in religion but all this was disanulled Odmar allowing the purpose of the Prince the which he alone knew the others speaking only as old Coūsellers relying vpon the anciēt maximes by the which are maintained and assured the greatnesse of Monarchies For Odmar alone was called by him at such time as the great Cham his vnkle did impart vnto him his affaires and amongst other matters he propounded vnto him the enterprise of China promising him assistance and aid and giuing him to vnderstand how necessarie
it was to vndertake this war for the better assuring of his estate seeing the king of China had much gone beyoÌ„d his ancient bounds So as our Prince had this iourney in his mind and prepared himselfe therunto he had not otherwise refused their counsell and the wise opinions they propounded vnto him being alwayes obedient vnto reason and not to any other passion and then especially when the question was of warre for the good of his affaires a thing for which he was as much to be coÌ„meÌ„ded as for any other vertue whatsoeuer for by others he was esteemed stroÌ„g couragious stout but by this here meÌ„tioned he was accouÌ„ted wise vertuous which maketh kings to be honored admired wherof he that is the owner is Lord of one of the greatest Empires that men can obtaine for the wise man onely hath the dominion thereof And what auaileth it I pray you to conquer abroad when as home-matters are miserablie subiected vnder the fâ—ry of our foolish passions is it not very hard to coÌ„mand another when thou commandest not thy selfe thou being the slaue of thy follies which do break thee with all their force against the moderate rock of wisdom which houereth about thee mocking at all that thou doest without her Salomon also the king of Israel praied for it so did our Prince often this was the praier he most commonly made vnto God and for this reason he honored greatly the counsel of the wise and respected not their pouerty some wondered that he hauing knowledge of a wise man would send for him vnto his Court and conferring familiarly with him would say vnto him My friend I pray thee let me bestow part of my goods vpon thee and doe thou impart some of thy wisedome with mee Hee was wont to say they presented him with golde and siluer with precious stones with faire and rich moueables where he abounded but that he found fewe which did beautifie his mind with good precepts instructions wherwith to gouerne so manie sundry people whome God had subiected vnder the obedience of his scepter He had in his Court a Christian whom he loued much and euerie one greatlie respected named Axalla a Geneuois by birth brought vp from his youth about his person This man principally did stir him vp vnto great enterprises and notwithstanding his religion hee trusted him Now he had all religion in reuerence so as it did worship one onelie God creator of all things He often said that the greatnes of Diuinitie coÌ„sisted in the sundry kindes of people which are vnder the coape of heaueÌ„ who serued the same diuerslie nourishing it self with diuersitie as the nature was diuers where it had printed his image God remaining notwithstanding one in his essence not receiuing therin any diuersitie This was the reason that mooued him to permit and graunt the vse of all religions within the Countries of his obedience alwayes prouided as I said before that they worshipped one onely God detesting the idolatrous and strange goddes in so much as he regarded not the diuersitie in religion if they were able to serue him so as this Christian attained vnto great honors and dignities neere vnto him as hereafter you shall heare Now to returne from my digression Our Prince was desirous of warres knowing that he could verie hardly maintaine his owne estate and so manie seruantes whose fingers would tickle if they were not employed in making of warres So he determined to make warre with the king of China who is called the Lord of the world child of the sun which was no smal enterprise But before he would begin the same he sent vnto the said king of China for to demand right for some countries which they cal Hordas abiding places townes or rather countries fit for the feeding of cattell the which this Prince of China had vsurped long before and euen the passages of a riuer called Tachij which is beyond his limits which are walles the which are between the kingdomes of the great Cham and of our Tamerlan builded of purpose by this king of China to defend him from the roades of the Tartarians and forces of our Prince so as this was begunne with the aduise of the great Cham and for his benefite as well as for the Princes Therefore to accomplish his enterprise in the meane time that he attended for the returne of his Embassadors he caused his forces to come forwards from all parts appointing vnto them for the place of meeting his owne at the Horda of Baschir where all his armie assembled and other ayding troopes of the great Cham in the deserts of Ergimul at a certaine day in which place he should ioyne with all his armie The armie of the great Cham consisted of two hundred thousand fighting men wherein were all the braue men of his Court who were accustomed vnto the warres the Emperor which then raigned was old hauing greatly increased his limits and conquered a great countrey so as these men were well trained vp in the warres and accustomed vnto trauaile and paines Now then the Embassadors which were sent returne and informe the Prince of the will of this proud king of the world this king of China who was named so who puffed vp with vaine glorie was astonished how any durst denounce warre against him making this proud answer that Tamerlan should content himselfe that he had left him that which he might haue taken from him and that his armes and forces were of another sort then those of whom he published the victory to bring thereby terror vpon his neighbours This answere being heard our Prince marched directly vnto the armie and gaue order for the conueyance of victuals from all partes sent to hasten forwarde his consederates emparted the answere vnto the Emperour by Embassadours dispatched from him caused the boldnesse of the king of China to be published to make manifest vnto all the world the iustnesse of his cause Before his departure he went to take leaue of his father who endued with a singular fatherly affection said he should neuer see him again and that he hastened vnto his last rest and hauing made solemne praiers ouer the Prince his sonne for his prosperitie kissing him a thousand times drew off his Imperiall ring and gaue it vnto him not asking whither his iourney tended and calling Odmar he bad him farewell recoÌ„meÌ„ding his faithfulnes vnto his son This was done with a grauity wherof the grace was more diuine then humaine then he departed and drew towards Samarcand where the Empresse his wife remained whom he carried with him as is the custome of that Nation after he had being religious visited the Tombe of his seruant Hâ—lly he caused his soule three dayes to be praied for according to the rites of his law whereupon he presently departed hauing taken order for the well gouerning of his kingdome in his
him euen vnto the sea coastes Three or foure dayes being spent the Prince tooke aduise for to passe ouer the riuer with his horsemen but not to aduance any further then 3. or 4. leagues beyond the water only he meant to hinder the kings brother from attayning vnto the riuers foord hauing receiued aduertisement that he would passe ouer for to succour Quantoufou As soone as the enemie vnderstood newes of the passing ouer of our army it did greatly astonish him therevpon retired ten great leagues froÌ„ vs bending towards the sea side into a hillie countrie and vneasie for our horsemen where he thought to find place of securitie for his armie and where the same might be intrenched within the mountaines And there at leasure he tooke aduise of the greatest about him to determine what offers they might make vnto the Emperour as well for the kings ransome as also for to assure that which yet remained for to make a peace the which must needs be had were it by gold or siluer seeing that bloud could doe no good therein which had not beene spared that there was no more to be done and that the goddes were offended Therefore it behooued with them to acknowledge Tamerlan they for to fauour him and we to serue him and hauing sent to demaund safetie for to 〈◊〉 the Prince graunted so much vnto them for such as would come vnto him In this meane time Quantoufou yeelded it selfe into the hands of Axalla who caused the garrison to come out of the same receiued the inhabitants into the Princes protection and they which would might remaine therein vnarmed and he entred thereinto with the ioy of all the inhabitants who did determine to receiue the Emperor into the same with all the magnificence that might be He caused 30000. men of war to enter thereinto vnto whoÌ„ was money deliuered for to maintain theÌ„ there vntill such time as all the footmen shold receiue pay for 3. moneths due vnto them whereof the inhabitants of Quantoufou did furnish the Prince to the summe of eight hundred thousand Tentins the which do amount vnto foure hundred and fifty thousand crownes or therabout The Prince at this present sent me vnto Axalla whom I found feasting of his Captaines and souldiers staying for the coÌ„mandement that I brought vnto him the which was to remaine within Quantoufou and to cause all his footmen to set forward directly vnto him the which was done by the Prince to the end it should strike a greater terror into the minds of the enemies who seeing all his footmen arriued he supposed they would nothing doubt Quantoufou being taken but that he would march forward insomuch as he hoped this would greatly aduance his affaires considering the estate they were in I returned from Quantoufou vnto the Emperour hauing seene a beautifull and great Citie well fortified and wonderfully peopled and round about it there was a fruitfull countrey Our armie had beene two monethes and a halfe before it and I thinke we should haue continued there one monethes longer for therein was no want of any thing but of men because many of them had beene slaine since the siege beganne This was the cause wherefore the Princes brother would haue conducted some thither was the occasion that made him aduance forward Many of our men were also dead by reason of the intemperatenesse of the aire and the heat of sommer the which we had passed wherwith our men had not bin accustomed so as those souldiers which we looked for were necessarie for vs to aduance forward if wee purposed to attempt any other thing Axalla who remained therein emploied all the paines he possibly could to repaire the walles and to winne the inhabitants good will vnto the Prince for not one of them was departed with the Gouernour for to serue the king of China he leading with him out of the citie but thirteene thousand of thirtie thousand souldiers some beeing dead the other remaining with the inhâ—bitants vnarmed for to receiue the law of the conquerour It was a thing very worthie the noting of their new Lord who was to commaund them to marke so great lightnesse and inconstancie in forgetting so soone him which had maintayned them he and his auncestors by the space of two hundred yeares with great pacience and quiet and preserued their wealth in great prosperitie This is the cause that they which gouerne common-wealthes ought to thinke that the peoples good will is certainely to be esteemed but withall they must not too much trust therunto This was the cause that Axalla marked that saying that hee was troubled to deuise how this great multitude might be contained in their fidelitie if wee should receiue any disfauour and commanded me to speake vnto the Prince for to treat before his Armie were any more decayed and after that it was very necessarie his wisdome should consider how to assure this citie in his absence the which was so peopled and the people thereof being so light and inconstant Now as I haue said there was almost a yeare spent since we began this enterprise and our men were greatly diminished the fall of the leafe also drawing neere the which for the most part doth yeeld euill fruit vnto armies after their trauels by the changing of humors the which engender sicknesse And this appeared alreadie within our armie which caused the Prince to consider of many things and not without cause he doubted also some change within his owne countrie the which long absences do often cause the honour being no lesse in preseruing of that alreadie gotten then in conquering of the same Our Prince also did neuer refuse honourable conditions the which he did more esteeme being obtained by peace then warre He thought that his conquest consisting of almost halfe the kingdome and in making the king tributarie for the rest he should haue sufficient wherewith to bridle him if at any time hee should deale badly and would thereof be well aduised and especially he hoped to assure the same so well as their lightnesse should be throughly punished at what time soeuer they would vse it He did thinke it conuenient if they came vnto profitable conditions for his aduantage euen as the conquered doe yeeld vnto the conquerors for to resolue himselfe to border his conquests on this side Thus the Embassadors being arriued who were of the kings chiefest vassals Tamerlan receiued them with all humanâ—tie causing his greatnesse to appeare vnto them and therewithall the agilitie of his horsemen to make theÌ„ see with their eyes that it would be the destruction of the Chinois name if he proceeded any further So hauing saluted the Emperor with all reuerence they vttered their Embassage vnto him which was that the kings brother had sent them vnto him to treat for two causes the one was for the liberty of their king the other for preseruation of their country that he had vnderstood of his accustomed humanity that
themselues would make triall thereof rather then to accuse the Gods of their ingratitude towards the Chinois repenting themselues that they did not satisfie our iust demands at the first comming of our army that they wold pay for it the which was reasonable and therfore they came to receiue the law of him seeing he was the conquerour and that nothing they should opposse against him could cut off his good happe they must needs be one of his limits vnto posterity The Prince hauing heard them the same being declared vnto him by Interpreters hee answered them that they had reason to trust vnto his mildnesse because that was alwaies more for the benefit of them that would trie it then were his armes and that the same was before any force offered vnto them the vse of the one being more agreeable vnto him then the other but the endes of the warres were for the most part enterprises for to come vnto peace and to make those vnderstand reason that refused the same but seeing at this present they desired it he would yeeld thereunto And this was the first word of curtesie he wold pronounce at their first comming it belonged now vnto them to offer the conditiōs wherewith he would acquaint his counsell Thereupon the Prince rose vp caused to be sayd vnto them that they shold deliuer their offers in writing that present answer should be made thereunto Thus went they out of the Princes presence with great ioy and as it were assured of peace and to recouer their former prosperities The cōditions which they offered were to leaue Paguinfou all the country beyond it with all the fortresses of the moūtains that they wold pay al the charges of his army since the day of answer made vnto his Embassadors that they wold giue two millions of gold for their king This being presēted vnto the Lord he made answer therunto which was that he wold keep that which he had cōquered within the coūtry the which was his owne iustly seeing his arms had giuē it vnto him that he wold haue the riuer where he was now encamped to be his frontier stretched vnto Hochioy Tahaucezug Cauchio Lulun euen vnto Poschio bordering vpon the sea that the king of China should pay vnto him yearly three hundred thousand crowns the which shold be deliuered at Paguinfou for acknowledgment of submission vnto the Empire as well for his successors as himselfe that they should pay fiue hundred thousand crownes in ready mony for the charge of the army that the king of China should be deliuered and all the Chinois prisoners shold pay ransome vnto particular men that took them except those which caried the name of kings who should pay one hundred thousand crowns for peace with his armes that no Chinois should be kept as slaue nor sold for such hereafter being vnder the Princes obedience that trafique and entercourse of Marchantes should be free betweene both the nations that the king of China should deliuer his brother as prisoner and two kings named with twelue principall men of the countrie for assurance who should come yearely with money for assurance of the peace Behold the Emperors answer his resolutiō but alas the armes of the Chinois and their forces were so weakened that they were yet glad to heare that they should be suffered to inioy that which yet remained they accounted al things so certaine by lost considering the ill haps which on euery side did ouerwhelme them their best men were dead and they which remained astonished The flower of their best mē of war with their king taken two battels lost and the two principall Citis of the kingdome taken and the hardest passages wonne so as they did see nothing but a certaine destruction of the conntry if they came againe vnto the triall of armes The king whose captiuity did greatly concerne them could not be recouered but by peace they were also aduertised that great store of new forces marched forward to refresh our army so as they did exspect nothing but their certaine destruction Therefore they accepted of such conditiōs of peace as pleased the conqueror hoping that time would bring againe vnto them their auncient liberty and that for a time it behoued them to beare with patience the yoke of their bondage Now the Prince had sent two thousand horse to fetch the king of China to the end that being at liberty he might sweare to the peace solemnly the which hee hauing performed at Quantoufou whither the Prince caused him for to come he brought with him vnto Paguin all the pledges and amongst the rest the kings eldest sonne and his brother The king being departed for to performe his promise according to the treatie by him confirmed hee was receiued and as it were worshipped within his countrie with all the ioy that might bee In the meane time the Emperour after he had prouided for the assurance of his newe conquest hee left Odmar there to gouerne them and gaue vnto him an estate of thirtie thousand horse and fifty thousand footemen to furnish all the fortresses and strong places the Prince hauing led with him many of the new conquered people desiring to haue them for to dwell within his country and to send other Colonies in their places to assure himselfe the better of the lightnesse of this people hauing noted them to be inclined vnto nouelties He gaue in charge vnto Odmar to make his principall abode at Quantoufou and to fortifie well the passage and also commanded a fortresse to be made at Dermio the better to strengthen his borders and after he had left him all thinges necessary he recommended vnto him the seruices of that Lord who had manifested vnto him his great affection The Emperour hauing well tried his faithfulnesse in his affaires as they fell out he caried with him a brother of his vnto whom he gaue great gifts within Sachetay Then we turned our faces straight vnto Cambalu hauing aduertized the great Cham of the happie successe of our affaires wherof many sayd he had lost the oportunity of vtterly rooting out the Chinois but they do nothing consider the difficulties therein as yet remaining and that we must sometimes content our selues with the meane and know how to preserue them without desiring at some time extreames whereby doth often happen such accidents as bringeth the losse of all and maketh that we retaine nothing of that which we accounted most assured for that we sought more then we should haue desired The Prince remained in deed king of China holding in his possession two of the fairest and greatest Cities of all the whole Countrie hauing an hundred good leagues thereof vnto himselfe and many lesser Cities hauing extended his borders vnto a riuer by which he might go vnto the enemy but they could not come vnto him without passing ouer the same hauing good meanes to keep it and with aduantage The king of China moreouer was
his tributary of fiue hundred thousand crownes yearely and hauing the meanes at such time as he would not performe it to be within the space of foure and twenty houres within his country and he could not come into his so as it was much more commendable to make this honourable treatie then tyrannously to seeke for to subdue all to put vnto fire and sword a whole natioÌ„ who willingly cast themselues into his armes as tributaries Now the Prince desired aboue all that the idols which were within his conquest should be beaten downe and commanded the worship of one God establishing the same after the forme of his owne country for he made account that in short time all wold be reduced vnto our customes But the Chinois were not of that mind their patience was founded vpon hope of recouering by that meanes their former liberty but they did not weigh that the Princes foresight had bene such that he had left there the most wise and sufficient Captaine that was in his kingdome who wold not lose any occasion by his watchfulnesse to assure his affaires When Odmar left the Prince as the custome is he humbled himselfe too much The Prince in lifting of him vp sayd vnto him I see well now that thou art a Chinois seeing thou wilt worship me euen as they do their king the worship I require of thee is the remembrance thou shalt continually haue to do my commaundements desiring thee to establish in my newe conquest the honour of God and after that my authoritie through your faithfulnesse you knowe this estate better then I call to thy rememberance that the sword hath conquered them and not loue or good will therefore hope not to haue them assured whom feare retaineth and not any loue I recommend my seruice vnto thee I did neuer see the Prince in greater griefe then now at his departure but he was driuen of necessity to employ the faithfulnesse and wisedome of Odmar So our army wherein was much sicknesse began to march and on the third daie hauing newes of forces which came towards vs the Prince sent them a commandemeÌ„t not to come any further forward and that they should march straight vnto Cambalu where the Prince did suppose to find the Emperor his vnkle who had set forward towards that place to haue the good hap for to see him being determined to receiue him at Cambula with magnificence triumphs as he wel deserued Now I wil declare by the way how Odmar being seuered from vs all the Princes fauour was turned vnto Axalla vnto whom he committed the whole charge of his army in so much as Axalla although he was alwaies in great reputation notwithstanding the same was much increased by the Prince at Quantoufou where the Prince did trust him with the army in so waightie an enterprise as that was and the which he so gloriously atchieued likewise the maner of entring into the kingdome of China the intelligences he had so as the report of his valour did flye throughout all the Empire Calibes led the vantgard and Axalla was in the battell neare vnto the Emperour who gaue him the chiefest place bestowing vpon him two hundred thousand crownes yearely for to maintaine his ordinarie expeÌ„ces Now he for his part had no desire to leaue his maister at quiet being desirous to draw him backe againe into his countrie to the ende he might afterwards moue him to enterprise some great matter the which might redound as well vnto the glorie of his maister as the quiet of the Christians of whom hee was verie carefull whatsoeuer was the cause thereof Thus after certaine dayes iourney we receiued newes of the Emperours ariuall at Cambula the Prince hauing left his army in a faire countrie for to winter where he dismissing many of our souldiers we arriued within foure leagues of Cambala whither all the Princes of the Emperours Court came for to receiue him together with al the principal inhabitants for to gratifie our Prince for his happie voyage The Prince hauing receiued euery one according to his woÌ„ted curtesie retaining notwithstanding conuenient Maiesty he was beheld to the great contentment of all his subiects He had with him the Empresse his wife who had not left him in his voyage The next day the Emperour did him so much honour as to come and meete him with all the magnificence that might be He gaue a present vnto the Emperour his vnkle of all the richest chariots and fayrest horses he had wonne And I can assure you that at such time as the Prince set foote on ground for to do reucrence vnto his vnkle the Emperour wept for ioy and this old Prince being on horsebacke would haue descended but our Prince beseeched him not to do him that wrong and with all the humilitie which he did owe vnto his Prince and Lord he hindred him from alighting The Emperour was verie desirous to see his daughter he caused her chariot to be vncouered and caused her to enter into his but the Prince remained on horsebacke whom the eyes of all the people could not be satisfied with admiring The Prince presented Calibes vnto the Emperour and making a recitall of his faithfulnesse and the endeuor of euery one he caused the Emperour to giue vnto him an hundred thousand crownes of increase vnto his pension Axalla was also presented vnto the Emperour who being informed of his valor he was receiued withall the best fouours that might be and he gaue vnto him of the reuenues belonging vnto the Empire an hundred thousand Tartarins of gold in a Principality that he might the better declare vnto him how much he esteemed of his fedelity This ioy and pleasure continued with vs all the winter where the Prince hauing receiued aduertisment how Baiazet Emperour of the Turkes had enterprised to ioyne the Empire of Greece vnto his owne fully determined to besiege Constantinople the which he vnderstanding succour being required of him by the Greeke Emperour he dispatched one towards Baiazet for to declare vnto him his pleasure herein and warned him on his behalfe not to trouble the Emperour Paleologue who was his confederate Now this motion came from Prince Axalla who had wrought this league being of kinne vnto Paleologue and also thrust forward with desire to maintaine his religion in Greece where hee was borne of the Geneuois race Whereunto being answered verie proudly by Baiazet vnto our Emperour asking what he had to do therewith and that he should content himselfe with enioyning lawes vnto his subiects and not vnto others seeing he was not borne his subiect This answere being made Axalla procured to be verie ill accepted of the Emperour and in such â—orâ— that he determined to hinder this enterprise of the â—ttomans not being conuenient for the greatnesse of the Tartarian Empire to suffer such a neighbour who would euen trouble his allies so as the Ambassador returned from thence
Buisabuiche and we caused our souldiers continually to aduance forward and to passe ouer Euphrates for to find better meanes to maintaine our armie vppon the spoyle of the enemie in attending their comming rather then vppon our owne selues or on our Allies From that place the Emperour did dispatch vnto the Emperour his vnkle one of the greatest fauourites he had about him for to certifie vnto him of the deliuerie of this noble Citie of Constantinople and how the Ottomans came fully resolued to giue battell and for to preuent dangers he gaue cōmandement that they should keepe the borders strong all his forces on horseback vpon the enemies side for often times as in prosperitie all your neighbours do smile vpon you and encline towards you so whensoeuer an ouerthrow happeneth euery one setteth vpon you do help to spoile you For this cause shold wise Princes assure well that which they do alreadie possesse least the victorious enemie pursuing his good fortune take from you the meanes to raise your selfe vp againe Our Emperour had alwayes this wisedome when such blowes happened for to aduertise his countries to stand vppon their guard rather then to publish vnto them his victorie So wee departed from thence after the Prince had assembled all the principall men of his armie to impart vnto them his purpose and for to receiue counsell of them the which his courtesie did vse of custome that made him to be beloued For the farther you were from him then did hee most honour you there were so manie seuerall Nations within our armie so many Captaines sent vnto him for his succour and then was the time when he principally was humble and layd aside his grauitie feasting them for the aide and succour they gaue vnto our armie Amongest the straungers this Chinois Lord did ordinarily receiue great honour of the Prince who was alwayes wont to say that the vertue of Axalla and the loue of this Lord towards him had made him Lord of the fairest kingdome of Asia The Emperour was verie desirous to acquaint and instruct this Lord with the manners and fashions of those people by whom we passed for he was alwayes neere vnto the Emperours person and all the forces he had cōducted vnto our armie wherein the Prince made shew to put great confidence they had marched with vs these two monethes and carried themselues very well as all our other forces did victuals being there in great plentie that which gaue vs so much thereof was the great iustice therein obserued So our armie came vnto Garga where it passed the riuer Euphrates the auantgard at Chinserig and the generall meeting of the armie was appointed to be at Gianich the which did yeeld it selfe and there had wee newes that Baiazet his armie was neare vnto vs within some thirty leagues which caused vs to march more close All the cities yeelded the Emperor receiuing them graciously and those which refused obedience were cruelly punished especially such inhabitants as were Turkes but the Christians set in full libertie vnder the name of the Greeke Emperour Emanuell whom the Emperour would wholly gratifie Axalla hauing receiued this commaundement from the Prince so he caused them to sweare fidelitie vnto Emanuell his purpose beeing to set him againe into his Empire and to punish this Baiazet for being so rash as to enterprise to destroy so flourishing an Empire as that of the Greekes his Allies Now the Emperours quarrell was iust against this proud lightning from heauen especially in respect of his execrable cruelties hee vsed against all sexes and ages vsurping an Empire the which had sought all possible meanes to make peace with his Armes but he soone broke it and falsified his faith vnto this poore Emperour according as he found the meanes by litle and litle to vsurpe almost all from him there remaining no more vnto him but some small townes belonging vnto his Metropolitan Citie the which he had also besieged It was then an honourable thing for the Emperour to deliuer this noble Empire from such great tyrannie an Empire so famous in the world and a citie so auncient out of the hands of so wicked and accursed an off-spring This was the cause that made the Emperor to hope for to haue God his great God for an helper in this enterprise But before I beginne I am desirous to speake a word of the vprightnesse of the Princes cause and also for to note the worthinesse of his courage in giuing helpe vnto the weake and punishing of the proud representing by such deedes the image of the diuinitie the which should be marked in Princes in vpholding the weake ones and those that require succour against such oppressions So God being with vs the armie fully replenished with ioy and hope we departed from Gianich Axalla who was in the auantguard hauing commaunded foure thousand Parthian horse for to get knowledge of the armie vnder the charge of Chianson Prince of Ciarcian commaunding him to put all vnto fire and sword and also to bring word vnto him of the place where Baiazet was and what countrie that was beyonde Sennas and if hee could learne anie thing thereof he should make relation thereof vnto him This Captaine was of great reputation and next vnto Axalla he had the commanding of the auantgard in his absence this man sent before him a Parthian light-horseman with fiue hundred horse So hee had not ridden tenne leagues but they heard newes of the armie and hauing surprised Sennas they vnderstood there the estate of the Turkes armie the which was at Tataya and marched forward The which being certified vnto the Emperour commandement was giuen vnto them not to retire from that place vntill they did see the arriuall of the enemie and thereof to giue aduertisement euerie houre the Prince determining to passe on no further hauing seene a faire plaine and a countrie of aduantage for the order of his battell for he knew that he had to deale with people expert in warres and which were accustomed to fight against the Christians who are verie actiue and war-like people who wanted not the knowledge of war-like stratagemes They knewe also that his armie was greater then Baiazets but it was yet of diuerse parts so as it behooued to be well aduised for it was not against the Chinois soft and effeminate people but against souldiers well acquainted with all manner of fights that are to be fought Then the Emperour did not omit any vigilancie for to keepe his aduantage Axalla was sent for by the Emperour to come and accompanie him for to view the said place and to consider whether it would be for his aduantage and to haue his aduise This place is between the sea Gianche on the side of Sēnas boūded of one side with a litle riuer which runneth into Euphrates And he was aduised to keepe Sennas as long as he could possibly and sent word vnto those which were within the same to set
so great successe obtained against so many and sundrie warlike people You my souldiers whose reputation flieth through all the world shall I beleeue this of you I will not neither ought I to beleeue it therefore follow me and let vs go and assault the Mamelues who you know of long time haue opposed themselues how farre soeuer from vs against our happinesse hauing ioyned themselues vnto the Ottomans for our destruction Would you that I should punish their rashnesse without you Would you that the Scithians and my allies should haue part in my victories and in the meane time you should go rest your selues and lose the glorie alreadie gotten The Prince had no sooner made an end but they all cryed with a loud voice that they wold liue and die with him and as they followed him into China so would they also follow him throughout all the world but they besought him to haue regard vnto their woundes to comfort their old age and that he would giue thē hope of rest the which the Prince promised vnto them Vnto the others the Emperour spake nothing at all for they were very glad to haue this glorie ouer the Parthians in perceiuing them willing to returne insomuch as when the Prince came to passe before the Scithian horsemen they all cryed in their language Victorious Emperour what doest thou march forward for we will follow thee The which did greatly content the Emperour Now the Parthians and Scithians were the principall forces the Prince had in his armie now the Emperour did nourish wisely emulation betweene them which of them should best manifest his faithfull affection The Pince commanded that the sick and wounded should be viewed throughout all the armie and that the Treasurer of the wars should distribute money among the companies ouer and aboue the ordinarie pay due vnto euery souldier so our armie departed and in the auantguard with Axalla was placed Andronicus together with him for to leade the head of the armie and it was reported vnto the Emperour that the Soldan of Egypt prepared forces from all parts for to resist the power which came against him but hee knew that he should haue much to doe and that it was very hard to stoppe a victorious armie wherein there were such a multitude of men who had ouerthrowen the strongest and most warlike Monarch that was in all Asia Insomuch as this gaue a great terror vnto the Mamelues But the Soldan who commanded ouer them at that present was a young Prince who had bene chosen for the great vertue and courage which was in him rather then for his great experience in war like affaires insomuch as he had not as yet since his election shewed his affection and as litle his valour vnto his subiects he had indeede his courage puffed vp by seeing himselfe through this choise Lord of many great cities well fortified so as he resolued to be ouerthrowen brauely In such sort as he put his hope in the winning of a battell frō the which what chance soeuer did happen he might retire himself at any time into a place of such aduātage that he might haue the means to hazard again another and hope thereby for a reuenge Whereof the Emperor was aduertised after he had conferred with Axalla Andronicus for to be aduised whither he should direct the head of his army for to constraine the enemie the sooner to come vnto battel it was in the end concluded that he should passe by Caramania directly vnto Geuolache the which was the first citie of the Mamelues Empire being one of the Soldans frontier townes which did separate him from the Turke euen there where the peace was sworne betwixt them the which Baiazet had sought to the end he might haue aide frō him to strēgthen himselfe thereby against the army which came vpon him So this place was well defended by the Soldan and it was well fortified Axalla aduancing forward his auantgard did summon the same to yeeld or else they shold receiue the iust reward of their rashnesse folly They made answere that they were children of obedience had commandement to die therein And that willingly they would there endure vntill death for their Prince country This wilfulnesse put the Prince into great choler who since he departed from his kingdom had not seene any one place which brought not to him their keies twentie leagues off before he came vnto thē to see a meane citie dare to stay his comming for to prepare to let his army The which the Emperour perceiuing he commanded Axalla to march on to lodge neare Aleppo the which he summoning did yeeld it self hauing no other then the inhabitants within the same The Prince in the mean time prepared himself vnto the siege whereto hauing caused his footmen to march his artillery to bee planted there was an assault giuen which was brauely defēded by thē within there were of our men slaine to the nūber of 1200. The Emperour greatly stirred determined to assault thē once againe hauing giuen a fresh assalt wherin the Prince of Thanais was wounded our men lodged vpon the wall and leauing no respite vnto them within they killed a great nūber of thē The Prince vnderstanding that the Soldan had promised thē aide whereof he was well aduertised and did certainely know that he marched forward he supposed that he had committed a fault in causing Axalla to aduance so farre so as he determined to set forward to ouertake him hoping by that meanes to surprise the enemie who came directly towards Axalla for to fight with him But the enemie did not looke for him so soone so hauing left all his cariages behind at the siege where the Prince of Thanais remained with thirtie thousand men only the rest he caused to march with him without any baggage vnto Bogras thither did Axalla send him word that the Soldan had passed the riuer at Confincan and that he came for to aide the besieged and it was reported that hee had 74000. horse and an hundred thousand footmen Now the Emperor being arriued at Aleppo vnderstood where the enemie was determining with himselfe to surprise him he caused Axalla to aduance forward with his auantgard himselfe staying halfe a day and then presently he followed his auantguard Axalla hauing set forward some fifteene hundred horse they were encountred and almost all slaine he not being able to aide them as he desired by reason of the vnfitnesse of the countrie and iudging that they were compassed about he did not assist them Now the enemies thinking to deale with none but those which were at Aleppo led by Axalla they came forward vnto the fight ill aduised so as Axalla had them vpon him before he supposed he aduertised the Emperor to come forward sent him word that he wēt vnto the battaile but that he would dally with the enemie as long as hee could to the end hee might haue leasure
to draw neare and assist him and that he would not faile to chuse his place of battel as much as he could for his aduantage whilest he looked for him he set forward presently twenty thousand horse with speed vnder the leading of Calibes In the meane time the enemie by reason of the place which was narrow a valley wherin his men could not march but in single ranke he aduanced not so soone the which Axalla supposed for otherwise he would haue retired but in the best manner he might vnto the Emperor So he determined to chuse a place for the battell to make his men for to fight in small troups to entertaine the enemy in cōming down the mountaine perceiuing that his purpose was to take his place for the battell at the foot of the same moūtain This sport endured 2. or 3. houres vntill Calibes came with 20000. horse for the assistance of Axalla who had also full 30000. more Andronicus betweene 8. and 10. thousand the most part Albanois who were good horsmen he requested the first charge the which Axalla did grant vnto him being loath to discontent him in the which hauing fought valiantly ouerthrowen slaine many of the enemies hee was one of the first that was slain for want of being aided by his men A Prince surely of such a courage as did much grace him and who verily in this his youth did follow the honour nobilitie of the bloud of them from whom he was descended Axalla assisted him with all his power who were in a manner all Parthians or Christians in the Princes pay who gaue a great shocke vpon the Soldans troupes and passing through them he found directly before him all their footmen he busied himselfe in fighting with thē in the meane time a troupe of fiue twentie thousand horse did set vpon Prince Calibes they say that therein was the Soldan himselfe who fought the one against the other very obstinately and in this meane space Axalla fought with these footmen which hee leauing halfe ouerthrowne sounded a retrait and seeing Prince Calibes hardly beset he went directly towards him and perceiuing the place where the enemies had the greatest aduantage his men the worst he charged this maine power on the flanke which 15000. horsemē seeing who were behind these footmen whom the Soldan had commanded that they should not fight but vpon need they came vpon Axalla on that side he had giuen his charge setting furiously vpon him they fought a lōg time so as he was wounded his horse slaine vnder him himself taken prisoner Which being reported vnto the Emperor by one that fled he cōming forward with as much speede as he could was greatly vexed hauing his chiefe confidence in this Captaine This caused the Emperor to make the more hast who if he had not come in so good time that day had made an ende of his good fortune but hauing commanded 10000. horse to aduance before him giue an onset he assisted thē with 25000. of his most faithfull horsemen hauing vpon his wings 20000. horse of his aiders The Soldan did not see this maine power by reason of the valley they came in he was greatly astonished for to behold the rest during the time that Prince Calibes Axallas men did fight Behold in an instant 10000 horse which set vpon the Mamelus who were almost maisters of the field The Prince also aduanced forward with all his footmen horsemē The Soldan not being able to resist so great a force he soūded a retrait finding the falt he had cōmitted seeing all the whole army vpon him Now Axalla being ouerthrowne by him who held him prisoner was on foot he was moūted againe on horseback his woūd was but a small matter the Emperour followed the victory three leagues It is reported that the Soldan had bene thrise mounted on horseback during the battell so well did he performe the duty of a good souldier captaine but the fault he had committed was great for he did not marke that all our army did not follow We cōmited another fault also in so much aduancing forward our auantgard which was like to haue cost vs deare for had it not bene for the art Axalla vsed the Emperor had neuer come in time to assist him but we may say that fortune the mistris of all did bring to passe that our faults were often turned into stratagems of war so great hap did accōpany our Prince so his comming was the victory of his mē Behold how this war was much shortned against the opinion of many for it was knowne how the Soldan was counselled wisely to draw this war into length notwithstanding he could not shun his ill hap Our Armie could not lie in one place for the great multitude especially the coūtry being also in many places vnfruitful These newes being come to the Prince of Thanais at Goulach and he making the same knowne vnto the enemies they were greatly astonished as soone had he cōmandement from the Prince to punish thē well for their rashnesse and to put all vnto the sword without any mercy to giue terror vnto those which would wilfully resist his forces and also he wold haue it to be an example vnto others which was done being won by assault their courage failing them by reason of the losse their men had receiued as also for that the nūber of their souldiers was much diminished by the fight giuen vnto thē night day The Prince wold not returne back againe but abode at Aleppo where the Prince of Thanais came ioyned with him not hindring Axalla frō aduācing forward with the horsemen of the auantgard to the end that the Soldan shold haue no respit to take breath who was retired with 40000. horse There died in the battel ful 80000. men no men of marke but Andronicus three Parthiā Captaines of great estimatiō the Soldans cariages were the next day taken wherein was great riches He made dispatches vnto all his allies also vnto the Greek Emperor cōforting him for the losse of Prince Andronicus as also for to receiue order frō him for a new cōmander ouer the Greekes He sent also some for to carrie newes of his victory into all his kingdoms In this meane space the Soldan withdrew himselfe into Egypt fortified all his cities demāding aide of mē mony of all his allies He deuided the rest of his army where he thought was need therof he burnt spoiled before our army sparing nothing to hinder vs from passing any further a thing which brought vnto vs great discōmodity wāt began to be in our army it was so great in so much as it behoued the Prince to make a reuiew of all his army to see what vnprofitable mēbers were therin to sēd thē from the same He was aduised to deuide his army into three parts the first vnder the Prince the other
aide sent vnto him from the Emperour of Greece hauing first giuen great presents vnto the Captaines and also vnto the Lieutenant of the late Prince Caâ—ta Cusni so that the meanest souldier rested well contented assuring you that our Prince was much renowmed for knowing how to bound his ambition who knew howe to stretch the same ouer all the world for hauing with good successe ioyned thereunto the Empire of the Soldan it had bene easie for him to haue made Constantinople the principall seate of his conquests and by these meanes to ioyne all his countries together whereof the Sea might haue bene his limits the which being declared vnto him by one of his counsellers that kept the seale whom they call Chanceller whom the Prince did credit in many of his affaires that such large bounds it was easie for him to haue at his returne saying vnto him that it behoued great men to vse their faith and friendship vnto their most aduantage and that hee was a publike person vnder whose gouernment so many people and seuerall nations did wholly repose themselues and that he should not neglect so great a benefite which would bring so much glorie and greatnesse vnto the Parthian nation He answered that he liked better to leaue their limits founded vpon his vertue then increased to his dishonour by infidelitie Whensoeuer the Greeke Emperor shall giue me any other occasion then as a friend and good neighbour then shall he feele my power God will assist my good cause I thinke my friend that I neuer did any thing more of the honour and glorie of my Empire and vnto the Parthian nation then for to leaue a memoriall vnto posteritie that a Parthian Emperour did come so long a iourney for to minister iustice vpon such a tyrant dogge as Baiazet and for to set at libertie this worthie nobilitie whom he would bring into bondage And hauing power to performe it I haue not done the same but haue in such sort bounded my ambition as to abstaine from commanding ouer the fairest and richest Empire and for to gouerne the most beautifull Citie in the world I will reason with you my friend and say that I haue not obtained anie such victorie as that is although I be the Conqueror of so manie seuerall people and nations so farre off and that my Armes euen vnto this present through the almightie fauour of the great God my God haue alwayes bene victorious It is an ordinarie matter to winne battailes to conquer kingdomes and for to prescribe lawes vnto Empires manie haue done the same but there be fewe to be found amongst the great Princes and Potentates who haue ballanced iustice and equitie with their ambition but putting themselues by right or wrong into the middest of the worlde haue held onely force for iustice the which some haue vsed not hauing regard either vnto equitie or faith I will at the least wise leaue this example vnto posteritie Do you not see how this faith which I keepe with mine enemies maketh them become my faithfull friends What force and vertue think you wil it haue with them which be my friends already And how greatly shall my honour and reputation bee increased Commend me then I pray you and leaue to blame me The Chanceller being returned from him who was verie wise declared this discourse vnto mee the which I would not omit to make the good nature of my Prince the better knowne whose historie I do set foorth As also that his conditions should bee the better represented before the eyes of those which haue not diligently considered the same or rather for such as heare speach of the blessing that God hath bestowed vpon him in so manie happie conquestes to the end his goodnesse should bee acknowledged and not attributed vnto fortune or blinde chaunce the which raiseth vp the vicious as soone as the vertuous So the Prince came vnto Damasco where hee found Axalla who stayed his comming with the Auaunt-guard who had made an end of vtterly destroying it for that hee knew the same to be euill affected His Armie encamped eight dayes therein Prince Axalla hauing receiued commandement to send sixe thousand horse vnto the great Chamberlaine to the end that hee might passe ouer the riuer of Euphrates with safetie and he went to besiege Mebeg againe the which within three dayes he tooke and Raflan also and all the countrie yeelded vnto the Emperours obedience and especially the Cities situated vpon the riuer of Euphrates The Prince gaue vno him a commandement to stay at the passage for to ioyne with him and himselfe in person to come vno him all the which hee performed accordingly The Prince did giue him very good entertainment greatly commending his valour and courage before all the Captaines of the Army and afterwardes sent him backe vnto his charge hauing commandement to ioine a part of his forces with those of Axalla and himselfe was appointed vnto the Arier-guard ouer the which Calibes had bene leader although indeed our Armie marched all in a front for the Prince marched in the middest Axalla on the right hand and the great Chamberlaine vpon the left the Prince of Thanais was in the Battaile neare vnto the Prince I do not here set downe by name so manie Princes and other great Captaines the which commanded ouer troupes as well of horse as footmen So the Emperor came vnto Mebeg where he passed ouer the riuer of Euphrates from the which place he sent other ten thousand horse vnto Calibes vnder the coÌ„duct of the Prince of Atacen together with fifteene or sixteene thousand footmen for aide he being commanded to take his way by Babylon and to make the same subiect vnto the Prince and he remained in the same place to vnderstand what successe Atacen had he being also commanded to remaine in that same place to heare newes from Calibes and to aduertise him what need he had of him the Emperour hauing bene certified of some stirring of the Soldan Notwithstanding Calibes sent word that they came from all parts to submit themselues vnder the Princes obedience In the end after some abode he caused the front of his army to march directly into Armenia being desirous to passe by Diaberoth and punish these litle kings who had rebelled against his men being also desirous to bring vnder the subiection of the Parthian Empire those countries which lie euen at the mouth of Euphrates which the Prince of Atecen did happily bring to passe Embassadors came from all the kings which commanded to take the oth of fidelity for the same for you must vnderstand that since the Empire of the Christians which they call Romans they were sometimes gouerned by the Ottomans sometimes by the Soldans sometimes by the Califes sometimes by the Lieutenants general of the Romans so as these people were now at the strongest but greatly destroyed by means of these warres Now the Prince would assure himselfe
speeche vnto TamerlaÌ„ thereupon The siege of Caire in Egypt by Tamerlan Great Caire won by Tamerlan The courage of the Soldans men swimming euer the riuer of Nilus with one hand their weapoÌ„ in the other The Soldan his speech vnto those about him after his ouer throw at Caire The faithfulnesse of the Soldans men towards their Maister Tamerlan mercifull A wise foresight in Tamerlan after his victorie The bountie of Tamerlan Tamerlan went by the riuer of Nilus vnto Alexandria The Soldanâ— words when he fled from Alexandria Arsanibei his â—reachery against Tamerlan Tamerlan his great daunger and valiant defence of him selfe to the mischiefe of the traitor Arzambei beheaded for treason against Tamerlaâ— with diuers of his coÌ„panions at Alexandria A resolute saying of TamerlaÌ„ Obedience swâ—â—ne vnto Tamerlan by almost all the kings of Afriâ—â— A strange opiâ—ion in Tamerlan of Fortuâ—es fauor The Author saith that this may be praised in a Pagan infidel not in a Christian Prince Calibeâ— made Gouernor of Siria with the rest conquered in Africa Tamerlan his deuotion 〈◊〉 Ierusalem Tamerlan granted great priuiledges vnto Ierusalem The great Chamberlaine his disâ—râ—â—t cariagâ— of himselfe in Assâ—ria and Persia The pollitickâ— valiant seruice performed by the great Chamberlaine Anâ—table conference â—etwhen Tamerlan and his great ChaÌ„celler Damasco destroyed by Tamerlan Tamerlan with his Army marched into Persia. Aid sent vnto Calibes into Egipt Guines the holy Persian The strange comming of Guines vnto Tamerlan Guines religioÌ„ abused for the increase of his greatnesse Tauris Talismahar Axalla marched with his armie into the countrey of Tauris Camares Encounters betweene Axalla and Camares Lieutenant vnto Talismahar A Maxime A stratageme The â—aliantnesse of Axalla The battell betweene Axalla and Camares The ouerthrow and death of Camares A composition with certaine of the inhabitants of Tauris Talismahar chosen Prince of Tauris A great â—â—tinâ—e within the city of Tauris The faction of Guines within the citie of Tauris sent vnto Tamerâ—â— â—â—â—mult within the City of Tauris The Prince elected departeth out of Tauris Articles of treatie sent by the inhabitants of Tauâ—is vnto Tamerlan 1 2 3 4 Tamerlan his entrance into the city of Thanais Prince Axalla dispatched by Tamerlan into Tartaria after the death of the great Cham. Tamerlan abused through Guines holines Guines praâ—â—ise with the Chancellor and other Princes about Tamerlan The cunning practises of Guines vnder the cloake of religion Tamerlan and his army came vnto Samercand with all their spoyles Tamerlan his 〈◊〉 vnto God Tamerlan built a temple and hospitall at Samarcand Tamerlan his ordinarie court of forty thousand horse and threescore thousand footmen Tamerlan his wise foresight Articles of a new agreement betweene Tamerlan and the king of China 1 2 3 4 Mount Althay the burying place of the Scithian Emperors called the great Cam. The magnificent funerall of the great Cam of Tartaria Tamerlan his vertuous and chaâ—â— loue vnto his good wife The young Prince made gouerner of Quinzai and ouer all the country Axalla appointed the yong Princes gouernour and authorised ouer all the kingdoms of Tamerlan as gouerner generall The Prince of Thanais sent into Egypt to assist Calibes Good foresight in the Prince of Thanais â—or the victualing of Caire and Egypt from the Grecian Ilands The Prince of Thanais doth bring victuals into Caire The Prince of Thanais actions in Egypt and happy successe in the same The siege of Muiare with the taking of the same by â—â—â—ce The vnmercifull act of the Soldan The speech of the souldiers in the Prince of Thanais campâ— The number of the Soldans armie Calibes comming downe the riuer of Nilus to victuall Caire Synopes The valour of Synopes by meanes wherof he obtained â— notable victory of the Soldans men entreâ—ched within an Iland in the riuer of Nilus Calibes drowned A stratageme The Soldan wounded in passing the riuer The Prince of Thanais assâ—lâ—ed the Soldans campe wherin were twentie thousand footemen left who vpon parley yeelded themselues The Prince of Thanais notable victorie against the Soldan The death of the Soldan The Prince of Thanais appointed gouernor of Siria Egypt after the death of Calibes The king of China came vnto the Emperour Tamerlans court did sweare vnto him once againe obedieÌ„ce The meane apparell of Tamerlan An apt comparison A notable saying of Tamerlan The description of the citie of Quinzai with the wonderfull situation therof Tamerlan receiued with great magnificeÌ„ce into Quinzai with rich rare presents The order 〈◊〉 tooke for his sons education Tamerlan his notable saying of succession in his Empire The Empresse deliuered of an other son at Samarcand iâ— Parthia Tamerlan his recreations notable saying thereof The admiration and exceeding loue the people of Quinzâ—i did did bearâ— vnto their Emperor The nature of the people of Quinzai towards their Emperor Prince Axalla sent into China for to establish a peace there A great vertue in Princes The meeting of Prince Axalla with the king of China at Poâ—hio The resolution of the meeting between Axalla and the king of China Tamerlan his custome in placing gouerners ouer his prouinces Tamerlan his worthy custom Consultatioâ— Resolution The discipline of the Parthians Commissions dispatched by the Chauncellor vnto Odmar and Axalla for their gouernements Tamerlan the most excellent man in the art of warre Tamerlan loued hunting but as a good exercise TamerlaÌ„ built a Temple at Samarcand and called it the Temple of Salomon Tamerlan his Zealous gratefulnesse towards God The godlinesse and iustice of Tamerlan Tamerlan his great liberality Tamerlan his care of his reâ—enue Seuere punishment against deceitfull treasurers Tamerlan very liberall The Parthian discipline The order of Tamerlan his standing caÌ„pe The inuention of Artillery amongst the Christians Consultation Râ—solution Tamarlan waxed sickly Astrologians Tamâ—rlan his second iourney against the â—â—â—â—mans Tribute payed by the Emperour of Greece vnto Tamâ—â—laÌ„ for the most part of Natâ—lia Disâ—ord betweene the brethren for the Empire of Greece being deuided amongst them The Greeke Emperour did seeke aide of the Turke his mortall enemy against Tamerlan his approued friend The Turke the Sold an ioyned together against Tamerlan Calepin his forces A stratageme The worthy exployt performen by Stâ—â—an with three thousand light horse in the Turkes Campe in tho night A Maxime The discomfiture of the Bassa with his flight by night The râ—sâ—nesse of the Prince of Thanais Stucan slaine The battaile bâ—tween Axalla the Bassa Axalla his victorie against the Bassa The braue resolution of the Ianizaries The Prince of Thanais sore wounded The Ianizaries passe ouer at Gallipoli into Europe to ioyne with Calepin Axalla greatly reprehended the Prince of Thanais for his rashnesse Axalla verie sad for the indisposition of the Emperour his master The Bassaes head brought vnto Axalla A league of friendshippe sworn between Prince Axalla and the Prince of Thanais The death of the Emperour Tamerlan Axalla lamented the death of the Emperor Tamerlan priuately but bitterly The worthie mind of Prince Axalla towards his new Prince The meeting of the Prince of Thanais Prince Axalla â—o what end The lamentation for the Emperours death by the whole armie Axallaes faith fulnesse vnto the Prince The Emperour Tamerlan his discourse vnto his sonne before all his counsell lying vpon his death bed Newes brought vnto the Emperour Tamerlan of Axallas victories in Natolia against Calepins forces Tamerlan his speech vnto the messenger and to the Prince his sonne Tamerlan his last speech blessing vnto his sonnes The death of the Emperour Tamerlan Prince Santochio proclamed Emperour and signed dispatches Prince Sautochio 19. yeares olde when he came vnto his Empire