Persye which was called Cosserossath he rose ayenst the emê‘our of Rome and made hym selfe to be called the emperour of Asye This emê‘our toke the lordeshippe of Persy of Mede of Armeny of Calde his power encerased somoch that he droue themperour of Rome his men from all the foresayd landes And the Persyens reygned in Asye the space of CCC yeres And after the Sarasyns toke the sayde lordship from them as here after shal be declared ¶ Whan the sarasyns entred into Syri IN the yere of the incarnacion of our lorde .vi. C. and xxxii yeres the euyllsede of Mahomet cam into the realme of Syri· And fyrst they toke froÌ„ the grekes handes then oble citie of Damas after they ocupyed all the realme of Sirie After they came be seged the cytye of Antyoche Whan themperour Eracles men were come to a playne that is named Pofferit the sarasyns came and met theym and thrre began a great batayle that lasted longe but at the ende the sarasyns had the victory And so many meÌ„ wer slayne in the same batayle that the bones yet be sene in the felde of the whiche thynge the grekes that kept the citie of Antioch were so a frayed in so moche that they delyuerd the lande into the sarasyns handê by appoyntmeÌ„tes Than the enemys of the holy faythe ocupyed Cylice Capadoce Lyconie and other ryche landes wherof they rose in so great pride that they apparellyd galeys and shippes and went to Constantynople fyrste they aryued in Cipres and there they toke a cytie that was called Constance there was the graue of saynt Barnabe the apostle and whan they had taken all the ryches of the sayd cytie they brake the walles downe to the foundacion and neuer syth the sayd citie was inhabyted And than they departed came to the yle of Rhodes toke it with other dyuers yles of the Rhomayns landes and brought prysoners without nombre And after they went to ConstaÌ„tinople and layd therto sege bothe by see by lande in great fere wer the cytizens in somoche that they cryed our lorde mercy wherof it fortuned god that is mercyfull sende a great tempest of wynd rayne in that somer That all the galeis of the sarasyns were broken and the enemis almoost all drowned and than the sarasyns retorned without doinge any other thynge ¶ How that the sarasyns entred into the realme of Mesopotamy WHan the christen meÌ„ of ConstaÌ„tynople se that they were delyuerd by the grace of god they made a soleÌ„pne day for to worshyp god for the honour of theyr saluatioÌ„ which day is kept euery yere to this day with great worship After that the sarasyns were refresshed a certen tyme after thei thought to gather a great nomber of people to take the realme of Mesopotamy and Calde That were of the lordship of the realme of Persy the kynge of Persy that was called Asobari othe feringe the great myght of the sarasyns sende his messangers to the kyng to the lordes his neyghbours that were at the syde of the flode of Phison and required theÌ„ of helpe and socoure promysinge great gyftes to all theym that shold come And vpon that thei came togyther to the realme of Turky aboute foure thousande men of armes that were called Turkmens and thei moued for to com helpe the kinge of Persy agaynst the sarasyns and so they passed ouer the flode of Physon But for cause it is the maner of that peple to cary wyues and chyldern with theym where so euer they go they coude nat take great iourneis The sarasyns that were in the realme of Calde that had taken the sayd realme thought that yf the hoost of the Turkmens shold come to gether with the hoost of Persy they sholde not lightly acoÌ„plyssh there owne men of the realme of Persy and toke counsayle to sende to the kyng of Persy the kyng of Persy that coude nat chuse put hyÌ„ ayenst theÌ„ And therby a cytye that is called Maraga began a great batayle which lasted loÌ„ge in that which was of bothe partes many men slayn and at the later ende the kinge was slayne in the batayle and so dyed this was in the yere of our lorde god .vi. C. and .xxxiii. ¶ How the sarasyns chose theyr sowdan AFter that the Sarasyns had taken the lordshyp of Persye and dyuers realmes in Asye they chose there amonge them a lorde the which they called the Sowdan that is to say kynge in latten tonge the foresayd Sarasyns toke the lordshyppe of the lande of the great Asye except the realme of Abcas that is in Georgy and a countray in the realme of Armeny that is called GlaÌ„segarfordis these two countreys holden agaynst the Sarazyns so well that they coude neuer haue the lordship of it And there the crysteÌ„ men fledde a way for fere of theyr enemys of the Turkmens that came for to helpe the kyng of Persy we shall say some thynge shortely bycause that their hystory shall be of more clere vnderstandyng the abouesayd Turkemens came to a lande that is called Corasten and there they herde tydinges of the vndoynge of the Persyens of the kynges deth wherfore they wold go no farther but they thought to holde this sayde lande of Corasten for them selfe and thought that they shold kepe it well ayenst the sayd Sarasyns wherof it hapened that the Sarasyns brought a great hoost togyder and came agaynst theÌ„ the TurkmeÌ„s feryng the batayle dyde send theyr messeÌ„gers to the Calyfe of baldach ê“ferynge them to his coÌ„maundemeÌ„t the which thinge pleased moche the sayd Calyfe to the sarsyns and so the receyued the Turkmens to a trust and chased theym out of the sayde lande of Corasten and put them out to dwell iÌ„ a nother land where that they sholde nat fere their rebellion and ordayned that they sholde pay euery yere a tribute to the lordeshyp And in this maner abode the Turkemens vnder the lordshyp of the Sarasyns longe tyme to the tyme that the sarasyns toke the lordshyp of Persy Mede and of Calde And there they turned all to the false lawe of Mahomet And after it fortuned that the Calyfe of baldach coÌ„maunded to come before hym all the moost old wysest men of the Turkmens desyred them that they sholde beleue in Mahometes lawe And that they shold teche the other Turkmens to beleue so and promysed them to do them great grace honour yf they wolde do his commaundment the Turkmens that had no lawe were lightly consentynge to the Calyfes wyll wherof it came that the Turkemens that were .lxiiii. nacions were made all sarasyns except two kynredes that were deceyued of the others And thaÌ„ thei began to loue the Turkmens to do them honoure grace And so longe dwelled ther the TurkmeÌ„s that they multiplyed of goodes people and there humbly wysely kept themselfe And the sarasyÌ„s kept the lordshyppe of Asye .iiii. C. and .xviii.
Albaga Can the barownes came togyder and ordayned one of Albaga CaÌ„s brothers that was called Tangader this Tangader was greter than any of the other brethern Whan he was a chylde his name was Nychole but after that he was made lorde he toke the sarasyns company and dyde call hym selfe Mahomet Can. He putte all his wyt to coÌ„uert the tartas to the false lawe of Mahomet Whan many of the tartas wer conuerted to the sarasyns lawe This Mahomet that was the deuyls sonne dyde breke downe all the christenmens churches and coÌ„maunded that they shulde nat worshippe the lawe of Chryst nor the name of Chryst put away all the christeÌ„men prestes and relygiousmen and dyd prech Mahometes lawe through all his landê And he send his messangers to the sowdan of Egypt and made promyse of peace and loue and promysed to the sowdaÌ„ that he shulde cause all the christeÌ„men that were in his lande to tornÌ„ and to be sarasyns or els he shuld put them all to dethe Of this the sarasyns were all gladde and the christeÌ„men were sory and of great disconfort In so moche that they wyst nat what they shulde do but put theym selfe into the mercy of oure lorde god For they se come vpon theym great persecucions The sayd Mahomet sende to the kynge of Armeny to the kynge of Georgy and to the other christen men of the Orient that they shuld come to hym The good christenmen were in great thought and great fete All the whyle that the christeÌ„men werein so moche trybulation vnder the lordshippe of this euyll Mahomet but god that is with theÌ„ that belyue in hym sende to the christeÌ„men a great confort For a brother of the sayd Mahomet and one of his neuewes that was called MorgoÌ„ rose agaynst hym for his euyll warkes gaue knowlege to themperour Cobyla Can how he distroyed and preched to the tartas that they sholde torne to the sarasyns lawe Whan Cobyla Can vnderstode that he sende a commaundement to Mahomet that he shold leue his euyl warkes or els he shulde ryse agaynst hym Of this mater Mahomet was sore dyspleased and dyd so moche that he toke his brother and kylde hym And than after he went for to take Argon but ArgoÌ„ putte hym in a strong castell that was in a mountayne Mahomet dyde lay sege to the sayd castell at the ende Argon yelde hym selfe sauynge his owne lyfe and his seruauntes ¶ How the false Mahomet was slayne by his neniew Argon WHan Mahomet had his neuiewe vnder his power he delyuerd hym to one of his constables for to kepe And after ordained that his men shulde come softly after hym and he hyÌ„ selfe wolde go towarde Thoris there as he had lefte his wyfe And commauÌ„ded to the coÌ„stable that he shulde secretly kyll his neuiewe Argon and that he shulde bryng hyÌ„ his heed to Thoris A great myghty man founde hym that which Argons father had norysshed and done moche good to hym This sayd man had gret pyâ—e vpon Argon and than vpon a nyght came and slewe the constable and all them that were of his company And delyuerd Argon from dethe and out of pryson and made Argon lord ouer them all and to hym they were obeydâ—ent and redy to do hym seruyce Whan this was done ArgoÌ„ rydde hastely and dyde so moche that he ouertoke Mahomet Can or that he came to Thoris and incontynently he cutte hym all in peces And after this maner the cursed dogge Mahomet fynisshed his lyfe the seconde yere of his reygne ¶ In the yere of our lorde god a thowsande two honderde .lxxxv. After that Mahomet was deed Argon was made lorde of the Tartas and the great emperour confermed hym in his lordship and wolde that he shulde be called Argon Can. And bycause of that Argon was moch more worshipped than any of his auÌ„cytours This Argon was fayre and plesaunt of visage and a storng man of body and kept his lordshyppe wysely He gouerned well his lordshippe and he loued well and honoured moch the christeÌ„men And the churches of the christeÌ„men that Mahomet brake downe Argon caused theÌ„ to be newe made agayn And than came to hym the kyng of Armeny the kyng of Georgy and the other christeÌ„men of the Orient prayed Argon that he wolde take payne to delyuer the holy lande Wherupon Argon toke aduysmeÌ„t entendyng to make peace fyrst with his neyghbours to thyntent that he myght go the more surer agaynst the sowdans power And as it happened that Argon was in that good purpose In the fourth yere of his raygne as it pleased god he dyed And one of his brethern that was called Kalgato was made lorde after hym This sayd Kalgato was the vnprofitablyst lord that euer reygned in that couÌ„trey sith CaÌ„gius Can was made lord as it shal be rehersed here after ¶ How Kalgato was drowned by his owne people IN the yere of our lorde god M.CC.lxxxix After the deth of Argon Can his brother Kalga to helde the lordship This sayde Kalgaro beleued nat well nor he was nothyng worth iÌ„ armes but demeaned hym selfe lyke a foule beest in etyng of denteth meres drinkynge of swete wynes to fyll his belly Non other thyÌ„g dyd he in .vi. yerê whyle he kept his lordshippe For the great peuisshnesse that was in hym his owne people began to hate hym to disprayse hym and so at the ende his owne peple drowned hym After the deth of this Kalgato one of his cosyns was mad lord which was called Baydo This sayd Baido was a gode christeÌ„maÌ„ dyd moch good to the christeÌ„men but he lyued nat longe in this worlde ¶ After the deth of Kalgato Baydo had the lordship of his brother This man as a good christeÌ„man caused the churches of the christeÌ„men to be buylded vp agayn and coÌ„mauÌ„ded that none shulde prech the lawe of Mahomet in his laÌ„de Of that the sarasyns that were multyplied were sore greued and thaÌ„ the sarasyns the tartas send pryuely to Consan messaÌ„ges which was Argons sonne promysed hym that they wold make hym lord that they shulde gyue hym Baydos lordship if he wolde forsake the christen fayth Casan that set nat moche by the fayth of Christ was lightly torned for he was moche couytus to haue the lordship and was content to do after theyr desyre Wherupon CoÌ„san rose than Baydo gathered his hoost cam agaynst Consan and knewe nat the treason of his people ¶ How Casan was deceyued by the traytour Chapchap WHan Baydo thought to come agaynst CoÌ„san all they that kept Mahometz law deê‘ted weÌ„t towarde Casan Whan Baydose that his men had betrayed hym he torned backe agayn but Casan send after and toke him so as Baydo fledde away he was kylde than Casan toke the lordshippe ¶ After Baydos deth CasaÌ„ kept the lordship he shewed hym selfe moch proude to the christeÌ„men that dyde he for the
hadde done moche harme there and dryuen his men away that he left ther forto kepe the lande vpon that Casan had counsell that he shulde retorne into his countrey And in the next yere he might well entre into the realme of Syrie Casan was sore displeased that the mater of the holy lande taryed so long Than he coÌ„maunded to Catholosa that he shulde entre into the realme of Syrie with .xl. thousande tartas and that he shulde take the cyte of Damas and that he shuld put to the swerde as many as he shulde take And coÌ„maunded to the king of Armeny that he shulde go with his men with Catholosa with .xl. thousand Tartas on horsbacke that they shulde entre into the realme of Syrie and as they shuld go to wast all the countrey They had thought to haue found the sodan in that countrey as they had done in tymes past but they fouÌ„d hym nat but they herd say that he was at Gazette And that he wold nat departe out of that countrey Wherfore Catholosa and the kinge of Armeny dyd assayle set vpon the cyte of Hames so well that with in fewe dayes they toke it byforce and put all the men and womeÌ„ to the swerd wtout any mercy Thei founde there great ryches great plenty of beestes vitayles And after that they went before the cytie of Dames to thintent to set vpon it But the burges of the cyte desyred them that they shuld gyue theÌ„ terme for thre dayes and after that they shulde yelde them to mercy The terme was grauÌ„ted to them but ronners made a course from the tartas hoost well a dayes iourney be ende Damas toke a certayne nombre of sarasyns whiche they sende to Catholosa their captayn And by those sarasyns Catholosa knewe that within .ii. dayes iourney from thens were .xii. thousande sarasyns on horsbacke taryeng for the sowdans coÌ„myng Whan Catholosa vnderstod this tidynges he rode hastely dyde so moche that he came to the place ther as the .xii. thousande sarasiÌ„s wer to euynsong tyme thinkyng to ouertake theÌ„ or the sowdan shuld come But a lytell whyle before the sowdaÌ„ was come with his power Whan Catholosa and the king of Armeny se that the sowdan was come they toke counsell what they shulde do and bycause it was almoost nyght they had counsell to rest them And vpon the next day they shuld set wysely vpon the sowdan but Catholosa that dspiraysed the sowdan wolde nat tary so longe But coÌ„mauÌ„ded that his meÌ„ shulde take corage and that valyantly they shuld set vpon theyr ennemys The sarasyns that were lodged in a strong place betwene .ii. waters wold nat depart to fyght for they knewe well that the tartas coude nat come to them without great losse And bycause of that the sarasyns wolde nat departe from thens the tartas rode hastely to set vpoÌ„ their eÌ„nemys but thei fouÌ„d a lytel water that they coude nat passe in dyuers places that troubled theÌ„ moch or they coude passe the sayd water whan Catholosa the kyng of Armeny and the moost part of theyr men was passed they set valiantly vpon theyr enenmys thei kylde all them that they met in theyr way and chased them tyll that nyght the sowdan wolde nat come from his place nor come to the batayle That night Catholosa lodged by a mouÌ„tayn with his meÌ„ except .x. M. that coude nat passe the water by day lyght Than the next day Catholosa ordayned his men for to fyght but the sowdan wold nat come out of that place nor come to the batayle The tartas toke moch labour forto haue the sarasyns out of that place but they coude nat in no wyse The batayle lasted tyll none but for faute of water the tartas were wery went backe forto fynde water And went in order one after an other tyll they cam to the playne of Damas and there they founde pasture and water I nough And Catholosa ordayned to rest his meÌ„ and his horses a certayne whyle there bycause that they shulde be the fressher forto retorne fyght agaynst the sowdan WhaÌ„ the tartas hoost was lodged in the playne and thought to be in rest the men of Damas lette ronne the water of the fludde by cundittes and dyches so moche that or .viii. of the clocke in the mornynge the playne was all couered with water and the wayes Wherfore the Tartas wer fayne to ryse hastely and also the nyght was darke the diches and the wayes were al full of water Wherfore the hoost was in great confusyon horse beestes and harnes were lost and many men drowned to great losse ThaÌ„ the day come and so they were delyuerd by the grace of god out of that daunger but the bowes and the arowes wherof the Tartas occupyed the moost in batayle wer so weyt that they cound nat helpe them therwith In this maner the Tartas hoost were sore troubled that yf the sarasyns had come sodaynly vpon theÌ„ they might haue ouercome them The tartas begaÌ„ to go backe agayne softly bycause of theyr horses lost came i. viii dayes iourney to the fludde of Eufrates they were fayne to passe ouer vpon theyr horses the beste that they coude do The flud was gret and depe so moche that many Georgyns and tartas were lost ther And so the Tartas went backe agayne to theyr coÌ„fusyon nat for the power of their eÌ„nemys but by euyll couÌ„sell for Catholosa myght auoyded all that myscheffe if he wolde haue beleued good couÌ„sell ¶ How the kynge of Armeny went to Casan I Frere Hayton that maketh mencion of this history was present And if I haue spoken to long of this mater I pray you ê‘don me for I haue done it to the entent to put of the daungers In lyke mater for the warkes that be done by counsell ought for to haue good ende After that the kyng of Armeny had passed the fludde of Eufrates nat wtout great labour losse of his men He toke couÌ„sell to go se Casan or he shuld go into Armeny Than the king toke his way went streyght to the cyte of Ninyue ther as CasaÌ„ dwelled at that tyme Casan receyued the king honorably had pyte of the grete losse that he had of his men And for bycause that the king of Armeny his men had serued truely in all theyr besynesses Casan dyde a speciall grace to the kyng For he gaue hym a M. tartas that were good horsmen coÌ„maunded that thei shuld dwell ther forto kepe the lande of Armeny to the kynge of Turkes cost tyll that he shuld be able to gyue wages to a C. other knightes to his wyll After that the kynge toke his leue at Casan and went into his couÌ„trey and Casan sayde to hym se that ye kepe your land well tyll that I shall come ê‘sonably forto recouer the holy lande ¶ How the sowdan made trewse with the kyng of Armeny THe kyng of
Armeny retorned into his countrey but syth his coÌ„mynge ther he had but lytell rest For the sowdan send in the same yere almoost euery moneth a great noÌ„bre of men a warr that ran almoost all the lande of Armeny wasted all the playn wherfore the realme of Armeny was worse than euer it was before but god almighty that is with them that serue hym had mercy of the peple christeÌ„men of Armeny wherof it happened that in the moneth of Iuly .vii. M. sarasyns of the best of the sowdaÌ„ of Egiptz house entred into the realme of Armeni ronned all the playn wastyng robbing to the cyte of Tersot In the which saynt Paule was borne This ennemys dyde moche hurt and as they were goynge backe agayne The kyng of Armeny gathered his hoost met with them nygh the cyte of Layas was the batayle And by the grace of oure lorde god theyr ennemys were ouercome in suche maner that of the vii M. sarasyns skaped nat .iii. hondred but they wer slayn or taken And that was vpon a sonday the .viii. day of Iuly after that batayle they durst nomore come iÌ„ the realme of Armeny But the sodan sende made truese with the king of Armeni And I frere Hayton maker of this warke was present to this thinges longe tyme afore that I was purposed to take the order of relygioÌ„ But I coud nat for the great besinesse that the kyng of Armeny had at that tyme. I coud nat for myne honour forsake my lordes and my frendê in all nedis but sith god of his grace hath gyuen vs the victory agaynst our ennemys And also gyuen grace to leue the realme of Armeny in suffycient good state shortly after I thought forto make an end of my bowe And than I toke leue of the kyng of my kynred frendes in that tyme that our lorde gaue vs the victory agaynst the ennemys of our fayth I toke my way caÌ„ iÌ„ to Egipt ther into our lady Delepiscopie chirch of the order of Premontrey I toke the abyte of relygion longe I had ben knyght in this world to thyntent forto serue god the remenauÌ„t of my lyfe And this was in the yere of our lorde god M.CCC.v. grace mercy to god for the realme of Armeny is reformed in better state than it was by the yonge kinge my lorde Lynon in the old tyme baron the which is full of vertue and grace And also we trust that in this yonge kyng of Armenys dayes The realm of Armeni shal be in his gode first state with the helpe of our lorde Ihesu Christ ¶ The auctour ¶ yet I that hath made this boke se all that is in the thyrde parte of this boke I knowe it in .iii. maners For from the begynnyng of Cangius Can that was the first emperour of the tartas tyll Mango Can that was the forth emperour I se all as the Tartas historis rehersed And from Mango Can tyl HalcoÌ„ dyed I speke as I haue herde and lerned of my lorde myn vncle the kyng Hayton the kyng of Armeny which hath ben preseÌ„t in great dilygence rehersed to his sonnes and to his neuewes dyd vs put in writynge for a remembraunce And froÌ„ the beginnyÌ„g of Albaga Halcous sonÌ„ tyll the thyrde part of this boke there as the tartas hystorie finysshed I speke as he that was present in person and of that I haue sene I may reherse truely We haue sayd of the tartas dedis hystoris yet we shal speke of theyr power ¶ Of the thre kynges that dyd honour to the great emperour THe great emê‘our of the tartas that kept the lord shype is called Tamor Cann which was the vi emperour held his sege in the realme of Catay in a cyte that is called Iunig the which his father fouÌ„ded The myght of this emperour is great for hym selfe alone might do mor than all the tartas princes themperours men be takeÌ„ for more noble more riches and more garnisshed of all thingê than others For in the realme of Catay is a great haboundaunce of riches And after the .iii. kynges of Tartas that haue a great power and do all reuerence to the great emê‘our and obedient by his Iugement The first of these kynges is called Tapar the seconde Totay and the thyrde Tarbanda Tarpar held the lordship of Turkesten and is more nygh of themperours landê than the others this kynge may bringe with hym in batayle .iiii. C. thousand men of warr an horsbacke this men be valyant hardy thei haue gode harnis gode horses Somtymes themperour maketh warr against Chapchap wolde take his landes from him but he defended hym valyantly The lordshippe of Capar was all vnder one lorde how beit that his brother Totay helde a great part of his lande ¶ Totay the kynge of the tartas helde the kyng of Cumanys lordship and his sege in a cytie that is called Sarra This prynce may bring to the batayle .vii. C. thousande men an horsbacke as the sayeng is but they be nat so valyant in batayle and iÌ„ dede of armes as Capars men be How be it that they haue better harnes better horses Somtyme they make warre agaynst CarbaÌ„da somtyme they make warr agaynst the kynge of Bulgarie soÌ„tyme they haue war amonge them But nowe Totay kepeth the lordship in rest peas ¶ How they of Lices haue know lege by birdes whan any of theyr ennemys be coÌ„myng toward theÌ„ CArbaÌ„da held his power in the great Asie and kept his sege in the cite of Toris he may bring to the batayle about .iii. C. thousande men of armes an horsbacke but they be men of dyuerse nations rych and well furnisshed of all maner suche thinges as thei haue nede Capar Totay make warre often tymes agaynst Carbanda but he defended his lande wisely Carbanda medled nat with no warre agaynst no man but the Turke of Egypt to the which all his auncestours haue had warre with the aboue sayd princes Tapar and Totay wold fayne putte Carbanda out of his lordship yf thei coud but thei haue no might How beit that they be more mighty of men and of landes this is the reson how Carbanda defended his landes from the myght of his neybours For Asie is deuyded in .ii. partes the one parte is called the depe Asie the other is called the maior Asie And in that part Carbanda dwelled there is no more but thre wayes by the which they may entre out of Asie the ê“fonde and Asie the great The one way is by the which thei go from the realme of Turquesten to the realm of Persy the other way is by the ende that goeth nigh to the cyte that Alexander founded that is called Port de ferr The other way is towarde the see of Maior and passe by the realm of Dabcas by the first way Capars meÌ„ can nat entre in CarbaÌ„das landes without great danger and payne