The principal nauigations, voyages, traffiques and discoueries of the English nation. [vols. 1-3] made by sea or ouer-land, to the remote and farthest distant quarters of the earth, at any time within the compasse of these 1600. yeres: deuided into three seuerall volumes, according to the positions of the regions, whereunto they were directed. The first volume containeth the worthy discoueries, &c. of the English ... The second volume comprehendeth the principall nauigations ... to the south and south-east parts of the world ... By Richard Hakluyt preacher, and sometime student of Christ-Church in Oxford.

Of the mutuall victories betweene them, and the people of Kythay. Chap. 9.

BUt the Mongals returning home into their owne countrey, prepared themselues to battell a∣gainst the * 1.1 Kythayans: Which their Emperour hearing, set forward against them with his armie, and they fought a cruell battell, wherein the Mongals were ouercome, and all their nobles in the armie, except seuen, were slaine. And for this cause, when they, purposing to inuade anie region, are threatned by the inhabitants thereof to be slaine, they doe, to this day, answere: in old time also our whole number besides being slaine, we remayned but seuen of vs aliue, and yet not∣withstanding we are now growen vnto a great multitude, thinke not therefore to daunt vs with such brags. But Chingis and the residue that remained aliue, fled home into their countrey: And hauing breathed him a little, he prepared himselfe to warre, and went forth against the people cal∣led Huyri:* 1.2 These men were Christians of the sect of Nestorius. And these also the Mongals ouercame, and receiued letters or learning from them:* 1.3 for before that time they had not the arte of writing, and nowe they call it the hand or letters of the Mongals. Immediately after, hee mar∣ched against the countrey of Saruyur, and of the Karanites, and against the land of Hudirat; all which he vanquished. Then returned he home into his owne countrey, and breathed himselfe. Afterward, assembling his warlike troupes, they marched with one accord against the Kythayans, and waging warre with them a long time, they conquered a great part of their land, and shut vp their Emperour into his greatest citie: which citie they had so long time besieged, that they began to want necessary prouision for their armie. And when they had no victuals to feede vpon, Chin∣gis Cham commaunded his souldiers, that they should eate euery tenth man of the companie.

But th••y of the citie tought manfully against them, with engines, dartes, and arrowes, and when stones wanted they threw siluer, and especially melted siluer:* 1.4 for the same citie abounded with great riches. Also, when the Mongals had fought a long time and could not preuayle by warre, they made a great trench vnderneath the ground from the armie vnto the middest of the citie, and there issuing foorth they fought against the citizens, and the remnant also without the walles fought in like manner. At last, breaking open the gates of the citie, they entred, and putting the Emperour, with many other to the sworde, they tooke possession thereof and con∣ueighed away the golde, siluer, a••d all the riches therein. And hauing appointed certaine depu∣ties ouer the countrey, they returned home into their owne lande. This is the first time, when the Emperour of the Kythayans being vanquished, Chingis Cham obtayned the Empire.* 1.5 But some parte of the countrey, because it lyeth within the sea, they could by no meanes con∣quere vnto this day. The men of Kytay are Pagans, hauing a speciall kinde of writing by themselues,* 1.6 and (as it is reported) the Scriptures of the olde and newe Testament. They haue also recorded in hystories the liues of their forefathers: and they haue Eremites,* 1.7 and certaine houses made after the manner of our Churches, which in those dayes they greatly re∣sorted vnto. They say that they haue diuers Saints also, and they worship one God. They a∣dore and reuerence CHRIST IESVS our Lorde, and beleeue the article of eternall life, but are not baptized. They doe also honourably esteeme and reuerence our Sciptures. They loue Christians, and bestowe much almes, and are a very courteous and gentle people. They haue no beardes, and they agree partly with the Mongals in the disposition of their countenance. In all occupations which men practise, there are not better artificers in the whole worlde.* 1.8 Their countrey is exceeding rich, in corne, wine, golde, silke, and other commodities.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Havthon & Pau∣lus V••netus call them•• Cathay∣ans.
• * 1.2

  New victories
• * 1.3

  Letters.
• * 1.4

  Siluer cast at the enemie in¦stead of stones.
• * 1.5

  Chingis Cham proclaimed Emperour.
• * 1.6

  Part of Ca∣thay in the sea.
• * 1.7

  The letters, & the religion of the Cathayans.
• * 1.8

  Their excellent workmanship.