Purchas his pilgrimage. Or Relations of the vvorld and the religions obserued in all ages and places discouered, from the Creation vnto this present In foure partes. This first containeth a theologicall and geographicall historie of Asia, Africa, and America, with the ilands adiacent. Declaring the ancient religions before the Floud ... With briefe descriptions of the countries, nations, states, discoueries, priuate and publike customes, and the most remarkable rarities of nature, or humane industrie, in the same. By Samuel Purchas, minister at Estwood in Essex.

About this Item

Title
Purchas his pilgrimage. Or Relations of the vvorld and the religions obserued in all ages and places discouered, from the Creation vnto this present In foure partes. This first containeth a theologicall and geographicall historie of Asia, Africa, and America, with the ilands adiacent. Declaring the ancient religions before the Floud ... With briefe descriptions of the countries, nations, states, discoueries, priuate and publike customes, and the most remarkable rarities of nature, or humane industrie, in the same. By Samuel Purchas, minister at Estwood in Essex.
Author
Purchas, Samuel, 1577?-1626.
Publication
London :: Printed by William Stansby for Henrie Fetherstone, and are to be sold at his shoppe in Pauls Church-yard at the signe of the Rose,
1613.
Rights/Permissions

This text has been selected for inclusion in the EEBO-TCP: Navigations collection, funded by the National Endowment for the Humanities. To the extent possible under law, the Text Creation Partnership has waived all copyright and related or neighboring rights to this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above, according to the terms of the CC0 1.0 Public Domain Dedication ( http://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/). This waiver does not extend to any page images or other supplementary files associated with this work, which may be protected by copyright or other license restrictions. Please go to http://www.textcreationpartnership.org/ for more information.

Link to this Item
http://name.umdl.umich.edu/A10228.0001.001
Cite this Item
"Purchas his pilgrimage. Or Relations of the vvorld and the religions obserued in all ages and places discouered, from the Creation vnto this present In foure partes. This first containeth a theologicall and geographicall historie of Asia, Africa, and America, with the ilands adiacent. Declaring the ancient religions before the Floud ... With briefe descriptions of the countries, nations, states, discoueries, priuate and publike customes, and the most remarkable rarities of nature, or humane industrie, in the same. By Samuel Purchas, minister at Estwood in Essex." In the digital collection Early English Books Online. https://name.umdl.umich.edu/A10228.0001.001. University of Michigan Library Digital Collections. Accessed June 15, 2024.

Pages

CHAP. IX.

Of the Tartarians, and of diuers Nations which they subdued; with their Pristine Rites.

THe names of Scythia and Sarmtia, are now together with those Nati∣ons swallowed vp and drowned in that Tartarian deluge, which about foure hundred yeares since with a sudden torrent ouerwhelmed the greatest part of Asia, that we speake not of Europe, the heart whereof, quaked & trembled with feare of this tempest. From Rome did Pope a 1.1 Innocent the fourth send Ambassadors, by entreaties to preuent their armes, when as they had already ouer-runne (besides those countries which still beare their name) Russia, Polonia, Slesia, Moraui, Hungaria, euen as farre as 2 ••••••••••••. So farre was the huge vnwealdy Empire of Alexander, or of the Romans, short of the Tartarian geatnes, that the expedition of some one b 1.2 of the subiects of this Empire, hath pierced as farre into the West, as euer Alexander into the East, and that happily among more re∣solute courages, then the Persians or Indians, effeminated with wealth & peace, could afford: and Tamerlane alone some ages after (if we credit that history c 1.3 of his life, trans∣lated out of the Arbike) subdued and obtained more (besides his owne inheritance) then all that which the Romans had archieued in that eight hundred yeares and vp∣wards, wherein their Empire was growing to the full; but of him afterwards.

The name Tartar is proper to a riuer in Mongul, from whence it was deriued to the people inhabiting neere the same, which after gaue both name & lawes to so great a part of the world. For thus writeth Ioannes d 1.4 de Plan Carp••••, which was sent embassa∣dour

Page 336

to the Tartarian Court, from Pope Innocent, An.1246. There is a countrey in the East part of the world called Mongol: which had sometimes foure sorts of inhabitants: Yeka-Mongol, that is, the great Mongols; Su••••••ngol. that is, water-Mongols; these cal∣led thēselues Tartars * 1.5 , of a Riuer which runneth thorow their coūtrey named Tartar: the third Merkat, the fourth Metrit. These all were alike in person and language, but diuided amongst themselues into seuerall Prouinces, and vnto seuerall Princes. In the land of Yeka-Mongol, was * 1.6 Cyngis, who began to be a mightie hunter before the LORD: for he learned to steale men. He raunged into other countries, taking as many cap∣tiues as he could, and ioyned them vnto himselfe. Also he allured the men of his owne countrey vnto him, who followed him as their ring-leader to doe mischiefe. Then be∣gan he to warre vpon the Sumongols or Tartars, and slew their captaine, and after ma∣ny conflicts-subdued them to himselfe, and brought them all into bondage. Afterward he vsed their helpe against the Merkats, whom also he vanquished in battell. Procee∣ding from thence, hee fought against the Metrites, and vanquished them also. The Naiman hearing that Cyngis was thus exalted, greatly disdained thereat: for they had a great and mightie Emperour, vnto whom all the foresaid nations paid tribute. Whose sons (when he was dead) succeeded him in his Empire. Howbeit, being yong and foo∣lish, they knew not how to gouerne the people, but were diuided, and fell at variance among themselues. These inuaded Cyngis his countrey, putting the inhabitants to the sword, but were after ouerthrowne by the Mongols, & either slaine or made captiues.

Some e 1.7 fetch the Tartarian pedegree from the ten Tribes of Israel, which Salmana∣sar carried captiues: and in their Mappes f 1.8 place hordes of Danites, Nephthalites, &c. in the furthest Northerly and Easterly bounds of Asia; which yet are a great part of the world, not onely from Media (whither those people were conueyed) but from any part of the Assyrian Empire. (The King of Tabor, or Tybur, in these parts, is said to haue come into France, to Francis the French King, about the yeare 1540, and was after at Mantua by Charles the Emperour burned, for secret sollicitation of him and other Christian Princes to Iudaisme.) And Opmeerus g 1.9 reporteth of that their iourney passing thorow Euphrates, miraculously staying his streame (to wonder at the vanitie of Writers) when they went into a region called Aisarich, which was a yeare and a halfes trauell, there to keepe their law; where neuer before had beene any habitation.

M. Panlus h 1.10 who with his father and vncle liued many yeares in the Court of the great Cham, aboue three hundred yeares since, saith that they dwelled at first (if such wandring may be so called) in the North, where they had no Lord ouer them, but paid tribute to a great Signor (there called Vncam, and heere in these countries Presbiter Iohn) to whom they paid the tenth of their beasts. But this Vncam or Presbiter Iohn fearing their numbers euery where multiplying, deuised to disperse them through the world: which the Tartars perceiuing, with ioynt consent forsooke their former habi∣tation, & departed thence far off into the North, denying further tribute vnto Vncam.

After they had there continued a certaine time, they chose to their King about the yeare 1162 one which was calld Cingis Can, who ruled them with such modestie and iustice, that they loued and feared him as a god, his fame reducing all the other Tar∣tars in other parts vnder his obedience. He thus strengthened, weary of those deserts, commanded them to arme themselues with bowes, and other weapons, and began to inuade and conquer Cities and Prouinces to his subiection, the principall inhabitants whereof he carried with him, kindly entertaining them, leauing such discreet Gouer∣nours in the same, that the people were secured in their persons and goods. When he had thus subdued about nine Prouinces, he sent his ambassador to * 1.11 Vncam, to demand his daughter in mariage which Vncam with much indignation and many threatnings denying, Cingis assembling his forces marched against him, and by the way enquired of his Astrologers and Diuiners touching his successe. They taking a greene reed, clet it asunder, placing the parts thereof a good distance one from another, and writ vpon the one the name of Vncam, and Cingis on the other; telling the King that whiles they were reading their coniuring charmes, these reeds would fight together, and the victo∣rie should remaine with him whose reed got the better: which accordingly came to

Page 337

passe in the sight of the army: Cingis his reed ouercomming the other, as after Cingis himselfe did Vncam, whom he slew in the field, and possessed his daughter and state, wherein he continued sixe yeares conquering Cities and Kingdomes, and at last was wounded, at a Castle called Thaigin, in the knee, whereof he died, and was buried in mount Altay.

The next Emperour (after his account) was Cyn Can the third, Bathyn Can the fourth, or Allan the brother of Mangu; Esu Can, the fifth, Mongu Can the sixth, Cubli Can who not only inherited what the former had conquered, but in the sixtieth yeare of his raigne subdued in a manner the rest of (those parts of) the world. The word Can signifieth Emperour. Where soeuer these Emperours die, they are buried in Altay afore∣said; they which carry him, killing all they meet within the way, bidding them goe to the other world to serue their Emperour. For this end they also slay the best horses, to serue their dead Lord in another world. When Mangu Can was buried, there were more then ten thousand men slaine by the souldiers which conueyed him. In this Hi∣story of M. Paul, obserue that this catalogue of Emperours is vnsound: for W. de Ru∣bruquis in Bathyes time, was at the Court of Mangu Can, to whom Bathy was subiect. Occoday is left out, and Es put in. The cause of this error seemeth to be the giuing of this name can to the chiefe Dukes, as Bathy, &c. and the want of exact written chro∣nicles in those times amongst them.

For further light into this history, I thinke it not amisse to set downe what Haithon or Anthony the Armenian hath written of the Tartarian beginnings. This our Author was royally descended in Armenia, where he liued about three hundred yeares since, and at the request of Pope Clement the 5, writ the history of the Tartars, from Cingis or Cangius til Mango Can, taken out of the Tartarian histories: the rest he partly saw with his eyes, & partly learned of his vncle, an eie-witnes of the same, who had attended on Haython the Armenian King, in the great Cha••••s Court. The countrey where the Tar∣tars first dwelt (saith i 1.12 Haithon) is beyond the mount Belgian, where they liued like beasts, hauing neither letters nor faith, nor habitation, nor souldiourie, nor reputation among their neighbor-nations. There were of them diuers nations, called by one com∣mon name Mogli, which were diuided into seuen principal tribes, whose names were Tatar, Tangut, Cunat, Talair, Sonich, Monghi, Tebeth. These all being subiects to their neighbours, a poore old man being a Smith (who as they beleeue, was ingendered of the Sun-beames) saw in his sleep an armed man on a white horse, which said vnto him, O Cangius, The will of the immortall GOD is that thou be the Gouernour of the Tar∣tarians, and Ruler of the seuen nations, to free them from their bondage and tribute. This his vision, when he reported to others, they would not beleeue him, vntil that the night following, the chiefe men amongst thēselues saw the same man, with command from the immortall GOD, to yeeld obedience vnto Cangius. This they performed with all reuerence, and spread in the midst of them a black felt, with a seat theron, on which the seuen Princes or chiefe men placed Cangius, calling him Can, that is, Emperour, and kneeled before him. This happily was then the most sumptuous throne * 1.13 their State could afford, but continued in the royall inuestiture of their succeeding Soue∣raignes, their exceeding riches and conquests notwithstanding: at two of which so∣lemnities (saith our Author) I my selfe haue beene present. Cangius thus inthronized on his felt, commanded them many things: first to beleeue the immortall GOD: and from thence forwards, the Tartars beganne to call vpon the name of the immortall GOD, seeking for his aide in all their enterprises. Secondly, he commanded to make a generall view of all such as were able to beare armes, appointing Captaines ouer tennes, ouer thousands, and ouer ten thousands, which made a full regiment. Hee commanded also those seuen principall heads of their Tribes, to bereaue themselues of their dignities, and for further triall of their obedience, each of them to bring thi∣ther his eldest sonne, and to cut off his head each with his owne hand: which they re∣fused not to doe, in reuerence to that Diuine ordinance, whereby he was made their Soueraigne. Cangius hauing thus made triall of their fidelitie, subdued many Nations: and one day hauing his horse slaine in battell vnder him, was forsaken of his Tartars,

Page 338

despairing his recouery after they saw him fall, and might easily haue beene slaine, had not his enemies through ignorance neglected him, to pursue the rest: which Cangius perceiuing, conueyed himselfe into a thicket of shrubbes: and when his enemies re∣turned to despoile the dead, an Owle came and sate on the shrubbe, vnder which Cangius was hidden, which caused them not to suspect any to lurke there, and so they departed. He the next night fled to his people; who seeing him, and hearing the or∣der of his escape, gaue thankes to the immortall GOD, who by meanes of that bird had preserued him. They also had (after this) that * 1.14 fowle in such reuerence, that it is accounted a happie thing to weare one of her fethers on their heads. Cangius after∣wards assaulting his enemies, brought vnder, both them, and all the countries on that side of Belgian. The exact time of these things Haithon could not learne, not∣withstanding his much inquirie: which hee imputeth to their want of letters at that time.

These countries thus conquered, the armed man appeared to him the second time, and commanded him in the name of the immortall GOD to passe the mountaine Bel∣gian, and go toward the West, where he should conquer Kingdomes, Seignories and Lands. And that thou mayest be assured that this is the will of GOD, arise and goe with thy people towards the mountaine, to that part which ioyneth on the sea: There thou shalt dismount, and turne thee toward the East, and kneeling downe nine times, shalt worshippe the immortall GOD, and he which is Almightie shall shew thee the way by which thou mayest commodiously passe. Cangius presently commands his people with their wiues and families to accompany him in this enterprise; and when they were come to the sea, forgate not with his followers to performe those nine wor∣ships; and staying there that night in his prayers, the next day he saw that the sea had gone nine foote backe from the Mountaine, and left a spacious way, by which they with all their substance passed, Westward. Hence it is that the Tartars ascribe some happinesse to the number of nine: and he that will offer a present to any Tartarian Sig∣nor, must offer nine things * 1.15 , which custome they vse in their tributes vnto this day, as Master Ienkinson found by experience to his cost. Cangius after many aduentures, and many lawes which of him were called Iasack Cangis Can, hauing first perswaded his twelue sonnes (wherein I thinke his nephews were also reckoned) to concord, bidding each of them to bring him an arrow, which together, none of them; asunder, the least of them might easily breake, he died.

This Historie of Cingis or Cangius I haue thus fully related, for knowledge both of the beginnings of their: State and Religion: and if these visions seeme fabulous, yet might Cingis in his subtiltie deale with them, as Mahomet with his Arabi∣ans, or Numa with the Romans; the one making Gabriel, the other Aegeria, authors of their policies: and what hee in part pretended, might by Fame and Time bee augmented. Although I see not, but that this Historie of Cingis may as well bee credited, as that of Alexander, in Iosephus, to whome appeared one in the habite of the Iewish High Priest, commaunding him to vndertake that enterprise, with promise of assistance, for which cause, hee whom the world worshipped as a King, and as a god, did worshippe, k 1.16 himselfe prostrate before Iadad the High Priest. And the same l 1.17 Author also saith, that the Pamphylian sea diui∣ded it selfe to giue way vnto his Macedonian souldiers, hauing no other way to de∣stroy the Empire of the Persians.

To returne to our Frier with whom we began; he reporteth m 1.18 that Cingis, after his victory against the Naimani, warred vpon the Kythayans, but were ouerthrowne, and all the Nobles, except seuen, slaine. Hauing breathed himselfe a while at home, he inua∣ded the Huyria Christian people of the Nestorian sect, whom they ouercame, & recei∣ued of thē letters, of which before they were ignorāt. After thē, he subdued the Saroyur, Kaanites, & Hudirat. This done, he waged war against the Kythayans or Cathayans, whose Emperour he shut vp into his chiefe City, where Cyngis besieged him, till that victual failing in his Camp, he commanded that they should eat euery tenth man of the army. They of the City fought valiantly with engines, darts, arrowes: and when stones

Page 339

wanted, they threw Siluer, especially molten Siluer. But by vndermining, the Tartars made way from the Armie into the middest of the Citie, where they issued vp, and ope∣ned the gates by force, and slew the Citizens. This is the first time that the Emperour of the Kythayans being vanquished, Cyngis Cham obtained the Empire. The men of Kytay * 1.19 are Pagans, hauing a speciall kinde of writing by themselues, and, as it is re∣ported, the Scriptures of the Old and New Testament. They haue also recorded in Histories the liues of their fore-fathers, and they haue Eremites, and certaine houses made after the manner of our Churches, which, in those dayes, they greatly resorted vnto. They say, that they haue diuerse Saints also, and they worship one GOD. They adore and reuerence CHRIST IESVS our LORD, and beleeue the Article of e∣ternall life, but are not baptized. They doe also honorably esteeme and reuerence our Scriptures. They loue Christians, and bestow much almes, and are a very courteous and gentle people. They haue no beards, and they agree partly with the Mongals in the disposition of their countenance. There are not better artificers in the world. Their Countrey is exceeding rich in Corne, Wine, Gold, Silke, and other Commodities.

After the conquest of Cathay, cyngis sent his sonne Thossut Can (for so they tearmed him also) against the people of Comania, whome he vanquished. Another sonne hee sent against the Indians, who subdued India Minor. These Indians are the blacke Sa∣racens * 1.20 , which are also called Aethiopians. Thence he marched to fight against Chri∣stians, dwelling in India Maior, whose King was commonly called Presbyter Iohn, who by a stratageme repelled them out of his dominion. In trauelling homewards, the said Armie of the Mongals came vnto the Land of Buirthabeth, the inhabitants whereof are Pagans, and conquered the people in bartaile. This people haue a strange custome; when any mans father dieth, he assembleth all his kindred, and they eat him. They haue no beards, but with an yron Instrument plucke out the haires, if any grow. Cyngis himselfe went vnto the Land of Kergis, which they then conquered not. And in his returne home his people suffered extreame famine: and by chaunce finding the fresh entrailes of a beast, they cast away the dung, sodde it, and brought it before cyngis, and did eate thereof. Hereupon Cyngis enacted, That neither the bloud, nor the en∣trailes, nor any other part of a beast, which might be eaten, should be cast away, saue onely the dung. He was afterward slaine by a thunderclap, leauing behind him foure sonnes; the first Occoday, the second Thossut can, the third Thiaday, the name of the fourth is not knowne.

Cyngis being dead, Occoday * 1.21 was chosen Emperor. He sent Duke Bathy his nephew, the sonne of Thossut can, against the Countrey of Altisoldan, and the people called Bisermini, who were Saracens, but spake the Language of Comania, whome he subdu∣ed. Thence they marched against Orna, a Port Towne on the Riuer Don, where were many Gazarians, Alanians, Russians, and Saracens, which he drowned with the Riuer running through the Citie, turning it out of the chanell. Thence they passed into Rus∣sia, and made foule hauocke there, destroying Kiou, the chiefe Citie. They proceeded against the Hungarians and Polonians, and in their returne inuaded the Morduans, being Pagans, and conquered them in battaile. Then they marched against the people called Byleri, or Bulgaria magna, and vtterly wasted the Countrey. From hence they proceeded towards the North against the people called Bastarci, or Hungaria magna, and hauing conquered them, subdued also the Parossitae and Samogetae, thence pro∣ceeding vnto the Ocean Sea.

At the same time Occoday sent cyrpodan against Kergis * 1.22 , who subdued them in battaile. These are Pagans, hauing no beards at all. They haue a custome, when any of their fathers die, in token of lamentation, to draw (as it were) a Leather thong ouerthwart their faces, from one eare to the other. Hence hee marched with his forces Southward against the Armenians, which they conquered, with part of Georgia, receiuing tribute of the other part; and from thence into the Do∣minions of the mightie Soldan, called Deurum, whome they vanquished in sight. And to be short, they went on further, sacking and conquering euen vnto the Soldan of A∣leppo, whose Countries they subdued. They marched against the Caliph of Baldach,

Page 340

and exacted at his hands the daily tribute of foure hundred Byzantines, besides Bal∣dakines, and other gifts. Thus farre of their Conquests out of Frier Iohn a∣foresaid, who was in person with Bathy, or Baydo, and at the Court of Guine the Emperour.

Haython n 1.23 calleth Baydo the second sonne of Ocoday, or Hoccota Can, affirming, That he sent his three sonnes; Iochi into the West, as farre as Tygris; Baydo towards the North, and Chagoday towards the South. He sent also one Baydo (whether the same, or another) with thirtie thousand horse, against the Soldan of the Turkes, whose Realme he subdued in the yeare 1244. He addeth, That Baydo hauing conquered Cu∣mania * 1.24 , (which he confineth on the East with the Corasmians, on the West with the Euxine, on the North with Cassia, happily Casan, on the South with the Riuer Etil) he subdued Russia, Gazaria, Bulgaria, and so passing into Austria, following the streame of his victories, in the passage of a great streame was there drowned. His heires suc∣ceeded him in the places which he had conquered; which Seignorie Tochay possessed in Haithons time. This Historie of Baydo his death is not likely: For Yvo of Narbona, in an Epistle to the Archbishop of Burdeaux, recorded by o 1.25 Mat. Paris in the yeare 1243, sayth, That in the same present Summer they had departed out of Hungarie, and layd siege to Neustat, wherein this Yvo then was: and in the yeare 1246, Frier Iohn was with the said Baydo, who also rehearseth that Hungarian Expedition, and his re∣turne vnto those parts about Volga, or Etil. Likewise William de Rubi uquis, a Frier Mi∣norite, was sent to Baatu (so he calleth him) from Lewes the French King, in An. 1253.

And to this agreeth Mathias à Michon p 1.26 in his Sarmatian Historie, who witnesseth, That in the yeare 1241 the Tartars, vnder Bathu, came into Russia, & destroyed Kiou, a Citie before stately and beautifull, hauing in it three hundred Churches and more, very faire, of which some remaine to this day among the shrubbes and bryers, recep∣tacles for wilde beasts. It was the Seat of the Metropolitan, who had vnder him many Bishops through Moldauia, Valachia, Russia, and Muscouia. He sent Peta into Polo∣nia, who destroyed the Countrey, and on Ashwednesday turned Cracouia into ashes, abandoned before both of the Prince and People; and after ouerthrew Duke Henrie, and other Noblemen, with the forces of the Countrey assembled against them, toge∣ther with Pompo, the great Master of the Dutch Order in Prussia: in which battaile, a certaine Tartarian Standard-bearer, carrying in a great Standard the Greeke letter X, and on the top of the staffe a blacke and terrible Image, with a long beard, began * 1.27 with inchantment strongly to shake the head of the Image: whereupon a smoake and cloud of intolerable stinke was presently dispersed ouer the Polonians, & they became heart∣lesse and vnable to fight. Duke Henrie and Duke Boleslan and Pompo, with the flower of their Nobilitie, was here slaine, and the Countrey miserably spoyled. From hence they went into Morauia, where they put all to fire and sword more then a moneth to∣gether: and thence to Hungarie to Bathy, who entred Hungarie with 500000 souldi∣ors; where first ouerthrowing those forces which King Bela had sent to prohibit them passage, they after chased the King himselfe, with the power of his Kingdome oppo∣sing himselfe against them, out of the field, who fled into Austria, and after into Sclauo∣nia, leauing his Countrey a prey to the Tartars: who making spoile on that side of Da∣nubius, the next Winter passed ouer the Riuer, then frozen, & filled all with bloud and slaughter. Bathy sent Cadan to pursue the King into Scalauonia, still fleeing before him, who wasted Bosna, Seruia, and Bulgaria. And after two yeares sackage in Hungarie, they passed by the fennes of Maeotis into Tartaria, and happily had returned to make fresh spoyles in Europe, if the Embassage of Pope Innocent had not diuerted their pur∣pose: or rather, that Occoday, their great Cham, being about that time poysoned, they were to expect a new Commission from his successor, which was Cuine; who when he was installed, euen in the presence of Frier q 1.28 Iohn, the Popes Legat, erected a Banner against all Kingdomes of the Christians, except they would be subiect to him: for their intent was to subdue all the world, as Cyngis Cham had ordained; and the superscrip∣tion of his Seale was, GOD in Heauen, and Cuine Cham vpon Earth, the strength of GOD, the Scale of the Emperour of all men.

Page 341

But Cuine * 1.29 in short time after died, and left the Empire to Mangu Can; to whome Aytonus r 1.30 the Armenian King went voluntarily in person, about the yeare 1257, and receiuing gracious entertainement, made vnto him seuen petitions: first, That he and his people should become Christians: secondly, That there should bee perpetuall peace betweene the Tartars and Christians: thirdly, That in all Countries conquered by the Tartars, the Churches and Clergie-men of the Christians should be free from seruitude and tribute: fourthly, That he would redeeme the Holy Sepulchre and the Holy Land from the Saracens: fifthly, That he would destroy the Caliph of Baldack: sixtly, That himselfe might haue aid, as need should require, in his defence, of such Tartars as were neere vnto Armenia: seuenthly, That such parts of Armenia which the Saracens now possessed, and the Tartars should recouer from them, might, returne to the Crowne of Armenia. Mangu-can answered, after deliberation with his Nobles, to the first, That himselfe would be a Christian, and persuade other his subiects, but force none thereunto: and to the rest in order, that his requests in all should be fulfil∣led, and to that end he would send his brother Haolon into those parts, as is before al∣readie shewed. Thus was Mangu baptized by a Bishop, then Chauncellor of Arme∣nia, and all his household, and many Nobles of both sexes. But before Ierusalem could be recouered, Mangu died, and Cobila, or Cublai * 1.31 Can succeeded, in whose time M. Paulus s 1.32 was an eye-witnesse of the Tartarian proceedings, who affirmeth, That this Cublas exceeded in power, not his predecessours onely, but all the Kingdomes of Christians and Saracens, although they were ioyned in one. Before he obtained the Soueraignetie, he shewed himselfe a valiant souldior: but after he was Emperour, he neuer fought field but once against Naians his vncle, who was able, out of the Pro∣uinces wherein he gouerned, to bring together foure hundred thousand Horse, to whome Caidu should haue added a hundred thousand Horse more. These both con∣spired against their Master and Lord Cublai: but before their forces were ioyned, Cublai stopping the passages, that none might passe to carrie newes, suddenly assem∣bled, within tenne dayes iourney of Cambalu, three hundred and threescore thousand horse, and a hundred thousand footmen. * 1.33 With this power riding day and night, hee came suddenly on his enemies, and hauing first consulted with his Diuiners, after their manner, gaue the on-set, and tooke Naiam prisoner, whome he strangled betwixt two Carpets, least the Earth should drinke, or the Sunne should see the bloud of that impe∣riall familie. Naiam had beene secretly baptized, and now also had the Crosse for his Banner, which occasioned the Iewes and Saracenes to scoffe at the Christians: but Cublai vnderstanding hereof, called them all before him, & said, That the Crosse would not helpe such wicked men as Naiam, who was a Traitor to his Lord; say yee not therefore, that the GOD of the Christians is vniust, to forsake his followers; for he is the chiefe Bountie and Iustice. Cublai by his Captaines conquered the Kingdomes of Mien, Bengala, Mangi, &c.

After * 1.34 Cublas Can succeeded Tamor Can sonne to Cingis, the eldest sonne of Cublai: in whose time, Haithon (which then liued) sayth, That there were besides, three great Tartarian Princes, but subiect to the great Can: Chapar, which ruled in Turquestan, who was able to bring into the Field foure hundred thousand horsemen armed: Hoch∣tay, in the Kingdome of Cumania, who was able to arme sixe hundred thousand horse∣men to the warres, but not so resolute as the former. Carbauda, the third, ruled in Tau∣ris, able to assemble an Armie of three hundred thousand horse, well prouided. And all these liued in the Westerne bounds of the Tartarian Empire, euery way inferior in wealth and numbers to the Southerly and Easterly parts thereof.

Notes

Do you have questions about this content? Need to report a problem? Please contact us.