The estates, empires, & principallities of the world Represented by ye description of countries, maners of inhabitants, riches of prouinces, forces, gouernment, religion; and the princes that haue gouerned in euery estate. With the begin[n]ing of all militarie and religious orders. Translated out of French by Edw: Grimstone, sargeant at armes.

❧ A DISCOVRSE OF THE [ B] EMPIRE OF THE GREAT CHAM OF TARTARIA.

The Contents.

1. THe contents and extention of the great Cham of Tartaria, the bounds, and climat. [ C] 2. The scituation and circuit of Cambalu, the chiefe citie. 3. The constilation of the ayre of those countries, their aboundance in Rice, Wheat, Silke, Rhubarbe, & Muske; in Camels and Horses; in stones which burne like wood; in Pheasants and other birds. 4. Of the terrible lightning, thunder, and winds, wherewith these countries are infested. 5. Description of the Lake of Caniclu, full of Pearles, and of the other riuers of this Empire, 6. Valour and manner of liuing of the Scythians, auncestors to the Tartarians: Their barbarous custome to drinke in skulls, and to weare the skins of their enemies. 7. Their chiefe gods, their sacrifices, and their bloudie ceremonies in contracting alliances, and at the funeralls of their Kings, where they did sacrifice the seruants and officers of the Crowne. 8. Another ceremonie obserued at the interment of priuat persons. 9. Of the pa••••ting which [ D] the Scythian women vsed; of the Scythians oath, and of their lawes. 10. Of the begin∣ning of the Empire of the Tartarians, and how they were freed from the dominion of their neighbours, by a Marshall called Canguist. 11. A description of the nature, manners, cu∣stome, lawes, meat and drinke, apparell, exercises, and kind of liuing of the Tartarians; their armes, and manner of fighting in warre: their ceremonies at the funeralls of their Kings. 12. Their riches in the traffique of Rice, Wooll, Silke, Hempe, Rhubarbe, Muske, Chaml••t••, Ginger, Synamon, Cloues, Gold, Sand taken out of riuers, Corrall, with mynes of Gold and Azure. 13. Their money made of the barkes of Trees, and Cockell-shells. 14. Their forces consisting in the strong scituation, and greatnesse of Prouinces, in townes, and in men of warre, camping out of Townes. 15. The names of the Emperours of Tartaria grauen in let∣ters [ E] of gold, and set vpon the Temples of their chiefe Townes: their absolute power of life and death ouer their subiects. 16. Lawes and militarie orders established by Canguist their first Emperour. 17. Ceremonies obserued at the crowning of a new Prince. 18. Of the seale which the great Cham doth vse in his Patents, and of his rigorous iustice. 19. Of two Coun∣cells, of Warre, and State, and their iurisdiction, and of the power and authoritie of Astr••l••gi∣ans in those countries. 20. Of the punishment of theeues and malefactors. 21. Explanation of the word Hordes. 22. Of the Tartarians religion composed of Mahometisme, Paganisme, and Christianisme: their gods, the forme of their prayers, and their beliefe touching the im∣mortalitie of the soule. 23. The beginning and descent of the Tartarian Iewes. 24. Of the error of the Tartarians that be Christians, following the heresie of Nestorius. 25. A G••n••a∣logie [ F] of the Emperours of Tartaria.

[ A] THey that haue carefully obserued and calculated like good Geogra∣phers the contents of the Empire of this great prince, which yeelds not to any other in greatnesse of countries, but to the king of Spain, whom he doth also exceed, for that his lands are vnited, and haue all some bond which ties them together, whereas those of the Spa∣niard lie scattered and wonderfully diuided; such I say as haue care∣fully obserued the contents of the countries which this Monarch holds, haue found that it was neere two millions, and two hundred thousand Italian miles [ B] square.

This great Empire called by the inhabitants Mongul, which draws the name of Tartaria [ I] from the riuer of Tartar, which doth water a great part of it, hath for bounds on the East, the great realm of China, the sea of Cin, & the strait of Anian; on the West, the moun∣tains of Imaus which shuts it vp on that side, except certain hordes of Tartarians which are on this side that mountaine, and acknowledge the great Cham; towards the South lies Indostan, the riuer of Ganges, and that of Oxe, now called Abiam, and also on the highest part is the realme of China; and vpon the North, the frosen sea, whose shoare is so cold (by reason of the neerenesse of the Pole) as all that countrie is vnknowne, and held by vs to be desart and vnhabited. Finally, this prince comaunds all the countrie which by [ C] the auncients was called Scithia, beyond mount Imaus, the which now they call Altay, and the region of Seres, which at this day hath the name of Catay. Or according vnto some who seeme more iudicious, his Empire extends from the desart of Lop of the one side, and the lake of Kytay of the other, vnto a wall drawne betwixt the three and fortieth and fiue and fortieth degree, from the towne of Ochioy scituated betwixt two moun∣taines, vnto another mountaine which ends with the sea, and diuides the Tartarians from them of China, and from the Scithian Ocean, vnto the frontires of Tipure, and the neighbour countries. This tract comprehends many great realmes and prouinces of a long extention, beautified with a great number of good townes.

The chiefe citie of this Empire is called Cambula, which some will haue to be in for∣mer [ II] [ D] times called Issedon Serica, built of a square forme, scituated vpon the riuer of Po∣lisangi, and hauing in circuit about foure and twentie Italian miles, with twelue ports, euery one of which hath his suburbes, whereas strangers and merchants remaine. This citie is in the middest of the prouince of Catay, and as it were the center of all the coun∣tries round about.

Besides the great and rich kingdome of Catay, there are many other goodly realmes, as those of Tangut, Camul, Tenduc, Tainfur, Thebet, and the towne and prouince of Caindo, of all which countries, I cannot make any curious description, for that there is not any man found that hath had full knowledge thereof, or hath imparted it to others.

[ E] ¶ The Qualitie.

THey hold that the countrie of Catay abounds in rice, wheat, and such like things, [ III] notwithstanding that the aire be cold. There is also great store of gold, silk, rhubarbe, muske, and great numbers of beasts; and to conclude in a word, they haue all things ne∣cessarie not onely to liue, but also to entertaine life with delight. They haue great num∣bers of camells, and such aboundance of horses, as some haue written that the great Cham did feed ten thousand white mares, whose milke he did drinke. They do not write that they gather much wine there, for it is certaine that the prouince of Catay yeelds not any. They find also stones which burne, whereof they make their fire, as they do of turfes [ F] in the Low countries, and we of Newcastle coale. The aire is not very temperat, and the thunder and lightning is so terrible and strange there in Sommer as men die in a manner for feare when they heare it. It is sometimes extreamely hote and presently after very cold, and much snow doth fall. The winds are sometimes so strong and violent, as they staie horsemen or ouerthrow them, they ouerturne trees and pull them vp by the roots;

and in a word they doe much harme. It raines neuer in Winter, and seldome doth there [ A] any water fall in Sommer, the which is so small, as it doth scarce wet the ground. There is great store of foule in this countrie, especially of phesants, and such like.

[ V] There are many lakes, to number which would be tedious, yet I will set downe the names of some for the readers content. In the prouince of Caniclu, there is a lake in which they find such aboundance of pearle, as they will presently be of no value if it were law∣full for euery man to carry away what he lift. But they are forbidden to fish for pearle without the permission of the great Cham. They find also in the same lake great store of fish. There is another which abounds as much with fish in the prouince of Caraim, being one hundred miles in circuit. These countries are watered by many riuers, among which [ B] that of Polisange is very famous: it dischargeth it selfe into the sea, and by it many ves∣sells do mount laden with merchandise. There is also the riuer of Coromoran which falls into the sea, and is so deepe and broad, as there is not any bridge to passe ouer it. The riuer of Quianfu halfe a mile broad is as deepe and aboundant of fish. There is also that of Quiam, which Paulus Venetus holds to be the greatest in the world: for he writes that in some places it is ten miles broad, in some eight, and in some six. It is a hundred daies iour∣ney long. But to specifie something, we must set downe what could be learned of the par∣ticularities of some prouinces.

There growes much rhubarbe in the realme of Tangut, the which is transported throughout the world. In the realme of Tenduc they find very rich mines of gold and [ C] azure. The realme of Tainfur is better manured, and abounds in vines. The countrie of Thebet is moorish, full of forrests, and wild beasts, and abounds in corall. They find also there great store of muske, synamon, and other spices.

This is all that can be said of the qualitie of these countries, both in the generall and particular: let vs now obserue the manner of liuing of the auncient inhabitants, to come afterwards to those which are practised among them, and to the qualities and humors which they haue in our time.

¶ The Manners of the Ancients.

[ VI] THose which we call at this day Tartarians, were all comprehended vnder the name [ D] of Scythians, whereof some liued on this side, and others beyond mount Imaus. The Scythians in the beginning had no great continent of countrie, but in succession of time, and by their valour, they grew so great, as hauing subiected many prouinces, and van∣quished diuers nations, they made a very great Empire, and became famous and renou∣ned throughout the whole world. They were neuer subdued, and seldome had beene as∣saulted to be made subiect to the Empire of any other. They forced Darius to flie with a great part of his armie, and defeated Cyrus with all his forces being led by a woman. Alexander the Great lost both souldiers and commaunders, whom he had se••t thither, and had no better successe than the rest. The Scythians had heard speake of the Romans [ E] name, but they neuer tried their forces, nor were made subiect to the yoke of their com∣maund. These people liued according vnto nature, and vsed no law. They hated theft, as those which did not shut vp their troupes within inclosures, or walled places, but kept them in the open field. They had no vse of gold nor siluer. Milke and honie was their food. They armed themselues against the cold with the skins of wild beasts, knowing not how to make garments of wool. When as the ancient Scythians had taken a man in war, they were bound to carry vnto their king the heads of all such as they had slaine, if they would haue any part of the spoile: otherwise they might not demaund any thing. They vsed this manner in cutting their enemies heads, they made a round incision about the eares, & drawing forth the skull, they did shake out that which was in it, & in like maner [ F] flea off the skin, as they did that of the whole bodie, the which they tanned like an oxes hide, where with they attired themselues, and made raines for their horses, or else vsed them as napkins at their meat, and the more of these seruices they had, the more they were esteemed among them. Some also did cut off the right hands of their enemies, and

[ A] hauing flead them with their nailes, they couered the tops of their quiuers therewith: and others hauing flead a whole man, they streched out the skin vpon a boord, and carri∣ed it in for a shew vpon their horses. As for the heads whereof I haue made mention, af∣ter they had flead them, and couered them without with a peece of an oxes skin, they did gild them within if they were rich, making cups to drinke in, and giuing them to strangers of note that came to see them, descoursing of their valour vnto them.

Euerie one of their princes did giue wine once a yeare to such souldiers as had slaine any of their enemies, and they that had not killed any, nor done some memorable ex∣ploit, were put apart without any honour, which was an insupportable infamie amongst [ B] them: whereas he that had slaine many, was presented with two cups of wine; for they carried so many goblets for a shew.

Their chiefe deities were the goddesse Vesta, who commaunded ouer all, and then [ VII] Iupiter, or Tellus, or the Earth, who they held to be Iupiters spouse, and these were the gods whom they honoured and sought to make fauourable vnto them. Besides these, they did worship Apollo, Venus, Mars, & Hercules, yet they did not erect any Temples or Altars vnto them, except to Mars, to whom they did sacrifice the hundred prisoner that, were taken in warre. To the rest they▪did sacrifice beasts, and especially horses. As for swine, they did so little esteeme them, as they would not suffer one to be kept among their troupes.

[ C] Whenas their king did condemne any one to death, the punishment was not restrai∣ned to him alone, but it was extended to all his issue male.

Whenas the Scythians contracted alliance with any one, they tooke a great goblet in which was earth, whereon they did poure wine mingled with the bloud of both parties, with the which they did besprinkle the points of their swords, their axes, arrowes, and darts: then hauing made a great oath with long and terrible imprecations against them that should breake this league, they did all drinke of the wine of this goblet, and not on∣ly the principall parties, but also all the chiefest men that assisted as companions to them that made the league.

When their King died, they made a verie deepe hole of a square forme, then taking [ D] the bodie they bowelled it, and put in the place thereof sweet odoriferous poulders, with the seeds of Smalage and Anis, which done, they sowed vp the bodie, and layed it vpon a chariot, sending it from nation to nation, euerie one doing it honour and seruice, and in the meane time the courtiers and seruants of the kings house did slit their eares, and cut their haire in signe of heauinesse, and they did launce their armes, and pinch their noses, euen to the effusion of bloud, and they did pierce their left hands with an arrow: the bodie hauing past throughout all the countries of the jurisdiction of the deceased, they left it in the most remote prouince of his empire. There the sepulchre being made, and the bodie being put into a coffin, and layed into the graue, they did set lances and long staues about it, with rodds vpon the top of them, and also certaine garments. [ E] Moreouer, they did put into the void place of the coffin, one of the Kings Concubines, whom he loued best in his life time. He must also of necessitie haue some officers to ac∣companie him, and to serue him in the other world: and therefore they did strangle neere vnto the tombe a Chamberlaine, a Cooke, a Butler, a Sergeant, and a Mulet-keeper; all which had for the carrying of their baggage but one horse which was slaine with them, and at the same time they were buried with their prince, and with him his plate, and richest moueables.

They had this custome, that at the end of the yeare they did the like seruice, with the losse of the liues of his best seruants and officers, who are all naturall Scythians, free, and of noble race, and such as it pleased the King to chuse, for that no slaue was admitted to [ F] his seruice. They did also chuse fiftie of the later sort, with the like number of horses which they strangled, taking out their bowels, and then sowed vp their bellies; after which, they couered them with their cloakes, and tied them about the tombe couered with a vault, they being on horsebacke, and set in such sort, as a farre off they did seeme a troupe of horsemen, appointed for the guard of the deceased King: such were the cere∣monies

and funeralls of Kings, whenas they were interred. [ A]

[ VIII] They had a particular kind of burying for priuat persons, for that any one being dead, his people layed him vpon a chariot, and carried him to his kinsfolkes and friends, uerie one of them making a feast in the place of his aboad to the kinsmen of the deceased, and to the rest that accompanied the bodie. They carried it vp and downe for the space of fortie daies, at the end whereof they did set vp three peeces of timber equally declining, and vpon it they layed a tent of wooll very artificially, then they did cast into a vessell made like vnto a barke, and set vpon the tombe next vnto the rent, the most glistering stones they could find: this is all that can be spoken of their manner of burying the dead; let vs now come vnto the rest. [ B]

[ IX] The men neuer washt themselues, but the women rubbed their naked bodies against some sharpe and rough stone, hauing then poured water vpon them, and their flesh be∣ing swolen by this meanes, they rubbed their bodies with the wood of Cypres, Cedar, and Incense, and they did also vse certaine oyntments for the face made of the like drugs, by meanes whereof they smelt sweet, then hauing the day following taken away these pla••ters, they seemed more beautifull and pleasing. These people did not sweare but by the royall Throne, and if any one did forsweare himselfe, or take a false oath, if he were conuicted by the Inchanters, who made proofe thereof by rods of willow, he pre∣sently lost his head, and his goods were forfeited to them that had proued his per∣iurie. [ C]

They of Catay, whom they called the Seres, liued louingly and quietly together, and yet notwithstanding this mildnesse, they fled the companie and conuersation of other men; so as they would not traffique by word with any stranger: but if they would make any bargaine, and sell their commodities, or buy others, the stranger was forced to passe the riuer, vpon the bankes whereof either of them layed his merchandise; and then the Seres set the price of all things in looking on them, and the stranger did of necessitie pay what they demaunded.

An adulterous man or woman and a theefe were neuer called in question, and they say that in old time there was neuer any murther committed among them, for that they did more feare to be found disobedient to their laws, than of the threats and constellations, [ D] or of the predictions of those which cast their natiuities, and told them their fortunes.

No man amongst them touched his wife when she was with child, or had her moneth∣ly flux. There was not any one among them that did eat any polluted beast. They made no sacrifices, and euerie man was Iudge of himselfe, following naturally that which was reasonable.

[ X] The Tartarians, which acknowledge the great Cham at this day, were in old time subiect to their neighbours, and payed them tribute, they were so base and deiected; and yet they were gouerned by Lords and Captaines, who had the soueraigne gouernement of affaires: but in the end, they shaked off this yoke by the meanes of an old man, Mar∣shall of his Estate, who said, he had seene a vision of a Knight armed in white, & moun∣ted [ E] vpon a horse of the same colour, who hauing called him by his name, said these words vnto him, Canguiste, (for so was the name of this Marshall) it is the will of the immortall God, that thou freest this people from the subiection of their neighbours, and that th•••• be••st ••o∣uernour and King of the Tartarians, who shall make others subiect, as they are now tributarie to their neighbours: This was the cause that the Tartarians (being desirous to see themselues free, and to commaund others) made choyce of this Canguiste for their King, who was the first prince of this people: this happened in the yere of our Lord 1187. This Canguiste, called Chinghie by some others, was a wise man, and of a good life, and was the first which sought to root out idolatrie from among the Tartarians, forbidding by an edict when he was made King, the adoration of Idols, enioyning them to worship one God onely, by [ F] whose meanes he thought to haue gotten so great a dignitie. In the end, Canguiste seeing himselfe strong, failed not sodainly to inuade the Scythians his neighbours, on either side of Mount Imaus, and made them his subiects and tributaries, and the Tartarians more hardie and feared, whereas before they were onely shepheards.

[ A] ¶ The Manners of the Tartarians at this day.

THe Tartarians are of a meane stature, and haue very broad brests and shouldiers; [ XI] they haue great gogle eyes, and thicke eyebrowes: they are broad faced, and haue thinne beards with great mustachos: they commonly shaue the backe part of their heads and let the other grow long, which they tie behind their eares: not onely the Tartarians are shauen after this manner, but also such as go to remaine in their countrie. They are good horsemen, very light and actiue, but bad footmen. No man goes on foot, but all are [ B] mounted either on horses, or else on oxen when they trauell, how meane soeuer they be. They hold it for an honourable thing when their horses weare little bells about their neckes which haue cleere sounds. There are great criers euen when they talke familiarly together, and whenas they sing a man would say they were wolues that howled, and all of them when they sing shake their hands. Whenas they drinke, they neuer leaue till they be drunke, and glorie in this beastlinesse. There are many among them which haue nei∣ther townes nor villages for their ordinarie aboad, but remaine in the fields vnder tents. In Winter they liue in plains, but in Sommer they dwell on mountaines seeking the best pastures. For the most part they haue no bread, nor kned any, neither haue they any table∣cloathes or napkins. These people contemne all the rest of the world, and thinke that [ C] there is not any one so worthie of honour as their prince, neither will they suffer one to call vpon any other man. They call all Christians dogs and idolaters: they vse Magicke 〈◊〉〈◊〉, and are giuen to the interpretation of dreames, and haue Magitians which be inter∣pr••••ers of their idle fancies, and which go vnto idols to heare their oracles and explica∣tio••••. They are so couetous of wealth, as when any one hath seene a thing that he desi∣re••••, he takes it away by force, if he may not haue it with the owners consent, so as he be 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Tartarian; and euery man thinkes that it is lawfull by their kings lawes. Whenas the Tartarians find any one vpon the way which carries not the kings letters or pasport, they 〈◊〉〈◊〉 vpon him, and keepe him as their slaue. They lend money to such as haue need, but vpon great vsurie. They neuer giue any almes to beggers: but they haue one thing com∣mendable, [ D] that if any one arriue whenas they dine or sup, he may eate and drinke with them; for in steed of giuing him leaue to depart, they inuite him courteously, and giue him willingly what they haue. They are very slouenly in their eating and drinking, for as they neither haue cloth nor napkins, so they neuer wash their hands. They vse no hearbes, pease, nor beanes, but their onely food is the flesh of all sorts of beasts, yea of dogs, and cats, and great rats. Some among them haue a custome, whenas they haue ta∣ken any one of their enemies to roast him, to shew the desire they haue of reuenge; when this is done, they assemble commonly in great numbers, and deuoure the bodie like ••amished wolues: but before they roast him, they receiue the bloud and put it into cups, and so drinke it. For their ordinare drink, they vse mares milke. They hold it a great [ E] ••••••e to suffer any of their meat, or their drinke to be lost; and therefore they cast not any bones to dogs or cats before they haue taken out the marrow. Mor••ouer they are so mi∣••erable and base, as they neuer eate any beast that is found, but stay vntill it be lame or sicke, or so old as it doth but languish. They content themselues with little: they drinke two or three cups in the morning, and after that they sometimes passe a whole day with∣out meat or drinke. There is s••arce any of them either men or women that hath aboue one garment. The men in steed of caps or hats weare miters which are not very deepe, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 before, and hauing a long taile behind: and to keepe them fast that the wind beat them not off, they tie them with ribons vnder their chins. Married women vse an attire of their heads made in forme of a pannier made of oziers, a foot and a halfe long, inricht [ F] with silke and peacockes feathers, and with it they weare pearles, stones, and ornaments of gold, and as for the rest of the bodie, they are attired according to their meanes, and the richer sort weare silke or scarlet. Their roabes are made after this manner: the slit is on the left side, by the which they attire and disroabe themselues, and they haue foure or fiue buttons which shut it vp: the garments they weare in Sommer are commonly black,

and those in Winter, or in a rainie, season are white, and they go not beneath the knee. [ A] The Tartarians weare garments of furres, the which they vse commonly contrarie to other people: for to make shew of the bountie of the haire, they weare the furre out∣ward, and the skin next to their bodies. They are veery good archers, good horsemen, and well practised in war: they carrie their wiues and children with them, and sometimes set images of men vpon horses, to the end their armie may seeme greater to their ene∣mies, by which meanes they amase them the more. They are not ashamed to flie when as necessitie doth presse them, and that it is likely they shall be beaten in resisting. They fight by troupes, and flie also by troupes; and when as the enemie pursues them, they haue their arrowes alwaies readie to shoot: but if they see themselues pursued by smal troups [ B] they put themselues in order, renew the fight, and make their way with the multitude of their arrowes, wounding their enemies, and their horses of all sides, and in the end they obtaine the victorie when they were held vanquished. Whenas they meane to inuade any countrie, they diuide their armie, and assayle it of all sides, to the end they shall not come to encounter them, nor any of the inhabitants escape, and by this meanes they are most commonly conquerors. They vse the victorie with insolencie; for they spare not any they haue taken, neither women, nor children, old, nor young, but kill all indiffe∣rently, except workemen whom they keepe to do their workes. When they meane to kill them, they distribute them to captaines, who assigne ten or more to euery seruant to kill them, according to the number of prisoners, and all are sodenly slaine like beasts with an [ C] axe, or hatchet, to the end that others may be terrified by this example. They take one of a thousand, and hang him on a poale with his head downeward, in the middest of the rest that haue beene slaine; so as he seemes to admonish his companions and to heare them speake. There are many among the Tartarians which come vnto the dead bodies lying vpon the ground, and sucke vp the bloud which comes out of their wounds being yet fresh. They neuer keepe any faith or word they haue promised, by which meanes they practise great crueltie against such as haue yeelded vnto them. They are the most giuen to lasciuiousnesse and whoredome of any men in the world, for notwithstanding they may haue as many wiues as they are able to keepe, and that no degree of consanguinitie and bloud doth hinder them from marrying together, vnlesse it be with the mother, [ D] daughter, or sister, yet they are execrably giuen to that horrible sinne of Sodomie. They hold not any one for a wife vntill she hath borne children, neither doth he receiue any dowrie for her vntill that time; so as he may repudiat her that is found barren, and take another in her place. If any one be surprised in adulterie he is punished by the law, be it man or woman. Euery woman hath her lodging, her houshold & familie a part, and all liue very chastly. When the men returne from the war, they driue their cattell to the field, and keepe them, and spend their time in hunting, and they also practise wrestling. The women haue charge of all the rest, and care of those things which concerne meat, drinke, and apparell. This people is much giuen to superstitions: it is not lawfull for any one to pisse in publicke places, and if it happen that he shall do it wilfully, he shall be slaine [ E] without remission: but if necessitie forceth him, there is a pauillion, wherein if any pisse, they purge it, and all that is within it after this manner: They make two fires, in the which they fix two pikes, and tie a cord which runs from the top of the one vnto the other, and then they cause all things which they meane to purifie to passe betwixt these pikes as through a gate. There are also two women, one of the one side, and the other of another who cast water vpon them, mumbling certaine charmes and sorceries.

No stranger is admitted into the kings presence, of what dignitie soeuer he be, or any affaires of importance that he hath, vnlesse he be first purged. He that enters the pauillion whereas the king, or any prince, or great nobleman makes his ordinarie aboad, is instant∣ly put to death. There are many other things which they hold for irremissible faults: but [ F] if there be question to kill or wound a man, to inuade another mans lands, to take away another mans goods contrarie to all right, and to contemne the commaundement of God, they hold it nothing, and doe it without any scruple. Whenas any one is sicke or neere death, they fix a pike or halberd with a blacke pennon or flag, neere vnto the place

[ A] where he lies sicke, to the end that such as passe by may not enter. Being dead all his fami∣lie assembles, and they carrie his bodie out of the pauillion into a place which he had formerly chosen; then hauing made a deepe and large hole, they set vp a little tent in it, and a table furnished with meat, and they cast the bodie of the deceased into it, attired in his richest garments, and then all together couer it with earth. They doe also burie with him a mare and a horse, with a caparison. The richer sort in their life time chuse one of their slaues, whom they marke with a hot yron, and cause to be buried with them, to the end he may serue him in the other world. After this, the friends of the deceased take another horse, which they kill, and then eat. The wiues of the deceased burne his [ B] bones for a purgation of his soule. For a conclusion of their manner of liuing, I will say that their best drinkes are of Rice and spices, which make them more drunke than wine. They do also loue sower milke like vnto the Arabians, and milke distilled & past through 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Alymbeck, the which hath great force to make them drunke; and also they do accom∣modate their mares milke in such sort, as it is like to white wine, and pleasing in tast. They ••bstaine wholly from swines flesh. And for that they are vagabonds, and stay little in any place, they guide themselues in their voyages by the North starre, and as men which liue commonly in the fields, they haue great knowledge of the planets and stars. There are few ••••••izans among them, neither is there any vse of money, but with merchants, for that the rest exchange one thing for another. Their horses are commonly gelt, and little, but [ C] strong: they call them Bachmat, & they furnish them of saddles, with stirrops of wood, and verie light bridles: and they vse whips in stead of spurs. If it happen they be ouer∣throwne, disarmed, and grieuously wounded, their custome is to defend themselues with their feet and hands, yea and with their teeth, vntill the last gaspe. They doe easily in∣dure labour, and want of victualls, and they are little giuen to delights.

Their Kings are buried on Mount Altay, called by Hayton the Armenian, the moun∣taine of Belgian; and whenas they carrie the bodie to be interred, they that accompanie it, kill all them they meet vpon the way, saying, Go and serue our King in the other life; and for proofe hereof, Marcus Polus reports, That whenas Mongu Cha•• was carried to be interred, which was at such time as Polus was in Tartaria, his souldiers which did ac∣companie [ D] the bodie, slew for this cause aboue ten thousand men which past by the way. The inhabitants of the prouince of Camul, are giuen to playes and dauncings, and re∣ceiue strangers courteously, yea they will prostitute their owne wiues vnto them.

¶ The Riches.

I Should want judgement to thinke that the Tartarians, who haue made so many incur∣sions [ XII] into Europe and Asia, and haue carried away such great spoyles out of Musco∣uie and other parts, especially from China, which they haue long enioyed; I say it were a great folly to thinke that they are not rich at this day, seeing it is sufficiently knowne that [ E] these people, hauing at the taking of so many prouinces carried away the most pretious things they could find, haue since maintained themselues so well in their countrie, as no man hath wrested from them that whereof they were once seised; so as they haue kept all still: This may easily persuade any man that the Tartarians are verie rich. And that which doth moreouer preserue this Estate, is the scituation of their countrie, verie com∣modious for the commerce and traffique of one towne with another. The reason is part∣ly for that the countrie is plaine, and hath great lakes (among which there is that of Cazaie, whose water is salt, and those of Gujam, Dangu, Xandu, and Catacora) and partly also for the greatnesse of riuers which run through these countrie. That which doth also make them rich, is the diuersitie of merchandise which grow there; for this [ F] countrie abounds generally in Rice, Wooll, Silke, Hempe, Rhubarbe, Muske, and ex∣cellent Chamlets made of Camels haire. But Polus writes, that the countrie of Caindu doth also yeeld Ginger, Synamon, and Cloues; the which notwithstanding is somewhat doubtfull. There are also some riuers which haue gold mixed with their sand.

The money which they vse is not all of one sort, for that in Cataya they imploy a cer∣taine [ XIII]

kind of blacke money which is made of a thin skin which they find betwixt the [ A] barke and the bodie of trees, and which being beaten and mixt with a certain•• g••ue, is marked with the seale of the great Cham; and in the realme of Cajacan and Corazan, they vse certaine Cockle shells. The prince drawes vnto himselfe all the gold and siluer of his countrie▪ and causing it to be moulten, he keepes it in certaine strong forts, and ne∣ue•• vseth it; so as it is thought this Emperour hath inestimable treasures: with the like art Prester Ian, who causeth graines of salt and pepper to go for currant money, hath verie great riches. And for that the citie of Cambalu is in the middest of the great pro∣uince of Cataya, they bring thither from the East Indies, from China, and other coun∣tries, much rich merchandise, and among others, pretious stones, pearles, silke, spices, and [ B] such like. As for Rhubarbe which is spent in the countrie, they draw it out of the realme of Tangut, which is vnder the dominion of the great Cham. In the prouince of Ten∣duc, there are verie rich mines of gold and azure, which yeeld great profit to the inhabi∣tants: and they of the countrie of Thebet inrich themselues by Corall, wherewith it abounds, as also by Muske, Synamon, and other spices, which yeeld no small profit. To conclude, there are few Principalities, where they haue better meanes to enrich them∣selues, and all the discommdities that are in this empire, falls vpon them which liue to∣wards the North, who haue want of many things necessarie for the life of man, whereof their neighbours, subiect to the same prince, haue aboundance.

¶ The Forces. [ C]

THey that will carefully consider of the forces of this great Emperor, may easily judge that they consist, first in the scituation of his countries, which we haue formerly shewed to be exceeding strong, in his large territories, and in the greatnesse of townes, as of Sucuir, and of Campion, built and fortified after our manner, of Ergimul, Corazam, Thebet, and Caindu, all chiefe townes of so many realmes; and also in the aboundance of victualls which they yeeld, and in the greatnesse of his reuenues: for that among other things, he exacts the tenth of wooll, silke, hempe, corne, and cattell, and he is ab∣solute lord of all that the Tartarians enioy: but his chiefest forces consist in his men of [ D] warre, whom he entertaines continually in armes. These liue in field some foure miles from euerie towne, and besides the pay which they receiue from the Prince, they doe also make much profit of a great number of cattel which belong vnto them, and of their milke and wooll. If by chance the great Cham hath need to leuie a great armie, he takes what number shall be necessarie out of these men which lie dispersed in the prouinces, after the manner of the Roman Legions. The Tartarians doe not commonly fight on foot, except the Vachens, who are not vnder the empire of the great Cham. Their chiefe armes are bowes and arrowes, the which they vse (as we haue said) as well when they flie, as when they charge. They carrie little with them when they go to the warre, but their chiefest baggage consists of tents of felt, vnder which they retire themselues when it [ E] raines. They liue for the most part of milke, which they drie in the Sunne, hauing first drawne forth the butter; and whenas necessitie doth presse them, they liue of the bloud which they draw from their horses. They do seldome joyne battaile with their enemies, but charge them sometimes in front, sometimes in flanke, shooting their arrows continu∣ally after the manner of the Parthians. They that carrie themselues valiantly, haue goodly recompences, and are aduanced to the greatest dignities; they are honoured with exqui∣sit presents, and haue goodly priuiledges.

This Emperour doth commonly entertaine twelue thousand horsemen for the guard of his person, and it is thought that he may draw more horse together than any Prince whatsoeuer; so as his forces haue two remarkable qualities: the one is, that he hath many [ F] men, as we may conceiue by the greatnesse of his countries, the which must needs be well inhabited, for that in the most part there is aboundance of all things necessarie: the other is, that all his men of warre are in armes, and readie to march vpon the first command, for that they are continually well payed, the which is a matter of great importanc••: 〈◊〉〈◊〉

[ A] as they doe more esteeme the disposition and agilitie of a souldier than his force, so they account much more of armies which are readie to march where they are comman∣ded, and haue not much baggage to hinder them, than those which consist of great num∣bers: but Princes which haue them both great and readie to put to field, must of ••ecessi∣tie be held for powerfull and verie strong: for these are like vnto Eagles, Tygers, or Li∣ons, which are held as princes of other beasts, for that they haue disposition and agilitie joyned to the force of the bodie; so as with these two parts they get the victorie ouer others. They say that the Tartarians cannot serue with a targuet, and that there are few of them that vse lances or long swords: those they weare are made like vnto the Turkish [ B] Cimetaries, pointed, and very sharpe, and of the length of a mans arme, to the end they may strike them that come too neere them. He among them is held most valiant, that knwes best to obey his Captaine.

¶ The Gouernment.

THis Emperor whom the Turkes call Vlucam, that is say, great prince, and the Musco∣uits [ XV] Czar Cata••ski, which is Caesar of Cataya, whose name they set in a red table in letters of gold vpon the temples of their chiefe townes, calling him the sonne of God, the shaddow of God, and the soule of God. He is so obayed in all the prouinces which [ C] are subiect vnto him, as they receiue his words for rigorous and inuiolable lawes. This absolute power came from Canguiste, who being chosen Emperor of the Tartarians, and desiring to trie if they would be readie to obey his will, he commaunded seuen princes, who before had gouerned all these people, to kill their children with their owne hands: and notwithstanding that the fathers found this commaundement very rough and hard, yet whether they feared the furie of the people who held this king as a diuine thing, or that religion moued them, for that they beleeued that God had giuen a beginning to this Empire, and that they should contemne God in disobeying the kings commaunde∣ment, they set hand to worke, and cut the throats of their owne children: so as since, that time the life and death of the Tartarians depends of the princes will, whom [ D] they so respect, as they doe not any thing that may contradict his intentions. This Can∣guiste [ XVI] or Chingis ordained that they which were of age to beare armes, should come at a certaine day to the place where he should appoint, and there he did set downe an order for his troupes after this manner, That Disseigners or Commaunders of ten should obey Captaines of hundreds, and these should be subiect to Commaunders of thousands, and the last should also yeeld obedience to the Colonells of euery regiment. He also ordai∣ned that if any of the Tartarians, or their slaues, should find a man, a woman, a horse, or any other thing without the princes pasport, he might sease thereon, and hold it as his owne, and iustly gotten. The exactions, imposts, and customes are so great, as we do not read that any other nation was euer so charged.

[ E] As for the coronation of their kings, whether they raigne by hereditarie succession, as [ XVII] the eldest sonnes of Emperor dos, or that they attaine vnto this dignitie for want of heirs capable to gou••rne this Empire; some haue said that the princes of their seuen tribes or generations being attired in white, which is the colour they do also vse when they mourn (as they of Iapon doe) cause the new pri••ce to sit vpon a blacke felt spread vpon the ground, willing him to looke vpon the Sunne, and to acknowlege the immortall God, the which if he doe, he shall receiue from him in heauen a far greater recompence than vpon earth, else he shall haue nothing left him, but that blacke felt to lie on in the fields, and that with much difficultie; and that he shal passe his life with a thousand discommo∣dities and miseries. They also report that after this they crowne him, and that the greatest [ F] Peeres come and kisse his feet, and sweare fealtie vnto him, giuing him infinit rich pre∣sents; and that when this is done, they write his name in letters of gold, and set it vpon the temples of the chiefe cities of the Empire: others say that when they are to crowne a new Emperor, the princes and noblemen Tartarians being followed by the people which come from all parts of the Empire, meet vpon a plaine appointed to that end, and

whereas that ceremonie is commonly performed. There, he to whom the Empire doth [ A] fall is set vpon a throne of gold, before whom, all in generall do prostrat themselues, and with a loud voice say vnto him these words: We pray thee, will, and commaund thee, to haue power ouer vs: whereunto the new prince aunswers; If you will that I obey you in this, I must of necessitie do it: in the meane time prepare your selues to do all that I shall commaund you, to come when I shall call you, to go where it shall please me to send you, and to leaue the whole Estate of the Empire in my hands to dispose thereof as I shall thinke good. The Tartarians ha∣uing consented thereunto, the Emperor faith more: Wherefore the words of my mouth shall he vnto you hereafter, a sword, and shall take reuenge of rebells. The people clap their hands at these words, signifying thereby that they doe accept the condition. Which done the princes draw him out of his royall throne, and set him on the ground vpon a Felt, and [ B] say vnto him as we haue formerly mentioned: Looke vp and acknowled God, and withall, be∣hold the place whereon thou art now set: if thou doest gouerne thy Estate well, all things shall succeed to thy hearts desire: but if thou doest not gouerne they people as it is fit, assure thy selfe thou shalt be so spoiled of all greatnesse and riches, that this Felt which is now thy seat, will not be left thee to do thee seruice. Hauing spoken this, they giue him the best beloued of his wiues, and raising them both vp with the Felt, they proclaime them Emperor and Em∣peresse of Tartaria, and instantly the great men of the Empire, and the deputies of pro∣uinces which are vnder his obedience, bring him presents, in signe of acknowledgment. They do also bring vnto the same place the rich moueables of the deceased king, where∣of [ C] the king distributes part vnto the greatest noblemen of the countrie, and keepes the rest for his owne seruice; then all the ceremonies being ended, euery man retires into his owne prouince.

This Emperor hath all in his owne power, and not one of his subiects dare say that he hath any thing in proprietie. It is not lawful for any man to dwell in any place but where he is assigned by the Emperor, who doth also appoint Gouernors, Generalls of armies, and Colonels, & they chuse Captains, & they the members of their companies, and these [ XVIII] of the rest to make their troupes compleat. The seale which the great Cham vseth in his pattents beares these words: God in heauen, Chuichuch Cham vpon earth: the Emperor is the force of God and men. This prince doth neuer speake vnto forraine Embassadors, and will [ D] not suffer them to be presented vnto him, if they, and their presents (for it is a forfait to come before this great prince emptie handed) be not purified by women appointed to that end. Then he aunswers by an interpretor, and whilest that this third person speakes, the strangers of what condition soeuer they be must kneele, & be attentiue that this inter∣pretor omit not one word which the prince hath spoken: for it is not lawfull for any man to alter one word of the Emperours, or to faile in the execution of his will. This prince maintains justice with extreamerigour, for that offendors hauing been whipt for the first crime they haue committed, they are sawne a sunder in the middest for the second, what∣soeuer the offence be: wherein they seeme to follow the opinion which the Stoicks had of the equalitie of offences.

[ XIX] He hath two Councells, the one of war, being twelue men wife and of great experi∣ence; [ E] the other of state, of as many men, of great judgement, and full of knowledge of state affaires. These mannage all the gouernment, and haue the charge to punish offen∣dors and wicked persons, and to recompence men of merit: and these men vse no lesse diligence to reward good seruices done vnto the Emperor as wel in time of peace as war, as to punish such as do il, or that haue carried themselues basely in any action. And with∣out doubt the good gouernment of an Estate doth so consist in these things, that is to say, in punishment and reward, as we may rightly say that by their meanes onely the greatest part of barbarous princes maintaine their states and greatnesse. And for exam∣ple, the Turke, the Xerif, the Mogor, and the Sophy, gouerne themselues after this man∣ner. [ F] They do not obserue this in war, for that they ground their rule and commaund vp∣on force, and do not care for peace nor rest, but onely for victorie and grea••nesse: so as hauing this end onely, they vse no moderation, neither in the punishment of cowards, nor in rewarding the valiant and couragious. There was neuer commonweale whereas

[ A] they propounded such goodly rewards for valiant men, as among these Barbarians. But they propound much more among the Turkes, than in any other place: for that the Tar∣tarians, Arabians, and Persians, make some esteeme of nobilitie; but the Turkes ruine all noble families, and esteeme nothing but valour and hardinesse, committing their whole Empire into the hands of such as are issued from base houses; so as they haue made it knowne that they are capable of some great fortune: the which was also practi∣sed among the Mamelus. But to returne to the Tartarians gouernment, it seemes that among them they make great account of Astrologers, and that they do in a manner go∣uerne all things in this countrie. Paul writes that there were in his time in the citie of [ B] Cambula about fiue thousand: and that Cublai Cham hauing learned of them that this citie should one day reuolt, he caused another to be built called Taidu, the which is very neere. Finally, if any one hath stolne any thing of small value, for the which he deserues [ XX] not death, he is beaten seuen times with a cudgell, and receiues seuenteene, or seuen and twentie, or else seuen and fortie blowes, according to the qualitie of the offence: and in this kind of punishment they may giue one hundred blowes, adding alwaies ten. There are some which die, being beaten after this manner. If any one hath stolne a horse or some matter of price, for the which it seemes he deserues death, they kill him with the sword, and if he will redeeme his life, he may, paying nine times the value of the thing that was stolne. But before we passe ouer this discourse of the gouernement, for I meane [ XXI] [ C] to speake of certaine Hordes which obey the great Cham, I thinke it fit to expound this word which may happely trouble some readers, and being vnderstood, may content them that are most curious: Horde is an assemblie of many men gathered together af∣ter the manner of a Commonweale, but distributed in such sort, as in matter of warre there are Dezeniers, which obey Captaines of hundreds, and these superior Commaun∣ders, as hath beene formely spoken. Among these Hordes, there are some which obey particular Dukes, others which obey the Muscouite, and are his tributaries, and some which are subiect to the Emperour, of whom wee make mention in this place.

[ D] ¶ The Religion.

THe Tartarians which obey the great Cham, are not all of one religion, but differ in [ XXII] beliefe, for that some follow the false doctrine of Mahomet, which was receiued into those countries, about the yeare of our Redemption 1246. They obey the Penta∣teuque of Moyses, and obserue the things commaunded by the auncient Law, and they crie daily, Iahi Illo Illoloth, there is but one God. Among them of Catay there are some Mahometans, but many more Idolaters, whose beliefe is thus. They hold there are two gods, one of heauen, and another of earth: of the first (to whom they cast Incense euery day) they demaund nothing but health, and vnderstanding: and of the other, aboun∣dance [ E] of fruit, store of cattell, and such like. They say also, that the last hath a wife and children, and hath a care of their cattell, corne, and other affaires: and whensoeuer they eat, they rubbe the mouth of the Idoll with the fattest of the flesh, and of the wife and children, (for they haue many little images in their houses) and afterwards cast the broth of the flesh to the spirits without the house. They keepe their god of heauen in a high place, and that of the earth, beneath. They beleeue that our soules are immortall, but they passe from one bodie to another, and are lodged better or worse, according to their precedent actions; wherein they follow the Metempsychoses of Pythagoras. They ho∣nour also the Sunne, Moone, and the foure Elements, and doe sacrifice vnto them. They call the Pope and all Christians Dzinthis, which signifies Pagans; and Chaur, that is to [ F] say, Infidels, Dogges, and Idolaters: the which hath happened since that they were inuited by Pope Innocent the fourth to receiue the Christian faith. They were persuaded by the Mahometans to follow the religion of the Alcaron, as the most pure, saying, that it taught the adoration of one god onely, whereas that of the Christians was full of Idolls: and moreouer, that theirs was actiue, and did allow any thing to a free man,

putting armes into his hand, whereas that of Christ was onely fit for effeminat persons, [ A] and for such has desired rest. They make their Idols of felt, or of some kind of silke, and they doe them great reuerence. They doe not solemnize one day more than another, and doe not fast nor abstaine in one season more than in another, as the Mahometans [ XXIII] doe, but the daies and seasons passe with them after one manner. As for the Tartarian Iewes, they are descended from the ten Tribes of Israell, transported by the commaunde∣ment of Salmanazar King of Assiria, into the countrie of Arsareth, in the time of king Oseas. Writers differ concerning the countrie of Arsareth, and speake diuersly: Some will haue it to be the countrie of Colchos, called at this day Mingrelie, for that Herodo∣tus writes, that they of Colchos vsed circumcision. But the greatest part hold that Arsa∣reth [ B] is the prouince of Belgian, from whence the Iewes went vnder the name of Tartari∣ans, in the yeare of our Saluation 1200, vnder the great Ching is, Founder of the empire of Catay, and therefore they had retained circumcision, and some other things of the law of Moyses, so as they easily became Mahometans. But notwithstanding they are in a ma∣ner all Idolaters in Catay. Besides the Mahometans, whereof we haue spoken, there are some Iewes and Christians but few in number.

[ XXIIII] As for the Christians, their religion is much changed and corrupted, as the effect doth shew, for that seeing their Parents old, to the end they may dispatch them out of the world, they feed them with fat more than is fit, so as after it they doe but languish: and being dead they burne their bodies, and gather vp the ashes carefully, the which they [ C] keepe as a pretious thing, putting it vpon their meat whenas they take their repast. Moreouer they haue followed the heresie of Nestorius, which hath extended it selfe vnto the towne of Campion, and is yet held by some which remaine at Tangut, Sucuir, at Cambalu, and in other townes of this empire. These Nestorians notwithstanding that they speake many languages, according to the countries where they are, yet they cele∣brat their office in the Chaldean tongue. Their errours that they hold are, That the na∣ture of man in Iesus Christ is without a person, and therefore defectiue: and for this cause they put Christ in two persons. They doe not call the Virgin Marie the mother of God, for that they say the name of God comprehends the Father, the Sonne, and the Holie Ghost, and then she should be mother of all three diuine persons: yet now they [ D] confesse that she is mother of God the Sonne. They hold for Saints, Nestorius, Theo∣dore of Mapsuestie, Diodore of Tarse, and Paule of Samosates, and they condemne S. Cyrillus Alexandrinus. They say that it is one thing to be God the Word, and another to be Christ. They haue not the first Councell of Ephesus, nor the following. Their Patriarchs are not chosen, but come to it by succession from father to sonne. They first create him great Archbishop, then without any other ceremonie he succeeds the Patriarch which dies. In the yeare of our Redemption 1119, Prester-Iean, who comman∣ded in the prouince of Hatay, or (as some say) in that of Tenduc (the in••abitants of the countrie call him Ioane) receiued this Nestorian heresie, but he was ruined by the great Chingis or Canguist king of the Tartarians, in the yeare of our Lord God 1162, fortie [ E] yeares after he had receiued this errour: yet he continued Lord of a small estate, which was recommended vnto the great Cham by certaine religious men of the order of S. Dominicke, by the commaundement of Innocent the fourth. And they find at this day, in the countries which are subiect to this Emperour, many Christians, which notwithstan∣ding follow this condemned sect. And some English men which haue beene in those countries, report, that the Archbishop of Cambalu crownes the great Cham when he comes to succeed in the empire.

[ A] ¶ A GENEALOGIE OF THE EMPERORS OF TARTARIA.

IT were needfull to haue other relations than those which haue come to light, [ XXV] or be neerer the countries whereof we treat, to set downe all the Emperours one after another that haue raigned there vnto this day. But for that we could not attain to any perfect knowledge therof, we must content our selues [ B] with that which we could learne from them that haue discoursed most of the succession of these princes. Paulus Venetus holdes this order naming the Emperors that haue raigned in Cataya: First of all he sets Canguist, or Chingis, or Cinchis: secondly, Chuy: thirdly, Bar∣chim, then Allau, and after him Mongu, and last of all Cublay, in whose court Paul remai∣ned some time. But Hayton the Armenian giues them the names which follow. He names first Changy Cham, then Hoccora Cham, after him Gino Cham, and after these Mange Cham, and then Cobila Cham, who built the towne of Ions in Cataya, which they hold to be the same that Cambalu. We must follow in this list of Emperors Tamor Cham, who raigned in Cataya in the time of Hayton in the yeare 1308. Among the rest Hoccara Cham had many children, the eldest whereof was called Gino Cham, who succeeded his father in the [ C] Empire of Cataya; and Iochy his brother came into the Westerne parts, and seased vp∣on the countries of Persia, Turquestan, and some other prouinces; and another brother called Baydo conquered the Northerne countries, and taking the way of Europe, came into Hongarie, and begat Tamerlan he that spoiled the Westerne prouinces of Asia, and some of Europe. Gino Cham died young in the East, and the neerest vnto him called Man∣go was made Emperour, who assailed a certaine island in the East, whose inhabitants had rebelled: but they diued secretly into the water, and made holes in the keele of the ship wherein Mango was, so as he and all that were in it perished. Then his brother Cobila, called Cublay by Paul, was created Emperour, and made profession of the Christian religion, but his successors haue not maintained it. He that hath made the abridgement [ D] of the Atlas of Gerard M••rcator describes this genealogie after another manner: He agrees with the rest touching the first, and calls him Changy Chan, or Cham, saying that it is the same that Paulus Venetus calls Cinchis, who liued about the yeare of Grace 1202. The Tartarians before his raigne liued brutishly without lawes or ciuilitie, neither had they any reputation among the Scythians or other nations, but paied tribute to their neighbours of the cattell which they had. This Changi extended his Empire in a short time from China vnto the Caspian sea. He had for sonne Iochu Cham, who begat Zain Cham the third Emperour, called by some others Bathi: This was he that spoiled Russia, Polonia, Silesia, Morauia, and Hongarie. The fourth Emperor, sonne to Bathi, was Temir Cutlu, whom our histories call Tamerlan, who ouerran all Asia, entred into AEgypt, tooke [ E] Baiazet Emperor of the Turkes, and led him bound in chaines of gold ouer all Asia. The fift Emperor, sonne to Temir Cutlu was Temir Gzar, who they say was slaine figh∣ting valiantly against the knights of Prussia. The sixt issued from Temir Gzar, was Macmetczar, who had for successor Armetczar, and he begat Sziachmet the eight Emperor of the Tartarians.