The historie of the holy vvarre by Thomas Fuller ...

Chap. 22.

The conversion of the Tartarians. Haalon con∣quereth Persia, and extinguisheth the Caliphs of Babylon.

LEwis is gone, and left the Christians in Syria in a wofull condition, without hope of amendment. Now, can any good come out of Tartary? Can the Northern wind blow a comfortable warmth? Yea; see a strange vicissitude of things!* 1.1 Haito the Christian King of Armenia had travelled to Mango the Cham of Tartary,* 1.2 to communicate to him the present dan∣ger of the T••rks, and to consult of a remedy. He shewed, how if order were not taken with them in time, they would over-runne all Asia: Let him not count that he lay out of their rode, because of his remote situation: For what is the way wander∣ers will not trace? He might expect onely this courtesie, to be last devoured. In conclusion, Haito prevailed so farre with this Pagan, that he not onely promised his assistance, but also was baptised,* 1.3 and took the Christian religion on him: So also did his whole countrey by his example; and Christianity be∣ing the Court-fashion, none would be out of it. Never since the time of Constantine the Great, did the devill at once lose a greater morsel, or was there made a more hopefull accession to the Faith.

Understand we this conversion of Tartary (though Authours predicate it universally of that whole countrey) onely of Ca∣thaia, the Eastern and most refined part of that Empire: For Cannibals were still in the North, who needed first to be con∣verted to reason and to be made men, before they could become Christians. Also at this same time we find a swarm of Western Tartarian heathens forraging* 1.4 Poland. So it seemeth, so vast was the Empire, that it was still night in the West, though it was day in the Eastern part thereof.

Now, whether the conversion of these Tartarians was so∣lemnly,

deliberately, and methodically wrought by preaching, first those things wherein the light of Nature concurreth with Faith; then, those wherein humane reason is no foe but standeth neuter; such as are merely of Faith, leaving the issue of all to God, whose* 1.5 oratory onely can perswade souls: or whether (which is more probable) it was but tumultuously done, many on a sudden rather snatching then embracing religion, we will not dispute. Sure it is that Mango sent Haalon his brother (who is said to have married a wife an excellent Christian,* 1.6 and* 1.7 de∣scended from the Wise-men who came to see our Saviour) with a great army to suppresse the Turks and assist the Christians. It seemeth his army rid post; for falling into Persia, he conquered it sooner then one can well travell it,* 1.8 in half a year. It facilita∣ted his victory, because that countrey had much unfurnished her self to furnish her forrain colonies and garisons in Syria: And ge∣nerally active nations are strongest abroad, and weakest at home; where they are onely strong with conceit of their strength be∣lieved in other countreys. The city Samarchanda onely resisted him.* 1.9 Haalon seeing it would not come at the first, let it stay; counting it beneath a conquerour to tempt his fortune with a long siege, which perchance might alter the whole course of the cards, and make him rise a loser. Wherefore he himself onely skimmed the cream of the conquest, and went away with what was easie and smooth, deputing an inferiour captain to hew this knotty service; who after a long siege subdued it. For in re∣spect of the age of this siege, that of Troy was but a child, it lasting* 1.10 seven and twenty yeares; and at last not taken but yield∣ed up, the defendants then wanting clothes to cover their na∣kednesse.

From Persia Haalon marched to Babylon:* 1.11 The Caliph where∣of called Musteazem, was so superstitious an idolater to his wealth, that he would not provide necessaries for the defense of the city; and therefore it was quickly subdued. The cove∣tous Caliph he* 1.12 famished to death, and then filled his mouth with melted gold. Every where Mosques went down and Churches up.

Hence into Mesopotamia:* 1.13 which he instantly conquered, with the cities of Aleppo and Edessa. He wonne and restored many places to Conrade the Christian Prince of Antioch, which the Turks formerly detained from him. Yea, this Tar∣tarian armie so awed Melechem the Mammaluke Prince of E∣gypt, who succeeded Tarqueminus, that he durst not budge. And many other good offices this Haalon did to the Christians in Syria.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Marinus Sa∣nutus.
• * 1.2

  Magdeburg. Cent. 13. cap. 16. col. 699.
• * 1.3

  1254
• * 1.4

  Calvisius, ex Hist. Pol. in anno 1259.
• * 1.5

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 A. thanasius.
• * 1.6

  1255
• * 1.7

  Magdeburg. Cent. 13. cap. 2. pag. 5.
• * 1.8

  So Knolls, Turk. Hist. pag. 112. The Magdebur∣genses say lesse, Seme∣stri spatio, Cent. 13. cap. 16. col. 699.
• * 1.9

  1256
• * 1.10

  Magdeburg. & Knolls, ut prius.
• * 1.11

  1258
• * 1.12

  Calvisius, in anno 1158. ex Bizar••.
• * 1.13

  1260