The Vublifher unto the Reader. 



he met with a kind reception, had land allotted him, and his Company ; which Re- 

 gion is called Campit Cum*nus unto this day. This Countrey was Co miferably wa- 

 ited by the Tartars, that in the Years 1253, and 1254, when Rulmcuis palled through 

 it, going unto and returning from his Ambatfage to Manga Chan, there was no fixed 

 habitation, excepting a tew Cottages in the Illand where Ajiracan is now iitu- 

 .ated. 



But Bathy having deltroyed the Comanians, ruinated their Cities, and eftabiifhedhis 

 own Dominion , began to think of a fix'd abode, which after long obfervation he 

 chofe near the River Volga, on the Ealt-iide, and immediately beneath the River Acia- 

 bon, a great Arm of the Volga, and the firft it difmiflTes , which empties it felf 

 into the CaJJuan-Sea (having run a courfe of near 4C.0 miles, and received feveral 

 other Branches from the forefaid River) about 7 Leagues Eailoff the main River. He 

 had newly began this City at the return of Kubriqu/s from his EmbafTage unto Man- 

 ga Chan, in the year 1246, and called it Serai ■■> Which City was enlarged and beau- 

 tified by all his Succeffors, unto the time of its dcftruclicn by Tamerlane, which was 

 almoft 150 years. Baiby was fucceeded by Barcah , who was the hill profeiTed 

 Malmmetan Emperour i he by Hocola, or Ho&ay, Contemporary with Haytun the Ar- 

 menian who hath .in hisHiftory largely diicourfed concerning him: I mould here men- 

 tion' all the other Emperours interceeding between Hocota and Tucktamifih Cwho was 

 difpofTefled by Tamerlane) together with their Acls, but that I haltcn unto that which 

 molt immediately concerns our prefent Defign, and give fome account of this 

 City, which fas I faid) was firlt named Serai, which interpreted ifgnirics only a 

 Dwelling or Habitation \ the beginning of it being, a Palace built for Bathy. You may 

 fee what our Traveller fays concerning it, Page 112. Befides him I find two Authors 

 who make particular mention thereof^ the firft is in the Hiitory of Arabfhiade, pub- 

 lished by Golius. This Author reprefents it as one of the greateit and molt populous 

 Cities in the Univerfe , agrees with our Traveller in the lituation , only he calls 

 that Branch which runs out of the Volga and palTes to the South-Eaft, Smelt. The 

 other is Michovius, who wrote his Hiitory of the Tartars in the year 1 5 1 5. He af- 

 affirms, That in his time there remained the mines of 300 Temples , befidesths 

 Walls of the City, and feveral other Magnificent Structures. The Tartars have fe- 

 veral times attempted to re-edifie it, but divilions amongft thcmtelvcs, Wars with 

 the Mufcovites, and attempts of the Ctfacks caufed them to retire unto, places of 

 greater iecurity. But becaufc little mention is made of this great Revolution by any 

 European Writer, I (hall here prcient the Reader with an account thereof out of the 

 molt Authentick Turkilh, Arabian, and Perfian Writers* boi Lalconddas is greatly mi- 

 ftaken, who feems to have received by his confident way of writing, moft particular 

 information , when as nothing can be more remote from the truth than what he af- 

 firms, ziz^hatTamerlanc after feveral attempts, end two or three Battels was forced 

 to retire, and ghd to fecure his Retreat by a Peace, he firft made with Tuck$ha- 

 mifch, which was by both afterwards kept inviolably-, which is contrary to the Re- 

 ports of much more Authentick Hiftorians. The Origin, Progrefs and, Event of this 

 War was after the enfuing manner. 



Tamerlane being in effect Prince, but in name only Courachan (theGrpeJ^r call it 

 Kurgan) that is, Viceroy or General over all thofe Countries which are comprehend- 

 ed between the Oxus and Juxartes, wherein Bochara y Samarchand, and feveral other, 

 famous Cities were contained, extended his Conquelts towards Balch and Chorafan, 

 (the Aria of the Anticnts ••> ) which progrefs of his filled Thuctamifch Emperour of 

 Serai (the City we have before mentioned) with jealoulies of his growing Greatnefs i 

 whereupon gathering a numerous Army, he refolved to invade him, uling no forma- 

 lity, or fo much as pretence, he thought to have furprized his Enemy ■■> but Tamer* 

 lane, one of whole Mafter-pieces was to gain early Intelligence of whatfoever wasde- 

 ligned, or tranfadted by neighbouring Princes, having timely notice of his intention, 

 gathering all his own Forces, together with confidcrable afliftance from his Confe- 

 derates marched dire&ly towards his Enemy > and palling the Jaxartes, met him to 

 his no (mall aftoniftiment, on the Borders of his own Countrey ^ for the Jaxartes on- 

 ly divided their Territories. After a moft obftinate bloody fight, Tamerlane gained 

 the Victory, yet neither abfolute, nor without great lofs> but it was fuffkient that he 



had 



