The Publifher uuto the Reader. 



he met with a kind reception, had land allotted him, and hisCompany > which Re- 

 gion is called Campus Cum anus unto this day. This Countrey was fo miferably wa- 

 fted by the Tartars, that in the Years 12 53, and 1254, when Rubriqm parted through 

 it, going unto and returning from his AmbafTage to Mangu Chan, there was no fixed 

 habitation, excepting a few Cottages in the Iiland where Ajiracan is now lim- 

 ited. 



But patby having deftroyed the Comanians, ruinated their Cities, and eftablifhed his 

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

 chofe near the River Volga, on the Eaft-fide, and immediately beneath the Puver A&a- 

 hon t a great Arm of the Volga , and the firft it difmhTes , which empties it felf 

 into the Cajpian-Sea (having run a courfe of near 4.C0 miles, and received feveral 

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

 had newly began this City at the return of Rubriquis from his Embartage unto Man- 

 gu Chan, in the year 12 46 , and called it Serai ■■> Which City was enlarged and beau- 

 tified by all his SuccelTbrs, unto the time of its deftruction by Tamerlane , which wa? 

 almoft 150 years. Bathy was fucceeded hy Bar cab , who was the firft proferted 

 Mahumctan Emperour ■■> he by Hocola, or Hoilay, Contemporary with Hayton the Ar- 

 menianyirYiO hath in hisHiftory largely difeourfed concerning him: I (hould here men- 

 tion all the other Emperours interceeding between Hocota and Tuchtamifch (who was 

 difpofleftcd by Tamerlane ) together with their Acts, but that Ihaftcnunto that which 

 moft immediately concerns our prefent Defign, and give fomc account of this 

 City, which (aslfaid) was firft named Serai, which interpreted' figuifies only a 

 Dwelling or Habitation => the beginning of it being a Palace buijt 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 Hiftory of Arabjhiade, pub- 

 lished by Golius. This Author reprefents it as one of the greateft and moft populous 

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

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

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

 affirms, That in his time there remained the ruines' of 300 Temples , befides the 

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

 veral times attempted to re-edifie it, but divifions amongft themfeiyes, Wars with 

 fhe Mnfcovites, and attempts of the C^Jfacks caufed them to retire unto places of 

 greater fecurity. But becaufe little mention is made of this^rgjt Revolution by any 

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

 moft Authentick Turkifh, Arabian, and Pe'pan Writers. For Calcondilas 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, w'z,That Tamerlane after feveral attempts, rnd two or three Battels was forced 

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

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



Çorts of much mere Authentick Hiftorians. The Origin, Progrefs and, Event of this 

 Vat was after the enfuing manner. 



"famcrlane being in effect Prince, but in name only Courachan ( the Greeks call it 

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

 ed between the Oxus and Juxartes, wherein Bochara, Samarchand, and lèverai other 

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

 (the Ana of the Antients i ) which progrefs of his rilled Thuetamifch Emperour of 

 Serai (the City we have before mentioned) with jealoufies of his growing Greatnefs | 

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

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

 lane, one of whofe Mafter-pieces was to gain early Intelligence of whatfoever was de- 

 figned, ortranfacted by neighbouring Princes, having timely notice of his intention, 

 gathering all his own Forces, together with confiderable affiftance from his Confe» 

 derates marched directly towards his Enemy, and palling the Jaxartes y met him to 

 fiis no fmall aftoniftiment, on the Borders of his own Countrey v 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 fufneient that he 



