Europe - The Principal Navigations, Voyages, Traffiques And Discoveries Of The English Nation - Volume 4 - Collected By Richard Hakluyt
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With Charge That In No Case They Should Conuey Themselues, And
Their Goods Out Of Their Dwellings, Where They Might
Abide safely without
all feare of danger, and not leaue the countrey desolate to the possession
of so vile and
Barbarous an enemie, as was the Tartar nation, terming
themselues in all reproachful maner. For notwithstanding he had lost his
carriages, with some few straglers that had marched disorderly, yet he
doubted not but to recouer that losse, with the accesse of a notable
victorie, if the sauage Tartar durst abide him in the field. To this
purpose hauing written their letters in the Polish character, by certain
yong men whom they tooke in the field, and signed them with the Kings
seale, they dispatched them forth to all the quarters of Hungaria. that lay
neere about the place. Wherevpon the Vngarians that were now flying away
with their goods, wiues, and children, vpon the rumour of the kings
ouerthrow, taking comfort of these counterfeit letters, staid at home. And
so were made a pray, being surprised on the sudden by this huge number of
these Tartars, that had compassed them about before they were aware.
When they besiege a towne or fort, they offer much parle, and send many
flattering messages to perswade a surrendry: promising all things that the
inhabitants will require: but being once possessed of the place, they vse
all maner of hostilitie, and crueltie. This they doe vpon a rule they haue,
viz, that iustice is to bee practised but towards their owne. They
encounter not lightly, but they haue some ambush, whereunto (hauing once
shewed themselues, and made some short conflict) they retire as repulsed
for feare, and so draw the enemie into it if they can. But the Russe beeing
well acquainted with their practise is more warie of them. When they come a
rouing with some small number, they set on horsebacke counterfaite shapes
of men, that their number may seeme greater.
When they make any onset, their maner is to make a great shoute, crying out
altogether Olla Billa, Olla Billa, God helpe vs, God help vs. They contemne
death so much, as that they chuse rather to die, then to yeeld to their
enemie, and are seene when they are slain to bite the very weapon, when
they are past striking or helping of themselues. Wherein appeareth how
different the Tartar is in his desperate courage from the Russe and Turke.
For the Russe souldier, if he begin once to retire, putteth all his safetie
in his speedy flight. And if once he be taken by his enemy, he neither
defendeth himselfe, nor intreateth for his life, as reckoning straight to
die. The Turk commonly, when he is past hope of escaping, falleth to
intreatie, and casteth away his weapon, offereth both his hands, and
holdeth them, as it were to be tied: hoping to saue his life by offering
himselfe bondslaue.
The chiefe bootie the Tartars seeke for in all their warres is to get store
of captiues; specially young boyes, and girles, whome they sell to the
Turkes, or other their neighbours. To this purpose they take with them
great baskets make like bakers panniers, to carry them tenderly, and if any
of them happen to tire, or to be sicke by the way, they dash him against
the ground, or some tree, and so leaue him dead. The Souldiers are not
troubled with keeping the captiues and the other bootie, for hindering the
execution of their warres, but they haue certaine bandes that intend
nothing else, appoynted of purpose to receiue and keepe the captiues and
the other praye.
[Sidenote: The Tartar religion.] The Russe borderers (being vsed to their
inuasions lightly euery yeere in the Sommer) keepe fewe other cattell on
the border partes, saue swine onely which the Tartar will not touch, nor
driue away with him: for that he is of the Turkish religion, and will eate
no swines flesh. Of Christ our Sauiour they confesse as much as doeth the
Turke in his Alkaron, viz. that he came of the Angel Gabriel and the Virgin
Marie, that he was a great Prophet, and shall be the Iudge of the worlde at
the last day. In other matter likewise, they are much ordered after the
manner and direction of the Turke: hauing felt the Turkish forces when hee
wonne from them Azou and Caffa, with some other townes about the Euxine or
blacke Sea, that were before tributaries to the Crim Tartar. So that now
the Emperor of the Crims for the most part is chosen one of the Nobility
whom the Turke doeth commend: whereby it is brought nowe to passe, that the
Crim Tartar giueth to the Turke the tenth part of the spoyle which hee
getteth in his warres against the Christians.
Herein they differ from the Turkish religion, for that they haue certaine
idole puppets made of silke, or like stuffe, of the fashion of a man, which
they fasten to the doore of their walking houses, to be as Ianusses or
keepers of their house. And these idoles are made not by all, but by
certaine religious women which they haue among them for that and like vses.
They haue besides the image of their King or great Can, of an huge
bignesse, which they erect at euery stage when the army marcheth: and this
euery one must bend and bowe vnto as he passeth by it, be he Tartar or
stranger. They are much giuen to witchcraft, and ominous coniectures vpon
euery accident which they heare or see.
In making of mariages they haue no regard of alliance or consanguinitie.
Onely with his mother, sister, and daughter a man may not marrie, and
thougn he take the woman into his house, and accompany with her, yet be
accounteth her not for his wife till he haue a childe by her. Then hee
beginneth to take a dowry of her friends, or horse, sheepe, kine, &c. If
she be barren after a certaine time, be turneth her home againe.
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