CHAPTER XXVI.

HOW BARCA AND HIS ARMY ADVANCED TO MEET ALAU.

<+>(Barca advances with 350,000 horse, encamps on the plain within 10 miles of Alau; addresses his men, announcing his intention of fighting after 3 days, and expresses his confidence of success as they are in the right and have 50,000 men more than the enemy.)

CHAPTER XXVII.

HOW ALAU ADDRESSED HIS FOLLOWERS.

<+>(Alau calls together “a numerous parliament of his worthies"[1] and addresses them.)

[1] “Il asemble encore sez parlemant de grand quantites des buens homes.”

CHAPTER XXVIII.

OF THE GREAT BATTLE BETWEEN ALAU AND BARCA.

<+>(Description of the Battle in the usual style, with nothing characteristic.  Results in the rout of Barca and great slaughter.)

CHAPTER XXIX.

HOW TOTAMANGU WAS LORD OF THE TARTARS OF THE PONENT.

You must know there was a Prince of the Tartars of the Ponent called MONGOTEMUR, and from him the sovereignty passed to a young gentleman called TOLOBUGA.  But TOTAMANGU, who was a man of great influence, with the help of another Tartar King called NOGAI, slew Tolobuga and got possession of the sovereignty.  He reigned not long however, and at his death TOCTAI, an able and valiant man, was chosen sovereign in the place of Totamangu.  But in the meantime two sons of that Tolobuga who was slain were grown up, and were likely youths, able and prudent.

So these two brothers, the sons of Totamangu, got together a goodly company and proceeded to the court of Toctai.  When they had got thither they conducted themselves with great discretion, keeping on their knees till Toctai bade them welcome, and to stand up.  Then the eldest addressed the Sovereign thus:  “Good my Lord Toctai, I will tell you to the best of my ability why we be come hither.  We are the sons of Totamangu, whom Tolobuga and Nogai slew, as thou well knowest.  Of Tolobuga we will say no more, since he is dead, but we demand justice against Nogai as the slayer of our Father; and we pray thee as Sovereign Lord to summon him before thee and to do us justice.  For this cause are we come!"[NOTE 1]

(Toctai agrees to their demand and sends two messengers to summon Nogai, but Nogai mocks at the message and refuses to go.  Whereupon Toctai sends a second couple of messengers.)

NOTE 1.—­I have not attempted to correct the obvious confusion here; for in comparing the story related here with the regular historians we find the knots too complicated for solution.

In the text as it stands we first learn that Totamangu by help of Nogai kills Tolobuga, takes the throne, dies, and is succeeded by Toctai.  But presently we find that it is the sons of Totamangu who claim vengeance from Toctai against Nogai for having aided Tolobuga to slay their father.  Turning back to the list of princes in chapter xxiv. we find Totamangu indeed, but Tolobuga omitted altogether.