The
count of Lazar took yet more precautions by having the tall trees of the forests and mountains cut down and laid across the roads so that the
Turks would not be able to find another path or make one. There was a certain pass through which he knew
Murad Baqir and his men would have to pass to enter
Hungary, and so the
count led ten thousand
Hungarians to this pass, along with ten thousand crossbowmen, and stationed on either side of it more than two thousand peasants carrying hatchets and great axes with which to fell the timber and block the road when the time came. When all this was done, he said to those with him,
'My lords,
Murad Baqir will undoubtedly come, for he has told me so. Be all of you bold and assist in defending this pass, for if the
Turks conquer it, all of
Hungary is in danger and risks being lost. We are in a strong position; one of us is worth four of them. Moreover it is better to die with honour in defence of our heritage and the faith of Jesus Christ, than to live in shame and servitude under those infidel dogs, although
Murad is certainly a most valiant and courageous man of his own faith.'
They all replied, 'Sir, we will await the outcome with you. Let the
Turks come if they will, we are ready for them.'
The
Turks knew nothing of these preparations or guarded passes because the
count of Lazar, for fear of spies revealing their numbers or defensive equipment to
Murad Baqir, had posted at the passes certain of his men whom he trusted as much as himself, who prevented any communication with the
Turks day and night."
SHF 3-63 sync
Third Book, Chapter 27 [1388]
How the Hungarians defeated the vanguard of Murad Baqir and how he came to repent of his venture.
"
Murad Baqir did not forget his venture, saying rather that he would send men to wreak havoc on the lands of the
count of Lazar, because he did not wish to be seen or counted a liar for not living up to his word. He took sixty thousand of his men, for he had a good two hundred thousand in the field, and provided them with four captains belonging to his faith and household:
duke Mansion of Mecca, the
duke of Dumyat,
Aphalori of Samarra and the
prince of Cordes, son of the
Amuscant of Cordes named
Ibrahim, and said to them upon leaving,
'You will take all of the men I have provided you with, for they are sufficient to open the way into
Hungary, and enter the territory of the
count of Lazar and destroy it completely.
pb 255 v