Vitold replied — '' I am on my way to see him!" then, having crossed the Sula, Khorolem, and several other rivers, he came in sight of the army of TimurKutluk, encamped on the opposite bank of the Vorskla.
Well acquainted with the high renown of Vitold, as well as with his military talents, he did not appear disposed to combat with him. He sent a second time an envoy, bearer of the following question: —
" I ask you the cause of this war. I have never offended you. I have never invaded your states. What then do you want from me?"
Vitold answered, '' God is preparing to give me the dominion over all nations; my will is, that you be my son, and my tributary, or my prisoner."
Timur-Kutluk, according to several historians, was not averse to peace under certain conditions; but Vitold required that Timur-Kutluk should restore all the provinces of Takhtamysz, and that money should be coined, bearing Vitold's image.
The Mongolian chief requested a delay of three days for his final answer, ardently expecting the arrival of reinforcements under Ediga Holoossa, a renowned Tatar chief, who soon made his appearance. Having heard the conditions of peace, he exclaimed, that he would rather perish than accept them; and he immediately demanded an interview with the grand duke of Lithuania, which was granted. The two chiefs met each other in the space between the two armies. Vitold was one of the greatest captains of the age, and a renowned conqueror. Ediga Holoossa was one of the ablest chiefs of Tamerlan, whose praise, admiration, and even jealousy, he excited. After the usual greetings, the Tatar addressed him, " Great prince, TimurKutluk, with good reason, called you father, for you are older than he; but as I am more advanced in years than you, let my image be stamped on your coinage; bow down your proud head before your master, and be my slave." At these words, Vitold's anger was roused to the highest pitch; he retired from the Tatar's presence, reviewed his army, and placed it in battle array. The two Tatar chiefs made a final eflfort to bring about a reconciliation, and they would perhaps have succeeded, had not a Pole, named Szczukoski, who, seeing the celebrated Yitold, for the first time in his life, undecided and wavering, thus rashly addressed him: — " Great prince, if the charms of a young and beautiful spouse, perchance attach you so strongly to the pleasures of this world, permit us at least to perish, or humble the pride ot these innumerable hordes." These words wounded the pride of Yitold, and he gave immediate orders for the attack.
Both armies amounted together to five hundred thousand men. The Tatars were, at first, unable to resist the impetuous shock of Vitold's troops, far less numerous than the Tatar host, which, in the hyberbolical language of some of the historians, was said to be " countless as the sand of the sea."*' The bravery of Vitold was assisted by a few cannon, employed, for the first time in the north of Eui'ope in this conflict. These, though ill-served, committed great ravages in the ranks of the Tatars: but they failed to produce, in his favour, the successful result which, at the battle of Cressy, the use of artillery, then of modern introduction into European warfare, assured to the English. Ediga thrice rallied his troops, and by a desperate ejffort, captured the scanty artillery. Vitold performed prodigies of valour; but, being at length overwhelmed by superior numbers, he was completely defeated. After having lost forty thousand men, and seventy-five princes, he was indebted for his life, to the swiftness of his courser. This famous battle was fought on the 12th August, 1399, on the banks of the Vorskla. The loss of the Tatars was enormous. After the victory, Ediga Holoossa pillaged Kiow, returning laden with booty and glory into his deserts; and having learned that Vitold was assembling a fresh army, he offered the latter an advantageous peace, which was accepted.
Some historians have wrongly recorded that Vitold was conquered by Tamerlan, who died in 1395, four years before this battle took place. The mistake may have arisen from the confusion of the names of TimurKutluk and Timur-Lankh (Tamerlan.) It is to be remarked that, although Vitold was worsted in the battle of Vorskla against Timur-Kutluk, yet he always preserved his ascendancy over the Transdnieperian Tatars, inasmuch as he brought away several of their tributary khans at the battle of Grundwald.('')