The Life and Deeds of the Ever-Remembered Despot Stefan

(his) household had carried him to Bursa, there was a certain (man) named Mustafa, who falsely passed himself off as Mustafa, son of the thunderbolt (Bayezid), and who had earlier fled from Wallachia to Thessalonica. The sultan had pursued him all the way to Thessalonica and sent (in this matter) to Emperor Manuel an emissary who managed the imperial affairs, but (the emperor) would not hand over (the false Mustafa). From that time he remained in Greek hands. They sent him to rule the western regions, which he (did) (with) cunning. When the sultan's son was in the eastern (lands), this (false Mustafa) conquered everything all the way to Gallipoli, and sent (a message) to the Despot that he should be his friend. The Despot took note of this, and to the sultan's son, named Murad Khan, he gave a firm covenant (of friendship such as he had had) with his father too. From the east he sent an army against Mustafa with the mighty Bayezid, who managed all his father's affairs; this Bayezid perished, and the army went over to the false Mustafa. And (Mustafa) came to Anatolia; the multitude of the army deceived him and abandoned him, saying: "If thou crossest the sea, we will all come over to thee." This deceiver fled to the west. Murad, taking all the army, crossed over the sea, pursuing him from place to place. They caught him in a forest, where he was hiding, (and) killed him.

81. And the Greeks again aided the younger son of the sultan, who was also called Mustafa, and (who) took certain lands in the east. Murad again entered there and sent an army ahead of himself; his son (Mustafa) engaged in battle (with him) (going out) from Nicaea¹³² and was slain there. There perished also Mihail-bey, powerful in the imperial affairs, whom Murad had released from prison after his father's death. After this Sultan Murad Khan was ruler of the eastern and western lands.

82. He sent envoys to the Despot thanking (him) for everything, for the Despot had anticipated him by sending him the messengers of the false Mustafa. When the envoy arrived, the Despot made a great celebration (for him), sailing with him in ships on the Danube and the Sava and drinking with joy. Having bestowed many (gifts) upon him, he dismissed him. Thus life in peace and love was established. Murad set out against Constantinople, came also to Wallachia, and with the one and with the other he established peace. He was, like his father, full of dignity, but more cunning. The most pious Despot was ailing from a disease of the legs, from which he had long suffered. Therefore, fearing death, he sent for his nephew, lord Đurađ, and he came to the place named Srebrnica;¹³³ there (the Despot) convened a council (at which were) the patriarch, the honorable prelates and the nobility, and at the council he appointed him (Đurađ) ruler, saying: "From now on regard him as lord in my stead." Upon him, praying, they laid their hands¹³⁴ (and the Despot) adjured all to be faithful to him, casting a curse upon those who would devise (any) faithlessness. And (Đurađ) himself he adjured to remember how he had brought him up (and not to be