JOHN DE PLANO CARPINI ad. 



1246. 



armie. And when they had no victuals to feede upon, 



Chingis Cham commaunded his souldiers, that they should 



eate every tenth man of the companie. But they of the [I. 58.] 



citie fought manfully against them, with engines, dartes, 



and arrowes, and when stones wanted they threw silver, ^^^^^^' ^^f^ ^/ 



and especially melted silver : for the same citie abounded ^'^^ ^»^^^/^ in 



•1 -1 At 1 iTv;r iiiri ^^<?^« of Stones. 



with great riches. Also, when the Mongals had rought 

 a long time and could not prevayle by warre, they made a 

 great trench underneath the ground from the armie unto 

 the middest of the citie, and there issuing foorth they 

 fought against the citizens, and the remnant also without 

 the walks fought in like manner. At last, breaking open 

 the gates of the citie, they entred, and putting the 

 Emperour, with many other to the sworde, they tooke 

 possession thereof and conveighed away the golde, silver, 

 and all the riches therein. And having appointed certaine 

 deputies over the countrey, they returned home into their 

 owne lande. This is the first time, when the Emperour 

 of the Kythayans being vanquished, Chingis Cham ob- Chingh Cham 

 tayned the Empire. But some parte of the countrey, P^'^^^^'^^^^ 

 because it lyeth within the sea, they could by no meanes r> r 

 conquere unto this day. The men of Kytay are Pagans, (^^^/^J^ i^^ 

 having a speciall kinde of writing by themselves, and (as it the sea. 

 is reported) the Scriptures of the olde and newe Testa- 7;^^ letters, 

 ment. They have also recorded in hystories the lives of ^ the 

 their forefathers : and they have Eremites, and certaine ''^%"^^ ^f ^he 

 houses made after the manner of our Churches, which ^^ ^-^^''^' 

 in those dayes they greatly resorted unto. They say 

 that they have divers Saints also, and they worship one 

 God. They adore and reverence CHRIST JESUS our 

 Lorde, and beleeve the article of eternall life, but 

 are not baptized. They doe also honourably esteeme 

 and reverence our Scriptures. They love Christians, and 

 bestowe much almes, and are a very courteous and 

 gentle people. They have no beardes, and they agree 

 partly with the Mongals in the disposition of their . 

 countenance. In all occupations which men practise, excellent 

 there are not better artificers in the whole worlde. workmanship 

 I 145 K 



