JOHN DE PLANO CARPINI ad i 



1246. 'i 



Howe they may be resisted. Chap. 18. j 



IDeeme not any one kingdome or province able to i 



resist them : because they use to take up souldiers j 

 out of every countrey of their dominions. And if so 



be the neighbour province which they invade, wil not 1 



aide them, utterly wasting it, with the inhabitants ■■■ 



therof, whom they take from thence with them, they : 



proceed on to fight against another countrey. And i 



placing their captives in the forefront of the battell, if j 



they fight not couragiously, they put them to the \ 



sworde. Wherefore, if Christians would withstande Counsel how \ 



them, it is expedient, that the provinces and governours ^^ ".'^<?^ ^<^^^^ ■ 



of countreies should agree in one, and so by common ^^^.^^^ * ^ : 

 counsell, should give them resistance. Their souldiers 



also must be furnished with strong hand-bowes & cros- 1 



bowes, which they greatly dread, & with sufficient i 



arrowes, with maces also of good iron, or an axe with '*•; 



a long handle or staffe. When they make their arrow A notable \ 



heads, they must (according to ye Tartars custome) dip ^^^P^^ of iron ^ 



them red-hot into water mingled with sake, that they ^^ ^^^^'^' 

 may be strong to pierce the enemies armour. They 

 that wil may have swords also & lances with hooks at the 



ends, to pull them from their saddles, out of which they ^ 



are easilie removed. They must have helmets likewise "; 

 & other armour to defend themselves & their horses from 



the Tartars weapons & arrowes, & they that are un- j 

 armed, must (according to ye Tartars custome) march 



behinde their fellowes, and discharge at the enemie with [I. 63.] 



long bowes and cros-bowes. And (as it is above said ^ 



of the Tartars) they must orderly dispose their bandes < 



and troupes, and ordeine lawes for their souldiers. ; 



Whosoever runneth to the pray or spoyle, before the | 

 victorie be atchieved, must undergoe a most severe 



punishment. For such a fellow is put to death among ; 

 the Tartars without all pitie or mercie. The place of 



battel must be chosen, if it be possible, in a plaine j 



fielde, where they may see round about, neither must j 



157 ; 



