JOHN DE PLANO CARPINI ad. 



1246. 



us in uncivil and horrible maner, being very inquisitive of 

 us what maner of persons, or of what condition we were : 

 & when we had answered them that we were the Popes 

 Legates, receiving some victuals at our handes, they imme- 

 diatly departed. Moreover in the morning rising and 

 proceeding on our journey, the chiefe of them which were 

 in the guard met with us, demaunding why, or for what I 



intent and purpose we came thither ? and what busines j 



we had with them ? Unto whom we answered. We are j 



the legates of our lord the Pope, who is the father & lord I 



of the Christians. He hath sent us as well unto your T'he contents^ \ 



Emperour, as to your princes, and all other Tartars for ^^^^^ legacie. ^ 



this purpose, because it is his pleasure, that all Christians \ 



should be in league with the Tartars, and should have peace ' 



with them. It is his desire also that they should become \ 



great or in favour with God in heaven, therfore he admo- ; 



nisheth them aswel by us, as by his own letters, to become 

 Christians, and to embrace the faith of our Lord Jesu 

 Christ, because they could not otherwise be saved. More- J 



over, he gives them to understand, that he much mar- | 



veileth at their monstrous slaughters & massacres of i 



mankind, & especially of Christians, but most of al of 

 Hungarians, Mountaineirs, & Polonians, being al his sub- 

 jects, having not injuried them in ought, nor attempted to 

 doe them injurie. And because the Lord God is grievously 

 offended thereat, he adviseth them from henceforth to be- 

 ware of such dealing, & to repent them of that which 

 they had done. He requesteth also, that they would write 

 an answere unto him, what they purpose to doe hereafter, 

 and what their intention is. All which things being heard 

 and understood, the Tartars sayd that they would appoint 

 us poste horses and a guide unto Corrensa. And immedi- Corrensa. 

 ately demanding gifts at our hands, they obtained them. 

 Then receiving the same horses, from which they dis- 

 mounted, together with a guide wee tooke our journey 

 unto Corrensa. But they riding a swift pace, sent a 

 messenger before unto the sayd duke Corrensa, to signifie the Westerne 

 the message, which we had delivered unto them. This marches. 

 I 161 L 



