A.D. 



1246. 



Cosmas 

 a Russian. 



The message 

 ofChingay. 



THE ENGLISH VOYAGES 



return, unto his mother. For he was determined the 

 next day, (as it is abovesaid) to set up a flag of defiance 

 against al ye countreis of the West, which he would have 

 us in no case to know. Wherefore returning, we staied 

 some few dayes with his mother, and so returned backe 

 again unto him. With whom we continued for the 

 space of one whole moneth in such extreme hunger and 

 thirst, that we could scarce hold life and soule together. 

 For the provision allowed us for foure dayes, was scantly 

 sufficient for one day. Neither could we buy us any 

 sustenance, because the market was too farre off. How- 

 beit the Lorde provided for us a Russian goldsmith, 

 named Cosmas, who being greatly in the Emperours 

 favour, procured us some sustenance. This man shewed 

 unto us the throne of the Emperour, which hee had 

 made, before it was set in the proper place, and his seale, 

 which he also had framed. Afterward the Emperor sent 

 for us, giving us to understand by Chingay his chief 

 Secretary, that wee should write downe our messages & 

 affaires, and should deliver them unto him. Which 

 thing we performed accordingly. After many daies he 

 called for us againe, demanding whether there were any 

 with our Lord the Pope, which understood the Russian, 

 the Sarracen, or the Tartarian language ? To whom we 

 answered, that we had none of those letters or languages. 

 Howbeit, that there were certaine Saracens in the land, 

 but inhabiting a great distance from our Lord the Pope. 

 And wee saide, that wee thought it most expedient, that 

 when they had written their mindes in the Tartarian 

 language, and had interpreted the meaning therof unto 

 us, we should diligently translate it into our own tongue, 

 and so deliver both the letter and the translation thereof 

 unto our Lord the Pope. Then departed they from us, 

 and went unto the Emperour. And after the day of 

 S. Martine, we were called for againe. Then Kadac 

 principal agent for the whole empire, and Chingay, and 

 Bala, with divers other Scribes, came unto us, and in- 

 terpreted the letter word for word. And having written 



176 



