are loath to \ 



JOHN DE PLANO CARPINI ad. 



1246. 

 it in Latine, they caused us to interprete unto them eche 

 sentence, to wit if we had erred in any word. And when 

 both letters were written, they made us to reade them 

 over twise more, least we should have mistaken ought. 

 For they said unto us : Take heed that ye understand 

 all things throughly, for if you should not understand the 

 whole matter aright, it might breed some inconvenience. 

 They wrote the said letters also in the Saracen tongue, 

 that there might be some found in our dominions which 

 could reade and interprete them, if need should require. 



Hov^ they were licensed to depart. Chap. 32. 



ANd (as our Tartars told us) the Emperour was pur- ^^^ Legates 

 posed to send his ambassadors with us. Howbeit, ^^^ ^^°^^ ^ 

 he was desirous (as we thought) that we our selves should bassadours • 



crave that favour at his hands. And when one of our sent from the \ 



Tartars being an ancient man, exhorted us to make the said Tartars to the j 

 petition, we thought it not good for us, that the Emperor ^^^^^^^^'^^- \ 



should send his ambassadours. Wherfore we gave him < 



answere, that it was not for us to make any such petition, 

 but if it pleased the Emperour of his owne accord to send I 



them, we would diligently (by Gods assistance) see i 



them conducted in safetie. Howbeit, we thought it 

 expedient for us, that they should not goe, and that for i 



divers causes. First, because we feared, least they, seeing 

 the dissentions and warres which are among us, should be \ 



the more encouraged to make warre against us. Secondly, j 



we feared, that they would be insteade of spies and intelli- ■ 



gencers in our dominions. Thirdly, we misdoubted that , 



they would be slaine by the way. For our nations be 

 arrogant and proud. For when as those servants (which 

 at the request of the Cardinall, attended upon us, namely : 



the legates of Almaine) returned unto him in the Tartars 

 attire, they were almost stoned in the way, by the Dutch, 

 and were compelled to put off those garments. And it is • 



the Tartars custome, never to bee reconciled unto such as 

 have slaine their Ambassadours, till they have revenged ^ 



themselves. Fourthly, least they should bee taken from us \ 



I 177 M ' 



