AD. THE ENGLISH VOYAGES 



1253. 



on the one side which the women filled not up (for there 

 were only the wives of Baatu) were supplied by the men. 

 Also, at the very entrance of the tent, stoode a bench 

 furnished with cosmos, and with stately great cuppes of 

 silver, and golde, beeing richly set with precious stones. 

 Baatu beheld us earnestly, and we him : and he seemed 

 [I. no.] to me to resemble in personage, Monsieur John de beau 

 mont, whose soule resteth in peace. And hee had a fresh 

 ruddie colour in his countenance. At length he com- 

 manded us to speake. Then our guide gave us direction, 

 that wee should bow our knees & speak. Wherupon 1 

 bowed one knee as unto a man : then he signified that I 

 should kneele upon both knees: and 1 did so, being loath 

 to contend about such circumstaunces. And again he 

 commanded me to speak. Then I thinking of praier unto 

 God, because I kneeled on both my knees, began to pray 

 on this wise : Sir, we beseech the Lord, from whom all 

 good things doe proceed, and who hath given you these 

 earthly benefites, that it would please him hereafter to 

 make you partaker of his heavenly blessings : because the 

 former without these are but vain and improfitable. And 

 I added further. Be it knowen unto you of a certainty, 

 that you shal not obtain the joyes of heaven, unles you 

 become a Christian : for God saith, Whosoever beleeveth 

 & is baptized, shalbe saved : but he that beleeveth not, 

 shalbe condemned. At this word he modestly smiled : 

 but the other Moals began to clap their hands, and to 

 deride us. And my silly interpreter, of whom especially 

 I should have received comfort in time of need, was 

 himself abashed & utterly dasht out of countenance. 

 Then, after silence made, I said unto him, I came unto 

 your Sonne, because we heard that he was become a 

 Christian : and I brought unto him letters on the behalfe 

 The letter i of of my sovereigne Lord the king of France : and your 

 the Trench sonne sent me hither unto you. The cause of my 

 ^"^' comming therefore is best known unto your selfe. Then 



he caused me to rise up. And he enquired your 

 majesties name, and my name, and the name of mine 



274 



