Howbeit,

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.
How they were licensed to depart. Chap. 32.
Nd (as our Tartars told us) the Emperour was pur-
posed to send his ambassadors with us.
he was desirous (as we thought) that we our selves should
crave that favour at his hands. And when one of our
Tartars being an ancient man, exhorted us to make the said
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
them, we would diligently (by Gods assistance) see
them conducted in safetie. Howbeit, we thought it
expedient for us, that they should not goe, and that for
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,
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

1246.

The Legates

are loath to have any Ambassadours sent from the Tartars to the

Christians.

1246.

[I. 71.]

by mayne force. Fiftly, because there could come no good by their ambassade, for they were to have none other commission, or authoritie, but onely to deliver their Emperours letter unto the Pope, and to the Princes of Christendome, which very same letters wee our selves had, and we knew right well, that much harme might ensue thereof. Wherefore, the third day after this, namely, November 13. upon the feast of Saint Brice, they gave us our passe-port and a Letter sealed with the Emperours owne seale, sending us unto the Emperours mother, who gave unto They are re- eche of us a gowne made of Foxe-skinnes, with the furre on the outside, and a piece of purple. And our Tartars stole a yarde out of every one of them. And out of that which was given unto our servant, they stole the better halfe. Which false dealing of theirs, we knew well inough, but would make no words thereof.

warded with gifts.

How they returned homewards. Chap. 33.

The sore jour-Hein tak long, lying in the deserts oftentimes upon taking our journey to returne, we travailed all

neys of the gates in re

turning.

Bathy.

Corrensa.

the snow, except with our feete wee made a piece of ground bare to lye upon. For there were no trees, but the plaine champion field. And oftentimes in the morning, we found our selves all covered with snow driven over us by the winde. And so travailing till the feast of our Lordes Ascension, we arrived at the court of Bathy. Of whom when wee had enquired, what answere he would send unto our Lord the Pope, he said that he had nothing to give us in charge, but onely that we should diligently deliver that which the Emperour had written. And, having received letters for our safe conduct, the thirteenth day after Pentecost, being Saterday, wee were proceeded as farre as Montii, with whome our foresaide associates and servants remained, which were withheld from us, and we caused them to be delivered unto us. From hence wee travailed unto Corrensa, to whom, requiring gifts the second time at our hands, we gave none, because we had not wherewithall. And hee appointed us two

1253.

were welcomed at

Comanians, which lived among the common people of the Tartars, to be our guides unto the citie of Kiow in Russia. Howbeit one of our Tartars parted not from us, till we were past the utmost gard of the Tartars. But the other guides, namely the Comanians, which were given us by Corrensa, brought us from the last garde unto the citie of Kiow, in the space of sixe dayes. And there we arrived fifteene dayes before the feast of Saint John June 8. Baptist. Moreover, the Citizens of Kiow having intelli- How they gence of our approch, came foorth all of them to meete us, with great joy. For they rejoyced over us, as over their returne. men that had bene risen from death to life. So like wise they did unto us throughout all Russia, Polonia, and Bohemia. Daniel and his brother Wasilico made us a Basilius and Daniel royall feast, and interteined us with them against. our willes for the space of eight dayes. In the meane time, they with their Bishops, and other men of account, being in consultation together about those matters which we had propounded unto them in our journey towards the Tartars, answered us with common consent, saying: that they would holde the Pope for their speciall Lord and Father, and the Church of Rome for their Lady & mistresse, confirming likewise al things which they had sent concerning this matter, before our comming, by their Abbate. And for the same purpose, they sent their Ambassadours and letters by us also, unto our Lord the Pope.

Itinerarium fratris Willielmi de Rubruquis de ordine fratrum Minorum, Galli, Anno gratiæ 1253. ad partes Orientales.

Xcellentissimo Domino & Christianissimo, Lodovico

E Regi

de Rubruquis in ordine fratrum Minorum minimus. salutem, & semper triumphare in Christo. Scriptum est.

opus,

Princes.

ver. 4.

in Ecclesiastico de sapiente, In terram alienarum gentium Ecclus. 39. transibit, bona & mala in omnibus tentabit. Hoc Domine mi Rex, feci: sed utinam ut sapiens & non stultus. Multi enim faciunt quod facit sapiens, sed non

1253.

[I. 72.]

Soldaia.

sapienter, sed magis stultè: de quorum numero timeo me esse. Tamen quocunque modo fecerim; quia dixistis mihi quando recessi à vobis, ut omnia scriberem vobis, quæcunque viderem inter Tartaros, & etiam monuistis ut non timerem vobis scribere longas literas, facio quod injunxistis: Cum timore tamen & verecundia, quia verba congrua mihi non suppetunt, quæ debeam tantæ scribere Majestati. Noverit ergò vestra sancta majestas, quòd anno Domini millessimo ducentessimo, quinquagessimo tertio, nonas Maii ingressi sumus mare Ponti, quod Bulgarici vocant, Majus Mare: & habet mille octo milliaria in longum, ut didici à mercatoribus, & distinguitur quasi in duas partes. Circa medium enim ejus sunt duæ provinciæ terræ, una ad Aquilonem, & alia ad meridiem. Illa quæ est ad meridiem dicitur Synopolis; & est castrum & portus Soldani Turchiæ. Quæ verò ad Aquilonem est, est Provincia quædam, quæ nunc dicitur à Latinis Gasaria, à Græcis verò qui inhabitant eam super littus maris dicitur Cassaria, hoc est Cæsaria. Et sunt promontoria quædam extendentia se in mare, & contra meridiem versus Synopolim. Et sunt trecenta milliaria inter Synopolim & Cassariam. Ita quod sint septingenta miliaria ab istis punctis versus Constantinopolim in longum & latum : & septingenta versus Orientem: hoc est, Hiberiam, quæ est provincia Georgia. Ad provinciam Gasariæ sive Casariæ applicuimus, qua est quasi triangularis, ad Occidentem habens civitatem, quæ dicitur Kersova, in qua fuit Sanctus Clemens marterizatus. Et navigantes coram ea vidimus insulam in qua est templum illud quod dicitur Angelicis manibus præparatum. In medio verò quasi in cuspide ad meridiem habet civitatem quæ dicitur Soldaia, quæ ex transverso respicit Synopolim: Et illuc applicant omnes Mercatores venientes de Turchia volentes ire ad terras Aquilonares, & è contrario venientes de Rossia & terris Aquilonaribus, volentes transire in Turchiam. Illi portant varium & grisiam, & alias pelles pretiosas. Alii portant telas de cottone sive bombasio, & pannos sericos & species aromaticas. Ad Orientem verò illius provinciæ est civitas

1253.

quæ dicitur Matriga, ubi cadit fluvius Tanais in mare Matriga Ponti per orificium habens latitudinem duodecem milli- civitas. arium. Ille enim fluvius antequam ingrediatur mare Ponti, facit quoddam mare versus Aquilonem, habens in latitudine & longitudine septinginta milliaria, nusquam habens profunditatem ultra sex passus, unde magna vasa non ingrediuntur illud. Sed mercatores de Constantinopoli applicantes ad prædictam civitatem Matertam, mittunt barcas suas usque ad flumen Tanaim, ut emant pisces siccatos, sturiones, thosas, borbatas, & alios pisces infinitæ multitudinis. Prædicta verò provincia Cassaria cingitur mari in tribus lateribus: ad Occidentem scilicet, ubi est Kersova civitas Clementis, ad meridiem ubi est civitas Soldaia, ad quam applicuimus, quæ est cuspis provinciæ, & ad Orientem Maricandis, ubi est civitas Materta, & orificium Tanais. Ultra illud orificium est Zikia, quæ Zikia. non obedit Tartaris: Et Suevi & Hiberi ad Orientem, qui non obediunt Tartaris. Posteà versus meridiem est Trapesunda quæ habet proprium Dominum nomine Guidonem, qui est de genere imperatorum Constantinopolitanorum, qui obedit Tartaris: posteà Synopolis quæ est Soldani Turchia qui similiter obedit: posteà terra Vastacii cujus filius dicitur Astar ab avo materno, qui non obedit. Ab orificio Tanais versus Occidentem usque ad Danubium totum est subditum. Etiam ultrà Danubium versus Constantinopolim, Valakia, quæ est terra Assani, & minor Bulgaria usque in Solonomam omnes solvunt eis tributum. Et etiam ultra tributum condictum sumpserunt annis nuper transactis de qualibet domo securim unam, & totum frumentum quod invenerunt in massa. Applicuimus ergò Soldaie in 12. Kalendas Junii: & prævenerant nos quidam mercatores de Constantinopoli, qui dixerunt venturos illuc nuncios de terra sancta volentes ire ad Sartach. Ego tamen prædicaveram publicè in Ramis Palmarum apud Sanctam Sophiam, quod non nuncius, nec vester, nec alicujus, sed ibam apud illos incredulos secundùm regulam nostram. Tunc cùm applicuissem, monebant me dicti mercatores ut cautè loquerer,

essem