Page:Christianity in China, Tartary, and Thibet Volume I.djvu/175

PROGRESS OF THE EMBASSY THROUGH RUSSIA. 1G3 who was to share their fatigues, and serve them as an interpreter. They learned at Lencise that, in order to be admitted to the presence of the Mongol chiefs, it was necessary to be provided with presents ; but as mendi- cant friars, living themselves on alms, they had no possessions to offer. Fortunately, however, Duke Conrad, his duchess, and the Bishop of Lencise, came to their assistance, and gave them furs to be offered as presents. The three missionaries reached Cracow, and there met with the Eussian Prince Vassilko, Duke of Vladimir, who took them with him to his dominions, and kept them there some time. These zealous apostles did not fail to profit by this opportunity of preaching to the duke, the bishops, and the people, the duty of re- turning to the unity of the Catholic Church ; but they could not get them to take any definitive resolution on that important question. Vassilko, on their departure, gave them one of his own attendants to conduct them through a country exposed to the depredations of the Lithuanians, and as far as Kiew, then the metropolis of Russia, and in the hands of the Tartars. Before reaching it, however, Friar John fell dangerously ill, at a place called Danilow, and in order not to delay the accomplishment of his mission, had to get himself carried through the snow in very severe weather. Friar Stephen of Bohemia was too much exhausted to be able to proceed further. The two friars, John de Piano Carpini, and Benedict of Poland, reached the advanced posts of the Mongols on the banks of the Dnieper, and were taken to the quarters of the prince who held command over the Tartars on this frontier ; but, as no one could be found capable of interpreting the Latin missives, with which they were m 2