188 CHRISTIANITY IN CHINA, ETC. We desire that this manifesto shall reach the ears of all people in every place of the nations which obey us, as well as of those still unsubmissive. Thou, therefore, Baidjou, must notify to them that such is the command of the living and immortal God. In sending thy des- patches, thou must also send this order whithersoever a messenger can penetrate ; and whoever shall oppose it, let him be annihilated, and let his country be ravaged. " I swear to thee that he must be very deaf who will not hear this commandment, and very blind who shall see it without obeying it, and very lame and crippled who shall be acquainted with it and not execute it. "Let my order come to the knowledge of all, both of the learned and of the ignorant ; and whoever, having heard it, shall fail to observe it, let him be broken, let him be ruined, let him die ! Make this known, then, Baidjou ! everywhere and to all. " He who shall desire and seek the good and the repose of his house, and shall be willing to serve us, shall be saved and honoured ; but whoever shall oppose my precepts, I order that he shall be chastised according to thy pleasure." The bearers of this impertinent and absurdly arrogant letter were Tartars, who came to summon the pope to submit to the rule of the Kha-kan. Innocent IV., listening only to the suggestions of prudent and moderate policy, received them with marks of high distinction ; ordered scarlet robes lined with costly furs to be given to them, and often conversed familiarly with them by means of interpreters.* The
- Dedit eis vestes pretiosissimas quas robas vulgariter appeliamus,
de scarlato praselecto, cum penulis et furariis de pellibu.-, et libenter confabulatur per interpretes. — Matth. Paris, p. 1001.
