MONGOL ENVOYS TO ST. LOUIS. 189 chroniclers of the epoch formed various conjectures as to the political object of these curious diplomatic rela- tions ; but, according to Matthew Paris, the true purpose of the mission of these Tartar envoys remained a mys- tery even to the secretaries and notaries, and to the families most intimately connected with the pontifical court.* These first embassies from the papacy to the Tartars had not had all the good results that had been anticipated. The envoys, both Franciscans and Domin- icans, had been ill received, and treated with contempt and insolence, and the missives that they brought back were in some measure a declaration of war to all nations. The Mongol chiefs, however, became by that means acquainted with the Franks, and appeared to understand how important it would be to make common cause with them against the Mussulmans, and to enter into their views on the question of the affairs of the East. They soon sought, therefore, to enter into relation with them. St. Louis had embarked at Aismes-Mortes on the 25th of August, 1248. He had just arrived at Nicotia, the capital of the isle of Cyprus, and was preparing to go on to Egypt, when an audience was asked of him by two individuals named David and Mark, who stated them- selves to be envoys from Iltchikadai, the successor of Baidjou in the command of the forces in Persia. Con- sidering that the proposed French expedition against the Mussulmans would accord perfectly well with the interests of the Tartars, their leader had sent them, they said, to concert measures for a simultaneous attack. f
- Causa autem nuncii eorum adeo cunctos latuit in curia, ut nee
clericis, notariis nee aliis licet familiaribus claruit patefactum. — Ibid. f Tandis que le roi sejournoit en Chippre, le grant roy de Tartarie
