346 CHRISTIANITY IN CHINA, ETC. large number of men in his army were Christians, not a few of whom remained upon the field of battle.* The Jews and Mohammedans belonging to Kublai's army were constantly mocking these Christians, who had just submitted to the authority of the emperor, saying, that although Nay an had raised the standard of Jesus Christ, they had nevertheless received no assist- ance from him. The Christians, who were at last un- able to bear these taunts, carried their complaints to the emperor, who answered them, in the presence of their enemies, to the following effect : — " Your God has refused to assist Nayan ; but you need not on this account distress yourselves, nor become ashamed of your religion; because it was through the justice of God that he abstained from favouring crime and injustice. Nay an rebelled against his sovereign, and in his impiety implored the assistance of your God ; but this good and just God would not protect such wicked attempts." He then forbade the enemies of the Christians to insult either their God or the cross. In describing the large and important towns of China, Marco Polo will sometimes mention the Christian churches. Thus, he says, that at Han-Tcheou-Fou there Avas one, and at Tching-Kian-Fou three ; but this meagre information is all that is given by the Venetian traveller. There can be little doubt, how- ever, of the progress made by Christianity throughout Tartary, and especially in China. It is well known that the Nestorians were diffused over the whole surface of this rich and extensive empire, that they were governed
- "Et sachies que Naian estoit Cristienz baleizienz et a certe
bateille avoit-il la crois de Christ sor la enseinge." — Voyage of Marco Polo, p. 8-5.
