Page:Christianity in China, Tartary, and Thibet Volume I.djvu/363

CORVINO'S LETTER FROM CATHAY. 35 L as thirty collections of hymns and two breviaries ; so that eleven of these boys can now chant in choirs, whether I am present myself or not, as is done in our own monasteries : and several of the others are able to transcribe the Psalters and other books. The emperor is very fond of hearing them sing. " At certain hours I have the bells rung, and celebrate divine service before these children, and not having any written service, we chant a little from memory. A prince named George, one of the illustrious race of the emperor, who was formerly a Nestorian, attached himself to me in the first year of my arrival. I con- verted him to the true Catholic faith, he has received minor orders, and when I celebrate the holy services he assists me dressed in his royal robes. The Nestorians have accused him of being an apostate, and have raised persecutions against him ; he has, however, restored the larger portion of his people to the true faith, and has had a church built with truly royal magnificence, in honour of the Holy Trinity, which he has called the Iioman Church. Six years ago, in 1299, the king, George, died a true Christian, leaving for an heir a child of nine years of age. " The brothers of the king who adhere obstinately to their Nestorian errors, have endeavoured since his death to pervert those whom he had converted, and to restore them to their former errors. Unfortunately, I am here alone, and cannot leave the emperor, and it is, therefore, impossible for me to visit this church, which is at a dis- tance of twenty days' journey. If, however, any good brother comes to me, I hope to be able to repair all this mischief, as I have still in my possession the powers conferred on me by the late king. I repeat, also, that