376 CHRISTIANITY IN CHINA, ETC. tiff as the successor of St. Peter, and the father of all Christians.* This happy event was the cause of great joy to the Catholics, but it could not make them forget the wrongs which their brethren of Persia had to endure beneath the oppression of Kharbende. This apostate prince had not, in truth, more sympathy with the Mussulmans than with the Christians ; for the interests of his ambi- tious policy were the only motives of his conduct. As he desired to make war on the Saracens, he tried to ex- cite the Christian princes against the Sultan of Egypt, allowing them to believe that he was quite disposed to make a public profession of Christianity. He even sent into Europe a certain Touman-Yldoudji, entrusting him with letters to Philip the Fair, to the King of France, to Edward I. the King of England, and to Pope Clement V. The letter addressed to Philip the Fair was in the Mongol language, and in the Oigour cha- racter. This is the translation. GEiddjaitou*, Sultan. Our words to the King of France, Sultan ! " In times past, you, Sultans of the Franks, were all united in friendship with our good great-grandfather, our good grandfather, our good father, our good elder brother; and notwithstanding the distance which se- parated you, you looked on each other as neighbours, you sent each other reciprocally all sorts of messages, you sent ambassadors and friendly presents ; this you
- Raynald, Ann. 1304, No. 23. p. 598.
f Kharbende had assumed, since his apostasy, the name of CEuld- jaitou, and the title of Sultan.
