pascal's narrative. 413 I repulsed their offers with contempt, they stoned me for two days, singed my face and my feet, tore out my beard, and overwhelmed me with outrage and abuse ; but as for me, poor monk as I am, I rejoiced in that the adorable goodness of our Lord Jesus Christ had judged me worthy to suffer these things for his name. This is the manner in which I have been treated as far as Ily-Balik, which is a vicariate of China. From Urgan- the, a frontier town of the Persians and Tartars, to Ily- Balik, I was, for five months' march, the sole Christian amongst Saracens; but I did not on that account cease to proclaim by my words, my acts, and my costume the name of Jesus Christ. They often administered poison to me, and often plunged me in the water ; they fell upon me, and beat me, and inflicted other evils of which I will not speak in this letter. But I thank God for all, and I hope to suffer more still for the glory of his name, and the remission of my sins, and thus to attain to the kingdom of Heaven. Amen. " I salute you in the Lord Jesus Christ. Pray for me and for those who take, or desire to take, this journey, which is, by God's help of great benefit for the perfection and salvation of souls. Do not expect to see me again, unless it should be in these countries, or in Paradise, where is our Lord Jesus Christ, who is our repose, our consolation, and our inheritance. My well-beloved brothers, it is my mission to announce the word of God to divers nations, and to show to sinners their sins and the way of salvation ; but it belongs to God only to grant them the grace of conversion. Written at Ily-Balik, on the day of the festival of St. Lawrence, in the year of the Lord 1338." *
- Wadding, v. 7. p. 256.
