Page:Christianity in China, Tartary, and Thibet Volume I.djvu/203

191 LETTER OF THE TARTAR PRINCE ILTC1IIKADAI. 191 tain a tissue not only of exaggerations, but of gross falsehoods, along with some few particulars worthy of confidence. The letter of lltchikadai to the King of France is of precisely the same character. Here is the translation : " The words of lltchikadai, lieutenant of the Khan, king of the universe, by the power of the Most High, to the great king of many provinces, the valiant defender of the world, the victorious Sword of Christendom, Pro- tector of the Apostolic Religion, Son of the Gospel, and King of France. May God enlarge her territories, and preserve him long to his kingdom, and accomplish his will, acording to the law, and according to the word, now and in future, by the divine truth, the guide of men, of prophets, and of apostles. Amen. " A hundred thousand salutations, and a hundred thousand benedictions : May God give me grace to see the great and magnificent king, who has arrived from beyond the sea, and that we may be able to meet and unite with one another in charity. May his Majesty perceive by this letter, that our intention is no other than the welfare of Christianity. I pray God that he will be pleased to give the victory to the Christians, and to make them triumph over all the enemies of the cross. AVe are come with power and commandment to deliver the Christians from all servitude, pains, and tribute, that they may be honoured and respected, and that no one may touch their goods. That their churches may be rebuilt, that the brazen tables* may sound, that divine worship may flourish, that no one in future may undertake to hinder the Christians from praying to God in peace for the reign of the Great Khan.
 * The Oriental Christians made use of these instead of bells.