Page:Christianity in China, Tartary, and Thibet Volume I.djvu/319

307 NEWS FKOM THE MISSION IN CHINA. 307 at least certain, that it produced for the time no resolution in accordance with the views of Argoun or the interests of the Crusaders. After having accom- plished his mission in France, Buskarello no doubt proceeded to England. His arrival was announced by a bull of Nicholas IV. to Edward I., giving him notice that the King of the Tartars was prepared to come to the assistance of the Holy Land. The Pope informed the king that a distinguished personage, Biscarellm de Gisuefo, an envoy from Argoun, had recently arrived, bringing him letters from that Tartar prince, in which he says, amongst other things, that he is quite ready to come, at the requisition of the Church, to the assistance of the Holy Land, at the time of the general passage, a tempore passagii generalise that is, at the period fixed for the crusade. The said envoy being obliged to come to the King of England on this business, the Pope gave him this letter as an introduction, begging Edward to receive him kindly, and to listen with attention to what he should say on the part of Argoun. This bull is dated from Rieti, Sept. 30. 1289.* It was in the course of the same year that important and interesting news was received at Rome respecting the state of the Christian religion in Upper Asia. It was no longer now by messengers or letters from Tartar princes, whose information and whose narrations were always equivocal, and founded on self-interest; but from missionaries who had been sent into Tartary by Bonagratia, General of the Franciscan order, and who came themselves to give a verbal account of their apostleship to the sovereign pontiff, after a residence of x 2
 * Act. Rymer, vol. ii. p. 429.