Eastern Europe - The Principal Navigations, Voyages, Traffiques And Discoveries Of The English Nation - Volume 2 - Collected By Richard Hakluyt
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[Sidenote:
His Inclination To Christianitie.] Certaine Christians Of His Familie
Earnestly And Strongly Affirmed Vnto Vs, That He Himselfe Was About To
Become A Christian.
A token and argument whereof was, that hee reteined
diuers Cleargie men of the Christians.
Hee had likewise at all times a
Chappell of Christians, neere vnto his great Tent, where the Clearkes (like
vnto other Christians, and according to the custome of the Gracians) doe
sing publiquely and openly, and ring belles at certaine houres, bee there
neuer so great a multitude of Tartars, or of other people in presence. And
yet none of their Dukes doe the like. [Sidenote: His maiestie.] It is the
manner of the Emperour neuer to talke his owne selfe with a stranger,
though he be neuer so great, but heareth and answeareth by a speaker. And
when any of his subiects (howe great soeuer they bee) are in propounding
anie matter of importaunce vnto him, or in hearing his answeare, they
continue kneeling vpon their knees vnto the ende of their conference.
Neither is it lawfull for any man to speake of any affaires, after they
haue beene determined of by the Emperour. The sayde Emperour, hath in his
affaires both publike and priuate, an Agent, and Secretary of estate, with
Scribes and all other Officials, except aduocates. [Sidenote: A lawlesse
authoritie.] For, without the noyse of pleading, or sentence giuing, all
things are done according to the Emperours will and pleasure. Other
Tartarian princes do the like in those things which belong vnto them.
[Sidenote: Warre intended against all Christians.] But, be it known vnto al
men, that whilest we remained at the said Emperours court, which hath bin
ordained and kept for these many yeeres, the sayde Cuyne being Emperour new
elect, together with al his princes, erected a flag of defiance against the
Church of God, and Romane empire, and against al Christian kingdomes and
nationes of the West, vnlesse peraduenture (which God forbid) they will
condescend vnto those things, which he hath inioined vnto our lord the
pope, and to all potentates and people of the Christians, namely, that they
wil become obedient vnto him. For, except Christendom, there is no land
vnder heauen, which they stande in feare of, and for that cause they
prepare themselues to battel against vs. This Emperors father, namely
Occoday, was poisoned to death, which is the cause why they haue for a
short space absteined from warre. But their intent and purpose is (as I
haue aboue said) to subdue the whole world vnto themselues, as they were
commanded by Chingis Can. Hence it is that the Emperor in his letters
writeth after this maner: The power of God, and Emperour of all men. Also,
vpon his seale, there is this posie ingrauen: God in heauen, and Cuyne Can
vpon earth, the power of God: the seale of the Emperour of all men.
De admissione Fratrum et nuncioram ad Imperatorem. Cap. 29.
[Sidenote: Cuyne audit legatos.] In loco illo, vbi positus est Imperator in
throno, vocati fuimus coram ipso.
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