t one
horse, till after three or four days rest. Should even the Tartars retire
towards their own country, our army ought by no means to retreat or
separate; as they often practise this stratagem to delude their enemies and
induce them to divide, and then return suddenly to destroy the country at
their pleasure. Our generals ought to keep their troops day and night on
the alert, and always armed, ready for battle; as the Tartars are always
vigilant like the devils, and are ever devising how to commit mischief.
Finally, when a Tartar falls from his horse in battle, he ought immediately
to be taken or slain; as when on foot even they are excellent archers, and
destructive to men and horses[2].

[1] The word here used in the Latin, _balistais_, is probably
corrupted in transcription for _balistariis_; and may either mean
cross-bow-men, or men for working balistae, the ancient artillery, if
the expression be allowable. Arcubalistarii is the appropriate middle
age Latin for men armed with cross-bows.--E.

[2] Our good minorite seems in this chapter to have studied the
old proverb, _fas est ab hoste doceri_; but except in the leading
political advice of the section, he might have been better employed in
following the adage of _ne sutor ultra crepidam_.--E.

SECTION XIX.

_Of the Journey of Friar John de Plano Carpini, to the First Guard of the
Tartars_[1].

Setting out, by command from the apostolic See, upon our journey to the
Tartars, lest there might arise danger from their proximity to the church
of God, we came first to the king of Bohemia, with whom we were acquainted,
and who advised us to travel through Poland and Russia, because he had
kinsmen in Poland, through whose assistance we might be enabled to travel
in Russia; and he supplied us with recommendatory letters and passports,
giving us free passage as his charges through his dominions, whence we
proceeded to the court of Boleslaus, duke of Silesia, his nephew, who was
likewise known and friendly to us. He treated us in the same hospitable
manner, and transmitted us free of expense to Conrad, duke of Lautiscia, or
Masovia, where, by God's grace, Wasilico[2], duke of Russia, then was, from
whom we fully learned the arts of the Tartars, as he had sent messengers to
them who were already returned. Learning that it was necessary for us to
make presents, we caused some skins of beavers and other animals to be
purchased with part o