Curious Myths of the Middle Ages: Large Print

The news of the success of the Priest-King opened a door of hope to the desponding Christianworld. Pope Alexander III. determined at once to effect a union with this mysterious personage, andon the 27th of September, 1177, wrote him a letter, which he intrusted to his physician, Philip, todeliver in person.Philip started on his embassy, but never returned. The conquests of Tschengis-Khan again attractedthe eyes of Christian Europe to the East. The Mongol hordes were rushing in upon the west withdevastating ferocity; Russia, Poland, Hungary, and the eastern provinces of Germany, hadsuccumbed, or suffered grievously; and the fears of other nations were roused lest they too shouldtaste the misery of a Mongolian invasion. It was Gog and Magog come to slaughter, and the times ofAntichrist were dawning. But the battle of Liegnitz stayed them in their onward career, and Europewas saved.Pope Innocent IV. determined to convert these wild hordes of barbarians, and subject them to thecross of Christ; he therefore sent among them a number of Dominican and Franciscan missioners, and embassies of peace passed between the Pope, the King of France, and the Mogul Khan