At Yarkand 1

Regarding the progress of this mission, the success of which is so earnestly desired, there is at this time only one letter from Brother Bento de Goes who has gone to explore this Christian country. It was written on the 2nd February, 1604, ² when the Brother was at Hircande [Yarkand] at the court of the King who rules over Cascar [Kashgar] and other territories subject to him. In this letter he writes that as soon as it became known that an Armenian Rume had arrived, who was not a follower of their accursed prophet, all the people of the court were filled with astonishment, for they could not believe that the world contained a man of intelligence who followed any law but their own. When his arrival had been made known to the King, the Brother went to pay his respects, taking with him a present, as is customary in these parts. This consisted of one large and three smaller mirrors, a silken cloth to spread on the royal dais [estrado] a white cloth with coloured stripes, three loaves of sugar, and some sweetmeats. ³ The King accepted the present, and at this interview nothing further transpired. A day or two later he sent for Goes and ordered him to bring with him the holy gospel and the cross, having been told about these things by one of his vassals, or Captains, who had been to the Brother’s lodging to inspedt his belongings, and to see if he could find amongst them any curiosities for the King. Amongst other things the Captain saw a breviary and a richly ornamented cross, and he asked what they were. The Brother said that the book related to the holy Gospel of Jesus Christ, and that the cross was the emblem of the Christians, and was a representation of that on which the Son of God died to save the world. The Captain wanted to take these things to the King; but the Brother persuaded him not to take them away, and begged him to say nothing about them to the King. The Captain promised that he would disclose nothing; but the moment he reached the palace he gave an account of all that he had seen; and very soon afterwards the Brother was sent for, as we have already said. In compliance with this order, he made his way to the palace, where he found the King surrounded by numerous gentlemen and lords of his court, all of whom wore long beards, which gave them a very venerable appearance. After he had made his obeisance, the King expressed his desire to see the holy Gospel, that is, the breviary mentioned above. With great reverence the Brother drew it from the covering in which he had carefully folded it, and having kissed it, placed it on his head, the whole court watching him attentively. Then a courtier came forward to take it and hand it to the King. Before entrusting it to him, Brother Goes again kissed it and placed it on his head, and the courtier on taking it did the same, as did also the King when it was put into his hands. When he opened it, the King was astonished to see how small the letters were, and yet so perfectly formed. He asked the Brother if he could read the book; and on his saying that he could, he told him to read some portion of it aloud. The first passage on which the Brother’s eye fell happened to be the antiphony which is sung on the day of the Ascension of our Lord, Viri Galilei quid statis aspicientes in coelum, etc. These words he intoned in a loud voice, and with so much devotion that tears fell from his eyes. Observing his emotion, the Moors too were moved to tears and sighs. They asked him to tell them the meaning of the words he had recited, and the Brother, rejoicing at the opportunity thus given him of proclaiming the name of Christ in the presence of these infidels, discoursed to them on the Ascension, on the coming of the Holy Spirit on the Apostles, and, in particular, on the Day of Judgment. Then, opening the breviary again, he read the psalm beginning, Miserere mei Deus, which he also briefly explained to them. His words made a great impression on the infidels, who looked at one another in open-mouthed surprise, and the King in his astonishment said, “What marvellous thing is this?”