284 CHRISTIANITY IN CHINA, ETC. All these attempts at coalition had, however, very little effect, for notwithstanding the increasing power of the Mussulmans, the losses of the Crusaders, and the exhortations of the Sovereign Pontiff, the princes of Europe were then too seriously occupied with cares of their own nearer home, for them to think much of profiting by the alliance of the Tartars. Two years afterwards, in 1276, under the pontificate of John XXL, two strangers, calling themselves am- bassadors from Abaga, arrived at Rome. They stated their names to be John and James Vassili, and being admitted to the Assembly of Cardinals, they explained the object of their mission, partly viva voce, and partly from letters that they had in their hands. It was a repetition of the offers of the Tartar monarch, who undertook to afford succour to the Christian armies if they would proceed to Syria, and even to furnish them with any provisions of which they might have need. Neither John XXII., nor his successor Nicholas III., would undertake to give a positive answer to Abaga's ambassadors, but induced them to go themselves to inquire into the intentions of the Christian kings ; and, as in the former instance, some of the envoys went to Spain to try and excite the princes of Arragon and Castile to an expedition to Syria, whilst others pro- ceeded to France and England with the same intention, and somewhat better prospect of success. This is what William of Nangis reports concerning their arrival at the court of Philip III. of France.* " At the time, which was that of the Incarnation of our Lord, in the year 1276, there came messengers
- Vol. v. p. 535.
