Persia on tbe other, which empire was joined to them also by a narrow tract of land. There were many infidel nations intermixed with them, to whom they were forced to pay a yearly tribute, for themselves and for the pasturage of their herds, which were their sole nourishment. The Tartars added, that this Prester John, the emperor of Persia, and the other kings to whom they were tributary, held tbem in great abhorrence and hatred; for when they carried them their tribute, they would not receive it in their presence, but turned their backs on them. This conduct was the cause that one of their wise men went from berrie to berne, stating to the inhabitants the wretched condition they were in, and remonstrating on the base slavery they were suffering from various princes, and recommended that they should take counsel together on the beet means of extricating themselves from the debasing condition in which they were now kept. This wise man worked so effectually on their minds, that there was a general assem bly appointed at the berrie nearest to the lands of Prester John. After many remonstrances, this wise man prevailed on them to act as he should advise: they only requested him to be prudent in adopting the best means to accom plish his purposes. He told them, they would never be successful until they should have a king to be master and lord over them, and and made him tributary to them. Vincent de Beauvais says, that tikis king was a Christian, and adds, that Ghengis Cham married his daughter, which last part is confirmed by Thomas de Cantinprè and Sanuto. Our ancient heralds even go so far as to give for arms, to Prester John, a shield or, with s crucifix azur, having on each side two thongs of the same. There are some writers who do not agree that this prince, who was the origin of, and gave his name to these kings of India, was a priest ; and they suppose the error to, have arisen from his being called in the Persian language presteffiam, which means in Latin apottolicus, or a Christian orthodox king, and that in this quality he had a cross borne before him, like the archbishops and primates, to shew his people that he was the rotector and defender of the Christian religion. This is the opinion of oseph Scaliger, in lib. 7, de Emendat. Tempor. and of some others. But it is not very certain what were the provinces of Asia which these princes possessed, whose dominions were so extensive, that it was said the first Prester John subjugated and rendered tributary seventy-two kings.