Travels into divers parts of Europe and Asia, undertaken by the French King's order to discover a new way by land into China containing many curious remarks in natural philosophy, geography, hydrology and history : together with a description of Great Tartary and of the different people who inhabit there / by Father Avril of the Order of the Jesuits ; done out of French ; to which is added, A supplement extracted from Hakluyt and Purchas giving an account of several journeys over land from Russia, Persia, and the Moguls country to China, together with the roads and distances of the places.

A RELATION OF What pass'd at Iulfa, at the Publication of the Jubilee. In the Year, 1691.

HAving receiv'd the Letters, whereby a Jubilee was granted us, from our Holy Father, Pope Alexander the VIIIth. We thought our selves ob∣lig'd, to make use of that favourable con∣juncture, to set forth the Authority of his Holiness, to the utmost of our Power, and at the same time, to Establish several Do∣ctrines of our Holy Faith, in a City, which we may call the Geneva of the Armenians, and the Seat of their Heresie. In order to succeed in an Enterprise so necessary for the

Glory of God, and so advantageous to all Christians, whether Catholicks, or Hereticks; we concluded, that our best way, was to act jointly with all the Missionaries, that are numerous in this place; and particularly with Monsieur Pidou, Titular Bishop of Babylon, who in Quality of Apostolical Vicar, re∣presents his Holiness's Person in this King∣dom of Persia.

In order to take just measures, and to do all things with Order and Edification during that Holy time; we thought fit to divide the Exercise of the Jubilee, in the three Ca∣tholick Churches that are at Iulfa, the first and most Ancient of which, is ours, not only free for the Francs, whose Parish it is, but also for the Armenians who frequent it. The second is, that, which they call here, the Church of the Cherimanis, who are five Brothers, the chief Catholicks, and most considerable Armenians of the Country. The Church is Officiated with a great deal of Zeal and Prudence, by the R. R. F. F. the White Fryars, the Provincial of which, whose Jurisdiction extends as far as the Indies, re∣sides in this place. The third, is that of the Reverend Fathers the Dominicans, which is vacant by the Death of a Religious, who was an Armenian by Birth, come from Ab∣benner, Monsieur Samson Missionary of

Hamadam, has taken the care of that Church upon him, until it be provided for.

All things being thus regulated by the ge∣neral Approbation of every body; we pitch'd upon the first Sunday in Lent to make the overture of the Jubilee, and the third to close it. But first, we got his Holiness's Bull Translated into the Armenian Tongue, and we made three Copies of it, which we A∣dorn'd, with his Holiness's Coat of Arms in Gold, to please the Armenians, who have a great Veneration for those kind of Bulls, when they come to them from the Pope, or from the Patriarch, and they call them Let∣ters of Benediction.

The Overture of this Jubilee should of right, have been perform'd in one of the Franc Churches, to make the Armenians sen∣sible, that they ought to expect all their Ju∣risdiction from the Roman Church, as from the Spring-head: But whereas, the main end of this Jubilee, was to make, both the Anci∣ent Catholicks, and Hereticks, whose Con∣version we aim'd at, sensible, that the Francs and the Armenians, were but one and the same in Jesus Christ; we made no difficulty, to allow the Armenians to have that Over∣ture made in their Budding Church, and to conclude it in ours, provided, that while a Function should be perform'd in one Church, all the Missionaries should assist at it, and

assemble all the Catholicks of both sides there.

Thus the Overture of the Jubilee was made on the first Sunday in Lent, being the 24th of March, in the Armenian Catholick Church of the Cherimanis, where a world of People repair'd from all parts, to assist at the Reading of the Letter of Benediction, of the Holy Pontif of the Universal Church, and to learn at the same time, whas was to be done, to profit of the Favour he im∣parted to all Christians. The Latin Clergy, compos'd of twelve Missionaries, all with their Copes on, and as many Franc Scho∣lars, all with Surplices, having the Lord Bishop of Bagdat at the head of them, ap∣pear'd there on one side, and on the other the Armenian Clergy, compos'd of three Priests, four or five Deacons, and abundance of Children, imploy'd in the Service of that Church, having at their Head two Vertabi∣ets, Catholick Arch-Bishops, who declar'd themselves of late, for the Roman Church.

This Solemnity began with High Mass, which was Sung in Latin, with Dean and Sub-Dean, by my Lord of Bagdat, assisted by the other Missionaries, and our Scholars, who on that occasion, did all things with as much Exactness, Regularity, and Decency, as if it could have been done in one of our Cathedrals in France; at the Offertory, the

Arch-Bishop Michel, who resides in the Church of the Cherimanis, advanc'd to the middle of the Altar, and put his Holinesse's Bull upon his head, after which he read it with a laudible voice, and explain'd it in few words: In the next place the R. F. Hely Provincial of the R. R. F. F. the White Fryars, who possesses the Armenian Tongue perfectly, made a very fine Sermon, to ex∣plain the importance thereof more at large, and at the same time to inform the Armeni∣ans, who are lately come to our Commu∣nion, what a Jubilee is.

The Explication of the Bull being ended, the Arch-Bishop took it into his hand again, and made every body kiss it, and put it upon their heads out of respect, beginning by the Clergy, and ending by the Franc and Armenian Catholicks. The Mass ended, and the Benediction of the Holy Sacrament given by my Lord of Babylone concluded that first action, which was one of the most Solemn of the Jubilee, by the sincere and indissoluble Union it created between the two Franc and Armenian Churches, to the ad∣miration of the Hereticks, and extream joy and satisfaction of the Catholicks.

The next day being the Monday of the first week in Lent, all the Service was per∣form'd in our Church, which was as well adorn'd as ever I saw any in France, with great Tents of China Satin, Damask, and

Tafeta, which set it off incomparably well. In the morning I sung High Mass there, the which was follow'd by the Benediction of the Holy Sacrament according to Custom. In the Evening after Complyne was Sung,* 1.1 the Reverend Fa∣ther Provincial of the White Fryars made an excellent Con∣troversie upon the marks of the true Church, at which abundance of Here∣ticks were present out of Curiosity. The Controversie was held in the form of a The∣sis, maintain'd and defended by the same Father, and Combated by the Assistants. My Lord Bishop Argumented first, I was the second, and Father Cherubin of the Order of St. Francis was the third, and all in the Ar∣menian Tongue. The manner of explain∣ing things debated on both sides by way of Syllogisms was very agreeable to the Princi∣pal Armenians in that City, who have a great deal of wit, and are capable of those kind of Disputes, particularly by reason that their Litteral Tongue, as well as the Ara∣bian, does not want necessary Terms for that way of Arguing. The Controversie being ended, the R. F. Gaspar, a White Fryar, Preach'd upon the Enormity of the Mortal Sin, and after Sermon, this second day ended with the Benediction of the Holy Sacrament.

On the Tuesday every body repair'd to the Church of the R. R. F. F. Domi∣nicans, Administred by Monsieur Samson in the absence of those Fathers, and every thing was done there as it had been done at ours, excepting the Controversie. In the Morning High Mass was sung there: The Benediction given. In the Afternoon the Complyne was Sung. The R. F. Cherubin Preach'd upon the importance of Salvation. The Benedictioa follow'd as in the Morning, which ended the day.

On the Wednesday, which was the third day of the Armenians Great Fast, we re∣turn'd to the Church of the Cherimanis, there to Celebrate the Ceremony of the Ashes, which we thought fit to give them, in order to use them incensibly to the Holy Practices of the Church of Rome. Monsieur Samson, who has an excellent Tallent for Languages, explain'd that Ceremony to them by a very fine Sermon. After which my Lord Bishop of Bagdat perform'd the Ceremony of the Ashes, and Administred them to every body. High Mass was Sung with Dean and Sub-Dean, by our R. F. Superiour, and all being ended, Coga Mourat, who is the third of the Cherimanis, would needs treat the Missionaries, as Coga Marvara his Brother had done the preceeding Sunday: That which afforded most matter of Consolation in those two Banquets of Devotion, was,

That these Gentlemen, out of humility and re∣spect would needs serve us at Table them∣selves, with their Children, who are the Chief of that City, and all made Gentlemen by the King of Persia, out of consideration of the Services their Ancestours have done to the Crown. The Repast being ended, we went back to Church, where Father Hely made a Controversie, as he had done before with us, about the State of Souls after Death. This Controversie was necessary to Cure the Armenians of their Errour, in believing that the Souls after the separation neither go im∣mediately to Heaven, nor Hell, nor yet in Purgatory; but that they are preserv'd in a certain place which God assigns them, un∣til at the Day of the Universal Judgment; they are sent to their Eternal Abode, either Hap∣py, or Unhappy, according to the Merit of their Actions. The Controversie was very Solemn again, my Lord Argumented in it as before, and after him our R. F. Supe∣riour, and the R. F. Gaspar White Fryar. The Benediction being given, and the Complyne ended, every body retir'd.

On the Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, High Masses, and Predications were per∣form'd as before, still with a great Concourse of People, insomuch that there was a neces∣sity of Preaching twice a day, as had been done the Monday and Tuesday before, and as we did all the following week. On the Mon∣day,

which was the day on which the Ser∣vice was to be perform'd in our Church, the Arch-Bishop Michael Vertabiet Preach'd about the Wrath of God, which extends so far as to Condemn a Soul to the dreadful Pains of Hell On the Friday the R. F. Pro∣vincial of the White Fryars, Preach••d upon the Torments of the Damn'd, and the Eter∣nity of Hell Fire against the Errour of the Armenians, who are of Opinion, that after some time God will have mercy on the Souls that are in Torment, which they ground upon some Traditions of their own, and the Translation of their Fathers, whereby they are taught that Jesus Christ by his Holy Pas∣sion, and by his Triumphant Resurrection has vanquish'd and destroy••d Hell. This Sermon was Preach'd in the Church of the R, R. F. F. Dominicans.

The following day which was the Satur∣day I Preach'd in the Church of the Cheri∣manis, the terrible but yet certain truth of the small number of the Elect, which sur∣priz'd every body; so much the rather, be∣cause I shew'd them that it was not only to be understood of the Insidels and Hereticks, but also of the Christians and Catholicks. I observ••d in this place, what I had formerly observ••d in France, in my Missions among the Hugonots, that the best way to Convert Hereticks and Schismaticks, is to Preach E∣ternal Truths to them, and the terrible

Maximes of our Religion; which being ex∣pos'd to them plainly, but yet pathetically, strikes them, and obliges them to declare here, what I have often heard them say in France: Our Ministers and our Vertabiets deceive us, and we have never heard this from them.

The same Saturday I did what I had done before. I went from House to House to Inculcate what had been said in the Churches, and to dispose every body to gain the Ju∣bilee. But I went particularly among the Slaves, and other abandon'd Persons, to the end that both Rich, and Poor, Blind, and Lame, all might participate to that great Banquet of the Father of the Family, whi•••• was preper'd for all. They began to bring Women to me who desir'd to be Converted, and who having never been Confess'd by any Catholick Priest, were willing to make their Abjuration in the Tribunal of Peni∣tence.

The second Sunday in Lent, which was also the second Sunday of the Jubilee, was very solemn, by reason of the Office that was perform'd in the Church of the R. R. F. F. Dominicans; High Mass was Sung there by my Lord of Pidou, who after∣wards Preach'd an Excellent Sermon upon the Subject of Receiving the Sacrament un∣worthily. That Prelate is sufficiently known in France, both by the Greatness of his

Birth, and by the Missions he has made in Poland, especially at Leopold, where jointly with the Famous Clement Ga∣lant Theatin, his Master, he has establish'd a very fine College, maugre all opposi∣tions, for the instructing of the Armenians. As this Prelate is perfectly acquainted with the Errours of the Armenians, having read all their Books, besides his being very well vers'd in their Tongue, he Combats their Superstitions in a way which they can no wise answer. The Devotion was great on the day that Prelate Preach'd. A Con∣troversie was held in the Afternoon upon the particular Judgment, and the rest as before.

The next day, being Pope St. Gregory's Day, so much Reverenc'd by all the Eastern Nations, and even by the Armenians, whose Schism and Heresie he Condemns, absolutely ordering all People to submit to the four first Oecumenical or General Councils, and consequently to that of Chalcedon, in the same manner as they submit to the four Evangelists: We thought it Very necessary to render the Name and Memory of that incomparable Doctor of the Church yet more Famous in a Place where his Autho∣rity could be of use. Therefore his Festival was Solemniz'd with all the Pomp that could be in our Church; where all the Religious assisted with their Copes on, and our Scho∣lars

in Surplices, as the Seminarists are in France. High Mass was Sung by Monsieur Samson, and Celebrated with all the Re∣gularity and Exactness imaginable. And whereas he speaks the Armenian Tongue perfectly well, he made a very moving and very pressing Sermon about the Love and Charity we ought to have towards our Enemies. He shew'd a Crucifix, and drew Tears from all the Auditors. The rest fol∣low'd as before.

On the Tuesday there was nothing extraor∣dinary.

The Wednesday was Famous by a solemn Service we made for the Souls of the Dead, in order thereby to Establish the Truth of Purgatory, which the Armenians reject. We had erected a Monument in the middle of the Church, very neat, and very full of Lights. The Altar was cover'd with Black Velvet and Satin. The R. F. Provincial of the White Fryars Sung High Mass upon it, and Preach'd about Purgatory. He shew'd that the practice of Praying for the Dead, was very necessary, and Holy. After which the Solemn Absolution was pronounc'd round about the said Monument, and all ended with the Benediction of the Crucifix, which was expos'd, as it is Customary, in several of our Churches in France.

All these Ceremonies being practis'd with Majesty and Devotion, move the Armenians extreamly, and inspire them insensibly with Love for our Holy Religion. For which Reason, they say that Rome is above all, and that they see nothing like it among them; they confess freely, as I have already observ'd, when they hear us Preach, that their Verta∣biets who are Reverenc'd among them as their Chief Doctors, cannot do it; thus by degrees they fall off from them, and join with us, out of Esteem and Affection.

The Morning Service being thus ended, a Controversie was held in the Afternoon, about the same Purgatory. The Armenians, who had relish'd the preceeding Disputes, came to propose their difficulties themselves, to the end, that they might not have any thing to reproach themselves with upon that Subject. Finally, to show that the Union we desir'd to Establish between the Latin and Armenian Church, was not only an Union in relation to Living Persons, but that it ought also to extend to the Dead; we went all in a Body to the Church-Yard, to pray upon the Graves of the Armenian Catholicks. The Armenian Priests, who Officiate at the Ca∣tholick Church of the Cherimanis, perform'd at the Graves of ours, what we had done at theirs.

The Thursday and Friday pass'd as usually, excepting, that my Lord Preach'd on the

Friday at the Cherimanis, upon the Subject of Receiving the Sacrament Worthily; and at Night, the R. F. Hely, made another Con∣troversie upon the two Kinds, which the Armenians pretend ought to be Receiv'd at the Holy Communion, and upon the obliga∣tion that lies upon the Catholick Priests, to put Water into the Chalice at the Holy Sa∣crament of the Mass. The Armenian Priests and the other Assistants, propos'd their diffi∣culty upon the Article with more heat than before.

On the Saturday, the concourse of Peo∣ple was very great in the Church of the R. R. F. F. Dominican, but especially of Ar∣menian Catholick Women, being drawn thi∣ther by the report, that the Armenian Ca∣tholicks where to Sing Mass, and to perform a Solemn Service there. It was perform'd with all the Majesty their Church is capable of, which indeed, neither wants fine Musick, nor fine Ceremonies, as I have often seen it my self, especially at Iehmiarin, which is their Patriarchal Church, where their Pa∣triarch and other Arch-bishops and Bishops Officiate, with an Order and Exactness, lit∣tle inferior to that which is practis'd in ma∣ny Churches of France. Monsieur Sam∣son Preached upon the Subject of Back-biting and Reviling.

The Saturday, abundance of People be∣gan to take the Sacrament at the Cherimanis;

but the most Solemn Action of all the Jubilee was, the last which was perform'd in our Church, for the conclusion of it, we took all necessary measure to render the general Com∣munication that was to be perform'd the most Solemn that possibly could be, and to So∣lemnize the Procession of the Holy Sacra∣ment, that was to conclude all with Success, Pomp, and Devotion. In order whereunto, we Adorn'd our Church beyond what it was before, and took from the other Churches, all the Ornaments that could contribute to render that Festival the more Solemn. As for the out-side, we dispos'd the walks of our Garden in such a manner, that the Holy Sacrament might pass very conveniently through them. At the same time we pre∣par'd all things necessary to make a Volly of Shot, with the Muskets and small pieces of Ordinance, of a reasonable size, which we fortunately found among our Francs: We caus'd a very fine Canopy to be made, adorn'd with a fine Curtain of green Damask, supported by four painted sticks, adorn'd with four fine knobs ont he top, without mentioning the neatness of the Altar we had Erected in the middle of the Garden, to serve as a Repository or Resting place for the Holy Sacrament.

The Report of this Solemnity, assembled such a prodigious number of People, betimes

in the Morning, that our Church was im∣mediately fill'd up; in so much, that we were oblig'd to place Ladders, for People to get up into the Galleries. In the mean time, the Missionaries were imploy'd in all parts to Confess People. The time of the Service being come, those that were to Officiate, where plac'd in such a manner, that the Latin Clergy was on the Right, in the Quire, and the Armenian Clergy with two Vertabets and an Arch-Bishop, on the Left; both the one and the other were Dress'd ac∣cording to the Custom of their Country, with Surplices, Stoles, and Copes. The Spectacle charm'd every body. High-Mass was begun with more Solemniry than ever. The Bishop Officiated with the Deacon and Sub-Deacon: When they came to Gloria in Excelsis, it was first Sung in Latin, and then in Armenian: The Epistles and Gospels were Sung in the same manner. After our Creed, an Armenian Priest made a Solemn Profession of Faith, in the Name of all the Members of his Church, sounding the Name of Alexander the VIIIth, whom they acknow∣ledg'd as their Chief and Pope: That being done, our young Scholars Sung their Himns in French, and the young Armenians An∣swer'd them in their own Tongue. This variety of Singing of Hymns, and Praises offer'd to God, lasted as long as the Mass, in so much, that every body Triumph'd with

Joy to see that Union, which had never been seen before in that City, where besides their Natural Aversion to the Francs, they are the most obstinate in their Heresie of any in all Armenia. But the general Communion which was perform'd at the same time, was a spectacle capable to rejoice the very Angels. The young Children, both Armenians and Francs, were the first that drew near the Holy Table, and after them, the Men and Women separately. During all this time, the Church sounded with Franc and Arme∣nian Hymns. Never was so much Devoti∣on, or so many Communicants seen at once in Iulfa, or in all Armenia. The Francs and Armenians, Embrac'd each other mutu∣ally, with all the Testimonies imaginable of a sincere Kindness and Union. Publick Prayers were made for all Christian Princes; in fine, notwithstanding all the opposition of the Heretical Vertabiets, who continually Exclaim'd and Preach'd against us, and de∣clar'd all those Excommunicated who should come to our Assemblies; above two or three hundred Armenians Communicated at this Jubilee. There were also several general Confessions, and I receiv'd some of them, which gave me a great deal of comfort. As soon as the general Communion was per∣form'd, I went away with my Surplice and Stole, to conclude the Jubilee by a Sermon, upon the Subject of Relapses; in which, I

show'd them, that that Sin is the greatest Sin in the world, and that which is the most opposite to the Glory of God, and to the Infinite Goodness of our Saviour, to the Ho∣nour of the Church, and to the Salvation of Mankind; in a word, the Sin, which of all Sins, makes us most despicable in this Coun∣try, to the Infidels and Hereticks: At the end of the Sermon, I made use of the Idea Moses us'd, to remind all these fervent Ca∣tholicks, of the Promise they had just made to God; placing the Franc Catholicks on one side, and the Armenian Catholicks on the other, pronouncing to them, the Male∣dictions and Benedictions contain'd in the Book of Deuteronomy. The Sermon and Mass being ended, we began to dispose our selves for the Procession.

It was contriv'd in this man∣ner: An Armenian* 1.2 Acolyte, bearing a fine Banner, march'd at the head: He had two o∣ther Armenian Acolytes at his sides, dress'd according to the custom of their Church; after them, came a Franc Acolyte, bearing a fine large silver Cross: He had two other Franc Acolytes at his sides, with Surplices on, bearing two fine silver Candle∣sticks; after which, came the Armenian Acolytes, Deacons, and Sub-Deacons, and after them our Acolytes, with lighted Wax-Candles. The Priests follow'd in the same order, with

Copes on. Two Armenian Vertabiets pre∣ceeded the Holy Sacrament, one of them was an Arch-Bishop, follow'd by two Acolytes, casting Incense continually before it. My Lord Bishop of Bagdat, carry'd the Holy Sacrament under a Rich Canopy, supported by four Catholicks, two of them Francs, and the other two Armenians, all four the most considerable of their Nation. When the Procession appear'd in our Garden, which is one of the finest in Iulfa, the Holy Sacra∣ment was saluted by a volly of small Shot, and of Ordinance plac'd to that end. It continu'd in this Order as far ar the Altar, we had Erected in the middle of the Garden, where after a little rest, we gave the Bene∣diction of the Holy Sacrament, and then we had a second discharge of our Artillery. Finally, we went back to the Chuech, while the Air was fill'd with the Latin Hymns, and Armenian Canticles, which succeeded each other. The Procession being come in∣to the Church, and the Solemnity was con∣cluded, by a third Benediction of the Holy Sacrament, and a third discharge. There never was a greater concourse of People. nor more earnestness express'd, than there ap∣pear'd that day, to see Jesus Christ Triumph in the middle of his Enemies. The Women who are extremely reserv'd here, forgot the custom of their Country in some measure on that occasion: For being Transported with

the same Zeal that mov'd Zachy, when he mounted on the wild Fig-Tree, they clam∣ber'd upon the Lattices that are fix'd against the walls of our Garden, to behold that Edifying Ceremony, the like of which they had never seen. Indeed, I can affirm, that I never saw so comfortable a fight in my Life before, and the Tears of Joy which I spilt on that occasion, made me forget all the Sufferings we had undergone in the for∣mer Persecutions.

All things having succeeded so well, we thought fit to conclude all by a Treat we made for the Armenian and Franc Clergy, in order to keep them in an indissoluble Union. But it was a very modest Treat, altogether like to those of the Primitive Christians, in which a thousand Blessings were given to his Holiness, and to the Ro∣man Church. Finally, the Zeal of that day was so great, that after Dinner we were oblig••d to Sing Vespers solemnly, at which I desir'd Monsieur Samson to give us one Sermon more, to satisfie the Auditors who desir'd it. He Exhorted them to preserve and maintain the Union that had been made. The Ser∣mon was follow'd by the Benediction of the Holy Sacrament.

Thus pass'd our Jubilee. I may say without Lying, that comparatively, I have never seen any better perform'd in France. The number of those who Confess'd themselves,

and took the Sacrament, has been very con∣siderable, considering the Country in which we are. Several Persons are come to us to abjure their Errors. Those who were only Catholicks out of Policy before, have con∣vinc'd us that they were really Converted. We have had the satisfaction to see a perfect Union among them. The good Party has been extreamly strenghten'd. Two of the seven Vertabiets that are at Iulfa, have declar'd for us, and a third is a true Catho∣lick, at the bottom of his Soul. Our Ene∣mies are surpriz'd, to see the Blessings that God pours upon us, after so many Persecu∣tions they have rais'd against us, in order to ruin us, and drive us out of Iulfa. The Calanier our mortal Enemy begins to be bet∣ter Natur'd: The great Vertabiet of this City can hardly harm us for the future, and we do not question, but we shall be able to Establish the Kingdom of Jesus Christ here. Finally, the next day after the conclusion of the Jubilee, which was the day of great Saint Ioseph, Protector of our Church, the Cheri∣manis sent me word that they were resolv'd to build us a larger Church, and that they would provide for it themselves: This News rais'd our Joy to the utmost degree, and that it was encreas'd the next day, when the chief of those Gentlemen confirm'd his pro∣mise to me, assuring me that in few days he would come to us himself to take proper

measures about it; in order to which, Brother Balee, who is an excellent Architect, will be very useful to us, either to give us a good draught, or to help towards the put∣ting of it in Execution. Blessed be the Son who turns all things to his Glory, and to the Advantage of his Servants.

The End of the Iubilee.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Part of the Popish Even Song.
• * 1.2

  Novices, or such as Mini∣ster to the Priest at Mass.