https://depts.washington.edu/silkroad/texts/rubruck.html https://depts.washington.edu/silkroad/texts/rubruck.html I recommend reading his travel report on Gute

https://depts.washington.edu/silkroad/texts/rubruck.html https://depts.washington.edu/silkroad/texts/rubruck.html I recommend reading his travel report on Gutenberg, I found it fascinating, honest and … unintentionally funny. William is not only a monk, he is nerding out about catholic theology. But like a true nerd he doesn't seem to notice when enough is enough and he gets on other peoples nerves. I guess he envisioned himself as the intellectual hero who through socratic dialogues can proof logically that the holy Trinity is the coolest jazz ever, but instead his counterparts are getting exasperated and tell him to please go away. Once he finds a buddhist temple and tries to start a good debate with the bald shaved monks in saffran but they just ignore him. On another occasion his interpreter tires out and makes him stop talking. He finally manages to organize at the Khan's Court a religious debate contest with pagans, muslims and nestorians. But he is disappointed that no one contradicts his learned scholastic arguments and they politely praise his religion, before everyone sings loudly and gets drunk. He finally has an audience with the great Khan himself. And the Khan says in the nicest way a great terrible Warlord could: Please go away. Here is a letter to your King of France which you should deliver far far away. And William agrees, but asks: Of course I will do that, but what if I come back? And Batu Khan, ruler and founder of the Golden Horde, grandson of Genghis Khan promises/threatens diplomatically: If your King sends you back you are welcomed. And William: > "My lord, I know not the will of my masters; but I have their permission to go wherever I wish, where it is needful to preach the word of God; and it seems to me that it is very needful in these parts; so whether he sends back envoys by us or not, if it pleases you I will come back." > The Khan remained silent and sat for a long time as if thinking, and the interpreter told me to speak no more. So I waited anxiously for what he would reply. Finally he said: "You have along way to go, comfort yourself with food, so that you may reach your country in good health." And he had me given to drink, and then I went out from before him, and after that I went not back again. If I had had the power to work by signs and wonders like Moses, perhaps he would have humbled himself.