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November 17. Lateran. Pope Alexander IV writes to Edward, eldest son of [Henry] king of England, telling of the advance of the Mongols (Tartars). They have captured and destroyed Baghdad, Damsacus and Aleppo (Baldach, Damasco atque Alapia) and killed the caliph and most of his people. They have arrived as the borders of the Kingdom of Jerusalem, having subjugated the Christian Kingdom of Armenia, Antioch and Tripoli as they have Hungary and Poland. The pope is calling on the king to take counsel with his barons as to how they might help resist the Mongols (Tartars) and to send envoys to the curia. Edward is to use his influence to see that this happens.