Peregrinus de Castello (fl. 1307-1323)

by Andrew Brooke (see Chinese translation)

Little is known about the life of Friar Peregrine (also known as Pellegrino da Città di Castello, see other alternative names), except that he was one of six bishops sent in 1307 to help John of Montecorvino with his mission in China. He seems to have reached Cambalec (Khanbaligh, Peking) between 1309 and 1310, and upon the death of the first Bishop of Zayton, Friar Gerard, succeeded him in the position. Friar Peregrine died on 7 July 1323. He is mentioned in accounts of other missionaries in China, such as that of his fellow traveller and missionary Friar Andrew of Perugia.

Peregrine’s "Letter to the Bishop of Zaytun" is written in Latin and dated 30th December 1318. It is addressed to a ‘Vicar of the Minister General’ and ‘other brethren of the Vicariate of the East’. He reports his arrival in Cambaliech (another spelling of Khanbaligh), and mentions John of Montecorvino’s conversion of a certain ‘King George’ from the Nestorian faith to the Catholic church. This 'King George' is taken to be the ruler of the Ongut Turks, dominant in the northwest of China, who died soon afterwards.

Peregrine also conveys the activities of John of Montecorvino: his arrival in the territory of the Great Khan, and the revival of the Catholic church as a result, to the disadvantage of the hitherto dominant Nestorians. Armenians are said to have benefited from his mission, and the Alans, numbering 30,000, are said to be amongst his disciples.

Brother Peregrine continues to write of his and his companion’s ability to preach to the ‘Saracens’ in their mosques, and of the enthusiastic reception these sermons and debate had amongst the local populace. He speculates that if they were to master the local language, ‘truly the harvest [would be] great’.

Andrew of Perugia and Peter of Florence are noted as church leaders in Cambaliech. Peregine himself adds that he had been (recently?) made the bishop of Cayton (Zaytun, Zayton or Ch’uan-chou-fu [Quanzhou fu] in the province of Fujian), and enjoys the assistance of Brothers John of Grimaldi, Emmanuel of Monticulo and Ventura of Sarazena. He speaks of a church left to them by an Armenian lady with an endowment, which provides for their welfare.

He implores more brothers to join them from the west, for they are few and ageing. He concludes that were he to describe the wealth and greatness of the empire in which he lives, his account would scarcely be believed. The distance between Cayton (the port of Zayton/Quanzhou) to Cambaliech is estimated at ‘three months’ journey’.