Though the embassy to the pope and king of Spain had been constrained to return, frequent accounts had been transmitted to Europe of the revolution which had taken place in the religious affairs of Abyssinia. A new set of missionaries, therefore, were sent to this country, under the direction of the patriarch Alphonzo Mendez, and arrived at Gorgora, where the king then resided, in the beginning of the year 1626. At the first audience, Socinios acknowledged the pope's supremacy ; and soon after took the oath of submission in a manner peculiarly solemn. A sermon, inforcing the pope's supremacy, was preached by the patriarch in the Portuguese lan guage, which is said to have powerfully confirmed the faith of Socinios, and his brother Sela Christos, though they understood not a word of the language in which it was delivered. This discourse was answered in the Amharic language, equally unintelligible to the mis sionaries, and the patriarch made a short reply in Por tuguese. At the conclusion of this edifying discussion, the oath was taken by the emperor on his knees, and by all the princes and nobles in succession. Sela Christos, after performing this ceremony, drew his sword, and de nounced vengeance on those who should fall from their duty ; adding at the same time an oath of allegiance to the king, and to Facilidas, the prince royal ; but decla ring, that if the latter should ever fail to promote and defend the catholic faith, he should be his most irrecon cileable enemy.
The violent character of Mendez, which was exactly the reverse of that of the excellent Pacz, excited a gen eral and deadly hatred against the Roman catholics. At his instigation, an edict was issued by the king, enjoin ing all the priests to embrace the catholic religion un der pain of death ; and the people, under the same pen alty, to observe Lent and Easter, and all the moveable feasts, according to the regulations of the church of Rome. The Abyssinian clergy were re-ordained; the churches were consecrated anew ; even adults under went a second time the ceremony of baptism ; circum cision, polygamy, and divorce, which had been allowed by the .Alexandrian church, and always practised in Abyssinia, were now absolu',cly Nay, to such excesses did the frantic zeal of this ecclesiastic, proceed, that he ordered the body of an Abyssinian saint to be ignominiously throw n out of the grace, because it had been buried under the altar of a church, which he supposed to be thereby defiled. In consequence of these outrageous proceedings, the whole empire was in a flame of rebellion ; while its external enemies, taking advantage of the general confusion, invaded and ravaged it with impunity. At last the king's army, weary of de stroying their countrymen for a quarrel which they did not understand, demanded the restoration of the ancient religion ; and Socinios himself, wishing to give repose to his exhausted country, first passed an act of general to leration, and then formally re-established the Alexan drian faith, liturgy, and altars for communion. Having
thus endeavoured to expiate, or at least to heal the cala mities which his fanaticism had brought on his sub jects, and being now worn out with age and infirmity, he resigned his crown to Facilidas his son, and passed the remainder of his days in tranquillity and retirement.
Facilidas had no sooner ascended the throne than he showed an inveterate enmity against the catholics, and a decided resolution to exterminate them from his domi nions. Mendez, and all his brethren, were ordered first to retire to Fremona, and afterwards to quit the country. The refractory patriarch, instead of obeying this com mand, applied to the Baharnagash, then in rebellion, who carried them from Fremona by night, under a strong guard, and lodged them safe in the fortress of Adicotta. The Baharnagash conveyed them from place to place, through hot unwholesome situations, exhausting at once their patience and their strength. On receiving a pre sent of gold, he allowed them to return to Adicotta ; but Facilidas, having discovered their retreat, endeavoured to prevail with the Baharnagash to deliver them into his hands. Delicacy would not allow him to violate the rights of hospitality, by delivering his guests to their enemy ; but he easily consented, on receiving a proper compensation, to sell them as slaves to the Turks. Two alone remained, in hopes of obtaining the crown of mar tyrdom ; an honour which Facilidas conferred upon them as soon as he got them into his power. Nor was he tent with the extirpation of the missionaries, but resolv ed to put to death every person of consequence who re fused to renounce the Roman catholic religion. His un cle, Selo. Christos, was among the first of his victims, re solutely adhering to his principles, in spite of all the threats and promises of the king. Yet these persecu tions did not deter the Europeans from sending another mission into Abyssinia. The miscarriages of the Je suits were ascribed, not without justice, to their own in solence and obstinacy ; and it was hoped], that mission aries, of a more prudent and conciliating character, might yet succeed in the great object of subjugating this country to the tyranny of the Roman pontiff. Six capuchins, of the order of St Francis, set out on this mission with protections from the Grand Signior. Of these, two were murdered by the Galla, while attempt ing to enter Abyssinia by the way of Magadoxa ; two, who reached the country in safety, were there stoned to death ; and the remaining two, hearing at Masuah of the unhappy fate of their companions, did not venture to pro ceed. Not long after, three other missionaries made a similar attempt; but, at the command of Facilidas, were murdered by the bashaw of Masuah.