Notwithstanding the restoratiou of the ancient reli0 on, the spirit of rebellion was not yet subdued. Mel eha Christos, whom, during the last reign, the Agows had endeavoured to exalt to the throne, still continued in arms ; he defeated an army, which Facilidas command ed in person ; and, pursuing his good fortune, seized the royal palace, and was formally crowned. But he did not long continue to enjoy his elevation ; Facilidas quickly recruited his army, which surrounded and at tacked the rebels, before they were aware of their ap proach, defeated them with great slaughter, and slew their leader himself. Another rebellion now broke out in Lasta, where the son of Meicha Christos was set up as king, and the rebels seemed determined not to yield while there was a possibility of resistance. Alter vari ous success, their general submitted unconditionally to the king, who bestowed on him large possessions in Be gemder, with his daughter Theoclea in marriage.
Facilidas died in October 1665, and was succeeded by his son Hannes, who, though an enthusiastic Chris tian, was as hostile to the Roman catholics as his pre decessor had been. After a reign of five years, spent chiefly in regulating church affairs, and contending with the clergy, he was succeeded by his son Yasous, with the approbation and joy of the whole kingdom.
The first transaction of this monarch's reign exhibits his character in a very amiable light. Facilidas, after suppressing a rebellion, headed by his brother Claudius, had banished the princes to the mountain of \Vechne, where they continued from that time to be imprisoned. Here they were visited by Yasous, who found them in a condition of extreme wretchedness. His father, a man of a sordid disposition, had withheld the greater part of their revenue, and the little he did allow them was embezzled by their keepers ; so that these unhappy princes, without the power of complaining, or of procur ing redress, were left almost entirely destitute of the means of subsistence. Yasous found them in tatters, and many of them almost naked ; and, deeply affected by the sight, distributed among them a large sum of money for present relief, clothed them in a manner suitable to their rank, and made such arrangements, with regard to their revenue, that it could not in future be embezzled or misapplied. He then conducted the prisoners to the foot of the mountain, leaving them at liberty either to return to their residence on its summit, or to remove to any part of the kingdom. By this extraordinary gene he so completely gained their affect ions, that they unanimously returned to their former confinement, nor did one of them ever attempt to disturb the tranquillity ef his reign.
Though possessed of every great and amiable quality, Vasous was not secure from the turbulence of fiction, and the machinations of treason. Rebellions were fre
%tic nt in the beginning of his reign, but were quickly oppressed Ly his activity and valour. Such indeed ere his talents as a general, and his personal prowess, that one of his campaigns is esteemed the most brilliant that is recorded in the annals of Abyssinia. In this ign, the correspondence between Europe and Abyssinia ',vas renewed, and attempts were made to revive the in :crests of the Roman church, by introducing new mis .;ioru.ries into the kingdom. Some Italian Franciscans, had settled at Cairo, were supplanted by a set of capuchins From Jerusalem ; and on their return to Rome, reported, that a number of catholics had fled from the nc•rsec rations in Abyssinia, into the neighbouring COU11 ;,1eB Nubia an(! Sennaar, where they were so much oppressed by the Mahometans, that, unless mimed: a.tely relieved, they would be compelled to renounce the religion of Jesus for that of the Arabian prophet. The cause of these injured Christians was eagerly espoused in Italy, and a mission instituted for their relief, at the expense of the pope, which still continues under the name of the Ethiopic mission. These missionaries were directed to penetrate, it possible, into Abyssinia ; and to maintain the catholic faith as far as circumstances would permit, till a more favourable opportunity should occur of converting the whole kingdom. About the same time, Louis XIV. of France concerted an embassy to the king of Abyssinia; and, on his applying to the pope for his consent, his holiness appointed six Jesuits as missionaries to that court, with the superior of the Franciscans to be his legate, a !were, furnishing him with suitable presents fur the king and his nobility.
The entrance of these missionaries into Abyssinia was facilitated by a dangerous scoroutic disorder, with which Yasous and his son were then afflicted, and for which they wished to have the advice of an European physician. Maillet, the French consul at Cairo, wish ing to disappoint the Franciscans, prevailed with Hagi Ali, to whom Yasous had applied, to send a Jesuit, called Charles Poncet, as physician, with father Brevedent as his servant. Brevedent died soon after his arrival in Gondar ; but Poncet lived to effect the cure of his royal patient, and, notwithstanding the machinations of the Franciscans, returned in safety to Europe. An ambas sador to the court of France was appointed by Yasous ; but the violence of Maillet prevented him from proceed ing. By the influence of the Jesuits, another embassy to Abyssinia was concerted by Louis ; and M. de Roulc, vice-consul at Damietta, was appointed ambassador. But this mission was very improperly conducted ; it was resisted by the merchants at Cairo, impeded by the Franciscans, and terminated in the murder of De Roule in the kingdom of Sennaar.