X30 TRAVELS TO DISCOVER- 



by a fucccffion of kings who had not in any age their 

 equals, and feconded by officers and foldiers who, for dif- 

 cipHne, courage, love to their country, and affedion to their - 

 fovereign were, perhaps, fuperior to any troops, or any fet 

 of individuals, that, as far as we can judge from hillory,, 

 have ever yet appeared in the world. 



It was not now a time for a woman to reign, nor^ which-, 

 was the fame thing, to place a child upon the tllrqne. The. 

 emprefs Helena faw this diftin6tly; but her ambition^ 

 made her prefer the love of reigning to the vifible neceffi- 

 ties and welfare of her country. She knew the progrefs . 

 and extent of the Portuguefe power in India ; and faw plain- 

 ly there was no profpe(St, but in their affiftance, at once to> 

 fave both Abyflinia and AdeL, 



Peter Covillan, fent thither as amb^fTador by John, 

 king of Portugal, had, for two reigns, been detained in A- 

 byffinia, with a conftant refufal of leave to return. He was , 

 now become an objed of curiofity rather than ufe. How- 

 ever, except his liberty, he had wanted nothing. The em- 

 prefs had married him nobly in the country ; had given 

 him large appointments, both as to profit and dignity. She • 

 now began to be fenfible of the confcquence of having witlit 

 her a man of his abilities, who could open to her the method 

 of correfponding eifeeT;ually both with India and Porttigal 

 in their own language, to which, as well as to the perfons 

 to whom her letters were to be addrefled, Ilie was then an 

 utter ftranger. 



She had about her court an Armenian merchant named 

 Matthew, a perfon of great trull and difcrction, who had 



2i beea 



