THESOURCEOFTHENTLE. 171 



religion, and the patriarchal power with which he was en- 

 dowed. 



But to this it is eafdy anfwered, That the AbylTmian hi- 

 ftorian of David's reign, through the whole courfe of it, rea- 

 dily admits his conllant attachment to the fee of Rome. He 

 gives a ftriking example of it during the war with Gragne, 

 when the king celebrated Eafter after the manner of the 

 Roman Cathohcs, though it was to have this certain effect 

 of dividing his kingdom, and alienating the minds of his 

 fubje(5ls, of whofe affiftance he was then in the utmoft need. 

 And as for the Abuna, we are to confider that Cairo had 

 been taken, and the government, which Abuna Mark owned 

 for the lawful one, had been overturned by the Turks who 

 then pofleiTed it, and were aftually perfecuting the Alexan- 

 drian church. 



The Abuna, then, and the king alfo,had the fome reafon 

 for not applying to Cairo, the feat of the Turks their ene- 

 mies ; and, therefore, they more readily accommodated mat- 

 ters with a people from whom only their affiftance could 

 come ; and without whom, it was probable, that both the 

 Chriftian religion and civil government of Abyffinia would 

 fall together. 



It has been faid of this king by the European writers 

 who have touched upon the hiftory of his reign, that he 

 was a prince who had began it in the moft promifmg man- 

 ner, but after the death of the emprefs Helena, he had aban- 

 doned himfelf to ail fort of debauchery, and efpecially 

 that of women ; infomuch, as Mr Ludolf fays, he fuffer- 

 cd his coQCubines to have idols in his palace. This I take 



Y 2 tc> 



