1J2 T R A V E L S T O D I S C O V E a. 



to be a calumny copied from the Pormguefe priefts, who 

 never forgave him the denial of his writing the lette:^ 

 by Matthew, in which it was faid he gave the Portuguefe, 

 or rather king of Portugal, one-third of the kingdom ; 

 for he fucceeded to the crown at 1 1 years of age, defeats- 

 ed and flew Maffudi when he was about fixteen ; and, when 

 Don Roderigo and the Portuguefe embafl^y were with him, 

 hewas then fomething more thantwenty, a very devout, pru- 

 dent prince, according to the account Alvarez, an eye-wit- 

 nefs, gives of him ; and all this time emprefs Helena was 

 a]ive. . 



Again, the very year after the Portuguefe embafTy left 

 Abyfiinia, that is, in the year 1526, the king was defeat- 

 ed by the Moors, and, from that time. to his death, was 

 hunted about the country like a wild beaft, from rock ::0 

 rock, very often alone, and at all times flenderly attended, 

 till he died, in 1540, at the age of 46; fo there is no period 

 during his life in which this, calumny can be jullly fixed 

 upon him. 



As for the idolatry he is accufed of fuifering in his pa- 

 lace among his Pagan millrejfTes, I cannot recollect anyplace 

 in the adjoining nations from which he could have brought 

 thefe idolatrous rites or miilreffes. The Pagan countries a- 

 rpund him profefs a. remnant of ill-underftood Sabaifm, 

 worfhipping the flars, the moon, and the wind ; but I do 

 not, as I fay, recollect any of thefe bordering on Abyfiinia 

 who woriliip idols, . 



GLAUDIUa 



