190 TRAVELS TO DISCOVER 



fuccefTes againll David the king's father, were this day flain 

 in the field. 



Claudius now defcended into the low country of Derfe- 

 gue, a very plentiful province, to which the Moors al- 

 ways retreated to flrengthen themfelves after any misfor- 

 tune. This the king utterly dellroyed ; while Gragne 

 did the fame with thofe countries in Dembea that had 

 been recovered by the king. Claudius then returned to Sha- 

 wada, and Gragne to Derfegue. After that the king march- 

 ed to Wainadega, and Gragne, leaving Derfegue, advanced 

 fo near the king's army, that the outpofts were nearly in 

 light of each other. In fuch a pofition of two fuch armies 

 a battle became inevitable. 



Accordingly, on the loth of Feb. 1543, in the morning, 

 the king, whole quarters were at Ifaac's Bet, having well re- 

 freflied his army, marched out of his camp, and oftered the 

 enemy battle. The Portuguefe, ever mindful of Don Chrif- 

 topher, fought with a bravery like to defperation, and the 

 prefence of the king keeping the Abyffinians in their duty, 

 the van of Gragne's army was pullicd back upon the cen- 

 ter, and much confufion was like to follow, till Gragne ad- 

 vanced alone before them, waving and beckoning with his 

 hands to his men that they fliould follow ; and he was al- 

 ready come fo near the Portuguefe line as to be eafily 

 known and dillinguiflied by them. 



Peter Lyon, a man of low ftature, but very acT:ive and 

 valiant, who had been valet-de-chambre to Don Chriftopher, 

 having crept unfccn along the courfe of a river a confidcr- 

 ablc fpace nearer, 10 make his aim more certain, fliot Gragne 



with 



