TH-E SOURCE OF THE NILE. 24.7: 



Havcmade fo clear, that v/c now wonder at our own blindnefs 

 in not having feen them plainly before. For thefe benefits 

 which I now confefs to have received, I here make my de- 

 claration, that it is my ftedfaft piirpofe» with the allillance 

 of Almighty God, to live and die in the faith you profefs, 

 and have now preached." 



Among thofe of the court tnofl attached to the king was^ 

 Laeca Mariam, the infeparable companion of his good and 

 bad fortune, who had followed his raafter from principles 

 of duty and aiFei5lion, without defigning to throw away a 

 confideration upon what were likely to be the confequences 

 to himfelf. He was reputed, in his charader and abilities 

 as a foldier, to be equal to Za SelafTe, but a very dillerent 

 man, compared to him in his qualities of civil life ; for he 

 was fober in his general behaviour, fparing in difcourfe, 

 and much more ready to do a good oihce than to promife 

 one ; very affable and courteous in his manner, and of fo 

 humble and unaffuming a deportment, that it was thought 

 impollible to be real in a man, who had fo of ten proved his 

 fuperiority over others upon trial. 



This man, a true royalifl, was one of tliofe that embra- 

 ced the Catholic religion that day, probably following the 

 example of the king; and this, in the hands of wicked men 

 their enemies, became very foon a pretence for the murder 

 -of both; for Za Selaffc, impatient of a rival in any thing, 

 more efpecially in milicaj-y knowledge, began to hold fedi- 

 tious affemblies, and efpecially with the monks, whom he 

 taught to believe what the Icing's condud daily confirmed, 

 that the Alexandrian faith was totally reprobated, and no 



religion 



