z^6. TRAVELS TO DISCOVEfl 



Ras Athanasius, feeing the profperous turn that Jacob's 

 affairs had taken, renounced his oath to Socinios, and re- 

 paired to Jacob at Coga, while Socinios retired into Amhara 

 at the head of a very refpe6table army, waiting an opportu- 

 nity to repay Jacob for his ambition, and Athanafius and Za 

 Selafle for their treafon and perjuiy towards him. 



Although Jacob was now again feated on the throne, 

 furrounded by the army and great officers of the empire, his 

 mind was always difturbed with the apprehenfion of Soci- 

 nios. In order to free himfelf from this anxiety, he employ- 

 ed Socinios's mother in an application to her fon, with an 

 offer of peace and friendfliip ; promifmg, bcfides, that he 

 would give him in property the kingdoms of Amhara, Wal- 

 aka, and Shoa, and all the lands which his father had ever 

 poffefled in any other part of Abyffmia. Socinios fhort- 

 ly anfwered, " That what God had 'given him, no man 

 could take from him ; that the whole kingdom belonged 

 to him, nor would he ever relinquilh any part of it but with 

 his life. He advifed Jacob to conlider this, and peaceably 

 refign a crown which did not belong to him ; and the at- 

 tempting to keep which, would involve him and his coun- 

 try in a fpeedy deftruftion." 



Upon this defiance, feeing Socinios implacable, Jacob took 

 the field, and was followed by Za SelafTe. But this proud 

 and infolcnt traitor, who never could confine himfelf with- 

 in the line of his duty, even under a king of his own choo- 

 fing, would not join his forces with Jacob, but vain-glorioufly 

 led a feparate army, fubjed: to his orders alone. In this 

 manner, having feparate camps, choofing different ground, 

 and fometimes at a confiderable diflance from each other, 



they 



