3^6f TRAVELS TO DISCOVER 



crucifixes, and all church-ornaments and images of faints 

 that were in relief, and burned them publicly, to make 

 his reconciliation with the king impoflible. He then called 

 before him Abba Jacob his Catholic chaplain, and, having 

 ilripped him of his pontificals, killed him with his own 

 hand. There was no method he could devife of bringing 

 his quarrel fooner to an iffue than this which he had adopt- 

 ed. But he did not feem to have taken equal pains to pro* 

 yide for his defence, as he had done to give provocation.. 



SociNios, upon the firft intelhgence of this murder and* 

 treafon, ordered Keba Chriftos to march againft him with the 

 troops that he had at hand. This general, equally a good 

 foldier, fubje6t, and Cathohc, being convinced of the necef- 

 fity of punilhing fpeedily fo monftrous a crime, paffed by 

 forced marches through Sire to Axum, thence to Eremona ;; 

 and,, having appointed Gafpar Paez to meet him there, he 

 confeffed hirafelf, and received the facrament from that Je- 

 fuit's haaids. From Fremona he continued with the fame 

 fpeed, making three ordinary days marches in one, beings 

 defirous of preventing the poflibility of Tecla Georgis's col- 

 kdting troops^ and taking refuge on a mountain called. 

 Majba^ which he heard to be his defign. 



It was the 12th of December 1628 that news were 

 brought him of the fituation of the enemy ; upon which- 

 he ordered his baggage to be left behind, and every foldier 

 tO: carry two loaves, and to march, without refling till he- 

 came up with Tecla Georgis,, 



In the morning of the day following, two horfemen, on 

 tjie. fcout beibre him, difcovere.d. five of the rebel foldiers, 



UpOB: 



