THE SOURCE OF THE NILE. 367 



fifted at the murder of Abba. Jacob, he ordered him diredtl^ 

 60 be put to death. 



Tecla Georcis,. aided by the ftrength of his horfe and 

 knowledge of thecountry,efcapedandconccaledhimfelf from 

 his purfuers for four days ; but, on the Saturday that follow- 

 ed the vi(5loxy, he was found in a cavern with his great confi- 

 dents, Woldo Mariam, and a fchifmadc monk whofe name 

 was Sebo Amlac. Tecla Georgis was carried alive to Keba 

 Chriftos, who fent him to the king, his two companions 

 being ilain as foon as found, and their heads accompanied 

 their living mafter, which, on their arrival at Dancaz, the 

 king ordered to be hung upon a tree. 



Tecla Georgis being convi(5led of facrilege as well as 

 murder, having burnt the crucifixes and images of the 

 faints, was condemned to be burnt alive, and a lime-kiln 

 was immediately prepared in which he was to fufFer. Up-i 

 on hearing this,. he defired a Catholic confeiTor, as wifhing 

 to be reconciled to the church of Rome, and for this pur^ 

 pofe he fent a rcqueft to the patriarch, who was at thrco 

 leagues diftance, and who difpatchedAntonioFcrnandeswitb 

 full powers to abfolve from all manner of fins, and at tha 

 fame time gave him orders to intercede fi:rongly with tho 

 king to pardon the criminal. Tecla Georgis confefi'cd pu-t 

 blicly at the door of the church, and. abjured the errors of:, 

 the church of Alexandria. 



After this, the father Fernandcs applied to the king,, 

 pleajding ftrongly for his pardon. To which .the king au- 

 fwered, " Many reafons there are why I fhould dcfire ta 

 pjardon Tecla Georgis. To fay no more, he has been mar* 



ricd . 



