374 TRAVELS TO DISCOVER 



A MISFORTUNE of anothcr kind followed this vicHiory: 

 Laeca Mariam, a near relation to the king, was appointed 

 governor of Begemder ; but no fooner did he fee himfelf 

 vefted with that government, than he meditated fhaking off 

 his allegiance to Socinios. 



The king, after his laft battle with the Agows, had na- 

 med his fon Facilidas commander in chief of his forces ; and, 

 to fecure him a powerful and able alTiftant, he had firft 

 reftored Sela Chriftos to his government of Gojam, then 

 fent him with an army to join Facilidas, and command un- 

 der him. 



The fuccefs was anfwerable to the prudence of the mea- 

 •fure ; for, immediately upon their arrival, they obliged Lae- 

 ca Mariam to feek for refuge in the mountains of Amha- 

 ra, and, without giving him time to recollecSt himfelf there, 

 forced their way to the mountain to which he had retired, 

 and from which he and his followers had no way to efcapc, 

 but by venturing down a fteep precipice ; in attempting 

 this, Laeca Mariam fell, and was daflaed to pieces, as were 

 many others of his followers ; the reft were flain by the 

 ■army that purfued them. 



At this time, Facilidas began to attrad: the eyes -of the 

 nation in general. Befides perfonal bravery, he had fhewn 

 great military talents in the former campaign of Lafta. 

 Though young, he was in capacity and refolution equal to 

 his father, but lefs warm, more referved in his temper and 

 difcourfe. He was thought to be an enemy to the Catholic 

 religion, becaufe he did not promote it, and neither exceed- 

 ed norfell fliort of what his father commanded him. Yet, 



3 .he 



