5,o8 TRAVELS TO DISCOVER 



ruin him with the king ; which, after all, they did not ac- 

 complifli, without the utmoft repugnance and difficulty. 

 The fartheft length at firft they could get this prince ta go 

 was, to demand 3000 dollars of the ambaffador. This was 

 exprefsly refufed, and private difgull followed. 



M. Du RouLE being now alarmed for his own fafety, in- 

 filled upon liberty to fet out forthwith for Abyffinia. Leave 

 was accordingly granted him, and after his baggage was 

 loaded, and every thing prepared, he was countermanded 

 by the king, and ordered to return to his own houfe. A few 

 days after this he again procured leave to depart ; which a 

 ihort time after was again countermanded. At laft, on the 

 roth of November, a melTenger from the king brought him 

 final leave to depart, which, having every thing ready for 

 that purpofe, he immediately did. 



The ambaffador walked on foot, with two country Chrif- 

 rians on one hand, and Gentil his French fervant on the 

 other. He refufed to mount on horfeback, but gave his 

 horfe to a Nubian fervant to lead. M. Lipi, and M. Mace, 

 the two drugomans, were both on horfeback. The whole 

 company being now arrived in the middle of the large 

 fquare before the king's houfe, the common place of exe- 

 cution for criminals, four blacks attacked the ambaffador, 

 and murdered him with four ftrokes of fabres. Gentil fell 

 next by the fame hands, at his mailer's fide. After him 

 M. Lipi and the two Chriftians ; the two latter protefting 

 that they did not belong to the ambaffador's family. 



M. DU RouLE died with the greateft magnanimity, forti- 

 tude, and refignation. Knowing his perfon was facrcd by 



3-. the 



