266 TRAVELS TO DISCOVER 



cite them to rebellion, as being lawful, the fword of the 

 civil power cuts them off, without any blame falling up- 

 on their religion, becaufe thefe things were done in con- 

 tradidion to what their priefts, from the fcripture, fliould 

 have taught them were truly the tenets of that very reli- 

 gion. 



The Iteghe now interpofed : What do you think, Tenfa 

 Chriflos, if Yagoube is not a prieft, fliould he not be one ? 

 Madam, fays he, I have one queftion more to inquire of him, 

 and that fhall be all, nor would I afk it if he was not going 

 away to-morrow. It is an unfair one, then faid I, but out with 

 it ; I cannot fuifer in the opinion of good men, by anfwering 

 direftly a queftion which you put to me out of curiofity. 

 It feems then, fays he, you are not a frank, but you think 

 your own religion a better one than theirs ; you are not of 

 our religion, however, for you fay we are nearer the Catho- 

 lics than you ; now what objediion have you to our religion, 

 and what is your opinion of it ? 



As far as I am informed, faid I, I think well of it; it is the 

 ancient Greek church, under St Athanafms, fucceflbr to 

 St Mark, in the chair of Alexandria. This being the cafe, 

 you cannot have a better, as you have the religion neareft 

 to that of the apoftles, and, as I have before faid, no religion 

 teaches a man evil, much lefs can your religion give you 

 fuch inftruflion, if you have not corrupted it ; and if you 

 have, it is no longer the religion of St Athanafius, or the 

 Apoftles, therefore liable to error. And now,. Tenfa Chriftos, 

 let me aflv you two queftions ; you are in no fear of anfwer- 

 ing, neither are you in danger, though not about to leave 

 the country, Does your religion permit you to marry one 



3 fiftcr. 



