1843.] and the Abyssinian Church. 681 



Capuchins was accordingly put in requisition to bring about the desired 

 re-union with the heretic church of Abyssinia. Six chosen men of the 

 order, fully provided with the firmans of protection from the court of 

 Constantinople, were first entrusted with the enterprize during the mid- 

 dle of the seventeenth century, of these four succeeded in penetrating 

 into the country, but only to suffer the martyrdom of St. Stephen, and 

 the remaining two, terrified at the fate of their unfortunate brethren, re- 

 turned without hope of success to their monastery in France. 



The zeal of the order nevertheless made one further effort in the 

 cause, and again three doomed friars landed at Suakem, whence they 

 despatched a letter to congratulate the Emperor on their safe arrival in 

 his vicinity. Instead, however, of the anticipated presents, and means 

 of conveyance to the court, an order for their execution was received 

 by the governor of the town, and the stuffed heads of the fathers were 

 forwarded for inspection, that the fair skin and the tonsure of the fo- 

 reign priest might be fully recognized, and the promised reward be claim- 

 ed by the inhospitable Pacha of the Coast. 



Poucet's interesting descriptions still remain to commemorate a further 

 quest which in 1 700 was undertaken, in company with a member of the 

 Society of Jesus ; but the partner of his journey died in Nubia, and 

 many doubts have been reasonably entertained regarding the truth of 

 the physician's narrative. Matters are painted with more than tra- 

 vellers' license, and the imagination freely drawn upon for facts that 

 never existed. The close of his career also served to throw a deep 

 shade of disbelief over the minds of even the most credulous ; for after 

 receiving from the French monarch magnificent presents for the 

 Emperor and Court of Abyssinia, he crossed the Red Sea, and penetrat- 

 ing into Persia, died at Ispahan, with the character of being a perfect 

 impostor. 



A last attempt was made a few years subsequently by Pope Clement 

 XI, and four German Franciscans were despatched in the cause of Rome 

 to the country of the intractable Abyssinian. The poverty of these 

 missionaries, and the humility with which they refused all temporal 

 wealth, touched the heart of the reigning emperor, and although he 

 forbade them to preach in public, he pledged himself to protect their 

 lives and promote the cause of their mission. " Your work is difficult/' 

 said the monarch, " it demands time, and you must be prudent, and not 



4 u 



