1843.] and the Abyssinian Church. 717 



undertaken for the benefit of true religion, and that the subject should be 

 fully discussed in his own presence. Again the subtleties and dialectics of 

 the Missionaries prevailed, and the total defeat of the Abuna and his clergy- 

 was followed by a second and more severe ordinance, awarding the penalty 

 of death to all who should henceforth deny the two natures of Christ. 



Wonderful was the sensation created by this severe edict, so diame- 

 trically at variance with the mild spirit of religion, and with all the 

 ancient usages of the land. Aware of the feelings of the strong party 

 at court, as well as of the entire body of the people, the Abuna placard- 

 ed on the doors of the chapel an excommunication to all who should 

 accept the religion of the Franks, and the monarch irritated by this 

 resistance, published a manifesto, that his subjects should forthwith 

 embrace the Catholic faith. 



This served as the signal trumpet for the fight. All classes armed 

 themselves in defence of their religion, and Aclius, the king's son-in- 

 law, placed himself at the head of the malcontents in Tigre. 



Not yet thoroughly prepared for the struggle, the emperor found it 

 convenient for a time to temporize, and requested one further debate, 

 which was to prove final between the disputants. The mild Abuna 

 listened to the proposal, and accompanied by a large train of monks 

 appeared in the royal camp, whilst the Jesuit and his colleagues ad- 

 vanced into the arena from the opposite side. The controversy was 

 renewed, and raged fiercely for six days ; but disputes in religion cannot 

 be adjusted by the reasoning of doctors, and the parties withdrew 

 mutually incensed against each other. 



One further effort was made to restore the disturbed harmony. The 

 empress Hamilmala, and many of the courtiers, with tears implored 

 the king to desist from his undertaking ; and the Patriarch and the 

 clergy throwing themselves prostrate on the earth, embraced his knees, 

 and entreated him to turn a deaf ear to the poisonous insinuations of the 

 deceitful Jesuits, and graciously to allow his subjects to remain faithful 

 to the religion of their forefathers ; but the heart of the monarch remain- 

 ed closed to the prayer. The Abuna quitted the court, plunged in the 

 deepest distress, and a bloody war ensued, which shook the empire to its 

 foundation. 



When Aclius fully understood the last resolution taken by his father- 

 in-law to defend the Catholics and their religion, he publicly appealed 



