1843.] and the Abyssinian Church. 721 



the day was finally fixed when the homage of the king and of the coun- 

 try should be rendered to the Pope of Rome. 



On the 11th of February 1626, the court and the nobles of the 

 land were assembled in the open air. Two rich thrones were occupied 

 by the monarch and his distinguished guest, and a surrounding multi- 

 tude gazed upon the imposing ceremony in silence. The hour is come, 

 exclaimed Mendez, when the king shall satisfy the debt of his ancestors, 

 and submit himself and his people to the only true head of the Church. 

 A copy of the Gospel was produced, and the monarch falling upon his 

 knees, took the oath of homage. " We king of the kings of Ethiopia, 

 believe and confess, that the Pope of Rome is the true successor of the 

 Apostle St. Peter, and that he holds the same power, dignity and domi- 

 nion over the whole Christian church. Therefore we promise, offer, 

 and swear sincere obedience to the holy father, Urban, by God's grace, 

 Pope and our Lord, and throw humbly at his feet our person and our 

 kingdom." 



As the emperor rose from his position, Ras Cella Christos suddenly 

 drawing his sword, shouted aloud : " What is now done, is done for 

 ever, and whoso in future disclaims the act, shall taste the sharp edge 

 of his trusty weapon. I do homage only to true Catholic kings." The 

 monks, clergy, and noblemen followed the example of their superiors, 

 and the assembly was closed by a public edict proclaimed through the 

 royal herald, that all Abyssinians should, under pain of death, forth- 

 with embrace the Roman religion. 



Palaces and revenues were set apart for the ministers of the new 

 faith. Seminaries for youth were established throughout the coun- 

 try, and baptism and ordination progressed in peace. The success 

 of the Jesuits increased rapidly, and many thousand souls were 

 enrolled, who had been converted from the delusions of the Alex- 

 andrian creed. 



The trial of two years failed, however, to convince the nation of 

 the benefits of the new religion, and the Emperor and Patriarch could 

 not deceive themselves in the fact, that the cause advanced rather in ap- 

 pearance than in reality. Missionaries who entered the native churches 

 were found murdered in their beds, the most disparaging stories were 

 everywhere circulated regarding the holy fathers, and more particularly 

 on the representation of Scriptural performances at the Paschal feast, 



5 B 



