726 Report on Shoa [No. 140. 



The Galla troops were dismissed, and having collected all the principal 

 monks and clergy, he announced his resolution of allowing the nation to 

 return to the faith of their forefathers. 



Immediately on this intelligence, the Patriarch hurried with all the 

 Jesuit fathers to soothe the ruffled mood of the monarch ! " I had fondly 

 imagined," exclaimed Mendez, " that we were the victors, but behold 

 we are the vanquished, and the rebels routed and put to flight, have 

 obtained all that they desired. Call to mind how many fields thou hast 

 won with the assistance of God and the Portuguese, and remember that 

 thou didst embrace the true faith of thine own free will. We have been 

 sent unto the charge by the Pope of Rome and by the king of Portugal, 

 — beware of irritating great potentates to just indignation. They be 

 indeed far off, but God is nigh at hand, and thy apostacy will defile 

 thy name and that of thy nation, and leave an impenetrable stain 

 upon the lion of the tribe of Judah which glitters in the standard of 

 Ethiopia." 



On the conclusion of this harangue all threw themselves at his feet, 

 entreated an immediate order to execution, rather than a confirmation 

 from his lips of the rash resolution he had taken. 



Retaining a too lively recollection of the streams of blood that had 

 been poured out upon the plains of Lasta, the emperor quietly allowed 

 the Jesuits to arise, and unmoved by their earnest prayers and entreaties, 

 replied shortly, — that his adherence to the Catholic faith had already 

 caused the slaughter of a greater portion of his subjects, and that he 

 would have no further dealings whatever with their doctrines. 



The film fell from before the eyes of the discomfited monks. The 

 friends of the Alexandrian faith rallying round the throne, united their 

 utmost efforts to strengthen the emperor in his resolves, and the rumour 

 spread abroad, that on the fast of St. John the Baptist, the ancient 

 religion was to be re-established throughout the land. 



Thousands assembled in the capital on that day to assist in the 

 ceremony, and although temporarily disappointed, the clergy proved 

 that this act of justice could no longer be safely delayed. 



Every art and stratagem was still resorted to by the Patriarch to put 

 off" the evil day, but the emperor roused at length by the harsh and un- 

 compromising character of the Jesuit, fiercely exclaimed : " Has then 

 the sceptre departed from mine hand for ever?" and the royal trumpets 



