TRAVELS TO DISCOVER 



if thefe offences were committed by a layman. Of this the- 

 treatment of Honorius is an example, who made ufe only 

 of fpiritual weapons againft offences, that furely deferved the, 

 cenfure of all churches. 



With whatever propriety this fentence might have 

 been inflicted upon individuals, and, perhaps, without any 

 bad confequence to the public in general, the law of 

 the land, in Abyffmia, could not fuffer this to be inflic- 

 ted on their king, becaufe very bad effects muft have 

 followed it towards the common- weal ; for excommuni- 

 cation there is really a capital punifhment if executed 

 with rigour. It is a kind of inter diBio aqua et ignis, for you 

 yourfelf are exprefsly prohibited from kindling a fire, and 

 every body elfe is laid under a prohibition from fupplying 

 either fire or water.. No one can fpeak, eat, or drink with 

 you, enter your houfe, or fuffer you to enter theirs. Ifoui 

 cannot buy nor fell, nor recover debts. If under this luna- 

 tion you mould be violently flam by robbers, no inquifi- 

 tion is made into the caufe of your death, and your body is- 

 not fuffered to be buried. . 



I would fubmit now to the judgment of any one, what 

 fort of government there would be in Abyflinia, if a priefl; 

 was fuffered to lay the king under fuch interdict . or reflric- 

 tion. The kings of that country do not pretend to be faints ;: 

 indeed, it may be faid, they are the very contrary, leading 

 very free lives. Pretences are never wanting, and it is only 

 neceffary to find a fanatic prieft (which, God knows, is not 

 a rarity in that country) to unhinge government perpetually, 

 and throw all into anarchy and confufion. But nothing of 

 this kind occurs in their, hiflory, though the bigotted Le 



Grande,, 



