i 7 4 TRAVELS TO DISCOVER 



his life was all that he could be under the tutelege of the 

 emprefs Helena ; and, at fo early a period, it is not pofiible 

 he could receive much advantage. The princefs, to whom 

 he was indebted for his education, was Sabel Wenghel, ce- 

 lebrated in the Abyfiinian hiftory for wifdomi and courage 

 equal to the emprefs Helena herfelf. She was relict of 

 David. We ihall hereafter fee her called Helena likewife 

 upon another occafion ; but the reader is defired to have in 

 mind, that this confufion of perfons is owing only to that 

 of names to be met with almoft in every reign in the Abyf- 

 finian hiftory. 



Claudius is faid likewife in thefe annals to have been 

 a child at the time of his acceflion ; but, having been born 

 in the 1522, and fuccceding to the throne in 1540, he muft 

 have been eighteen years of age ; and this cannot be called 

 childhood, efpecially in Abyflinia, unlefs, as I have before 

 faid, this obfervation of age was relative to the arduous tafk 

 he had in hand, by fucceeding to a kingdom arrived at the 

 very eve of perdition. 



The Moors, notwithstanding the conftant fuccefs they 

 had againft David, ftill feared the confequences of his long 

 experience and undaunted refolution in the mofl adverfe 

 fortune. They were happy, therefore, in the change of 

 fuch an enemy, however unfortunate, for a young man 

 fcarcely yet out of the influence of female government, 

 which had always been favourable to them, and their reli- 

 gion. 



A general league was formed without delay among all 

 the Mahometan chiefs to furround Claudius, and fall upon 



him 



