THE SOURCE OF THE NILE. 387 



any remedy ; Serca Chriftos made the beft that he could of 

 this neceffity, and fought with great obftinacy, till his men 

 being for the moft part flain, he was forced, with the few 

 that remained, to take refuge on a high hill, whence the 

 pTince obliged him to deliver himfelf up to his mercy with- 

 out condition. 



Facilidas immediately difpatched news of his victory to 

 court, and fifteen days after, he followed himfelf, bringing 

 Serca Chriftos, with fix of his principal officers and coun- 

 fellors, loaded with heavy chains. Being interrogated by the 

 judges, What he had to anfwer for his treafons ? the prifoner 

 uenied that he had any occafion to anfwer, becaufe he had 

 already received pardon from the prince. This excufe wai 

 not admitted, the prince having difowned it abfolutely. Up- 

 on which he was fentenced to death ; and, though he appeal- 

 ed to the king, his fentence was confirmed. 



It was too late to execute the fentence that night, 

 t>ut next morning the feven prifoners were put to death. 

 One of the principal fervants of Serca Chriftos being afked 

 to confefs and turn Catholic, abandoned himfelf to great 

 rage, uttering many curfes and blafphemies againft the 

 king, who, therefore, ordered him to be fattened upon a 

 hook of iron, where he continued his curfes till at laft he 

 was flain by lances. 



Serca Christos, coufin to Socinios, was treated with more 

 refpecl. He, with feeming candour, declared, that he would 

 die a Catholic ; and the king, very defirous of this, gave or- 

 ders to Diego de Mattos, a prieft, to attend him conftantly 

 in prifon. After which, one night he fent five of his con- 



3 C 2 fidential 



