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tural death is not known. The hiftorian of his reign, a 

 extemporary writer, fays, fome reported that he died of an 

 amputation of his leg by order of the king ; others, that he 

 was flrangied ; but that moll people were of opinion that 

 he died of ficknefs ; and this I think the moll probable, for 

 had the king been earneflly fet upon his death, he would 

 not have allowed fo much time to pafs, after his coronation, 

 before his rival was interrogated ; nor was there any rea- 

 fon to allow him four days after his confeflion. David's mo- 

 deration after the death, moreover, feems to render this flill 

 more credible ; for he ordered his body to be buried in the 

 church of the Nativity, which he had himfelf built, with all 

 the honours and public ceremonies due to his rank as a no- 

 bleman and fubjecl, who had been guilty of no crime, in- 

 Head of ordering his body to be hewn in pieces, and fcatter- 

 ed along the ground without burial, to be eat by the dogs ; 

 the invariable punifhment, unlefs in this one inftance, of 

 high-treafon in this country. 



Posterity, regarding his merit more than his title, have, 

 however, kept his name Hill among the lift of kings ; and 

 tradition, doing him more juftice flill than hiftory, has 

 ranked him among the bell that ever reigned in Abyflinia. 



DAVID 



