so 
TRAVELS IN ABYSSINIA. 
them lands and settlements to the utmost extent 
of their wishes ; that they were at perfect liberty 
to exercise and teach their religion ; but as to 
compelling his subjects to embrace the Romish 
faith, that it would cause a great disturbance ; 
that they had been always accustomed to pay their 
submission to the patriarch of Alexandria ; that 
they were quiet and content with their Abuna ; 
and that such a change would require at least 
serious consultation with his friends and principal 
officers. — Oviedo, though highly indignant at this 
perfidy r , as he terms it, yet, as some faint hope was 
still held out, resolved to temporize. He wrote a 
long letter, however, pointing out to the king the 
enormous crime which he committed, in paying the 
smallest regard, upon such a question, to the opi- 
nion of any friends or counsellors, however inti- 
mate. No result being drawn from this letter, O- 
viedo next proposed, that a conference should be 
held in presence of his majesty, between himself 
and some of the Abyssinian doctors ; which was 
readily agreed to. The missionary being favoured 
by supernatural aid, victoriously refuted, in his opi- 
nion, all the arguments urged by those person- 
ages. Unfortunately, their impression was, quite 
opposite, and they loudly exclaimed, that they 
had gained a complete victory over him. The 
king also stated, as the general impression pro- 
duced in his mind by the conference, that he and 
