TRAVELS IN ABYSSINIA. 33 
for the chanty of a benevolent lady. During the 
whole reign of Adamas, the persecution against 
him never experienced any remission. The Pope, 
moved by the doleful accounts which he continually 
transmitted of his sufferings, wrote, proposing that 
he should leave Abyssinia, and undertake some less 
turbulent mission. Oviedo declined this offer ; 
but solicited without intermission 1500 Portu- 
guese troops, with which he undertook to convert 
not only Abyssinia, but all the neighbouring king- 
doms. But though the king of Portugal shewed 
some disposition to adopt this suggestion, his zeal 
was never sufficiently ardent to carry it finally into 
effect. Oviedo died at Fremona in 15?7» 
The next person who took a lead in the affairs 
of the Portuguese in Ethiopia was Pero Payz, who, 
along with Antonio de Montserrat, set out from 
Goa in February 1589. In passing through the 
Red Sea, he was taken captive by the Turks, and 
detained in captivity seven years. At the end of 
that time he was ransomed, and proceeded into A- 
byssinia. After being well received by his coun- 
trymen at Fremona, he went forward to visit the 
emperor. Payz appears to have been a man supe- 
rior in every respect to his predecessors in the same 
situation. Instead of endeavouring to carry every 
thing by main force, and overbearing insolence, he 
vol. n. c 
