MOCHA. 
479 
"'■t)f their leader, was rescued from the attacks of the Mahomedans, 
with the loss, however, of a considerable part , of , its soiithern 
possessions ; which occasioned the court being removed for secu- 
rity to the mountainous district of Samen. A narrative of these 
transactions was afterwards published by Bermudez himself,^^ 
containing a very candid statement of all that passed, from 
which it appears, that ow ing to his own intemperate zeal in the 
cause he had espoused, he not only fell into disgrace with the 
Emperor Claudius, but even with his own countrymen, who 
almost unanimously disclaimed his authority. 
About this period, at the urgent remonstrances of a very distin- 
guished Abyssinian priest, named Peter, who had arrived in 
Europe, Ignatius, the founder of the Jesuits, undertook the con- 
version of Abyssinia ; but the Pope objecting to his going 
into those remote regions, two distinguished prelates of his 
order, Nunez Baretto, and Andrew Oviedo, were appointed, 
under his sanction, to take charge of a mission to that country. 
The first of these died in India ; but the latter arrived safely in 
Abyssinia early in J 557, and continued to reside there the re- 
mainder of his life, greatly advancing the interests of the Catholic 
religion by his prudence, magnanimity, and forbearance, qualities 
which made him universally respected throughout the country. 
This venerable patriarch died in 1577. t During his stay, parti- 
, .*iyide relation do Embaixada go. Joao Bermudez trouxe do Emperador da Ethiopia. 
Lixb. 1565, small quarto, (British Museum.) This book Ls extremely scarce; Ludolf 
himself (vide Comm. p. 6,) never having been able to get a sight of it ; on which account 
he refers his readers to the translation of it in Purchas, for which, vide Part II. p. J H9. 
t Vide De ^thiopiae patriarchis J. N. Barreto et Andrea Oviedo, P. N. Godigno. 
Lugduni, 1615, a book which contains much curious matter respecting Abyssinia, though 
like most other works written by the monks of that order, it must be consulted witfi great 
caution. 
