m DISSERTATION ON THE 
Christianity is attributed, are Frumentius and yEdesius, according 
to the account given by Rufinus, who declares that he had it from 
^desius himself, who also returned from Abyssinia, and was made 
Bishop of Tyre : but he spoke of it as in India, which occasioned 
much confusion ; yet it is most clearly made out to refer to the 
Axomites, by St. Athanasius, and Constantius's letter to Aeizana 
and Sazana ; and that the former reigned at Axum, is clearly esta- 
blished by the Axum inscription. 
*' Frumentius and ^desius, two young men, Christians, but un- 
ordained, in company with one Meropius, a Tyrian, were ship-^ 
wrecked on the coast, where, being captured by the barbarians, 
Meropius was killed ; but the young men were taken before the 
King of Axum, and accepted into his service. Afterwards, on the 
king's death, they rose to great honours, even to the administration 
of the government, by the appointment of the Queen, during the 
minority of her son. 
" By their influence, the foundation was laid for the conversion 
of the Abyssinians ; and for the purpose of promoting it, Frumen- 
tius returned to Egypt, and was there appointed Bishop of Axum* 
by Athanasius, in which capacity he returned to Abyssinia. On the 
disgrace of St. Athanasius, Frumentius was attacked by the Arian 
party, as appears by a letter from the Emperor Constantius to 
the Kings Aiezana and Sazana, now extant in St. Athan : Apol. 
(vide B) requiring that they would send Frumentius to Alexandria. 
An embassy also was sent about this time for the same purpose into 
Arabia and Abyssinia, + as appears in Fhilostorges, an Arian writer ^ 
f St. Athan. Arfih, Alexand. ad Imp. Constantium Apol. Paris, MDCXXVII. p. 693. 
t Philostor. Ecc. Hist. Lib. iii. aijd Nic. Call. Cap, XVIII. j 
