BOOK VI

SECTION XII

FACILIDAS, EMPEROR.

 

IMMEDIATELY on the accession of Facilidas that monarch wrote to the Patriarchy informing him that as the Coptic faith was now re-established in Abyssinia, he must at once leave the kingdom; and that an Abuna was actually on his way from Cairo, to undertake the government of the Church. In fact, an impostor did appear, who exercised various pontifical functions, before he was discovered. The brave Sela Christos was summoned to Court, and received kindly by his nephew : but, constantly refusing to abjure the Roman faith, was first banished into an unwholesome district, and then hanged.

In March, 1633, the Patriarch, and the rest of the Fathers, were ordered to proceed at once to Fremona. They did so : but determined, if they could, not to give up their position without a struggle. Jerome Lobo was sent, first to the Viceroy of India, and then to Spain, to solicit assistance. The Fathers then endeavored to collect ammunition at Fremona : it was seized by Facilidas, who requested them—but in very gentle terms—to go to Masuah. Instead of complying, they took refuge with one John then in rebellion against the Emperor, by whom they were sold to the Turks : the Patriarch made a shift, some time after, with some of the company, to ransom himself : but the Bishop of Nicaea, (translated to that Ethiopia returns to titular see from Hierapolis) and some others who remained, though pardoned by the Emperor, were put to death by the populace.

A treaty was then concluded by Facilidas with the Turks for the prevention of the passage of any missionaries from the West; and of some Capuchins, who afterwards endeavored to enter the kingdom, nine fell a sacrifice to their zeal. From this time forth, we are little concerned with Ethiopia.