_ 20 _ joined with three hundred Turks and overthrown the heretical King(A). If such were the case, the Viceroy would have shown great willingness, in answer to the Father Patriarch’s request, to send us there this year. It was later learnt with greater certainty, however, that the heretical King [384] was still reigning and persecuting the Christians living there. Consequently, two important problems remain: the first. that of the Turks who have captured the entrance the second, that of the heretical King opposed to the Catholic Church. Because of this and because of the many places that have to be attended to in India, the Viceroy cancelled our departure and told the Patriarch frankly that we could not be sent to Prester John this year. And in fact, there is no allowance here from the King of Portugal for anything for the Viceroy to send the Patriarch with the rest of the Fathers and an ambassador to the land of Prester John. Nor is there any order from the King in which he commands that money be spent on a fleet of one thousand men to attack the Turks who are in Massawa and to force the heretics of that Kingdom to give their obedience to the Roman Church. (A) Cf the report of the Ethiopian Fathers in the works of BECCARI X 153.
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