The Portuguese Expedition to Abyssinia in 1541-1543, as narrated by Castanhoso by R.S. Whiteway

Author:R.S. Whiteway [Whiteway, R.S.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: History, General
ISBN: 9789353605230
Google: vDyNwAEACAAJ
Publisher: Alpha Editions
Published: 2019-03-30T04:54:34+00:00

CHAPTER XXVI.

Of the Great Mourning made, and of the Obsequies celebrated by the Preste for the Soul of D. Christovão, and for the Portuguese who died in the Battle.

AT that time there had elapsed two months from the victory to Easter,2 and the Preste seeing that winter, which begins in May, was at hand, and that he could not march to visit his country and free it from rebellion, determined to winter three leagues away, as the grass on the plains was exhausted, and the ground foul from the long stay there of the Moors. His headquarters were fixed in a very large city,3 which is on the shores of the same lake, where some houses were prepared for him, and others for the Queen. He cantoned his followers in the numerous places and villages which are around that city, and all in sight of it. He sent his Captains with the horsemen to one side and the footmen to the other, in the places I have mentioned, which were numerous. The Preste remained with his family1 in the city, and by his order the Portuguese were given a ward (bairro) two matchlock shots away from his own, and certain villages, to supply us with food; whence they brought us wheat, barley for the horses and mules, and honey, butter, flesh, and necessary supplies in the greatest abundance. We went to the palace once daily, the Captains with the men of the camp every eight days.2 Thus passed the winter, and towards the close of it, in the month of August, on the day that D. Christovão died, the Preste celebrated a great funeral, for there came for the solemnity more than six hundred friars, and several tents were pitched on the plain. He sent round to the neighbourhood to collect all the poor there on that day, and tents were pitched for them; there collected over six thousand persons, and for all he ordered food and raiment. When the general ceremonies were ended, he began to get ready for the march. All the month of August was passed before they were prepared to start. As on September 14th, the day of the Exaltation of the Cross, they have a great festival, he determined not to leave until that feast had been celebrated, which they did in this way. On the eve of that day the Preste came out of his palace openly, which he does not do on any other day of the year; for none sees his face, save his council and the inmates of his house.1 He came out with a large wooden2 cross in his hands, and many friars in procession with him, with numerous trumpets, kettledrums, and other instruments of their fashion, and a large banner borne by one of the chief lords of his kingdom, called Azaye Degalão,3 with many people following in procession; they marched round the church, and returned to his house with no more ceremony. All that night they made everywhere large fires, such as we make on St.

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