Narrative of the Portuguese embassy to Abyssinia during the years 1520-1527

NARRATIVE

                                OF THE

                          PORTUGUESE EMBASSY

                                  TO

                               ABYSSINIA

                      DURING THE YEARS 1520–1527.

                                  BY
                       FATHER FRANCISCO ALVAREZ.


                    TRANSLATED FROM THE PORTUGUESE,

                              AND EDITED,

                    With Notes and an Introduction,

                                  BY
                       LORD STANLEY OF ALDERLEY.


                                LONDON:
                   PRINTED FOR THE HAKLUYT SOCIETY.

                              MDCCCLXXXI.




             T. RICHARDS, PRINTER, 37, GREAT QUEEN STREET.




                            WORKS ISSUED BY

                         The Hakluyt Society.


                      NARRATIVE OF THE PORTUGUESE
                         EMBASSY TO ABYSSINIA.


                               No. LXIV.




                                COUNCIL

                                  OF

                         THE HAKLUYT SOCIETY.


    COLONEL H. YULE, C.B., PRESIDENT.
    ADMIRAL C. R. DRINKWATER BETHUNE, C.B.    } VICE-PRESIDENTS.
    MAJOR-GENERAL SIR HENRY RAWLINSON, K.C.B. }
    W. A. TYSSEN AMHERST, ESQ., M.P.
    REV. G. P. BADGER, D.C.L.
    J. BARROW, ESQ.
    WALTER DE GRAY BIRCH, ESQ.
    E. A. BOND, ESQ.
    E. H. BUNBURY, ESQ.
    ADMIRAL SIR R. COLLINSON, K.C.B.
    THE EARL OF DUCIE.
    AUGUSTUS W. FRANKS, ESQ.
    CAPTAIN HANKEY, R.N.
    LIEUT.-GENERAL. SIR J. HENRY LEFROY, C.B., K.C.M.G.
    R. H. MAJOR, ESQ.
    REAR-ADMIRAL MAYNE, C.B.
    DELMAR MORGAN, ESQ.
    ADMIRAL SIR ERASMUS OMMANNEY, C.B.
    LORD ARTHUR RUSSELL, M.P.
    THE LORD STANLEY OF ALDERLEY.
    EDWARD THOMAS, ESQ.
    LIEUT.-GENERAL SIR HENRY THUILLIER, C.S.I.

    CLEMENTS R. MARKHAM. C.B., HONORARY SECRETARY.




                             INTRODUCTION.


The present work on Abyssinia is the earliest extant; for though Pedro
de Covilham, the explorer of King John II, who was despatched from
Portugal in May 1487, reached Abyssinia more than thirty years before
our author, he does not appear to have left any written memorial of his
long residence in that country.

This work of Francisco Alvarez has been translated from the original
edition printed in black letter by Luis Rodriguez, bookseller of the
King, on the 22nd October 1540, the _British Museum Catalogue_
supposes at Coimbra.

The narrative of Alvarez has been translated into several languages,
but most of these translations are considerably abridged. The following
are a list of the translations:--

    “Viaggio fatta nella Ethiopia, Obedienza data a Papa Clemente
    Settimo in nome del Prete Gianni.” Primo Volume delle
    navigazione. 1550. Fol.

    “Viaggio nella Ethiopia, Ramusio.” 1 vol. 1554.

    “Description de l’Ethiopie.” 1556. Fol.

    “Historia de las cosas de Etiopia.” Traduzida de Portugues en
    Castillano, por Thomas de Padilla. Anvers: Juan Steelsio, 1557.
    8vo.

    “Description de l’Ethiopie.” Translated by J. Bellere, from the
    Italian version of Ramusio. Anvers: C. Plautin, 1558. 8vo.

    “Historia de las cosas de Ethiopia.” By Miguel de Suelves.
    Printed in black letter. Saragoza, 1561. Fol.

    “Warhafftiger Bericht von den Landen ... des Königs in
    Ethiopien.” Eisslebë, 1566. FOL----Another edition. Eisslebë,
    1576. Fol.

    “Die Reiss zu dess Christlichen Königs in hohen Ethiopien.”
    1576. Fol.

    “Historia de las cosas de Ethiopia,” traduzida por M. de
    Selves. Toledo, 1588. 8vo.

    “The Voyage of Sir Francis Alvarez.” _Purchas, his
    Pilgrims_, Part II. 1625.

Francisco Alvarez relates in this volume how much he desired, on his
return to Portugal, to be sent on a mission to Rome, to present the
Prester John’s letters to the Pope, and it appears from the Portuguese
_Biographical Dictionary_ of Innocencio da Silva, that he
succeeded in going to Rome, and afterwards returned to Lisbon.

Figaniere, and José Carlos Pinto de Souza say, in their Portuguese
_Bibliographies_, that Alvarez was a native of Coimbra.

The utility and good effect of this Portuguese mission to Abyssinia
suffered very much by the dissensions and quarrels which arose
between Don Rodrigo de Lima, the Ambassador, and Don Jorge d’Abreu,
the Secretary of Embassy, quarrels which, as usual in such cases,
caused disunion amongst the whole staff of the Embassy. Father Alvarez
acted a most useful part as peace-maker on all occasions; but he is
very reticent, and has avoided saying upon which side the blame for
these quarrels should be laid. It appears from the narrative that the
Ambassador was very selfish, and thought too much of his personal
interests; his conduct appears all the more blameable, from the account
of the very different conduct of Hector da Silveira, who brought away
the mission from Africa; but Jorge d’Abreu was very quarrelsome, and
carried his quarrels further than can be excused, even by the fact that
he could not refer his complaints home to his Government.