Alvarez, Francisco

Alvarez, Francisco was mass priest and chaplain to Dom Manuel, king of Portugal, about the year 1515. He was a native of Coimbra, and at that time advanced in life; but of his early history nothing is known. He visited Abyssinia in company with the Portuguese ambassador, Duarte Galvam, reaching that country in 1516. He passed several years there, and returned to Portugal, landing at Lisbon, July 25, 1527. He had explored a considerable part of Abyssinia, and an interesting account of his travels was published in 1540, entitled a True Account of the County of Prester John. He died about 1540.