The International Prester John Project: How A Global Legend Was Created Across Six Centuries

Enquiries Touching the Diversity of Languages and Religions Through the Chief Parts of the World

Written by astronomer Edward Brerewood, this text, published in 1614, rejects the notion of Prester John as an Ethiopian monarch. Instead he argues that

it was the King of the Habassines that inlarged his dominion so far in the northe east of Asia, till hee was driven into Afrique by the Tartars, hath neither any foundation at all in historie, nor probability in reason. Namely that a King in Afrique should subdue the most distant parts of all Asia from him, and there hold residence, all the regions betwixt belonging to other Princes. Moreover, it is certainly known of Presbyter John of Asia, that hee was a Nestorian, wheareas hee of Habassia was, and still is, a Jacobite. 

(qtd. in Silverberg, p. 317)

This page references: