no^ TRAVELS TO DISCOVER 



Nur was brought to him. This prince was of a temper ne- 

 ver to avoid a challenge ; and if he did not march againlt 

 Nur immediately, he ftaid no longer than to complete his 

 army as far as poffible. He then began his march for Adelj 

 very much, as it is faid, againfl the advice of his friends. 



That fuch advice fliould be given, at this particular time,, 

 appears ftrange ; for till now he had been conflantly vi(5tori-i 

 ous, and his kingdom was perfedlly obedient, which was not 

 the cafe when any one of the former battles had been foughti. 

 But many prophecies were current in the camp, that the 

 king was to be unfortunate this campaign, and was to lofe 

 his life in it. Thefe unfortunate rumours tended much t©. 

 difcourage the army, at the fame time that they fcemed to- 

 have a contrary effedl on the king, and to confirm him in> 

 his refolution to fight. The truth is, the clergy, who had 

 feen the country delivered by him from the Mahometans, 

 in a manner almoll miraculous, and the conftancy with, 

 v/hich he withftood the Romifli patriarch, and fruftrated the 

 dcfigns of his father againft the Alexandrian church, and' 

 who had experienced his extreme liberality in rebuilding 

 the churches, had wrought his young mind to fuch a de- 

 gree of enthufiafm that he was often heard to fay, he pre-, 

 ferred a death i-n the middle of an army of hifidels to- the 

 Longefl and moft profperous life that ever fell to the lot of 

 man. It needed not a prophet to have foretold the likely 

 iffue of a battle in thefe circumftances, where the king, 

 carelcfs. of life, rather fought death tlian vidlory ; where 

 rhe number of Portuguefe was fo fmall as to be incapable, 

 of thcmfclves, to eiFe^fl any thing; v/here, even of that num-. 

 bc!-, thofe tliat were attached to the king were looked upon 

 a,s traitors by thofe of the party of the patriarch ; and where 



4;. tjb,e. 



