202 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 againfl 

 Nur immediately, he ftaid no longer than to complete his 

 army as far as poffible. He then began his march for Adel, 

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



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

 appears ftrange ; for till now he had been conflantly victori- 

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

 the cafe when any one of the former battles had been fought; 

 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 to 

 difcourage the army, at the fame time that they feemed to 

 have a contrary effect 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 almofl miraculous, and the conftancy with: 

 which hewithilood the Romifh patriarch, and fruftrated the 

 defigns of his father againfl; 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 in the middle of an army of Infidels to the 

 longeil and moil profperous life that ever fell to the lot of 

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

 ififue of a battle in thefe circumilances, where the king, 

 earelefs of life, rather fought death than victory ; where » 

 the number of Portuguefe.was fo fmall as to be incapable,, 

 of themfelves, to effect any thing; where, even of that num- 

 ber, thofe that were attached to the king were looked upon 

 as traitors by thofe of the party of. the patriarch ; and where 

 4 the.- 



