or all the men that had fallen that day ; I had feen him in
Ayto Engedan’s tent, fitting behind his bed, in the darkeft
place o f i t ; both his lips, riofe, and chin were violently cut,
his whole fore teeth beat out, and both his cheeks greatly
fwelled. I had given him what relief I could, nor was
there any thing dangerous in his wounds; but the affront
o f receiving the blow from the k in g, when he was doing
a moll meritorious a ft o f duty, (the faving h im from death,
or the hands o f the rebels), had made fuch an impreflion
upon a noble mind, that as foon as he arrived in Engedan's
tent, he had ordered his hair to be cut off, put a white
cap, or monk’s cowl upon his head, and by a vow dedicated
him fe lf to a monaitic life. In vain the k in g flattered, rewarded,
and threatened him afterwards, and went fo far as
to make the Abuna menace him with excommunication
i f he perfifted in his refolution any longer. After this I
carried him, as we fhall fee, by the k in g ’s defire, to Guiho,.
in his camp, and interefted him alfo to perfuade Sertza Derig-
he l to renounce his rafli v o w : ho confideration could however
prevail, for, like a private monk, he lived at home in
the village which belonged to him in patrimony, arid, tho’
he often came to court, never flept or ate in the palace,
the excufe being, when defired to flay dinner, that he had
no teeth. He conftahtly flept at my houfe, fometimes chear-
fu l, but very feldom fo. He was a young man o f excellent
ttnderftanding, and particularlythrned to the ftudy o f religion
; he was well read in all the books o f his own country,
and very defirous o f being inftrufted in ours ; he had the
very worfl opinion o f his own priefts, and his principal defire
(if it had been poflible) was to go with me to die, and
to be buried ip Jerufalem,.
CHAE.
Sût"*— ....... »««g
C H A P . VIII.
King rewards his Officers— The Author again perfecuted by Guelra
Mafcal— Great Di/pkafure o f the King— The Author and Guelra:
Mafcal are reconciled and rewarded— Third Battle o f Serbraxos.
A FTER the engagement, as every body had accefs to th e
kin g ’s prefence, I did not choofe to force my way
through the crowd, but went round through the more private
entry, by the bed-chamber, when I placed m-yfelf behind
the k in g ’s chair. As foon as he faw me, he faid, with;
great benignity, “ I have not inquired nor fent for you, be-
caufe I knew you would be neceflarily huCed among thofe of.
your friends, who have been wounded to-day; you are your-
felf, befides, h u r t : how are: you 1” I anfwered, “ that I was;
hot hurt to-day, but, though often in danger, had efcape.d
with' ut any other harm than exceflive fatigue occafioned
by heat and weight o f my coat o f mail^ and that one of;
m y horfes was killed, under Ammonios.’.’
L t-HEN;