Selected quad for the lemma: enemy_n
Text snippets containing the quad
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ID |
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Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication) |
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A34322
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Diana, Dutchess of Mantua, or, The persecuted lover a romance / written by R.C., Gent.
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R. C. (Rowland Carleton)
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1679
(1679)
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Wing C587; ESTC R19446
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111,058
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172
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action which might incite the King to give him his liberty as a reward of it and by his order I prevailed with my kind Patron Mahomad that he should be allowed Arms when he came to the Battel assuring him they would not be imployed to the Kings disadvantage We began after a months slow march to approach so near the enemy that our Outguards had often Skirmishes and we found their Army very strongly encampt having a great River on one side and a large Wood covering the other the King setting down about a League from them after a Nights refreshment of his men drew up his whole Army in Battalia and so marcht till we faced the Enemy believing they would lye close within their Intrenchments but Albazin the famous Rebel who commanded them was as forward and earnest to decide all by a Battel as the King could be and before half the Morning was spent both Armys began to draw so near in a large Plain before Albazins Camp that the Archers could no longer be hindred from beginning the fight but receiving that word of command they were impatient for a most bloody and obstinate fight commenced which was not decided without the loss of many thousand lives Albazins Army consisted of much an equal number with the Kings but he had the advantage of at least eight thousand Horse though fewer in Foot The King behaved himself like a wise General and bold Souldier charging where his men were most prest upon but not being seconded by them with a like courage his success not only grew doubtful but the Enemy making a fresh charge with a strong body of Horse he kept in reserve from the beginning of the Battel his Right Wing was forced to give ground having the misfortune to behold his Left in a greater disorder the Main Body only standing obstinately to it being engaged in a close fight where all other Arms but their Swords were grown useless Mahomad fighting near the King I kept as close to my Master who by my Patrons procurement was allowed a Horse and to enter the Battel where his great Actions were for some time obscured in the Croud he fought amongst but upon Albazins fresh Charge when our Horse began to give ground he prest forward to the Front and was got close up to the King when he perceived him surrounded by the Enemies Horse which Albazin led in Person the Kings party made so weak a resistance that he already feared himself a Prisoner to his rebellious Vassal and my Master believing then was his time to dye gloriously or merit his freedom turning about to me said Now Julian believe I fight to cut my self a passage into Italy I fight in hopes of seeing Diana again and am assured of Victory in her Name Ending those words he clapt Spurs to his Horse having a strong Javelin in his Hand and pressing close to the King Sir said he you must still Conquer Heaven cannot be propitious long to a Rebel against a lawful Prince As he uttered these words a Horseman of the Enemy whose Garb made him remarkable had forced a way so near the King with a party which followed him that he was just seizing his Bridle having called to him to yield when my Master clapt in between them and thrust his Launce quite through his body the King having the satisfaction of seeing his Enemy tumble from his Horse dead at his Feet which action struck such a terror to his Foes and gave such new life to our fainting men seeing that blow seconded by two or three more which proved as fatal to those came in his reach that as the one began to take up from their eagerness of Victory and the other rallied again not only making good their ground but prest after their Prince who with my Master by his side began to recover fresh hopes of retrieving the Battel on that part But if the face of Victory seemed to change where we were it was much otherwise in other places for one acquainted the King that his Left Wing was almost totally routed and the main body shrinking under the Enemies force was likely soon to follow the example of their Companions This sad intelligence drove him quite into despair making him cry out what what can we do more but save our selves by flight Conquer Conquer said my Master hast where your presence may reanimate your men and be assured of Victory here The King took his counsel only saying as he drew off Heaven preserve the life of my valiant Slave and I shall not doubt of Victory The King had scarce left us when Albazin angry to find such a stop put to his proceedings as my Master had given them advanced before the rest of his men and coming near my Master Slave said he since thy Courage is so great be honoured in receiving thy death from Albazins hand my Master replied not a word to him but receiving the strong charge of his Launce upon a little Target he had on his left Arm returned him such a thrust with his as had almost thrown him quite out of his Saddle and turning his Horse short upon his Enemies Crupper made him feel the weight of his Scimitar before he had well recovered the shock of his Spear Albazin was a man of extraordinary courage and being quite Transported to meet such opposition from a Slave flew at him with his Scimitar designing his next blow should decide the controversie but being intercepted by my Masters Shield he only received a slight wound in his Arm and requited it with a larger in Albazins Shoulder while the Warriâ—rs were engaged in a single combate all the Souldiers on both sides forbore Fighting to be Spectators of what the Event of it would be each side conjecturing their Fortune to depend on the Success of their Champion and after a sharp Dispute both covered with Blood and raised to the highest transports of Fury by the resistance they met with weary of further delay they closed and grappled one another on Hors-back each striving to pull his Adversary from his Saddle and at once spurring their Horses both came to the Ground together but my Master happily falling uppermost before Albazin could recover himself from the disorder of a Fall with such a weight upon him my Master drawing a short Puniard from his Side stabb'd him to the Heart and Leaping upon his Feet as a Trophy of his Victory he pulled Albazins Green Turbat from his Head and clapped it on his own that Colour being worn by the Rebel as a Note of the Sanctity he pretended to having at first by a Religious Cheat reduced all those who were of his Party from their Loyalty The death of their Leader struck such a damp in the Hearts of our Enemies that those who a little before thought themselves Conquerors after a weak Opposition betook them to their Heels being pursued and slaughtered at Pleasure by our Men who followed the renowned Frederick with a full
assurance of an intire Victory for the Confirmation of which meeting none in that part of the Field but such as offered their Throats to our Swords He called to those who were nearest him telling them they had done nothing till the day was as much secured in other places as where they had then fought and being answered That lead where he would they were ready to dye by his Side or Vanquish with him having by this time drove the scattered Wing of the Enemy quite out of the Field he wheeled about and fell in upon the Rear of the main Body finding them so much work where they least expected it that they soon desisted from further pressing upon the King to defend themselves against the impetuosity of a fresh Charge but the Shouts of our Men crying out The Rebel Albazin is dead and an Officer of ours having after my Master left the Place where he fell cut off his Head and fixt it on the point of a Launce brought it in sight of those were still Fighting which Spectacle was so amazing to them that now desperate either of success or safety they were quickly reduced to the same condition their Left-wing was in and those of their Right which had gained advantage enough before endeavoured to save themselves by a hasty flight There fell on the Kings Side above eight thousand Men and most of the Officers who fought near the King had lost their Lives to secure his which occasioned my Masters having the sole leading of those with whom he recovered a lost Battel the Enemy left dead on the place near thirty thousand Men the King putting all to the Sword after they had thrown down their Arms. As soon as my Master came where the King was alighting from his Horse as he would have knelt down he took him in his Arms calling him his deliverer and preserver both of his Crown and Life nor was there a Souldier in the Army but attributed their Victory to my Masters Courage It will not be to my purpose to trouble your Highness with any other circumstances past there more than that all was reduced again to the Kings obedience and after four months absence we arrived safe again at Tunis my Master being recovered of his wounds and grown in such esteem with the King that he was by all termed the favourite-Slave One thing I had like to have omited that my friend Mahomad who held a considerable Charge in the Army was at the beginning of the Fight dangerously wounded and carried out of the Field but afterwards he recovered having been during his illness so carefully attended by me that at our coming back to Tunis he used me with much greater kindness than before But a few days after a sad misfortune which befell my Master turned all our tranquility into grief The King having seen the happy effects of his Valour and keeping him continually near him was grown so delighted with his Conversation that desirous to add Favours to those he had bestowed and for the future to deter my Master from ever urging him again to restore him to his Liberty set very earnestly upon him to perswade the alteration of his Religion thereby putting himself into a condition to be the Kings Son-in-Law he having assured him he desired no other Husband for his only Daughter You may judg Madam how much he was surprized at so strange a Proposal finding that as his own resolutions were sufficiently fixt so the denial would much disturb the King And his absolute refusal though with modesty and acknowledgment enough was so far from inducing the King to desist that he not only prest it more and more every day but set the Mufti upon him to endeavour the bringing him to their Belief promising a vast reward to him that should prove succesfull in it and when all their Arguments and promises could avail nothing one of them found a way which had near ruined my Master for the King growing at last almost angry to be refused that by a Slave which he thought deserved the Prayers of Princes to obtain was satisfied with what one of the Priests told him that Frederick when he had slain Albazin put on his green Turbat which colour being sacred to their Prophet the Christian who is bold to prophane it by the wearing ought by their Laws either to change his Religion or expiate with his Blood the offence The King by their means though with some reluctance was perswaded to attempt him in that matter assured he would rather live the Son of a King and Husband to a beautifull Lady than expose his Life for the sake of Religion So that one morning as he entred the Seraglio a Guard seized him and carried him away Prisoner to a private part of it where the Mufti made him the Proposal either of Life or Death which last he firmly demanding rather than his Belief should be so much as questioned they so incensed the King against him by those reproaches he gave their Prophet that at last his Life became in a great deal of danger and although the Execution was deferred in hopes he might recant yet he was made a close Prisoner with the threat of never being releast but on the tearms were made him He continued a Prisoner for several months without my being able to see or send to him having learn'd from Mahomad the condition he was in who very much blamed the King's ingratitude having nothing to alledg for his excuse but that great influence the Mufti had over him whom he knew to be violent in what concerns any matter of their Sect. While my dear Master remained in Prison I was grown so melancholy that Mahomad who exprest much trouble for it took me along with him to his Country-house to give me some diversion telling me he had an Italian Slave whose conversation he believed I should be much delighted with and as the highest token of his favour promised me a sight of his fair but coy Mistriss on the way he entertained me with his love of her letting me know that a Ship he sent out at his own charge took her among several other Captives on the Coast of Florence and with her his Italian who was brought to him desperately wounded having resisted while he had strength to do it those who assaulted him that he kept his fair Slave there least the noise of her Beauty might by the Mariners discourse of it come to the Kings Ear and he should demand her purposing by having her concealed where no body knew of her to tell the King if he should ever inquire after her that she had been ransomed resolving rather to part with his Life than Love although her obstinacy was such that he had never been able to overcome it not having power to use force if she were possibly any other way to be won As soon as we were allighted at his House where his Servants were ready to receive him I could scarce credit my