A Civil War breaking out about this time in _Morocco_, seem'd very much to favour his Design. The Occasion was this: _Muley Mahomet_ had caus'd himself to be proclaim'd King of _Morocco_ after the Death of _Abdalla_, his Father; _Muley Moluc_, _Abdalla_'s Brother, opposed him, objecting that he had ascended the Throne contrary to the Law of the Cherifs, by which it is ordained, That the Crown shall devolve to the King's Brethren, if he has any, and his Sons be excluded the Succession. This occasion'd a bloody War between the Uncle and the Nephew; but _Muley Moluc_, who was as brave a Soldier as he was a wise Commander, defeated _Mahomet_'s Army in three pitch'd Battles, and drove him out of _Africa_. The exil'd Prince fled for Refuge to the Court of _Portugal_, and finding Access to Don _Sebastian_, told him, that notwithstanding his Misfortunes, there were still a considerable Number of his Subjects, who were loyal in their Hearts, and wanted only an Opportunity of declaring themselves in his favour. That besides this, he was very well assured that _Moluc_ was afflicted with a lingring Disease, which prey'd upon his Vitals; that _Hamet_, _Moluc_'s Brother, was not belov'd by the People; that therefore if Don _Sebastian_ would but send him with a small Army into _Africa_, so many of his Subjects would come over to him, that he did not in the least question but that he should soon re-establish himself in his Father's Dominions: which, if he did recover by these means, the Kingdom should become tributary to the Crown of _Portugal_; nay, that he would much rather have Don _Sebastian_ himself fill the Throne of _Morocco_, than see it in possession of the present Usurper. Don _Sebastian_, who was ever entertaining himself with the Ideas of future Conquests, thought this Opportunity of planting the Christian Religion in _Morocco_ was not to be neglected; and therefore promis'd the _Moorish_ King not only his Assistance, but rashly engaged himself in the Expedition, giving out that he intended to command the Army in Person. The wisest of his Counsellors in vain endeavour'd to dissuade him from the dangerous Design. His Zeal, his Courage, an inconsiderate Rashness, the common Fault of Youth, as well as some Flatterers, the Bane of Royalty, and Destruction of Princes, all prompted him to continue fixed in his Resolution, and persuaded him that he needed only appear in _Africa_ to overcome, and that his Conquests would be both easy and glorious. To this end he embarked with an Army of Thirteen Thousand Men, with which he was to drive a powerful Prince out of his own Dominions.