A.D. 1219.] SIEGE OK ΙΙΛΜΙΕΤΤΛ. 415 Christians to sail through. When this had been effected, the Saracens, seeing the danger which threatened them, fortified the bank of the river facing the Christians with trenches, mounds of earth, wooden ramparts, and other defences, and then placing their petraria: there, they thus deprived the Christians of all hopes of passing that place. From Casale, which is nearly a mile from the city where this new fortification terminated, they had also sunk ships across t..e river, and driven stakes under water in the bed of it ; but the soldiers of Christ and their cogs, with their forts and bulwarks, and filled with armed men, followed by the galleys and other ships, under the guidance of Christ, entirely escaped all these hidden snares. The enemies of the faith, however, laying aside all fear, drew up three ranks of troops to oppose the naval station of the Christians; one of foot soldiers, drawn up in order or the bank of the river with targets, the second rank behind the first, and of the same kind ; and the third, a long and imposing array of horse-soldiers, who severely harassed the crusaders with showers of stones and weapons. But the true God. who does not permit his people to be tried beyond what they can bear, looked on the camp of his servants, and turned the grief and sorrow of the crusaders into exultation and joy ; for on the night of the feast of St. Agatha the martyr, when the army of Christ was arranged in order for crossing the river on the following day, the winds and rain caused much distress to the Christians ; but on the same night, by the interposition of God, the soldan of Babylon and his army were so terror-struck, that they left their tents, unknown even to the pagans, whom he bad ordered to oppose the crusaders, and consulted their safety by flight. On this, a certain apostate, who, having transgressed the law of the Christians, had for a long while fought under the soldait, came to the bank of the river and cried out in the French language, "Wh y do you delay? what do you fear? The soldati has fled :" and after saying this, he asked to be taken on board a Christian ship, and thus inspiring the Christians with confidence, he urged them to cross the river. At early dawn then, when the service of the mass, '' Let us all rejoice in the Lord," had been performed, the king and the legato were informed of this by the prayers of the Christians,