418 llOGEIt OF WEXDOVER. [A.D. 1-210 of egress nearest to them to assist them ; a hundred of the foot soldiers of the infidels throwing away their shields were slain, besides those who fell into the trench and died there. The Christian foot soldiers next sallied out, and the cnemv retreated a short distance ; the Christian troops then stood to their arms until the duk of the evening put an end to the conflict; the Saracens retreated before that time. Numbers of slain lay near the ditch, and besides them manv mortally wounded were brought into the camp. By the grace of God, and owing to the bravery of the templars, but few of the crusaders were killed or made prisoners. Whilst these, things were passing at this place almost all the engines of the crusaders, which had been erected against the city, as well as the scaling ladders, were burnt by the garrison of the place, to the great itijurv of the Christians. After the. soldan bad made these attacks he did not again dare to give battle to the Christians, but pitching his camp near the besieging army be there remained in ambuscade. Of a pitched lattile between the Christians and Saracens* When the army of Christ had fer a long while endeavoured to destroy the walls of the city by their pctrarias, trebuchets. and other engines of war, but without effect, the wiser part of them plainly discovered that Damictta would not be taken unless by the interposition of God ; on this a murmuring arose amongst man ν in the camp, for the punishment of their sins and discord : for it was the opinion of some, that they ought to give battle to the soldan who remained in his camp near the Christians in ambuscade, so that by subduing him they might also reduce Dainietta. On the other hand, it was the opinion of the kins of Jerusalem, and many others besides him, that the siege, having been so long carried on. should be continued until, either by the interposition of God or by hunger, the garrison should be compelled to yield; for all, who escaped either by way of the postern gate or let themselves down from the walls, by their swollen and famished condition plainlv showed the sufferings of their fellow citizens. The party who were determined to give battle to the Saracens at length prevailed, and on the day of the beheading of St. .John the I'aptist. they all, although disagreeing amongst themselves, marched in a body against the