tomttfy; but we have had no orders froin the ' kings of Tunis or of Bugia to attack our enemie* without having maturely confidered the confe-quences. What I have to propofe, I will main-tain by fuch reafons as thefe:. Firft, you muft fuppofe that this army of Chriftians has been long in preparation, and is provided with all tilings me-ceflary. Their captains, you may alfo believe, are perfefl: men at arms, as able in council as in the field, with the greateft ardour to peyform deeds of arms. If we meet them on the fliore, they will advance their Genoefe crofs-bows, for you may.be affured they have brought numbers of them. It will be againft them who have fuch excellent crofs-bows that we muft fupport the firft attack; and we are not armed nor have we Jhields to guard us againft their ^arrows: our men, finding themfelves wounded, will draw back and refufe the combat* fo that thefe Genoefe will make good their landing in fpite of us* Their men at arms, defirous of dik playing their courage, will leap from their boats, and, obferying our diforder, will attack us with lances, and gain a vt&ory: fhould this happen* the town of Africa is irrecoverably loft for any thing we can do to prevent it. Thofe within will be fo much difcouraged by our defeat, that before our men can be rallied, the place will be taken by ftorm or capitulation, and be fo well guarded that we ihall have the greateft difficulty to regain it. The French, and thofe with them, are veryjexperfc and fubtle in arms. I therefore maintain* that it will be mote to our advantage that the enemy ' fhould 192