. real ftate of their army ; but they were fo cautious, that they coiild aot fucceed, and, having noticed • their intent, the Saracen chiefs gave orders ac-cordingly. The Saracens were much afraid of the Genoefe crofs-bows i. they (hielded themfelves as well as they could againft their bolts, but they are not armed fo ftrongly as the Chriftians ; for they know not the art to forge armour like theirs, nor have they workmen who could make fuch* Iron and fteel are not common among them ; and they wear light targets hanging on their necks, covered with boiled leather from ^ Capadocia, that no fpear can penetrate, if the leather has not been overboiled. Their manner of fighting, according to what i heard, was to advance on the Chriftians, and (hoot y a volley of arrows at the Genoefe the moment they made their appearance, and then to fall down under flicker , of their fhields, by which they avoided the bolts from the crofs-bows, that went over them : they then rofe, and either fhot more arrows, or lanced their javelins with much dexterity. Thus for the fpace of nine weeks that the fiege lafted were continual fkirmilhes made; and on both fides many were killed and wounded, more efpecially fuch as ventured too rafhly. The Chrif-tians imitated the Saracens by avoiding a clofe combat ; and the lords from France and other countries took delight in their manner of fighting, for, to fay the truth, novelty is always pleafing. The young lords of thefe infidels were greatly ftruck with the glittering armour and emblazoned banners Q03