A.D. 1198. LETTER OF POPE INNOCENT. 443 Christians therein levelled it with the ground. As for the Germans, on hearing rumours of the death of the Emperor, not waiting for the usual time of making the passage, they embarked on board their ships for the purpose of returning home. On this, the Saracens, who had collected a numerous army, raged with such violence against the territories of the Christians, that it was not possible for the Christians without great danger to go out of their cities, nor yet to remain in them without dread ; and too truly their sword has its horrors without, its anxious fears within. Take, therefore, my sons, the spirit of fortitude, the shield of faith, and the helmet of salvation,13 putting your trust not in numbers or in your strength, but rather trusting in the power of God, to whom it is not dimcult to save whether with many or with few, and rush to the succour of Him by whom you exist, and live, and have your being.14 For in your behalves it was that ' He made himself of no reputation, and took upon Him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men ; and being found in fashion as a man, He humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross ;'1 5 and yet, while He is poor, you abound, while He is put to flight, you are at rest, and do not, while He is in want and exile, come to His aid. Who, then, in a case of such great emergency, shall refuse to pay obedience to Jesus Christ ? When he comes to stand before His tribunal to be judged, what answer will he be able to make to Him in defence of himself? H God has submitted to death for man, is man to hesitate to submit to death for God ? ' For the sufferings of the present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.'1 8 Shall, then, the servant deny to his lord temporal riches, when his lord bestows upon the servant riches that are eternal ; ' which eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither hath it entered into the heart of man'1' to conceive ? Therefore it is that a man should ' lay up treasures in heaven, where thieves do not break through nor steal, nor moth nor rust corrupt.'18 Let each and all, then, prepare themselves, that in the month of March next ensuing, each city by itself, and, in like manner, each of the earls and barons may, according to their respective means, send forth a number of warriors to the defence of the land of the nativity of our Lord, to be supported at ascertained sums, and there to