still a strong force under the command of Frederick's younger son, which was moving on to its goal. There was plenty of justification in this letter for the alarm felt by the Sultan and his emirs. The German forces were put at forty-two thousand horsemen and a large number of foot soldiers, equipped with all sorts of arms. The new commander held them under rigid discipline and compelled the country through which they were passing to provide the supplies they required. The spirit of duty controlled all, and the slightest indulgence met with severe punishment. " Any one who disgraced himself was slaughtered like a sheep," and a chief who had beaten a servant unjustly was sentenced to death. The picture presented was that of a vast army marching like Spartans to the execution of a determined purpose. Much later Saladin received a letter from the Greek Emperor which had quite a different tone. It assured the Sultan there was no cause to fear this invasion, for the Germans were worn out and incapable of fighting, their numbers reduced to a mere fraction, and these inadequately armed. But when these tidings arrived the mischief had already been done. A considerable part of the Sultan's army, including the fine troops under Taki ed-din and those from Aleppo, were despatched to meet the Germans as the result of a council of the emirs held after the receipt of the letter from Catholicos. Consequently only a weakened army remained to confront the Franks, and, although these suffered a serious defeat in an encounter with the troops under el-Adel — "the sword of