4 THE HISTORY OE THE ORDER OF [book i.

weight of years, and now, alas! obliged to carryarms, women, old or young, and even children; norindeed could a finger be raised an instant above theparapets without being hit—and amongst the rush,I distinguished the English young lady (she was onlyseventeen) with a helmet on her head, and carry-ing drink and refreshments to the soldiers on thebastions. Nor did an hour pass before I saw herborne in wounded, and her brother, who had re-ceived an arrow in his face; but fortunately itglanced sideways, and slid along the bone, so thatsurgeons extracted the wooden part , 1 but the steelbarb lies still buried in the flesh. As to my gentleMargaret, she had been struck on the shoulder by alarge splinter of stone , 2 so that she cannot yet get up,and bled dreadfully, but is out of danger. To such adreadful crisis had matters come, that I myself heardfive thousand byzantines offered for fifty soldiers toman one tower for a single night. It was thepublic crier from Government . 3 But not a singleperson was to be had at that extremity. It wouldhave been only worse, for traitors rendered all realdefence impossible. The Greeks and MelkiteChristians now openly regret it did not last for a

1 Coggleshale : Chi-on., 27.—Bib. Crois., i. 351.

2 Thomas of Beverley.—Bib. Crois., iii. 371.

3 Coggleshale : 34.—Bib. Crois., i. 355.