CHAP. IV.]

ST. JOHN OF JERUSALEM.

63

cannon-shots never ceased for a single moment; sothat in that small number of hours three hundredrocks went flying. Scarcely had the cannonadeended, when the Turks fired a mortar erected theday before, as a signal, at which (it being then theseventh of the Kalends of August), their advancedtroops rushed forward with a tremendous shout, ina most collected body, and with the greatest speed,and scaled the wall. And it was easy, as we havesaid—easier than on our side by ladders. Annihi-lating the post we had left on the upper part of thewall (since it was utterly impossible to resist thatfirst rush), the enemy occupied the place, andplanted their colours there before our relief couldclimb up by the ladders. In the same way thesummit of the tower of Italy became Mahome-tan. But we of the relief ascend by three of theladders communicating with Jew Street, since thefourth had been broken by our own orders. Therewas the noise! We opposing the Infidel, and aidingthe Christians. Most manly were the efforts ofour troops, and the signal valour on both sides.Suddenly, ours wheeling into two corps, facingthe foes, drive them back by sheer exertions fromthe higher part of the wall, to the left and right,which hinders them their running about. Andwell and most beatifully armed were those Turks;