CHAP. II.]

ST. JOHN OF JERUSALEM.

65

the parapets. A corps of who from wounds or agecould not be able fighting men, had to carry aboutcertain large deep plates, with wedges of breadsteeped in wine and water, to refresh and invigorateour combatants without their having to move fromtheir places. Others had for office to draw out thecorpses from between the feet of our living heroes,lest they should be shackled in their motions, or struckwith horror at trampling on their dead companions.Not far from the parapets were placed barrels sawnacross in two, full of a sort of vinegar and water forthe soldiers or knights to dip into when the wildfirecaught their clothes, for that lotion extinguishedthe flames at once. 1 Large assortments of circles,pikes, trumps, pots of wildfire, were everywhere athand. Some of the most expert warriors were towalk about from post to post, investigating each.Others, in regular order, were appointed to measureout the gunpowder; others to hand the harque-busses to the harquebussiers; others to present theballs and cordage. But how make the wildfire?Gunpowder, saltpetre unrefined, ammoniacal salt,pounded sulphur, camphor, Greek pitch, powderedvarnish from the grains, are the ingredients. Theexact proportions are well known (says Bosio), andit is sold in the shops potted up. The pots of

1 Bosio: par. iii., lib. xxv. 562.

VOL. IV.

F