certainty of being attacked ; for the policy bf the Saracens was to keep them in continual alarms. They were almoft burnt up when in armour ; and it was wonderful thatany efcaped death ; for, during the month of Auguft, the air was fuffocating. * An extraordinary accident happened, which if it had lafted any time, muft have deftroyed them all. During one week, from the heat andcorruption of thé air, there were fuch wonderful fwarms of flies, the army was covered with them. The men.knew not how to rid themfelves of thefe troublesome guefts, which multiplied daily, to their great aftonifhment ; but, through the grace of GOD and the Virgin Mary, to whom they were devoted, a remedy was found, in a thunder and hail ftorm, that fell with great violence, and deftroyed all the flies. The air, by this ftorm, was much cooled, and the army got to be in better health than it had been for fome time. Knights who are on fuch expeditions muft cheer-fully put up with what weather may happen, for they cannot have it according to their wiihes; and, when any one falls fick, he muft be nurfed to , his recoveiy or to his death. Although the knights from France had undertaken this voyage with an . eagernefs and refolution that bore them up under the pains they fuffered, they had • not many luxuries to gratify them ; for nothing was fent them from France, nor had any in that kingdom more intelligence from them than if they were bu~ - ried tinder ground. Once, indeed, there came a galley from Barcelona, laden more with oranges • and 210