Greek Fire of the Middle Ages. 33 
used by the Arabs, at the second siege of Constantinople, in 
716 and 718. In other cases it was poured from the ramparts 
in large boilers; a description which agrees very well with a 
merely inflammable resinous composition. Tow was dipped in 
it, and wrapped round arrows, a mode of use that will apply to 
the same class of compositions. But it was also launched in 
red hot balls of stone or iron. There we are at a loss again. 
This could be no mode of using a resinous composition, and it 
is more likely that these balls were some kind of carcasses, or 
hollow bodies, projected by means of balistee, or other machi- 
nery. In this case the composition must have contained nitre, 
as without that no resinous compound could have burnt in such 
confinement, without access of air. 
This leads to the conclusion formerly made, that there was 
more than one kind of Greek fire, or that different kinds of 
military fire-works were described under a common name. It 
proves, perhaps, still more ; namely, that the reporters were igno- 
rant of its nature, and that they named by guess those substances 
with the inflammable properties of which they happened to be 
acquainted, 
It is now time to try to reconcile the more particular reports 
of its effects, and of the manner in which it was used, to any 
of the compositions above-named, or to any single invention. 
The description in the Speculum Regale, from a manuscript of 
the thirteenth century, is amongst the least intelligible. After 
enumerating several military engines, it says, ‘‘ Omnium autem 
quz enumeravimus armorum et machinarum, preestantissimus 
est incurvus clypeorum gigas, flammas venenatas eructans.” 
Of this I must fairly confess that I can make nothing. 
The next account that J may select is from a French Chronicie 
of 1190, by which it would appear that it was a liquid, enclosed 
in vessels of some kind, “ phioles.” Here is the passage itself : 
“* Ainsi qu’il alloit par mer il rencontre un nef de Saracens que 
le Soudan Saladin envoioit en Acre pour le secours faire 4 ceux, 
qui Gtoient en la cité, et cette nef avoit grande plant de phioleg 
de voire pleines de feu Gregois.” 
Vou, XIV, D 
