174 



A HISTORY OF CAVALRY. 



[period II. 



garrison named Pliirous, who agreed to deliver up one of 

 the towers in the wall to Bohemond, prince of Tarentum. 

 When the time came for the treason to be consummated, 

 the tower was scaled by sixty knights in armour, followed 

 by large numbers of others also heavily armed, and most 

 probably all dismounted cavalry. They seem also to 

 have been armed with lances and swords in this affair, 

 which was entirely successful, and secured to them the 

 possession of the city. 



In the siege of Jerusalem we see the same custom of 

 the important duties beiug all performed by the knights. 

 After their first ill-advised and enthusiastic attempt to 

 storm the city they found it necessary to commence the 

 operations with more deliberation, and to construct the 

 requisite machines of war, by the use of which alone so 

 strong a fortification could be reduced. 



Here, again, the want of system in reference to the 

 provisioning of the army caused the crusaders to endure 

 cruel hardships, and to suffer serious losses. A Genoese 

 fleet coming to Jaffa with large supplies of provisions 

 and ammunition of all sorts, and accompanied by a great 

 number of Genoese engineers and carpenters,* supplied 

 two of the most urgent wants of the crusaders, and 

 revived the spirits and courage of the army. 



The knights and barons themselves became again 

 laborious workmen in this siege, and worked energetically 

 in the construction of the engines of war and the towers 

 to be used in the attack. Three of these towers were 

 built, which were higher than the walls of the city, and 

 each of them had three stages, one for the workmen who 

 directed its movements, and the two higher for the 

 warriors or knights who were to fight from it, and assault 

 the walls by means of a drawbridge which was con- 

 structed on each tower to give them easy access. 



Missiles of all kinds were thrown from engines and 

 by hand, while slingers and crossbowmen hurled their 

 projectiles unceasingly against the ramparts. The three 

 towers advanced simultaneously on three sides of the 

 city, while parties of knights with scaling ladders at- 



^ Michaud, i. 208, 211. 



