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Itinerary
69
broken by the fall, the inextinguishable liquid burnt his genitalia. So that
what he had intended for our detriment became his own destruction.
Chapter LVI. Ñ How a Turk, while carrying the Greek fire, is caught in a net by
our men.
On one occasion, some of our fishermen were throwing their nets for
fish at no great distance from land, Ñ men who, being devoted to this
pursuit, gained a livelihood for themselves and no small relief by selling
the fish. It happened one day towards sunset, when the nets were stretched
out, that one of our men, sitting on an elevated spot on shore, saw a man
swimming at a distance with his head only above water, and on his
pointing him out, the aforesaid fishermen closely pursued the swimmer in
their boat to ascertain what this strange appearance might be; and when
they approached nearer they perceived that he was a Turk. He was
frightened at their shouts and tried to escape, but they rowed quickly and
caught him in their net. The man, being an expert swimmer, had already
passed their nets with a load which he carried suspended from his neck, for
he had with him in a skin Greek fire, destined for the besieged in the city.
In this way the Turks used to send Greek fire to the besieged by skilful
swimmers, as they judged it the safest and most secret plan. The fishermen
landed with their captive, and told their story to those on shore: and then
conducted him with the fire he carried through the midst of the army, and
after scourging him severely and gibing at him, they sadly mangled, and
then decapitated him, and so he had his reward. Thus the Lord shewed
that he cared for his people; for he scattereth the counsels of the heathen
and of princes, and brought to nothing the plans which the malignity of the
enemy imagined.
Chapter LVII. Ñ How a Turk, who attempted to defile the cross of Christ, died of
a wound with a dart in his bowels.
Again, we think we ought not to pass over the following fact in
silence, though irksome of relation and horrible to listen to: viz. that the

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Itinerary
70
Turks were wont, to the scandal and disgrace of our faith, to take whatever
images and pictures representing the mysteries of our religion they could
find in the city, bringing them on the walls in sight of the Christians, to
scourge and beat them with rods as if they were alive, and spit upon and
treat them shamefully in many other ways as the humour took them. One
day as some of our men saw a Turk doing this and tossing about a cross
with the image of our Saviour in a shameful and impious manner, and
obscenely giving utterance to blasphemies and impious revilings against
our religion, on his proceeding further and attempting to defile the same, a
zealous man cut a dart from his sling and killed the Turk, and thus proved
to him how manÕs attempts against the Lord are as nothing.
Chapter LVIII. Ñ How a Parthian bowman was shot by a Welch bowman, for not
keeping to his agreement.
It chanced, moreover, one day that the slingers and bowmen, and all
who were skilled in throwing missiles, frequently challenged one another
on both sides, and discharged their weapons for exercise. When the rest
had departed from the field in their turns, a Parthian and a Welchman
began to aim their arrows at each other in a hostile manner, and discharge
them so as to strike with all their might. But the Welchman, aware of his
foeÕs intention, repaid like for like; on which the Parthian, making a truce,
approached him, and when within hearing, began a parley. ÒOf what
country are you,Ó said he, Òand by what name may I be pleased to know
you? I see you are a good bowman, and in order that you may be more
inclined to tell me, I am a Parthian by nation, brought up from childhood in
the art of shooting, and my name is Grammahyr, of good reputation
amongst my people for my deeds of renown, and well known for my
victories.Ó The Welchman told his name and nation. ÒLet us prove,Ó said
the Parthian, Òwhich is the best bowman, by each taking an arrow, and
aiming them against one another from our bows. You shall stand still first,
and I will aim an arrow at you, and afterwards you shall shoot in like
manner at me.Ó The Welchman agreed. The Parthian having fitted his

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