He had already written to the admiral of the Egyptian fleet, instructing him (1) to bring provisions to Acre, but the departure was delayed. Then, on the night of mid-Shaʿbān, three buṣṣ—large cargo ships—(2) arrived carrying supplies sufficient for the town throughout the winter. They were accompanied by the amir (3), the chamberlain Lu’lu’ (4). No sooner had they come into view than the Frankish fleet advanced to bar their entry to the city and to destroy the buṣṣ (5). A fierce sea-battle ensued (6) while the Muslims on land (7) implored Allah—exalted is He— (8) to keep the ships safe (9), and the Franks (10) were shouting both ashore and afloat until the din grew loud. Allah granted victory to the Muslims and preserved their vessels; a favorable wind filled the buṣṣ, they sailed on, and set fire (11) to the Frankish ships that ringed the harbor. The transports entered the town unscathed, and the townspeople and the army rejoiced (12) with overwhelming joy (13)—and all praise belongs to Allah (14).

Prior to dispatching these three Egyptian buṣṣ (15), the Sultan had already fitted out a great buss (16) from Beirut, laden with four hundred large sacks, and with a plentiful cargo (17) of cheese, onions, fat, dried meat, crossbow bolts, and naphtha. The vessel itself was one of the captured Frankish ships. He ordered the sailors (18) aboard to dress (19) in Frankish attire: they even shaved their beards, girded themselves with belts, and took with them (20) a few pigs. They approached the Frankish vessels, and the enemy assumed they were comrades while the buss sped forward like an arrow shot from a bow (21), leaving the Franks unsuspecting of any stratagem.