He certainly didn't have as much confidence as others thought.
On the way east from Jaffa, Losa encountered many groups of pilgrims, who enthusiastically joined the army, receiving long spears and shields from local lords or monastery armories. Women in towns and villages were sewing cloaks overnight.
It is worth mentioning that almost all of the lower-level soldiers, without exception, were equipped with a shield. Even if it was just a wooden board carved with an axe, it could still double their survival ability on the battlefield.
In the Crusaders, from low-ranking soldiers to high-level lords, almost everyone was equipped with a shield.
The slightly better ones would have leather wrapped around the edges.
The ones that were even better would have iron sheets clamped around the edges and center to prevent cracking from heavy blows.
The best ones had metal covering the entire shield with various decorations.
