diff options
| author | Roger Frank <rfrank@pglaf.org> | 2025-10-15 05:26:45 -0700 |
|---|---|---|
| committer | Roger Frank <rfrank@pglaf.org> | 2025-10-15 05:26:45 -0700 |
| commit | e69dbebab48223707ee79ee30db66212b7343c80 (patch) | |
| tree | 70524e70d59f3034ea1488377f8927ca55c3da88 /6032-h | |
Diffstat (limited to '6032-h')
| -rw-r--r-- | 6032-h/6032-h.htm | 6315 |
1 files changed, 6315 insertions, 0 deletions
diff --git a/6032-h/6032-h.htm b/6032-h/6032-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..1b752bc --- /dev/null +++ b/6032-h/6032-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,6315 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" +"http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd"> +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en"> +<head> +<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=utf-8" /> +<meta http-equiv="Content-Style-Type" content="text/css" /> +<title>The Project Gutenberg eBook of Chronicle of The Fourth Crusade and The Conquest of Constantinople, by Geoffrey de Villehardouin</title> + +<style type="text/css"> + +body { margin-left: 20%; + margin-right: 20%; + text-align: justify; } + +h1, h2, h3, h4, h5 {text-align: center; font-style: normal; font-weight: +normal; line-height: 1.5; margin-top: .5em; margin-bottom: .5em;} + +h1 {font-size: 300%; + margin-top: 0.6em; + margin-bottom: 0.6em; + letter-spacing: 0.12em; + word-spacing: 0.2em; + text-indent: 0em;} +h2 {font-size: 150%; margin-top: 2em; margin-bottom: 1em;} +h3 {font-size: 130%; margin-top: 1em;} +h4 {font-size: 120%;} +h5 {font-size: 110%;} + +.no-break {page-break-before: avoid;} /* for epubs */ + +div.chapter {page-break-before: always; margin-top: 4em;} + +hr {width: 80%; margin-top: 2em; margin-bottom: 2em;} + +p {text-indent: 1em; + margin-top: 0.25em; + margin-bottom: 0.25em; } + +p.footnote {font-size: 90%; + text-indent: 0%; + margin-left: 10%; + margin-right: 10%; + margin-top: 1em; + margin-bottom: 1em; } + +a:link {color:blue; text-decoration:none} +a:visited {color:blue; text-decoration:none} +a:hover {color:red} + +</style> + +</head> + +<body> + +<div style='text-align:center; font-size:1.2em; font-weight:bold'>The Project Gutenberg eBook of Chronicle of The Fourth Crusade and The Conquest of Constantinople, by Geoffrey de Villehardouin</div> +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and +most other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions +whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms +of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online +at <a href="https://www.gutenberg.org">www.gutenberg.org</a>. If you +are not located in the United States, you will have to check the laws of the +country where you are located before using this eBook. +</div> +<div style='display:block; margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:1em; margin-left:2em; text-indent:-2em'>Title: Chronicle of The Fourth Crusade and The Conquest of Constantinople</div> +<div style='display:block; margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:1em; margin-left:2em; text-indent:-2em'>Author: Geoffrey de Villehardouin</div> +<div style='display:block; margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:1em; margin-left:2em; text-indent:-2em'>Translator: Frank T. Marzials</div> +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'>Release Date: October 23, 2002 [eBook #6032]<br /> +[Most recently updated: September 9, 2021]</div> +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'>Language: English</div> +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'>Character set encoding: UTF-8</div> +<div style='display:block; margin-left:2em; text-indent:-2em'>Produced by: Norm Wolcott</div> +<div style='margin-top:2em; margin-bottom:4em'>*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK CHRONICLE OF THE FOURTH CRUSADE AND THE CONQUEST OF CONSTANTINOPLE ***</div> + +<h1>Chronicle of The Fourth Crusade and The Conquest of Constantinople</h1> + +<h2 class="no-break">by Geoffrey de Villehardouin</h2> + +<h3>Translated by Frank T. Marzials</h3> + +<h4>London:<br /> +J.M. Dent,<br /> +1908</h4> + +<hr /> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2>THE FIRST PREACHING OF THE CRUSADE</h2> + +<p> +Be it known to you that eleven hundred and ninety-seven years after the +Incarnation of our Lord Jesus Christ, in the time of Innocent Pope of Rome, and +Philip King of France, and Richard King of England, there was in France a holy +man named Fulk of Neuilly—which Neuilly is between Lagni-sur-Marne and +Paris—and he was a priest and held the cure of the village. And this said +Fulk began to speak of God throughout the Isle-de-France, and the other +countries round about; and you must know that by him the Lord wrought many +miracles. +</p> + +<p> +Be it known to you further, that the fame of this holy man so spread, that it +reached the Pope of Rome, Innocent*; and the Pope sent to France, and ordered +the right worthy man to preach the cross (the Crusade) by his authority. And +afterwards the Pope sent a cardinal of his, Master Peter of Capua, who himself +had taken the cross, to proclaim the Indulgence of which I now tell you, viz., +that all who should take the cross and serve in the host for one year, would be +delivered from all the sins they had committed, and acknowledged in confession. +And because this indulgence was so great, the hearts of men were much moved, +and many took the cross for the greatness of the pardon. +</p> + +<p class="footnote"> +[Note: Innocent III, elected Pope on the 8th January 1198, at the early age of +thirty seven, Innocent III was one of the leading spirits of his time—in +every sense a strong man and great Pope. From the beginning of his pontificate +he turned his thoughts and policy to the recovery of Jerusalem.] +</p> + +<h2>OF THOSE WHO TOOK THE CROSS</h2> + +<p> +The other year after that right worthy man Fulk had so spoken of God, there was +held a tourney in Champagne, at a castle called Ecri, and by God’s grace +it so happened that Thibaut, Count of Champagne and Brie, took the cross, and +the Count Louis of Blois and Chartres likewise; and this was at the beginning +of Advent (28th November 1199). Now you must know that this Count Thibaut was +but a young man, and not more than twenty-two years of age, and the Count Louis +not more than twenty-seven. These two counts were nephews and cousins-german to +the King of France, and, on the other part, nephews to the King of England. +</p> + +<p> +With these two counts there took the cross two very high and puissant barons of +France, Simon of Montfort*, and Renaud of Montmirail. Great was the fame +thereof throughout the land when these two high and puissant men took the +cross. +</p> + +<p class="footnote"> +[Note: Simon de Montfort—the same one who later crushed the Albigensians +and the father of the “English” Simon de Montfort who defeated the +royal army at Lewes and was killed at Evesham in 1265]. +</p> + +<p> +In the land of Count Thibaut of Champagne took the cross Garnier, Bishop of +Troyes, Count Walter of Brienne, Geoffry of Joinville*, who was seneschal of +the land, Robert his brother, Walter of Vignory, Walter of Montbéliard, Eustace +of Conflans, Guy of Plessis his brother, Henry of Arzilliéres, Oger of +Saint-Chéron, Villain of Neuilly, Geoffry of Villhardouin, Marshal of +Champagne, Geoffry his nephew, William of Nully, Walter of Fuligny, Everard of +Montigny, Manasses of l’Isle, Macaire of Sainte-Menehould, Miles the +Brabant, Guy of Chappes, Clerembaud his nephew, Renaud of Dampierre, John +Foisnous, and many other right worthy men whom this book does not here mention +by name. +</p> + +<p class="footnote"> +[Note: Geoffry de Joinville—the father of the chronicler Joinville.] +</p> + +<p> +With Count Louis took the cross Gervais of Châtel, Hervée his son, John of +Virsin, Oliver of Rochefort, Henry of Montreuil, Payen of Orléans, Peter of +Bracietix, Hugh his brother, William of Sains, John of Friaize, Walter of +Gaudonville, Hugh of Cormeray, Geoffry his brother, Hervée of Beauvoir, Robert +of Frouville, Peter his brother, Orri of l’Isle, Robert of Quartier, and +many more whom this book does not here mention by name. +</p> + +<p> +In the Isle-de-France took the cross Nevelon, Bishop of Soissons, Matthew of +Montmorency, Guy the Castellan of Coucy, his nephew, Robert of Ronsoi, Ferri of +Yerres, John his brother, Walter of Saint-Denis, Henry his brother, William of +Aunoi, Robert Mauvoisin, Dreux of Cressonsacq, Bernard of Moreuil, Enguerrand +of Boves, Robert his brother, and many more right worthy men with regard to +whose names this book is here silent. +</p> + +<p> +At the beginning of the following Lent, on the day when folk are marked with +ashes (23rd February 1200), the cross was taken at Bruges by Count Baldwin of +Flanders and Hainault, and by the Countess Mary his wife, who was sister to the +Count Thibaut of Champagne. Afterwards took the cross, Henry his brother, +Thierri his nephew, who was the son of Count Philip of Flanders, William the +advocate of Béthune, Conon his brother, John of Nêle Castellan of Bruges, +Renier of Trit, Reginald his son, Matthew of Wallincourt, James of Avesnes, +Baldwin of Beauvoir, Hugh of Beaumetz, Gérard of Mancicourt, Odo of Ham, +William of Gommegnies, Dreux of Beaurain, Roger of Marck, Eustace of Saubruic, +Francis of Colemi, Walter of Bousies, Reginald of Mons, Walter of Tombes, +Bernard of Somergen, and many more right worthy men in great number, with +regard to whom this book does not speak further. +</p> + +<p> +Afterwards took the cross, Count Hugh of St. Paul. With him took the cross, +Peter of Amiens his nephew, Eustace of Canteleu, Nicholas of Mailly, Anscau of +Cayeaux, Guy of Houdain, Walter of Nêle, Peter his brother, and many other men +who are unknown to us. +</p> + +<p> +Directly afterwards took the cross Geoffry of Perche, Stephen his brother, +Rotrou of Montfort, Ives of La Jaille, Aimery of Villeroi, Geoffry of Beaumont, +and many others whose names I do not know. +</p> + +<h2>THE CRUSADERS SEND SIX ENVOYS TO VENICE</h2> + +<p> +Afterwards the barons held a parliament at Soissons, to settle when they should +start, and whither they should wend. But they could come to no agreement, +because it did not seem to them that enough people had taken the cross. So +during all that year (1200) no two months passed without assemblings in +parliament at Compiègne. There met all the counts and barons who had taken the +cross. Many were the opinions given and considered; but in the end it was +agreed that envoys should be sent, the best that could be found, with full +powers, as if they were the lords in person, to settle such matters as needed +settlement. +</p> + +<p> +Of these envoys, Thibaut, Count of Champagne and Brie, sent two; Baldwin, Count +of Flanders and Hainault, two; and Louis, Count of Blois and Chartres, two. The +envoys of the Count Thibaut were Geoffry of Villehardouin, Marshal of +Champagne, and Miles the Brabant; the envoys of Count Baldwin were Conon of +Béthune, and Alard Maquereau, and the envoys of Count Louis were John of +Friaise, and Walter of Gaudonville. +</p> + +<p> +To these six envoys the business in hand was fully committed, all the barons +delivering to them valid charters, with seals attached, to the effect that they +would undertake to maintain and carry out whatever conventions and agreements +the envoys might enter into, in all sea ports, and whithersoever else the +envoys might fare. +</p> + +<p> +Thus were the six envoys despatched, as you have been told; and they took +counsel among themselves, and this was their conclusion: that in Venice they +might expect to find a greater number of vessels than in any other port. So +they journeyed day by day, till they came thither in the first week of Lent +(February 1201). +</p> + +<h2>THE ENVOYS ARRIVE IN VENICE, AND PROFFER THEIR REQUEST</h2> + +<p> +The Doge of Venice, whose name was Henry Dandolo* and who was very wise and +very valiant, did them great honour, both he and the other folk, and +entertained them right willingly, marvelling, however, when the envoys had +delivered their letters, what might be the matter of import that had brought +them to that country. For the letters were letters of credence only, and +declared no more than that the bearers were to be accredited as if they were +the counts in person, and that the said counts would make good whatever the six +envoys should undertake. +</p> + +<p class="footnote"> +[Note: That Henry Dandolo was a very old man is certain, but there is doubt +as to his precise age, as also as to the cause of his blindness. According to +one account he had been blinded, or all but blinded, by the Greeks, and in a +treacherous manner, when sent, at an earlier date, on an embassy to +Constaritinople-whence his bitter hostility to the Greek Empire. I agree, +however, with Sir Rennell Rodd that, if this had been so, Villehardouin would +scarcely have refrained from mentioning such an act of perfidy on the part of +the wicked Greeks. (See p. 41 of Vol 1 of Sir Rennell Rodd’s <i>Princes +of Achaia</i>.) It is hardly to be imagined that he would keep the matter dark +because, if he mentioned it, people would think Dandolo acted throughout from +motives of personal vengeance. This would be to regard Villehardouin as a very +astute controversial historian indeed.] +</p> + +<p> +So the Doge replied: “Signors, I have seen your letters; well do we know +that of men uncrowned your lords are the greatest, and they advise us to put +faith in what you tell us, and that they will maintain whatsoever you +undertake. Now, therefore, speak, and let us know what is your pleasure.” +</p> + +<p> +And the envoys answered: “Sire, we would that you should assemble your +council; and before your council we will declare the wishes of our lords; and +let this be tomorrow, if it so pleases you.” And the Doge replied asking +for respite till the fourth day, when he would assemble his council, so that +the envoys might state their requirements. +</p> + +<p> +The envoys waited then till the fourth day, as had been appointed them, and +entered the palace, which was passing rich and beautiful; and found the Doge +and his council in a chamber. There they delivered their message after this +manner: “Sire, we come to thee on the part of the high barons of France, +who have taken the sign of the cross to avenge the shame done to Jesus Christ, +and to reconquer Jerusalem, if so be that God will suffer it. And because they +know that no people have such great power to help them as you and your people, +therefore we pray you by God that you take pity on the land overseas and the +shame of Christ, and use diligence that our lords have ships for transport and +battle.” +</p> + +<p> +“And after what manner should we use diligence?” said the Doge. +“After all manners that you may advise and propose,” rejoined the +envoys, “in so far as what you propose may be within our means.” +“Certes,” said the Doge, “it is a great thing that your lords +require of us, and well it seems that they have in view a high enterprise. We +will give you our answer eight days from to-day. And marvel not if the term be +long, for it is meet that so great a matter be fully pondered.” +</p> + +<h2>CONDITIONS PROPOSED BY THE DOGE</h2> + +<p> +When the term appointed by the Doge was ended, the envoys returned to the +palace. Many were the words then spoken which I cannot now rehearse. But this +was the conclusion of that parliament: “Signors,” said the Doge, +“we will tell you the conclusions at which we have arrived, if so be that +we can induce our great council and the commons of the land to allow of them; +and you, on your part, must consult and see if you can accept them and carry +them through. +</p> + +<p> +“We will build transports* to carry four thousand five hundred horses, +and nine thousand squires, and ships for four thousand five hundred knights, +and twenty thousand sergeants of foot. And we will agree also to purvey food +for these horses and people during nine months. This is what we undertake to do +at the least, on condition that you pay us for each horse four marks, and for +each man two marks. +</p> + +<p class="footnote"> +[Note: The old French term is <i>Vuissiers</i>, and denotes a kind of +vessel, flat-bottomed, with large ports, specially constructed for the +transport of horses. T. Smith translates “palanders,” but I +don’t know that “palander” conveys any very clear idea to the +English reader.] +</p> + +<p> +“And the covenants we are now explaining to you, we undertake to keep, +wheresoever we may be, for a year, reckoning from the day on which we sail from +the port of Venice in the service of God and of Christendom. Now the sum total +of the expenses above named amounts to 85,000 marks. +</p> + +<p> +“And this will we do moreover. For the love of God, we will add to the +fleet fifty armed galleys on condition that, so long as we act in company, of +all conquests in land or money, whether at sea or on dry ground, we shall have +the half, and you the other half. Now consult together to see if you, on your +parts, can accept and fulfil these covenants.” +</p> + +<p> +The envoys then departed, and said that they would consult together and give +their answer on the morrow. They consulted, and talked together that night, and +agreed to accept the terms offered. So the next day they appeared before the +Doge, and said: “Sire, we are ready to ratify this covenant.” The +Doge thereon said he would speak of the matter to his people, and, as he found +them affected, so would he let the envoys know the issue. +</p> + +<p> +On the morning of the third day, the Doge, who was very wise and valiant, +assembled his great council, and the council was of forty men of the wisest +that were in the land. And the Doge, by his wisdom and wit, that were very +clear and very good, brought them to agreement and approval. Thus he wrought +with them; and then with a hundred others, then two hundred, then a thousand, +so that at last all consented and approved. Then he assembled well ten thousand +of the people in the church of St. Mark, the most beautiful church that there +is, and bade them hear a mass of the Holy Ghost, and pray to God for counsel on +the request and messages that had been addressed to them. And the people did so +right willingly. +</p> + +<h2>CONCLUSION OF THE TREATY, AND RETURN OF THE ENVOYS</h2> + +<p> +When mass had been said, the Doge desired the envoys to humbly ask the people +to assent to the proposed covenant. The envoys came into the church. Curiously +were they looked upon by many who had not before had sight of them. +</p> + +<p> +Geoffry of Villehardouin, the Marshal of Champagne, by will and consent of the +other envoys, acted as spokesman and said unto them: “Lords, the barons +of France, most high and puissant, have sent us to you; and they cry to you for +mercy, that you take pity on Jerusalem, which is in bondage to the Turks, and +that, for God’s sake, you help to avenge the shame of Christ Jesus. And +for this end they have elected to come to you, because they know full well that +there is none other people having so great power on the seas, as you and your +people. And they commanded us to fall at your feet, and not to rise till you +consent to take pity on the Holy Land which is beyond the seas.” +</p> + +<p> +Then the six envoys knelt at the feet of the people, weeping many tears. And +the Doge and all the others burst into tears of pity and compassion, and cried +with one voice, and lifted up their hands, saying: “We consent, we +consent!” Then was there so great a noise and tumult that it seemed as +if the earth itself were falling to pieces. +</p> + +<p> +And when this great tumult and passion of pity—greater did never any man +see—were appeased, the good Doge of Venice, who was very wise and +valiant, went up into the reading-desk, and spoke to the people, and said to +them: “Signors, behold the honour that God has done you; for the best +people in the world have set aside all other people, and chosen you to join +them in so high an enterprise as the deliverance of our Lord!” +</p> + +<p> +All the good and beautiful words that the Doge then spoke, I cannot repeat to +you. But the end of the matter was, that the covenants were to be made on the +following day; and made they were, and devised accordingly. When they were +concluded, it was notified to the council that we should go to Babylon (Cairo), +because the Turks could better be destroyed in Babylon than in any other land; +but to the folk at large it was only told that we were bound to go overseass. +We were then in Lent (March 1201), and by St. John’s Day, in the +following year-which would be twelve hundred and two years after the +Incarnation of Jesus Christ-the barons and pilgrims were to be in Venice, and +the ships ready against their coming. +</p> + +<p> +When the treaties were duly indited and sealed, they were brought to the Doge +in the grand palace, where had been assembled the great and the little council. +And when the Doge delivered the treaties to the envoys, he knelt greatly +weeping, and swore on holy relics faithfully to observe the conditions thereof, +and so did all his council, which numbered fifty-six persons. And the envoys, +on their side, swore to observe the treaties, and in all good faith to maintain +their oaths and the oaths of their lords; and be it known to you that for great +pity many a tear was there shed. And forthwith were messengers sent to Rome, to +the Pope Innocent, that he might confirm this covenant-the which he did right +willingly. +</p> + +<p> +Then did the envoys borrow five thousand marks of silver, and gave them to the +Doge so that the building of the ships might be begun. And taking leave to +return to their own land, they journeyed day by day till they came to Placentia +in Lombardy. There they parted. Geoffry, the Marshal of Champagne and Alard +Maquereau went straight to France, and the others went to Genoa and Pisa to +learn what help might there be had for the land oversea. +</p> + +<p> +When Geoffry, the Marshal of Champagne, passed over Mont Cenis, he came in +with Walter of Brienne, going into Apulia, to conquer the land of his wife, +whom he had married since he took the cross, and who was the daughter of King +Tancred. With him went Walter of Montbéliard, and Eustace of Conflans, Robert +of Joinville, and a great part of the people of worth in Champagne who had +taken the cross. +</p> + +<p> +And when he told them the news how the envoys had fared, great was their joy, +and much did they prize the arrangements made. And they said, “We are +already on our way; and when you come, you will find us ready.” But +events fall out as God wills, and never had they power to join the host. This +was much to our loss; for they were of great prowess and valiant. And thus they +parted, and each went on his way. +</p> + +<p> +So rode Geoffry the Marshal, day by day, that he came to Troyes in Champagne, +and found his lord the Count Thibaut sick and languishing, and right glad was +the count of his coming. And when he had told the count how he had fared, the +count was so rejoiced that he said he would mount horse, a thing he had not +done of a long time. So he rose from his bed and rode forth. But alas, how +great the pity! For never again did he bestride horse but that once. +</p> + +<p> +His sickness waxed and grew worse, so that at the last he made his will and +testament, and divided the money which he would have taken with him on +pilgrimage among his followers and companions, of whom he had many that were +very good men and true-no one at that time had more. And he ordered that each +one, on receiving his money, should swear on holy relics, to join the host at +Venice, according as he had promised. Many there were who kept that oath badly, +and so incurred great blame. The count ordered that another portion of his +treasure should be retained, and taken to the host, and there expended as might +seem best. +</p> + +<p> +Thus died the count; and no man in this world made a better end. And there were +present at that time a very great assemblage of men of his lineage and of his +vassals. But of the mourning and funeral pomp it is unmeet that I should here +speak. Never was more honour paid to any man. And right well that it was so, +for never was man of his age more beloved by his own men, nor by other folk. +Buried he was beside his father in the church of our lord St. Stephen at +Troyes. He left behind him the Countess, Ws wife, whose name was Blanche, very +fair, very good, the daughter of the King of Navarre. She had borne him a +little daughter, and was then about to bear a son. +</p> + +<h2>THE CRUSADERS LOOK FOR ANOTHER CHIEF</h2> + +<p> +When the Count was buried, Matthew of Montmorency, Simon of Montfort, Geoffry +of Joinville who was seneschal, and Geoffry the Marshal, went to Odo, Duke of +Burgundy, and said to him, “Sire, your cousin is dead. You see what evil +has befallen the land overseass We pray you by God that you take the cross, and +succour the land overseas in his stead. And we will cause you to have all his +treasure, and will swear on holy relics, and make the others swear also, to +serve you in all good faith, even as we should have served him.” +</p> + +<p> +Such was his pleasure that he refused. And be it known to you that he might +have done much better. The envoys charged Geoffry of Joinville to make the +self-same offer to the Count of Bar-le-Duc, Thibaut, who was cousin to the dead +count, and he refused also. +</p> + +<p> +Very great was the discomfort of the pilgrims, and of all who were about to go +on God’s service, at the death of Count Thibaut of Champagne; and they +held a parliament, at the beginning, of the month, at Soissons, to determine +what they should do. There were present Count Baldwin of Flanders and Hainault, +the Count Louis of Blois and Chartres, the Count Geoffry of Perche, the Count +Hugh of Saint-Paul, and many other men of worth. +</p> + +<p> +Geoffry the Marshal spake to them and told them of the offer made to the Duke +of Burgundy, and to the Count of Bar-le-Duc, and how they had refused it. +“My lords,” said he, “listen, I will advise you of somewhat +if you will consent thereto. The Marquis of Montferrat* is very worthy and +valiant, and one of the most highly prized of living men. If you asked him to +come here, and take the sign of the cross and put himself in place of the Count +of Champagne, and you gave him the lordship of the host, full soon would he +accept thereof.” +</p> + +<p class="footnote"> +[Note: Boniface, Marquis of Montferrat, was one of the most accomplished men +of the time, and an approved soldier. His little court at Montferrat was the +resort of artist and troubadour. His family was a family of Crusaders. The +father, William of Montferrat, had gone overseass and fought valiantly against +the infidel. Boniface’s eldest brother, William of the Long Sword, +married a daughter of the titular King of Jerusalem, and their son became +titular king in turn. Another brother, Conrad, starting for the Holy Land, +stopped at Constantinople, and did there such good service that the Greek +emperor gave his sister to him in marriage; but afterwards fearing the perfidy +of his brother-in-law, Conrad fled to Syria, and there battled against Saladin. +Yet another brother, Renier, also served in the Greek Empire, married an +Emperor’s daughter, and received for guerdon of his deeds the kingdom of +Salonika. Boniface himself had fought valiantly against Saladin, been made +prisoner, and afterwards liberated on exchange. It was no mean and nameless +knight that Villehardouin was proposing as chief to the assembled Crusaders, +but a princely noble, the patron of poets, versed in state affairs, and +possessing personal experience of Eastern warfare. I extract these details from +M. Bouchet’s <i>Notice</i>]. +</p> + +<p> +Many were the words spoken for and against; but in the end all agreed, both +small and great. So were letters written, and envoys chosen, and the marquis +was sent for. And he came, on the day appointed, through Champagne and the +Isle-de-France, where he received much honour, and specially from the King of +France, who was his cousin. +</p> + +<h2>BONIFACE, MARQUIS OF MONTFERRAT, BECOMES CHIEF OF THE CRUSADE—NEW +CRUSADERS—DEATH OF GEOFFRY COUNT OF PERCHE</h2> + +<p> +So he came to a parliament assembled at Soissons; and the main part of the +counts and barons and of the other Crusaders were there assembled. When they +heard that the marquis was coming, they went out to meet him, and did him much +honour. In the morning the parliament was held in an orchard belonging to the +abbey of our Lady of Soissons. There they besought the marquis to do as they +had desired of him, and prayed him, for the love of God, to take the cross, and +accept the leadership of the host, and stand in the place of Thibaut Count of +Champagne, and accept of his money and of his men. And they fell at his feet, +with many tears; and he, on his part, fell at their feet, and said he would do +it right willingly. +</p> + +<p> +Thus did the marquis consent to their prayers, and receive the lordship of the +host. Whereupon the Bishop of Soissons, and Master Fulk, the holy man, and two +white monks whom the marquis had brought with him from Ws own land, led him +into the Church of Notre Dame, and attached the cross to his shoulder. Thus +ended this parliament, and the next day he took leave to return to his own land +and settle his own affairs-telling them all to settle their own affairs +likewise, for that he would meet them at Venice. +</p> + +<p> +Thence did the marquis go to attend the Chapter at Citeaux, which is held on +Holy Cross Day in September (14th September 1241). There he found a great +number of abbots, barons and other people of Burgundy; and Master Fulk went +thither to preach the Crusade. And at that place took the cross Odo the +Champenois of Champlitte, and William his brother, Richard of Dampierre, Odo +his brother, Guy of Pesmes, Edmund his brother, Guy of Conflans, and many other +good men of Burgundy, whose names are not recorded. Afterwards took the cross +the Bishop of Autun, Guignes Count of Forez, Hugh of Bergi (father and son), +Hugh of Colemi. Further on in Provence took the cross Peter Bromont, and many +others whose names are unknown to us. +</p> + +<p> +Thus did the pilgrims make ready in all lands. Alas! a great mischance befell +them in the following Lent (March 1202) before they had started, for the Count +Geoffry of Perche fell sick, and made his will in such fashion that he directed +that Stephen, his brother, should have his goods, and lead his men in the host. +Of this exchange the pilgrims would willingly have been quit, had God so +ordered. Thus did the count make an end and die; and much evil ensued, for he +was a baron high and honoured, and a good knight. Greatly was he mourned +throughout all his lands. +</p> + +<h2>FIRST STARTING OF THE PILGRIMS FOR VENICE, AND OF SOME WHO WENT NOT +THITHER</h2> + +<p> +After Easter and towards Whitsuntide (June 1202) began the pilgrims to leave +their own country. And you must know that at their departure many were the +tears shed for pity and sorrow, by their own people and by their friends. So +they journeyed through Burgundy, and by the mountains of Mont-joux (? Jura) by +Mont Cenis, and through Lombardy, and began to assemble at Venice, where they +were lodged on an island which is called St. Nicholas in the port. +</p> + +<p> +At that time started from Flanders a fleet that carried a great number of good +men-at-arms. Of this fleet were captains John of Nêle, Castellan of Bruges, +Thierri, who was the son of Count Philip of Flanders, and Nicholas of Mailly. +And these promised Count Baldwin, and swore on holy relics, that they would go +through the straits of Morocco, and join themselves to him, and to the host of +Venice, at whatsoever place they might hear that the count was faring. And for +this reason the Count of Flanders and Henry his brother had confided to them +certain ships loaded with cloth and food and other wares. +</p> + +<p> +Very fair was this fleet, and rich, and great was the reliance that the Count +of Flanders and the pilgrims placed upon it, because very many of their good +sergeants were journeying therein. But ill did these keep the faith they had +sworn to the count, they and others like them, because they and such others of +the same sort became fearful of the great perils that the host of Venice had +undertaken. +</p> + +<p> +Thus did the Bishop of Autun fail us, and Guignes the Count of Forez, and Peter +Bromont, and many people besides, who were greatly blamed therein; and of +little worth were the exploits they performed there where they did go. And of +the French failed us Bernard of Moreuil, Hugh of Chaumont, Henry of Araines, +John of Villers, Walter of Saint-Denis, Hugh his brother, and many others, who +avoided the passage to Venice because of the danger, and went instead to +Marseilles-whereof they received shame, and much were they blamed-and great +were the mishaps that afterwards befell them. +</p> + +<h2>OF THE PILGRIMS WHO CAME TO VENICE, AND OF THOSE WHO WENT TO APULIA</h2> + +<p> +Now let us for this present speak of them no further, but speak of the +pilgrims, of whom a great part had already come to Venice. Count Baldwin of +Flanders had already arrived there, and many others, and thither were tidings +brought to them that many of the pilgrims were travelling by other ways, and +from other ports. This troubled them greatly, because they would thus be unable +to fulfil the promise made to the Venetians, and find the moneys that were due. +</p> + +<p> +So they took counsel together, and agreed to send good envoys to meet the +pilgrims, and to meet Count Louis of Blois and Chartres, who had not yet +arrived, and to put them in good heart, and beseech them to have pity of the +Holy Land beyond the sea, and show them that no other passage, save that from +Venice, could be of profit. +</p> + +<p> +For this embassy they made choice of Count Hugh of Saint-Paul and Geoffry the +Marshal of Champagne, and these rode till they came to Pavia in Lombardy. There +they found Count Louis with a great many knights and men of note and worth; and +by encouragements and prayers prevailed on many to proceed to Venice who would +otherwise have fared from other ports, and by other ways. +</p> + +<p> +Nevertheless from Placentia many men of note proceeded by other ways to Apulia. +Among them were Villain of Neuilly, who was one of the best knights in the +world, Henry of Arzilliéres, Renaud of Dampierre, Henry of Longchamp, and Giles +of Trasegnies, liegeman to Count Baldwin of Flanders and Hainault, who had +given him, out of his own purse, five hundred <i>livres</i> to accompany him on +this journey. With these went a great company of knights and sergeants, whose +names are not recorded. +</p> + +<p> +Thus was the host of those who went by Venice greatly weakened; and much evil +befell them therefrom, as you shall shortly hear. +</p> + +<h2>THE PILGRIMS LACK MONEY WHEREWITH TO PAY THE VENETIANS</h2> + +<p> +Thus did Count Louis and the other barons wend their way to Venice; and they +were there received with feasting and joyfully, and took lodging in the Island +of St. Nicholas with those who had come before. Goodly was the host, and right +worthy were the men. Never did man see goodlier or worthier. And the Venetians +held a market, rich and abundant, of all things needful for horses and men. And +the fleet they had got ready was so goodly and fine that never did Christian +man see one goodlier or finer; as well galleys as transports, and sufficient +for at least three times as many men as were in the host. +</p> + +<p> +Ah! the grievous harm and loss when those who should have come thither sailed +instead from other ports! Right well if they had kept their tryst, would +Christendom have been exalted, and the land of the Turks abased! The Venetians +had fulfilled all their undertakings, and above measure, and they now summoned +the barons and counts to fulfil theirs and make payment, since they were ready +to start. +</p> + +<p> +The cost of each man’s passage was now levied throughout the host; and +there were people enough who said they could not pay for their passage, and the +barons took from them such moneys as they had. So each man paid what he could. +When the barons had thus claimed the cost of the passages, and when the +payments had been collected, the moneys came to less than the sum due-yea, by +more than one half. +</p> + +<p> +Then the barons met together and said: “Lords, the Venetians have well +fulfilled all their undertakings, and above measure. But we cannot fulfil ours +in paying for our passages, seeing we are too few in number; and this is the +fault of those who have journeyed by other ports. For God’s sake +therefore let each contribute all that he has, so that we may fulfil our +covenant; for better is it that we should give all that we have, than lose what +we have already paid, and prove false to our covenants; for if this host +remains here, the rescue of the land overseas comes to naught.” +</p> + +<p> +Great was then the dissension among the main part of the barons and the other +folk, and they said: “We have paid for our passages, and if they will +take us, we shall go willingly; but if not, we shall inquire and look for other +means of passage.” And they spoke thus because they wished that the host +should fall to pieces and each return to his own land. But the other party +said, “Much rather would we give all that we have and go penniless with +the host, than that the host should fall to pieces and fail; for God will +doubtless repay us when it so pleases Him.” +</p> + +<p> +Then the Count of Flanders began to give all that he had and all that he could +borrow, and so did Count Louis, and the Marquis, and the Count of Saint-Paul, +and those who were of their party. Then might you have seen many a fine vessel +of gold and silver borne in payment to the palace of the Doge. And when all had +been brought together, there was still wanting, of the sum required, 34,000 +marks of silver. Then those who had kept back their possessions and not brought +them into the common stock, were right glad, for they thought now surely the +host must fail and go to pieces. But God, who advises those who have been +ill-advised, would not so suffer it. +</p> + +<h2>THE CRUSADERS OBTAIN A RESPITE BY PROMISING TO HELP THE VENETIANS AGAINST +ZARA</h2> + +<p> +Then the Doge spoke to his people, and said unto them: +</p> + +<p> +Signors, these people cannot pay more; and in so far as they have paid at all, +we have benefited by an agreement which they cannot now fulfil. But our right +to keep this money would not everywhere be acknowledged; and if we so kept it +we should be greatly blamed, both us and our land. Let us therefore offer them +terms. +</p> + +<p> +“The King of Hungary has taken from us Zara in Sclavonia, which is one of +the strongest places in the world; and never shall we recover it with all the +power that we possess, save with the help of these people. Let us therefore ask +them to help us to reconquer it, and we will remit the payment of the debt of +34,000 marks of silver, until such time as it shall please God to allow us to +gain the moneys by conquest, we and they together.” Thus was agreement +made. Much was it contested by those who wished that the host should be broken +up. Nevertheless the agreement was accepted and ratified. +</p> + +<h2>THE DOGE AND A NUMBER OF VENETIANS TAKE THE CROSS</h2> + +<p> +Then, on a Sunday, was assemblage held in the church of St. Mark. It was a very +high festival, and the people of the land were there, and the most part of the +barons and pilgrims. +</p> + +<p> +Before the beginning of High Mass, the Doge of Venice, who bore the name of +Henry Dandolo, went up into the reading-desk, and spoke to the people, and said +to them: “Signors, you are associated with the most worthy people in the +world, and for the highest enterprise ever undertaken; and I am a man old and +feeble, who should have need of rest, and I am sick in body; but I see that no +one could command and lead you like myself, who am your lord. If you will +consent that I take the sign of the cross to guard and direct you, and that my +son remain in my place to guard the land, then shall I go to live or die with +you and with the pilgrims.” +</p> + +<p> +And when they had heard him, they cried with one voice: “We pray you by +God that you consent, and do it, and that you come with us!” +</p> + +<p> +Very great was then the pity and compassion on the part of the people of the +land and of the pilgrims; and many were the tears shed, because that worthy +and good man would have had so much reason to remain behind, for he was an old +man, and albeit his eyes were unclouded, yet he saw naught, having lost his +sight through a wound in the head. He was of a great heart. Ah! how little like +him were those who had gone to other ports to escape the danger. +</p> + +<p> +Thus he came down from the reading-desk, and went before the altar, and knelt +upon his knees greatly weeping. And they sewed the cross on to a great cotton +hat, which he wore, in front, because he wished that all men should see it. And +the Venetians began to take the cross in great numbers, a great multitude, for +up to that day very few had taken the cross. Our pilgrims had much joy in the +cross that the Doge took, and were greatly moved, because of the wisdom and the +valour that were in him. +</p> + +<p> +Thus did the Doge take the cross, as you have heard. Then the Venetians began +to deliver the ships, the galleys, and the transports to the barons, for +departure; but so much time had already been spent since the appointed term, +that September drew near (1202). +</p> + +<h2>MESSAGE OF ALEXIUS, THE SON OF ISAAC, THE DETHRONED EMPEROR OF +CONSTANTINOPLE—DEATH OF FULK OF NEUILLY—ARRIVAL OF THE GERMANS</h2> + +<p> +Now give ear to one of the greatest marvels, and most wonderful adventures that +you have ever heard tell of. At that time there was an emperor in +Constantinople, whose name was Isaac, and he had a brother, Alexius by name, +whom he had ransomed from captivity among the Turks. This Alexius took his +brother the emperor, tore the eyes out of his head, and made himself emperor by +the aforesaid treachery. He kept Isaac a long time in prison, together with a +son whose name was Alexius. This son escaped from prison, and fled in a ship to +a city on the sea, which is called Ancona. Thence he departed to go to King +Philip of Germany, who had his sister for wife; and he came to Verona in +Lombardy, and lodged in the town, and found there a number of pilgrims and +other people who were on their way to join the host. +</p> + +<p> +And those who had helped him to escape, and were with him, said: “Sire, +here is an army in Venice, quite near to us, the best and most valiant people +and knights that are in the world, and they are going overseass Cry to them +therefore for mercy, that they have pity on thee and on thy father, who have +been so wrongfully dispossessed. And if they be willing to help thee, thou +shalt be guided by them. Perchance they will take pity on thy estate.” +And Alexius said he would do this right willingly, and that the advice was +good. +</p> + +<p> +Thus he appointed envoys, and sent them to the Marquis Boniface of Montferrat, +who was chief of the host, and to the other barons. And when the barons saw +them, they marvelled greatly, and said to the envoys: “We understand +right well what you tell us. We will send an envoy with the prince to King +Philip, whither he is going. If the prince will help to recover the land +overseass we will help him to recover his own land, for we know that it has +been wrested from him and from his father wrongfully.” So were envoys +sent into Germany, both to the heir of Constantinople and to King Philip of +Germany. +</p> + +<p> +Before this happened, of which I have just told you, there came news to the +host which greatly saddened the barons and the other folk, viz., that Fulk, the +good man, the holy man, who first preached the Crusade, had made an end and was +dead. +</p> + +<p> +And after this adventure, there came to the host a company of very good and +worthy people from the empire of Germany, of whose arrival they of the host +were full fain. There came the Bishop of Halberstadt, Count Berthold of +Katzenelenbogen, Gamier of Borland, Thierri of Loos, Henry of Orme, Thierri of +Diest, Roger of Suitre, Alexander of Villers, Ulric of Tone, and many other +good folk, whose names are not recorded in this book. +</p> + +<h2>THE CRUSADERS LEAVE VENICE TO BESIEGE ZARA</h2> + +<p> +Then were the ships and transports apportioned by the barons. Ah, God I what +fine war-horses were put therein. And when the ships were fulfilled with arms +and provisions, and knights and sergeants, the shields were ranged round the +bulwarks and castles of the ships, and the banners displayed, many and fair. +</p> + +<p> +And be it known to you that the vessels carried more than three hundred +petraries and mangonels, and all such engines as are needed for the taking of +cities, in great plenty. Never did finer fleet sail from any port. And this was +in the octave of the Feast of St. Remigius (October) in the year of the +Incarnation of Jesus Christ twelve hundred and two. Thus did they sail from the +port of Venice, as you have been told. +</p> + +<p> +On the Eve of St. Martin (10th November) they came before Zara in Sclavonia, +and beheld the city enclosed by high walls and high towers; and vainly would +you have sought for a fairer city, or one of greater strength, or richer. And +when the pilgrims saw it, they marvelled greatly, and said one to another, +“How could such a city be taken by force, save by the help of God +himself?” +</p> + +<p> +The first ships that came before the city cast anchor, and waited for the +others; and in the morning the day was very fine and very clear, and all the +galleys came up with the transports, and the other ships which were behind; and +they took the port by force, and broke the chain that defended it and was very +strong and well-wrought; and they landed in such sort that the port was between +them and the town. Then might you have seen many a knight and many a sergeant +swarming out of the ships, and taking from the transports many a good +war-horse, and many a rich tent and many a pavilion. Thus did the host encamp. +And Zara was besieged on St. Martin’s Day (11th November 1202). +</p> + +<p> +At this time all the barons had not yet arrived. Thus the Marquis of Montferrat +had remained behind for some business that detained him. And Stephen of Perche +had remained at Venice sick, and Matthew of Montmorency. When they were healed +of their sickness Matthew of Montmorency came to rejoin the host at Zara; but +Stephen of Perche dealt less worthily, for he abandoned the host, and went to +sojourn in Apulia. With him went Rotrou of Montfort and Ives of la Jaille, and +many others, who were much blamed therein; and they journeyed to Syria in the +following spring.* +</p> + +<p class="footnote"> +[Note: Literally, “in the passage of March,” <i>i.e.</i> among the +pilgrims who periodically started for the Holy Land in March.] +</p> + +<h2>THE INHABITANTS OF ZARA OFFER TO CAPITULATE, AND THEN DRAW BACK—ZARA +IS TAKEN</h2> + +<p> +On the day following the feast of St. Martin, certain of the people of Zara +came forth, and spoke to the Doge of Venice, who was in his pavilion, and said +to him that they would yield up the city and all their goods-their lives being +spared-to his mercy. And the Doge replied that he would not accept these +conditions, nor any conditions, save by consent of the counts and barons, with +whom he would go and confer. +</p> + +<p> +While he went to confer with the counts and barons, that party, of whom you +have already heard, who wished to disperse the host, spoke to the envoys and +said, “Why should you surrender your city? The pilgrims will not attack +you—have no care of them. If you can defend yourselves against the +Venetians, you will be safe enough.” And they chose one of themselves, +whose name was Robert of Boves, who went to the walls of the city, and spoke +the same words. Therefore the envoys returned to the city, and the negotiations +were broken off. +</p> + +<p> +The Doge of Venice, when he came to the counts and barons, said to them: +“Signors, the people who are therein desire to yield the city to my +mercy, on condition only that their lives are spared. But I will enter into no +agreement with them-neither this nor any other-save with your consent.” +And the barons answered: “Sire, we advise you to accept these conditions, +and we even beg of you so to do.” He said he would do so; and they all +returned together to the pavilion of the Doge to make the agreement, and found +that the envoys had gone away by the advice of those who wished to disperse the +host. +</p> + +<p> +Then rose the abbot of Vaux, of the order of the Cistercians, and said to them: +“Lords, I forbid you, on the part of the Pope of Rome, to attack this +city; for those within it are Christians, and you are pilgrims.” When the +Doge heard this, he was very wroth, and much disturbed, and he said to the +counts and barons: “Signors, I had this city, by their own agreement, at +my mercy, and your people have broken that agreement; you have covenanted to +help me to conquer it, and I summon you to do so.” +</p> + +<p> +Whereon the counts and barons all spoke at once, together with those who were +of their party, and said: “Great is the outrage of those who have caused +this agreement to be broken, and never a day has passed that they have not +tried to break up the host. Now are we shamed if we do not help to take the +city.” And they came to the Doge, and said: “Sire, we will help you +to take the city in despite of those who would let and hinder us.” +</p> + +<p> +Thus was the decision taken. The next morning the host encamped before the +gates of the city, and set up their petraries and mangonels, and other engines +of war, which they had in plenty, and on the side of the sea they raised +ladders from the ships. Then they began to throw stones at the walls of the +city and at the towers. So did the assault last for about five days. Then were +the sappers set to mine one of the towers, and began to sap the wall. When +those within the city saw this, they proposed an agreement, such as they had +before refused by the advice of those who wished to break up the host. +</p> + +<h2>THE CRUSADERS ESTABLISH THEMSELVES IN THE CITYAFFRAY BETWEEN THE VENETIANS +AND THE FRANKS</h2> + +<p> +Thus did the city surrender to the mercy of the Doge, on condition only that +all lives should be spared. Then came the Doge to the counts and barons, and +said to them: “Signors, we have taken this city by the grace of God, and +your own. It is now winter, and we cannot stir hence till Eastertide; for we +should find no market in any other place; and this city is very rich, and well +furnished with all supplies. Let us therefore divide it in the midst, and we +will take one half, and you the other.” +</p> + +<p> +As he had spoken, so was it done. The Venetians took the part of the city +towards the port, where were the ships, and the Franks took the other part. +There were quarters assigned to each, according as was right and convenient. +And the host raised the camp, and went to lodge in the city. +</p> + +<p> +On the third day after they were all lodged, there befell a great misadventure +in the host, at about the hour of vespers; for there began a fray, exceeding +fell and fierce, between the Venetians and the Franks, and they ran to arms +from all sides. And the fray was so fierce that there were but few streets in +which battle did not rage with swords and lances and cross-bows and darts; and +many people were killed and wounded. +</p> + +<p> +But the Venetians could not abide the combat, and they began to suffer great +losses. Then the men of mark, who did not want this evil to befall, came fully +armed into the strife, and began to separate the combatants; and when they had +separated them in one place, they began again in another. This lasted the +better part of the night. Nevertheless with great labour and endurance at last +they were separated. And be it known to you that this was the greatest +misfortune that ever befell a host, and little did it lack that the host was +not lost utterly. But God would not suffer it. +</p> + +<p> +Great was the loss on either side. There was slain a high lord of Flanders, +whose name was Giles of Landas: he was struck in the eye, and with that stroke +he died in the fray; and many another of whom less was spoken. The Doge of +Venice and the barons laboured much, during the whole of that week, to appease +the fray, and they laboured so effectually that peace was made. God be thanked +therefor. +</p> + +<h2>ON WHAT CONDITIONS ALEXIUS PROPOSES TO OBTAIN THE HELP OF THE CRUSADERS FOR +THE CONQUEST OF CONSTANTINOPLE</h2> + +<p> +A fortnight after came to Zara the Marquis Boniface of Montferrat, who had not +yet joined, and Matthew of Montmorency, and Peter of Bracieux, and many another +man of note. And after another fortnight came also the envoys from Germany, +sent by King Philip and the heir of Constantinople. Then the barons, and the +Doge of Venice assembled in a palace where the Doge was lodged. And the envoys +addressed them and said: “Lords, King Philip sends us to you, as does +also the brother of the king’s wife, the son of the emperor of +Constantinople. +</p> + +<p> +“‘Lords,’ says the king, ‘I will send you the brother +of my wife; and I commit him into the hands of God—may He keep him from +death!—and into your hands. And because you have fared forth for God, and +for right, and for justice, therefore you are bound, in so far as you are able, +to restore to their own inheritance those who have been unrighteously +despoiled. And my wife’s brother will make with you the best terms ever +offered to any people, and give you the most puissant help for the recovery of +the land oversea. +</p> + +<p> +“‘And first, if God grant that you restore him to his inheritance, +he will place the whole empire of Roumania in obedience to Rome, from which it +has long been separated. Further, he knows that you have spent of your +substance, and that you are poor, and he will give you 200,000 marks of silver, +and food for all those of the host, both small and great. And he, of his own +person, will go with you into the land of Babylon, or, if you hold that that +will be better, send thither 10,000 men, at his own charges. And this service +he will perform for one year. And all the days of his life he will maintain, at +his own charges, five hundred knights in the land overseass to guard that +land.’” +</p> + +<p> +“Lords, we have full power,” said the envoys, “to conclude +this agreement, if you are willing to conclude it on your parts. And be it +known to you, that so favourable an agreement has never before been offered to +any one; and that he that would refuse it can have but small desire of glory +and conquest.” +</p> + +<p> +The barons and the Doge said they would talk this over; and a parliament was +called for the morrow. When all were assembled, the matter was laid before +them. +</p> + +<h2>DISCORD AMONG THE CRUSADERS—OF THOSE WHO ACCEPT THE PROPOSALS OF THE +YOUNG ALEXIUS</h2> + +<p> +Then arose much debate. The abbot of Vaux, of the order of the Cistercians, +spoke, and that party that wished for the dispersal of the host; and they said +they would never consent: that it was not to fall on Christians that they had +left their homes, and that they would go to Syria. +</p> + +<p> +And the other party replied: “Fair lords, in Syria you will be able to do +nothing; and that you may right well perceive by considering how those have +fared who abandoned us, and sailed from other ports. And be it known to you +that it is only by way of Babylon, or of Greece, that the land overseas can be +recovered, if so be that it ever is recovered. And if we reject this covenant +we shall be shamed to all time.” +</p> + +<p> +There was discord in the host, as you hear. Nor need you be surprised if there +was discord among the laymen, for the white monks of the order of Citeaux were +also at issue among themselves in the host. The abbot of Loos, who was a holy +man and a man of note, and other abbots who held with him, prayed and besought +the people, for pity’s sake and the sake of God, to keep the host +together, and agree to the proposed convention, in that “it afforded the +best means by which the land overseas might be recovered;” while the +abbot of Vaux, on the other hand, and those who held with him, preached full +oft, and declared that all this was naught, and that the host ought to go to +the land of Syria, and there do what they could. +</p> + +<p> +Then came the Marquis of Montferrat, and Baldwin Count of Flanders and +Hainault, and Count Louis, and Count Hugh of St. Paul, and those who held with +them, and they declared that they would enter into the proposed covenant, for +that they should be shamed if they refused. So they went to the Doge’s +hostel, and the envoys were summoned, and the covenant, in such terms as you +have already heard, was confirmed by oath, and by charters with seals appended. +</p> + +<p> +And the book tells you that only twelve persons took the oaths on the side of +the Franks, for more (of sufficient note) could not be found. Among the twelve +were first the Marquis of Montferrat, the Count Baldwin of Flanders, the Count +Louis of Blois and of Chartres, and the Count of St. Paul, and eight others who +held with them. Thus was the agreement made, and the charters prepared, and a +term fixed for the arrival of the heir of Constantinople; and the term so Fixed +was the fifteenth day after the following Easter. +</p> + +<h2>OF THOSE WHO SEPARATED THEMSELVES FROM THE HOST TO GO TO SYRIA, AND OF THE +FLEET OF THE COUNT OF FLANDERS</h2> + +<p> +Thus did the host sojourn at Zara all that winter (1202–1203) in the face of +the King of Hungary. And be it known to you that the hearts of the people were +not at peace, for the one party used all efforts to break up the host, and the +other to make it hold together. +</p> + +<p> +Many of the lesser folk escaped in the vessels of the merchants. In one ship +escaped well nigh five hundred, and they were all drowned, and so lost. Another +company escaped by land, and thought to pass through Sclavonia; and the +peasants of that land fell upon them, and killed many, so that the remainder +came back flying to the host. Thus did the host go greatly dwindling day by +day. At that time a great lord of the host, who was from Germany, Garnier of +Borland by name, so wrought that he escaped in a merchant vessel, and abandoned +the host, whereby he incurred great blame. +</p> + +<p> +Not long afterwards, a great baron of France, Renaud of Montmirail by name, +besought so earnestly, with the countenance of Count Louis, that he was sent to +Syria on an embassy in one of the vessels of the fleet; and he swore with his +right hand on holy relics, he and all the knights who went with him, that +within fifteen days after they had arrived in Syria, and delivered their +message, they would return to the host. On this condition he left the host, and +with him Hervée of the Chastel, his nephew, William the <i>vidame</i> of +Chartres, Geoffry of Beaumont, John of Frouville, Peter his brother, and many +others. And the oaths that they swore were not kept; for they did not rejoin +the host. +</p> + +<p> +Then came to the host news that was heard right willingly, viz., that the fleet +from Flanders, of which mention has been made above, had arrived at Marseilles. +And John of Nêle, Castellan of Bruges, who was captain of that host, and +Thierri, who was the son of Count Philip of Flanders, and Nicholas of Mailly, +advised the Count of Flanders, their lord, that they would winter at +Marseilles, and asked him to let them know what was his will, and said that +whatever was his will, that they would do. And he told them, by the advice of +the Doge of Venice and the other barons, that they should sail at the end of +the following March, and come to meet him at the port of Modon in Roumania. +Alas! they acted very evilly, for never did they keep their word, but went to +Syria, Where, as they well knew, they would achieve nothing. +</p> + +<p> +Now be it known to you, lords, that if God had not loved the host, it could +never have held together, seeing how many people wished evil to it! +</p> + +<h2>THE CRUSADERS OBTAIN THE POPE’S ABSOLUTION FOR THE CAPTURE OF +ZARA</h2> + +<p> +Then the barons spoke together and said that they would send to Rome, to the +Pope, because he had taken the capture of Zara in evil part. And they chose as +envoys such as they knew were fitted for this office, two knights, and two +clerks. Of the two clerks one was Nevelon, Bishop of Soissons, and the other +Master John of Noyon, who was chancellor to Count Baldwin of Flanders; and of +the knights one was John of Friaize, the other Robert of Boves. These swore on +holy relics that they would perform their embassy loyally and in good faith, +and that they would come back to the host. +</p> + +<p> +Three kept their oath right well, and the fourth evilly, and this one was +Robert of Boves. For he executed his office as badly as he could, and perjured +himself, and went away to Syria as others had done. But the remaining three +executed their office right well, and delivered their message as the barons had +directed, and said to the Pope: “The barons cry mercy to you for the +capture of Zara, for they acted as people who could do no better, owing to the +default of those who had gone to other ports, and because, had they not acted +as they did, they could not have held the host together. And as to this they +refer themselves to you, as to their good Father, that you should tell them +what are your commands, which they are ready to perform.” +</p> + +<p> +And the Pope said to the envoys that he knew full well that it was through the +default of others that the host had been impelled to do this great mischief, +and that he had them in great pity. And then he notified to the barons and +pilgrims that he sent them his blessing, and absolved them as his sons, and +commanded and besought them to hold the host together, inasmuch as he well knew +that without that host God’s service could not be done. And he gave full +powers to Nevelon, Bishop of Soissons, and Master John of Noyon, to bind and to +unloose the pilgrims until the cardinal joined the host. +</p> + +<h2>DEPARTURE OF THE CRUSADERS FOR CORFU—ARRIVAL OF THE YOUNG +ALEXIUS—CAPTURE OF DURAS</h2> + +<p> +So much time had passed that it was now Lent, and the host prepared their fleet +to sail at Easter. When the ships were laden on the day after Easter (7th April +1203), the pilgrims encamped by the port, and the Venetians destroyed the city, +and the walls and the towers. +</p> + +<p> +Then there befell an adventure which weighed heavily upon the host; for one of +the great barons of the host, by name Simon of Montfort, had made private +covenant with the King of Hungary, who was at enmity with those of the host, +and went to him, abandoning the host. With him went Guy of Montfort his +brother, Simon of Nauphle and Robert Mauvoisin, and Dreux of Cressonsacq, and +the abbot of Vaux, who was a monk of the order of the Cistercians, and many +others. And not long after another great lord of the host, called Enguerrand of +Boves, joined the King of Hungary, together with Hugh, Enguerrand’s +brother, and such of the other people of their country as they could lead away. +</p> + +<p> +These left the host, as you have just heard; and this was a great misfortune to +the host, and to such as left it a great disgrace. +</p> + +<p> +Then the ships and transports began to depart; and it was settled that they +should take port at Corfu, an island of Roumania, and that the first to arrive +should wait for the last; and so it was done. +</p> + +<p> +Before the Doge, the Marquis, and the galleys left Zara, Alexius, the son of +the Emperor Isaac of Constantinople, had arrived together. He was sent by the +King Philip of Germany, and received with great joy and great honour; and the +Doge gave Mm as many galleys and ships as he required. So they left the port of +Zara, and had a fair wind, and sailed onwards till they took port at Duras. And +those of the land, when they saw their lord, yielded up the city right +willingly and sware fealty to him. +</p> + +<p> +And they departed thence and came to Corfu, and found there the host encamped +before the city; and those of the host had spread their tents and pavilions, +and taken the horses out of the transports for ease and refreshment. When they +heard that the son of the Emperor of Constantinople had arrived in the port, +then might you have seen many a good knight and many a good sergeant leading +many a good war-horse and going to meet him. Thus they received him with very +great joy, and much high honour. And he had his tent pitched in the midst of +the host; and quite near was pitched the tent of the Marquis of Montferrat, to +whose ward he had been commended by King Philip, who had his sister to wife. +</p> + +<h2>HOW THE CHIEFS OF THE CRUSADERS HELD BACK THOSE WHO WANTED TO ABANDON THE +HOST</h2> + +<p> +The host sojourned thus for three weeks in that island, which was very rich and +plenteous. And while they sojourned, there happened a misadventure fell and +grievous. For a great part of those who wished to break up the host, and had +aforetime been hostile to it, spoke together and said that the adventure to be +undertaken seemed very long and very perilous, and that they, for their part, +would remain in the island, suffering the host to depart, and that—when +the host had so departed—they would, through the people of Corfu, send to +Count Walter of Brienne, who then held Brandis, so that he might send ships to +take them thither. +</p> + +<p> +I cannot tell you the names of all those who wrought in this matter, but I will +name some among the most notable of the chiefs, viz., Odo of Champlitte, of +Champagne, James of Avesnes, Peter of Amiens, Guy the Castellan of Coucy, Oger +of Saint-Chéron, Guy of Chappes and Clerembaud his nephew, William of Aunoi, +Peter Coiseau, Guy of Pesmes and Edmund his brother, Guy of Conflans, Richard +of Dampierre, Odo his brother, and many more who had promised privily to be of +their party, but who dared not for shame openly so to avow themselves; in such +sort that the book testifies that more than half the host were in this mind. +</p> + +<p> +And when the Marquis of Montferrat heard thereof, and Count Baldwin of +Flanders, and Count Louis, and the Count of St. Paul, and the barons who held +with them, they were greatly troubled, and said: “Lords, we are in evil +case. If these people depart from us, after so many who have departed from us +aforetime, our host is doomed, and we shall make no conquests. Let us then go +to them, and fall at their feet, and cry to them for mercy, and for God’s +sake to have compassion upon themselves and upon us, and not to dishonour +themselves, and ravish from us the deliverance of the land oversea.” +</p> + +<p> +Thus did the council decide; and they went, all together, to a valley where +those of the other part were holding their parliament; and they took with them +the son of the Emperor of Constantinople, and all the bishops and all the +abbots of the host. And when they had come to the place they dismounted and +went forward, and the barons fell at the feet of those of the other part, +greatly weeping, and said they would not stir till those of the other part had +promised not to depart from them. +</p> + +<p> +And when those of the other part saw this, they were filled with very great +compassion; and they wept very bitterly at seeing their lords, and their +kinsmen, and their friends, thus lying at their feet. So they said they would +consult together, and drew somewhat apart, and there communed. And the sum of +their communing was this: that they would remain with the host till Michaelmas, +on condition that the other part would swear, loyally, on holy relics, that +from that day and thenceforward, at whatever hour they might be summoned to do +so, they would in all good faith, and without guile, within fifteen days, +furnish ships wherein the non-contents might betake themselves to Syria. +</p> + +<p> +Thus was covenant made and sworn to; and then was there great joy throughout +all the host. And all gat themselves to the ships, and the horses were put into +the transports. +</p> + +<h2>DEPARTURE FROM CORFU—CAPTURE OF ANDROS AND ABYDOS</h2> + +<p> +Then did they sail from the port of Corfu on the eve of Pentecost (24th May), +which was twelve hundred and three years after the Incarnation of our Lord +Jesus Christ. And there were all the ships assembled, and all the transports, +and all the galleys of the host, and many other ships of merchants that fared +with them. And the day was fine and clear, and the wind soft and favourable, +and they unfurled all their sails to the breeze. +</p> + +<p> +And Geoffry, the Marshal of Champagne, who dictates this work, and has never +lied therein by one word to his knowledge, and who was moreover present at all +the councils held—he bears witness that never was yet seen so fair a +sight. And well might it appear that such a fleet would conquer and gain lands, +for, far as the eye could reach, there was no space without sails, and ships, +and vessels, so that the hearts of men rejoiced greatly. +</p> + +<p> +Thus they sailed over the sea till they came to Malea, to straits that are by +the sea. And there they met two ships with pilgrims, and knights and sergeants +returning from Syria, and they were of the parties that had gone to Syria by +Marseilles. And when these saw our fleet so rich and well appointed, they +conceived such shame that they dared not show themselves. And Count Baldwin of +Flanders sent a boat from Ws ship to ask what people they were; and they said +who they were. +</p> + +<p> +And a sergeant let himself down from his ship into the boat, and said to those +in the ship, “I cry quits to you for any goods of mine that may remain in +the ship, for I am going with these people, for well I deem that they will +conquer lands.” Much did we make of the sergeant, and gladly was he +received in the host. For well may it be said, that even after following a +thousand crooked ways a man may find his way right in the end. +</p> + +<p> +The host fared forward till it came to Nigra (Negropont). Nigra is a very fair +island, and there is on it a very good city called Negropont. Here the barons +took council. Then went forward the Marquis Boniface of Montferrat, and Count +Baldwin of Flanders and Hainault, with a great part of the transports and +galleys, taking with them the son of the Emperor Isaac of Constantinople; and +they came to an island called Andros, and there landed. The knights took their +arms, and over-rode the country; and the people of the land came to crave mercy +of the son of the Emperor of Constantinople, and gave so much of their goods +that they made peace with him. +</p> + +<p> +Then they returned to the ships, and sailed over the sea; when a great mishap +befell, for a great lord of the host, whose name was Guy, Castellan of Coucy, +died, and was cast into the sea. +</p> + +<p> +The other ships, which had not sailed thitherward, had entered the passage of +Abydos, and it is there that the straits of St. George (the Dardanelles) open +into the great sea. And they sailed up the straits to a city called Abydos, +which lies on the straits of St. George, towards Turkey, and is very fair, and +well situate. There they took port and landed, and those of the city came to +meet them, and surrendered the city, as men without stomach to defend +themselves. And such guard was established that those of the city lost not one +stiver current. +</p> + +<p> +They sojourned there eight days to wait for the ships transports and galleys +that had not yet come up. And while they thus sojourned, they took corn from +the land, for it was the season of harvest, and great was their need thereof, +for before they had but little. And within those eight days all the ships and +barons had come up. God gave them fair weather. +</p> + +<h2>ARRIVAL AT ST. STEPHEN—DELIBERATION AS TO PLAN OF ATTACK</h2> + +<p> +All started from the port of Abydos together. Then might you have seen the +Straits of St. George (as it were) in flower with ships and galleys sailing +upwards, and the beauty thereof was a great marvel to behold. Thus they sailed +up the Straits of St. George till they came, on St. John the Baptist’s +Eve, in June (23rd June 1203) to St. Stephen, an abbey that lay three leagues +from Constantinople. There had those on board the ships and galleys and +transports full sight of Constantinople; and they took port and anchored their +vessels. +</p> + +<p> +Now you may know that those who had never before seen Constantinople looked +upon it very earnestly, for they never thought there could be in all the world +so rich a city; and they marked the high walls and strong towers that enclosed +it round about, and the rich palaces, and mighty churches—of which there +were so many that no one would have believed it who had not seen it with his +eyes—and the height and the length of that city which above all others +was sovereign. And be it known to you, that no man there was of such hardihood +but his flesh trembled: and it was no wonder, for never was so great an +enterprise undertaken by any people since the creation of the world. +</p> + +<p> +Then landed the counts and barons and the Doge of Venice, and a parliament was +held in the church of St. Stephen. There were many opinions set forth, this way +and that. All the words then spoken shall not be recorded in this book; but in +the end the Doge rose on his feet and said: “Signors, I know the state of +this land better than you do, for I have been here erewhile. We have undertaken +the greatest enterprise, and the most perilous, that ever people have +undertaken. Therefore it behoves us to go to work warily. Be it known to you +that if we go on dry ground, the land is great and large, and our people are +poor and ill-provided. Thus they will disperse to look for food; and the people +of the land are in great multitude, and we cannot keep such good watch but that +some of ours will be lost. Nor are we in case to lose any, for our people are +but few indeed for the work in hand. +</p> + +<p> +“Now there are islands close by which you can see from here, and these +are inhabited, and produce corn, and food, and other things. Let us take port +there, and gather the corn and provisions of the land. And when we have +collected our supplies, let us go before the city, and do as our Lord shall +provide. For he that has supplies, wages war with more certainty than he that +has none.” To this counsel the lords and barons agreed, and all went back +to their ships and vessels. +</p> + +<h2>THE CRUSADERS LAND AT CHALCEDON AND SCUTARI</h2> + +<p> +They rested thus that night. And in the morning, on the day of the feast of our +Lord St. John the Baptist in June (24th June 1203), the banners and pennants +were flown on the castles of the ships, and the coverings taken from the +shields, and the bulwarks of the ships garnished. Every one looked to his +antis, such as he should use, for well each man knew that full soon he would +have need of them. +</p> + +<p> +The sailors weighed the anchors, and spread the sails to the wind, and God gave +them a good wind, such as was convenient to them. Thus they passed before +Constantinople, and so near to the walls and towers that we shot at many of +their vessels. There were so many people on the walls and towers that it seemed +as if there could be no more people (in the world). +</p> + +<p> +Then did God our Lord set to naught the counsel of the day before, and keep us +from sailing to the islands: that counsel fell to naught as if none had ever +heard thereof. For lo, our ships made for the mainland as straight as ever they +could, and took port before a palace of the Emperor Alexius, at a place called +Chalcedon. This was in face of Constantinople, on the other side of the +straits, towards Turkey. The palace was one of the most beautiful and +delectable that ever eyes could see, with every delight therein that the heart +of man could desire, and convenient for the house of a prince. +</p> + +<p> +The counts and barons landed and lodged themselves in the palace; and in the +city round about, the main part pitched their tents. Then were the horses taken +out of the transports, and the knights and sergeants got to land with all their +arms, so that none remained in the ships save the mariners only. The country +was fair, and rich) and well supplied with all good things, and the sheaves of +corn (which had been reaped) were in the fields, so that all—and they +stood in no small need—might take thereof. +</p> + +<p> +They sojourned thus in that palace the following day; and on the third day God +gave them a good wind, and the mariners raised their anchors, and spread their +sails to the wind. They went thus up the straits, a good league above +Constantinople, to a palace that belonged to the Emperor Alexius, and was +called Scutari. There the ships anchored, and the transports, and all the +galleys. The horsemen who had lodged in the palace of Chalcedon went along the +shore by land. +</p> + +<p> +The host of the French encamped thus on the straits of St. George, at Scutari, +and above it. And when the Emperor Alexius saw this, he caused his host to +issue from Constantinople, and encamp over against us on the other side of the +straits, and there pitched his tents, so that we might not take land against +him by force. The host of the French sojourned thus for nine days, and those +obtained supplies who needed them, and that was every one in the host. +</p> + +<h2>THE FORAGERS DEFEAT THE GREEKS</h2> + +<p> +During this time, a company of good and trustworthy men issued (from the camp) +to guard the host, for fear it should be attacked, and the foragers searched +the country. In the said company were Odo of Champlitte, of Champagne, and +William his brother, and Oger of Saint-Chéron, and Manasses of l’Isle, +and Count Girard, a count of Lombardy, a retainer of the Marquis of Montferrat; +and they had with them at least eighty knights who were good men and true. +</p> + +<p> +And they espied, at the foot of a mountain, some three leagues distant from the +host, certain tents belonging to the Grand Duke of the Emperor of +Constantinople, who had with him at least five hundred Greek knights. When our +people saw them, they formed their men into four battalions, and decided to +attack. And when the Greeks saw this, they formed their battalions, and arrayed +themselves in rank before their tents, and waited. And our people went forward +and fell upon them right vigorously. +</p> + +<p> +By the help of God our Lord, this fight lasted but a little while, and the +Greeks turned their backs. They were discomfited at the first onset, and our +people pursued them for a full great league. There they won plenty of horses +and stallions, and palfreys, and mules, and tents and pavilions, and such spoil +as is usual in such case. So they returned to the host, where they were right +well received, and their spoils were divided, as was fit. +</p> + +<h2>MESSAGE OF THE EMPEROR ALEXIUS—REPLY OF THE CRUSADERS</h2> + +<p> +The next day after, the Emperor Alexius sent an envoy with letters to the +counts and to the barons. This envoy was called Nicholas Roux, and he was a +native of Lombardy. He found the barons in the rich palace of Scutari, where +they were holding council and he saluted them on the part of the Emperor +Alexius of Constantinople, and tendered his letters to the Marquis of +Montferrat-who received them. And the letters were read before all the barons; +and there were in them words, written after various manners, which the book +does not (here) relate, and at the end of the other words so written, came +words of credit, accrediting the bearer of the letters, whose name was Nicholas +Roux. +</p> + +<p> +“Fair Sir,” said the barons, “we have seen your letters, and +they tell us that we are to give credit to what you say, and we credit you +right well. Now speak as it pleases you.” +</p> + +<p> +And the envoy was standing before the barons, and spoke thus: +“Lords,” said he, “the Emperor Alexius would have you know +that he is well aware that you are the best people uncrowned, and come from the +best land on earth. And he marvels much why, and for what purpose, you have +come into his land and kingdom. For you are Christians, and he is a Christian, +and well he knows that you are on your way to deliver the Holy Land overseass +and the Holy Cross, and the Sepulchre. If you are poor and in want, he will +right willingly give you of his food and substance, provided you depart out of +his land. Neither would he otherwise wish to do you any hurt, though he has +full power therein, seeing that if you were twenty times as numerous as you +are, you would not be able to get away without utter discomfiture if so be that +he wished to harm you.” +</p> + +<p> +By agreement and desire of the other barons, and of the Doge of Venice, then +rose to his feet Conon of Béthune, who was a good knight, and wise, and very +eloquent, and he replied to the envoy: “Fair Sir, you have told us that +your lord marvels much why our signors and barons should have entered into his +kingdom and land. Into his land they have not entered, for he holds this land +wrongfully and wickedly, and against God and against reason. It belongs to Ws +nephew, who sits upon a throne among us, and is the son of his brother, the +Emperor Isaac. But if he is willing to throw himself on the mercy of his +nephew, and to give him back his crown and empire, then we will pray his nephew +to forgive him, and bestow upon him as much as will enable him to live +wealthily. And if you come not as the bearer of such a message, then be not so +bold as to come here again.” So the envoy departed and went back to +Constantinople, to the Emperor Alexius. +</p> + +<h2>THE CRUSADERS SHOW THE YOUNG ALEXIUS TO THE PEOPLE OF CONSTANTINOPLE, AND +PREPARE FOR THE BATTLE</h2> + +<p> +The barons consulted together on the morrow, and said that they would show the +young Alexius, the son of the Emperor of Constantinople, to the people of the +city. So they assembled all the galleys. The Doge of Venice and the Marquis of +Montferrat entered into one, and took with them Alexius, the son of the Emperor +Isaac; and into the other galleys entered the knights and barons, as many as +would. +</p> + +<p> +They went thus quite close to the walls of Constantinople and showed the youth +to the people of the Greeks, and said, “Behold your natural lord; and be +it known to you that we have not come to do you harm, but have come to guard +and defend you, if so be that you return to your duty. For he whom you now obey +as your lord holds rule by wrong and wickedness, against God and reason. And +you know full well that he has dealt treasonably with him who is your lord and +his brother, that he has blinded his eyes and reft from him his empire by wrong +and wickedness. Now behold the rightful heir. If you hold with him, you will be +doing as you ought; and if not we will do to you the very worst that we +can.” But for fear and terror of the Emperor Alexius, not one person on +the land or in the city made show as if he held for the prince. So all went +back to the host, and each sought his quarters. +</p> + +<p> +On the morrow, when they had heard mass, they assembled in parliament, and the +parliament was held on horseback in the midst of the fields. There might you +have seen many a fine war-horse, and many a good knight thereon. And the +council was held to discuss the order of the battalions, how many they should +have, and of what strength. Many were the words said on one side and the other. +But in the end it was settled that the advanced guard should be given to +Baldwin of Flanders, because he had a very great number of good men, and +archers and crossbowmen, more than any other chief that was in the host. +</p> + +<p> +And after, it was settled that Henry his brother, and Matthew of Wallincourt, +and Baldwin of Beauvoir, and many other good knights of their land and country, +should form the second division. +</p> + +<p> +The third division was formed by Count Hugh of St. Paul, Peter of Amiens his +nephew, Eustace of Canteleu, Anseau of Cayeux, and many good knights of their +land and country. +</p> + +<p> +The fourth division was formed by Count Louis of Blois and Chartres, and was +very numerous and rich and redoubtable; for he had placed therein a great +number of good knights and men of worth. +</p> + +<p> +The fifth division was formed by Matthew of Montmorency and the men of +Champagne. Geoffry the Marshal of Champagne formed part of it, and Oger of +Saint-Chéron, Manasses of l’Isle, Miles the Brabant, Macaire of +Sainte-Menehould, John Foisnous, Guy of Chappes, Clerembaud his nephew, Robert +of Ronsoi; all these people formed part of the fifth division. Be it known to +you that there was many a good knight therein. +</p> + +<p> +The sixth division was formed by the people of Burgundy. In this division were +Odo the Champenois of Champlitte, William his brother, Guy of Pesmes, Edmund +his brother, Otho of la Roche, Richard of Dampierre, Odo his brother, Guy of +Conflans, and the people of their land and country. +</p> + +<p> +The seventh division, which was very large, was under the command of the +Marquis of Montferrat. In it were the Lombards and Tuscans and the Germans, and +all the people who were from beyond Mont Cenis to Lyons on the Rhone. All these +formed part of the division under the marquis, and it was settled that they +should form the rearguard. +</p> + +<h2>THE CRUSADERS SEIZE THE PORT</h2> + +<p> +The day was fixed on which the host should embark on the ships and transports +to take the land by force, and either live or die. And be it known to you that +the enterprise to be achieved was one of the most redoubtable ever attempted. +Then did the bishops and clergy speak to the people, and tell them how they +must confess, and make each one his testament, seeing that no one knew what +might be the will of God concerning him. And this was done right willingly +throughout the host, and very piously. +</p> + +<p> +The term fixed was now come; and the knights went on board the transports with +their war-horses; and they were fully armed, with their helmets laced, and the +horses covered with their housings, and saddled. All the other folk, who were +of less consequence in battle, were on the great ships; and the galleys were +fully armed and made ready. +</p> + +<p> +The morning was fair a little after the rising of the sun; and the Emperor +Alexius stood waiting for them on the other side, with great forces, and +everything in order. And the trumpets sound, and every galley takes a transport +in tow, so as to reach the other side more readily. None ask who shall go +first, but each makes the land as soon as he can. The knights issue from the +transports, and leap into the sea up to their waists, fully armed, with helmets +laced, and lances in hand; and the good archers, and the good sergeants, and +the good crossbowmen, each in his company, land so soon as they touch ground. +</p> + +<p> +The Greeks made a goodly show of resistance; but when it came to the lowering +of the lances, they turned their backs, and went away flying, and abandoned the +shore. And be it known to you that never was port more proudly taken. Then +began the mariners to open the ports of the transports, and let down the +bridges, and take out the horses; and the knights began to mount, and they +began to marshal the divisions of the host in due order. +</p> + +<h2>CAPTURE OF THE TOWER OF GALATA</h2> + +<p> +Count Baldwin of Flanders and Hainault, with the advanced guard, rode forward, +and the other divisions of the host after him, each in due order of march; and +they came to where the Emperor Alexius had been encamped. But he had turned +back towards Constantinople, and left his tents and pavilions standing. And +there our people had much spoil. +</p> + +<p> +Our barons were minded to encamp by the port before the tower of Galata, where +the chain was fixed that closed the port of Constantinople. And be it known to +you, that any one must perforce pass that chain before he could enter into the +port. Well did our barons then perceive that if they did not take the tower, +and break the chain, they were but as dead men, and in very evil case. So they +lodged that night before the tower, and in the Jewry that is called Stenon, +where there was a good city, and very rich. +</p> + +<p> +Well did they keep guard during the night; and on the morrow, at the hour of +tierce, those who were in the tower of Galata made a sortie, and those who were +in Constantinople came to their help in barges; and our people ran to arms. +There came first to the onset James of Avesnes and his men on foot; and be it +known to you that he was fiercely charged, and wounded by a lance in the face, +and in peril of death. And one of his knights, whose name was Nicholas of +Jenlain, gat to horse, and came to his lord’s rescue, and succoured him +right well, and so won great honour. +</p> + +<p> +Then a cry was raised in the host, and our people ran together from all sides, +and drove back the foe with great fury, so that many were slain and taken. And +some of them did not go back to the tower, but ran to the barges by which they +had come, and there many were drowned, and some escaped. As to those who went +back to the tower, the men of our host pressed them so hard that they could not +shut the gate. Then a terrible fight began again at the gate, and our people +took it by force, and made prisoners of all those in the tower. Many were there +killed and taken. +</p> + +<h2>ATTACK ON THE CITY BY LAND AND SEA</h2> + +<p> +So was the tower of Galata taken, and the port of Constantinople won by force. +Much were those of the host comforted thereby, and much did they praise the +Lord God; and greatly were those of the city discomforted. And on the next day, +the ships, the vessels, the galleys and the transports were drawn into the +port. +</p> + +<p> +Then did those of the host take council together to settle what thing they +should do, and whether they should attack the city by sea or by land. The +Venetians were firmly minded that the scaling ladders ought to be planted on +the ships, and all the attack made from the side by the sea. The French, on the +other hand, said that they did not know so well how to help themselves on sea +as on land, but that when they had their horses and their arms they could help +themselves on land right well. So in the end it was devised that the Venetians +should attack by sea, and the barons and those of the host by land. +</p> + +<p> +They sojourned thus for four days. On the fifth day, the whole host were armed, +and the divisions advanced on horseback, each in the order appointed, along the +harbour, till they came to the palace of Blachernæ; and the ships drew inside +the harbour till they came over against the self-same place, and this was near +to the end of the harbour. And there is at that place a river that flows into +the sea, and can only be passed by a bridge of stone. The Greeks had broken +down the bridge, and the barons caused the host to labour all that day and all +that night in repairing the bridge. Thus was the bridge repaired, and in the +morning the divisions were armed, and rode one after the other in the order +appointed, and came before the city. And no one came out from the city against +them; and this was a great marvel, seeing that for every man that was in the +host there were over two hundred men in the city. +</p> + +<p> +Then did the barons decide that they should quarter themselves between the +palace of Blachernæ and the castle of Boemond, which was an abbey enclosed +with walls. So the tents and pavilions were pitched-which was a right proud +thing to look upon; for of Constantinople, which had three leagues of front +towards the land, the whole host could attack no more than one of the gates. +And the Venetians lay on the sea, in ships and vessels, and raised their +ladders, and mangonels, and petraries, and made order for their assault right +well. And the barons for their part made ready their petraries and mangonels on +land. +</p> + +<p> +And be it known to you that they did not have their time in peace and quiet; +for there passed no hour of the night or day but one of the divisions had to +stand armed before the gate, to guard the engines, and provide against attack. +And, notwithstanding all this, the Greeks ceased not to attack them, by this +gate and by others, and held them so short that six or seven times a day the +whole host was forced to run to arms. Nor could they forage for provisions more +than four bow-shots’ distance from the camp. And their stores were but +scanty, save of flour and bacon, and of those they had a little; and of fresh +meat none at all, save what they got from the horses that were killed. And be +it known to you that there was only food generally in the host for three weeks. +Thus were they in very perilous case, for never did so few people besiege so +many people in any city. +</p> + +<h2>FIRST INCIDENTS OF THE ASSAULT</h2> + +<p> +Then did they bethink themselves of a very good device; for they enclosed the +whole camp with good lists, and good palisades, and good barriers, and were +thus far stronger and much more secure. The Greeks meanwhile came on to the +attack so frequently that they gave them no rest, and those of the host drove +them back with great force; and every time that the Greeks issued forth they +lost heavily. +</p> + +<p> +One day the Burgundians were on guard, and the Greeks made an attack upon them, +with part of the best forces that they had. And the Burgundians ran upon the +Greeks and drove them in very fiercely, and followed so close to the gate that +stones of great weight were hurled upon them. There was taken one of the best +Greeks of the city, whose name was Constantine Lascaris; William of Neuilly +took him all mounted upon his horse. And there did William of Champlitte have +his arm broken with a stone, and great pity it was, for he was very brave and +very valiant. +</p> + +<p> +I cannot tell you of all the good strokes that were there stricken, nor of all +the wounded, nor all the dead. But before the fight was over, there came into +it a knight of the following of Henry, the brother, of Count Baldwin of +Flanders and Hainault, and his name was Eustace of Marchais; and he was armed +only in padded vest and steel cap, with his shield at his neck; and he did so +well in the fray that he won to himself great honour. Few were the days on +which no sorties were made; but I cannot tell you of them all. So hardly did +they hold us, that we could not sleep, nor rest, nor eat, save in arms. +</p> + +<p> +Yet another sortie was made from a gate further up; and there again did the +Greeks lose heavily. And there a knight was slain, whose name was William of +Gi; and there Matthew of Wallincourt did right well, and lost his horse, which +was killed at the drawbridge of the gate; and many others who were in that +fight did right well. From this gate, which was beyond the palace of +Blachernæ, the Greeks issued most frequently, and there Peter of Bracieux gat +himself more honour than any, because he was quartered the nearest, and so came +most often into the fray. +</p> + +<h2>ASSAULT OF THE CITY</h2> + +<p> +Thus their peril and toil lasted for nearly ten days, until, on a Thursday +morning (17th July 1203) all things were ready for the assault, and the ladders +in trim; the Venetians also had made them ready by sea. The order of the +assault was so devised, that of the seven divisions, three were to guard the +camp outside the city, and other four to give the assault. The Marquis Boniface +of Montferrat guarded the camp towards the fields, with the division of the +Burgundians, the division of the men of Champagne, and Matthew of Montmorency. +Count Baldwin of Flanders and Hainault went to the assault with his people, and +Henry his brother; and . Count Louis of Blois and Chartres, and Count Hugh of +St. Paul, and those who held with them, went also to the assault. +</p> + +<p> +They planted two ladders at a barbican near the sea; and the wall was well +defended by Englishmen and Danes; and the attack was stiff and good and fierce. +By main strength certain knights and two sergeants got up the ladders and made +themselves masters of the wall; and at least fifteen got upon the wall, and +fought there, hand to hand, with axes and swords, and those within redoubled +their efforts and cast them out in very ugly sort, keeping two as prisoners. +And those of our people who had been taken were led before the Emperor Alexius; +much was he pleased thereat. Thus did the assault leave matters on the side of +the French. Many were wounded and many had their bones broken, so that the +barons were very wroth. +</p> + +<p> +Meanwhile the Doge of Venice had not forgotten to do his part, but had ranged +his ships and transports and vessels in line, and that line was well three +crossbow-shots in length; and the Venetians began to draw near to the part of +the shore that lay under the walls and the towers. Then might you have seen the +mangonels shooting from the ships and transports, and the crossbow bolts +flying, and the bows letting fly their arrows deftly and well; and those within +defending the walls and towers very fiercely; and the ladders on the ships +coming so near that in many places swords and lances crossed; and the tumult +and noise were so great that it seemed as if the very earth and sea were +melting together. And be it known to you that the galleys did not dare to come +to the shore. +</p> + +<h2>CAPTURE OF TWENTY-FIVE TOWERS</h2> + +<p> +Now may you hear of a strange deed of prowess; for the Doge of Venice, who was +an old man, and saw naught (seeing he was blind), stood, fully armed, on the +prow of his galley, and had the standard of St. Mark before him; and he cried +to his people to put him on land, or else that he would do justice upon their +bodies with his hands. And so they did, for the galley was run aground, and +they leapt therefrom, and bore the standard of St. Mark before him on to the +land. +</p> + +<p> +And when the Venetians saw the standard of St. Mark on land, and the galley of +their lord touching ground before them, each held himself for shamed, and they +all gat to the land; and those in the transports leapt forth, and landed; and +those in the big ships got into barges, and made for the shore, each and all as +best they could. Then might you have seen an assault, great and marvellous; and +to this bears witness Geoffry of Villehardouin, who makes this book, that more +than forty people told him for sooth that they saw the standard of St. Mark of +Venice at the top of one of the towers, and that no man knew who bore it +thither. +</p> + +<p> +Now hear of a strange miracle: those who are within the city fly and abandon +the walls, and the Venetians enter in, each as fast and as best he can, and +seize twenty-five of the towers, and man them with their people. And the Doge +takes a boat, and sends messengers to the barons of the host to tell them that +he has taken twenty-five towers, and that they may know for sooth that such +towers cannot be retaken. The barons are so overjoyed that they cannot believe +their ears; and the Venetians begin to send to the host in boats the horses and +palfreys they have taken. +</p> + +<p> +When the Emperor Alexius saw that our people had thus entered into the city, he +sent his people against them in such numbers that our people saw they would be +unable to endure the onset. So they set fire to the buildings between them and +the Greeks; and the wind blew from our side, and the fire began to wax so great +that the Greeks could not see our people who retired to the towers they had +seized and conquered. +</p> + +<h2>THE EMPEROR ALEXIUS COMES OUT FOR BATTLE, BUT RETIRES WITHOUT +ATTACKING</h2> + +<p> +Then the Emperor Alexius issued from the city, with all his forces, by other +gates which were at least a league from the camp; and so many began to issue +forth that it seemed as if the whole world were there assembled. The emperor +marshalled his troops in the plain, and they rode towards the camp; and when +our Frenchmen saw them coming, they ran to arms from all sides. On that day +Henry, the brother of Count Baldwin of Flanders, was mounting guard over the +engines of war before the gate of Blachernæ, together with Matthew of +Wallincourt, and Baldwin of Beauvoir, and their followers. Against their +encampment the Emperor Alexius had made ready a great number of his people, who +were to issue by three gates, while he himself should fall upon the host from +another side. +</p> + +<p> +Then the six divisions issued from our camp as had been devised, and were +marshalled in ranks before the palisades: the sergeants and squires on foot +behind the horses, and the archers and crossbowmen in front. And there was a +division of the knights on foot, for we had at least two hundred who, were +without horses. Thus they stood still before the palisades. And this showed +great good sense, for if they had moved to the attack, the numbers of the enemy +were such that they must have been overwhelmed and (as it were) drowned among +them. +</p> + +<p> +It seemed as if the whole plain was covered with troops, and they advanced +slowly and in order. Well might we appear in perilous case, for we had but six +divisions, while the Greeks had full forty, and there was not one of their +divisions but was larger than any of ours. But ours were ordered in such sort +that none could attack them save in front. And the Emperor Alexius rode so far +forward that either side could shoot at the other. And when the Doge of Venice +heard this, he made his people come forth, and leave the towers they had taken, +and said he would live or die with the pilgrims. So he came to the camp, and +was himself the first to land, and brought with him such of his people as he +could. +</p> + +<p> +Thus, for a long space, the armies of the pilgrims and of the Greeks stood one +against the other; for the Greeks did not dare to throw themselves upon our +ranks, and our people would not move from their palisades. And when the Emperor +Alexius saw this, he began to withdraw his people, and when he had rallied +them, he turned back. And seeing this, the host of the pilgrims began to march +towards him with slow steps, and the Greek troops began to move backwards, and +retreated to a palace called Philopas. +</p> + +<p> +And be it known to you, that never did God save any people from such peril as +He saved the host that day; and be it known to you further that there was none +in the host so hardy but he had great joy thereof. Thus did the battle remain +for that day. As it pleased God nothing further was done. The Emperor Alexius +returned to the city, and those of the host to their quarters-the latter taking +off their armour, for they were weary and overwrought; and they ate and drank +little, seeing that their store of food was but scanty. +</p> + +<h2>ALEXIUS ABANDONS CONSTANTINOPLE—HIS BROTHER ISAAC IS REPLACED ON THE +THRONE—THE CRUSADERS SEND HIM A MESSAGE</h2> + +<p> +Now listen to the miracles of our Lord-how gracious are they whithersoever it +pleases Him to perform them! That very might the Emperor Alexius of +Constantinople took of his treasure as much as he could carry, and took with +him as many of his people as would go, and so fled and abandoned the city. And +those of the city remained astonied, and they drew to the prison in which lay +the Emperor Isaac, whose eyes had been put out. Him they clothed imperially, +and bore to the great palace of Blachernæ, and seated on a high throne; and +there they did to him obeisance as their lord. Then they took messengers, by +the advice of the Emperor Isaac, and sent them to the host, to apprise the son +of the Emperor Isaac, and the barons, that the Emperor Alexius had fled, and +that they had again raised up the Emperor Isaac as emperor. +</p> + +<p> +When the young man knew of this he summoned the Marquis Boniface of Montferrat, +and the marquis summoned the barons throughout the host. And when they were met +in the pavilion of the Emperor Isaac’s son, he told them the news. And +when they heard it, their joy was such as cannot be uttered, for never was +greater joy in all this world. And greatly and most devoutly was our Lord +praised by all, in that He had succoured them within so short a term, and +exalted them so high from such a low estate. And therefore well may one say: +“Him whom God will help can no man injure.” +</p> + +<p> +Then the day began to dawn, and the host to put on their armour; and all gat +them to their arms throughout the host, because they did not greatly trust the +Greeks. And messengers began to come out from the city, two or three together, +and told the same tale. The barons and counts, and the Doge of Venice had +agreed to send envoys into the city, to know how matters really stood; and, if +that was true which had been reported, to demand of the father that he should +ratify the covenants made by the son; and, if he would not, to, declare that +they on their part should not suffer the son to enter into the city. So envoys +were chosen: one was Matthew of Montmorency, and Geoffry the Marshal of +Champagne was the other, and two Venetians on the part of the Doge of Venice. +</p> + +<p> +The envoys were conducted to the gate, and the gate was opened to them, and +they dismounted from their horses. The Greeks had set Englishmen and Danes, +with their axes, at the gate and right up to the palace of Blachernæ. Thus were +the envoys conducted to the great palace. There they found the Emperor Isaac, +so richly clad that you would seek in vain throughout the world for a man more +richly apparelled than he, and by his side the empress, his wife, a most fair +lady, the sister of the King of Hungary; and of great men and great ladies +there were so many, that you could not stir foot for the press, and the ladies +were so richly adorned that richer adornment might not be. And all those who, +the day before, had been against the emperor were, on that day, subject in +everything to his good pleasure. +</p> + +<h2>THE EMPEROR ISAAC RATIFIES THE COVENANTS ENTERED INTO BY HIS SON</h2> + +<p> +The envoys came before the Emperor Isaac, and the emperor and all those about +him did them great honour. And the envoys said that they desired to speak to +him privily, on the part of his son, and of the barons of the host. And he +rose and entered into a chamber, and took with him only the empress, and his +chancellor, and his dragoman (interpreter) and the four envoys. By consent of +the other envoys, Geoffry of Villehardouin, the Marshal of Champagne, acted as +spokesman, and he said to the Emperor Isaac: “Sire, thou seest the +service we have rendered to thy son, and how we have kept our covenants with +him. But he cannot come hither till he has given us surety for the covenants he +has made with us. And he asks of thee, as thy son, to confirm those covenants +in the same form, and the same manner, that he has done.” “What +covenants are they?” said the emperor. “They are such as we shall +tell you,” replied the envoys: “In the first place to put the whole +empire of Roumania in obedience to Rome, from which it has been separated this +long while; further to give 200,000 marks of silver to those of the host, with +food for one year for small and great; to send 10,000 men, horse and +foot—many on foot as we shall devise and as many mounted—in his own +ships, and at his own charges, to the land of Babylon, and keep them there for +a year; and during his lifetime to keep, at his own charges, five hundred +knights in the land overseass so that they may guard that land. Such is the +covenant that your son made with us, and it was confirmed by oath, and charters +with seals appended, and by King Philip of Germany who has your daughter to +wife. This covenant we desire you to confirm.” +</p> + +<p> +Certes said the emperor, “this covenant is very onerous, and I do not see +how effect can be given to it; nevertheless, you have done us such service, +both to my son and to myself, that if we bestowed upon you the whole empire, +you would have deserved it well.” Many words were then spoken in this +sense and that, but, in the end, the father confirmed the covenants, as his son +had confirmed them, by oath and by charters with gold seals appended. These +charters were delivered to the envoys. Then they took their leave of the +Emperor Isaac, and went back to the host, and told the barons that they had +fulfilled their mission. +</p> + +<h2>ENTRY OF THE CRUSADERS INTO CONSTANTINOPLE—CORONATION OF THE YOUNG +ALEXIUS</h2> + +<p> +Then did the barons mount their horses, and led the young man, with great +rejoicings, into the city, to his father; and the Greeks opened the gate to +him, and received him with very much rejoicing and great feasting. The joy of +the father and of the son was very great, because of a long time they had not +seen one another, and because, by God’s help and that of the pilgrims, +they had passed from so great poverty and ruin to such high estate. Therefore +the joy was great inside Constantinople; and also without, among the host of +the pilgrims, because of the honour and victory that God had given them. +</p> + +<p> +And on the morrow the emperor and his son also besought the counts and the +barons, for God’s sake, to go and quarter themselves on the other side of +the straits, toward Estanor and Galata; for, if they quartered themselves in +the city, it was to be feared that quarrels would ensue between them and the +Greeks, and it might well chance that the city would be destroyed. And the +counts and barons said that they had already served him in so many ways that +they would not now refuse any request of his. So they went and quartered +themselves on the other side, and sojourned there in peace and quiet, and with +great store of good provisions. +</p> + +<p> +Now you must know that many of those in the host went to see Constantinople, +and the rich palaces and great churches, of which there were many, and all the +great wealth of the city-for never was there city that possessed so much. Of +relics it does not behove me to speak, for at that day there were as many there +as in all the rest of the world. Thus did the Greeks and French live in good +fellowship in all things, both as regards trafficking and other matters. +</p> + +<p> +By common consent of Franks and Greeks it was settled that the new emperor +should be crowned on the feast of our Lord St. Peter (1st August 1203). So was +it settled, and so it was done. He was crowned full worthily and with honour +according to the use for Greek emperors at that time. Afterwards he began to +pay the moneys due to the host; and such moneys were divided among the host, +and each repaid what had been advanced in Venice for his passage. +</p> + +<h2>ALEXIUS BEGS THE CRUSADERS TO PROLONG THEIR STAY</h2> + +<p> +The new emperor went oft to see the barons in the camp, and did them great +honour, as much as he could; and this was but fitting, seeing that they had +served him right well. And one day he came to the camp, to see the barons +privily in the quarters of Count Baldwin of Hainault and Flanders. Thither were +summoned the Doge of Venice, and the great barons, and he spoke to them and +said: “Lords, I am emperor by God’s grace and yours, and you have +done me the highest service that ever yet was done by any people to Christian +man. Now be it known to you that there are folk enough who show me a fair +seeming, and yet love me not; and the Greeks are full of despite because it is +by your help that I have entered into my inheritance. +</p> + +<p> +“Now the term of your departure is nigh, and your fellowship with the +Venetians is timed only to last till the feast of St. Michael. And within so +short a term I cannot fulfil our covenant. Be it known to you therefore, that, +if you abandon me, the Greeks hate me because of you: I shall lose my land, and +they will kill me. But now do this thing that I ask of you: remain here till +March, and I will entertain your ships for one year from the feast of St. +Michael, and bear the cost of the Venetians, and will give you such things as +you may stand in need of till Easter. And within that term I shall have placed +my land in such case that I cannot lose it again; and your covenant will be +fulfilled, for I shall have paid such moneys as are due to you, obtaining them +from all mi lands; and I shall be ready also with ships either to go with you +myself, or to send others, as I have covenanted; and you will have the summer +from end to end in which to carry on the war against the Saracens.” +</p> + +<p> +The barons thereupon said they would consult together apart; knowing full well +that what the young man said was sooth, and that it would be better, both for +the emperor and for themselves, to consent unto him. But they replied that they +could not so consent save with the common agreement of the host, and that they +would therefore lay the matter before the host, and then give such answer as +might be devised. So the Emperor Alexius departed from them, and went back to +Constantinople. And they remained in the camp and assembled a parliament the +next day. To this parliament were summoned all the barons and the chieftains of +the host, and of the knights the greater part; and in their hearing were +repeated all the words that the emperor had spoken. +</p> + +<h2>DEBATE AMONG THE CRUSADERS—DEATH OF MATTHEW OF MONTMORENCY</h2> + +<p> +Then was there much discord in the host, as had been oft times before on the +part of those who wished that the host should break up; for to them it seemed +to be holding together too long. And the party that had raised the discord at +Corfu reminded the others of their oaths, and said: “Give us ships as you +swore to us, for we purpose to go to Syria.” +</p> + +<p> +And the others cried to them for pity and said: “Lords, for God’s +sake, let us not bring to naught the great honour that God has given us. If we +go to Syria at this present, we shall come thither at the beginning of winter +and so not be able to make war, and the Lord’s work will thus remain +undone. But if we wait till March, we shall leave this emperor in good estate, +and go hence rich in goods and in food. Thus shall we go to Syria, and over-run +the land of Babylon. And the fleet will remain with us till Michaelmas, yes, +and onwards from Michaelmas to Easter, seeing it will be unable to leave us +because of the winter. So shall the land overseas fall into our hands.” +</p> + +<p> +Those who wished the host to be broken up, cared not for reasons good or bad so +long as the host fell to pieces. But those who wished to keep the host +together, wrought so effectually, with the help of God, that in the end the +Venetians made a new covenant to maintain the fleet for a year, reckoning from +Michaelmas, the Emperor Alexius paying them for so doing; and the pilgrims, on +their side, made a new covenant to remain in the same fellowship as +theretofore, and for the same term. Thus were peace and concord established in +the host. +</p> + +<p> +Then there befell a very great mischance in the host; for Matthew of +Montmorency, who was one of the best knights in the kingdom of France, and of +the most prized and most honoured, took to his bed for sickness, and his +sickness so increased upon him that he died. And much dole was made for him, +for great was the loss-one of the greatest that had befallen the host by any +man’s death. He was buried in a church of my Lord St. John, of the +Hospital of Jerusalem. +</p> + +<h2>PROGRESS OF THE YOUNG ALEXIUS THROUGH THE EMPIRE</h2> + +<p> +Afterwards, by the advice of the Greeks and the French the Emperor Alexius +issued from Constantinople, with a very great company, purposing to quiet the +empire and subject it to his will. With him went a great part of the barons; +and the others remained to guard the camp. The Marquis Boniface of Montferrat +went with him, and Count Hugh of St. Paul, and Henry, brother to Count Baldwin +of Flanders and Hainault, and James of Avesnes, and William of Champlitte, and +Hugh of Colerni, and many others whom the book does not here mention by name. +In the camp remained Count Baldwin of Flanders and Hainault, and Count Louis of +Blois and Chartres, and the greater part of the pilgrims of lesser note. +</p> + +<p> +And you must know that during this progress all the Greeks, on either side of +the straits, came to the Emperor Alexius, to do his will and commandment, and +did him fealty and homage as to their lord—all except John, who was King +of Wallachia and Bulgaria. This John was a Wallachian, who had rebelled +against his father and uncle, and had warred against them for twenty years, +and had won from them so much land that he had become a very wealthy king. And +be it known to you, that of the land lying on the west side of the Straits of +St. George, he had conquered very nearly the half. This John did not come to do +the will of the emperor, nor to submit himself to him. +</p> + +<h2>CONFLICT BETWEEN THE GREEKS AND LATINS IN CONSTANTINOPLE-BURNING OF THE +CITY</h2> + +<p> +While the Emperor Alexius was away on this progress, there befell a very +grievous misadventure; for a conflict arose between the Greeks and the Latins +who inhabited Constantinople, and of these last there were many. And certain +people—who they were I know not—out of malice, set fire to the +city; and the fire waxed so great and horrible that no man could put it out or +abate it. And when the barons of the host, who were quartered on the other side +of the port, saw this, they were sore grieved and filled with pity-seeing the +great churches and the rich palaces melting and falling in, and the great +streets filled with merchandise burning in the flames; but they could do +nothing. +</p> + +<p> +Thus did the fire prevail, and win across the port, even to the densest part of +the city, and to the sea on the other side, quite near to the church of St. +Sophia. It lasted two days and two nights, nor could it be put out by the hand +of man. And the front of the fire, as it went flaming, was well over half a +league broad. What was the damage then done, what the possessions and riches +swallowed up, could no man tell-nor what the number of men and women and +children who perished-for many were burned. +</p> + +<p> +All the Latins, to whatever land they might belong, who were lodged in +Constantinople, dared no longer to remain therein; but they took their wives +and their children, and such of their possessions as they could save from the +fire, and entered into boats and vessels, and passed over the port and came to +the camp of the pilgrims. Nor were they few in number, for there were of them +some fifteen thousand, small and great; and afterwards it proved to be of +advantage to the pilgrims that these should have crossed over to them. Thus was +there division between the Greeks and the Franks; nor were they ever again as +much at one as they had been before, for neither side knew on whom to cast the +blame for the fire; and this rankled in men’s hearts upon either side. +</p> + +<p> +At that time did a thing befall whereby the barons and those of the host were +greatly saddened; for the Abbot of Loos died, who was a holy man and a worthy, +and had wished well to the host. He was a monk of the order of the Cistercians. +</p> + +<h2>THE YOUNG ALEXIUS RETURNS TO CONSTANTINOPLIZHE FAILS IN HIS PROMISES TO THE +CRUSADERS</h2> + +<p> +The Emperor Alexius remained for a long time on progress, till St. +Martin’s Day, and then he returned to Constantinople. Great was the joy +at his home-coming, and the Greeks and ladies of Constantinople went out to +meet their friends in great cavalcades, and the pilgrims went out to meet their +friends, and had great joy of them. So did the emperor re-enter Constantinople +and the palace of Blachernæ; and the Marquis of Montferrat and the other +barons returned to the camp. +</p> + +<p> +The emperor, who had managed his affairs right well and thought he had now the +upper hand, was filled with arrogance towards the barons and those who had done +so much for him, and never came to see them in the camp, as he had done +aforetime. And they sent to him and begged him to pay them the moneys due, as +he had covenanted. But he led them on from delay to delay, making them, at one +time and another, payments small and poor; and in the end the payments ceased +and came to naught. +</p> + +<p> +The Marquis Boniface of Montferrat, who had done more for him than any other, +and stood better in his regard, went to him oftentimes, and showed him what +great services the Crusaders had rendered him, and that greater services had +never been rendered to any one. And the emperor still entertained them with +delays, and never carried out such things as he had promised, so that at last +they saw and knew clearly that his intent was wholly evil. +</p> + +<p> +Then the barons of the host held a parliament with the Doge of Venice, and they +said that they now knew that the emperor would fulfil no covenant, nor ever +speak sooth to them; and they decided to send good envoys to demand the +fulfilment of their covenant, and to show what services they had done him; and +if he would now do what was required, they were to be satisfied; but, if not, +they were to defy him, and right well might he rest assured that the barons +would by all means recover their due. +</p> + +<h2>THE CRUSADERS DEFY THE EMPERORS</h2> + +<p> +For this embassy were chosen Conon of Béthune and Geoffry of Villehardouin, the +Marshal of Champagne, and Miles the Brabant of Provins; and the Doge also sent +three chief men of his council. So these envoys mounted their horses, and, with +swords girt, rode together till they came to the palace of Blachernæ. And be +it known to you that, by reason of the treachery of the Greeks, they went in +great peril, and on a hard adventure. +</p> + +<p> +They dismounted at the gate and entered the palace, and found the Emperor +Alexius and the Emperor Isaac seated on two thrones, side by side. And near +them was seated the empress, who was the wife of the father, and stepmother of +the son, and sister to the King of Hungary-a lady both fair and good. And there +were with them a great company of people of note and rank, so that well did the +court seem the court of a rich and mighty prince. +</p> + +<p> +By desire of the other envoys Conon of Béthune, who was very wise and eloquent +of speech, acted as spokesman: “Sire, we have come to thee on the part of +the barons of the host and of the Doge of Venice. They would put thee in mind +of the great service they have done to thee-a service known to the people and +manifest to all men. Thou hast swom, thou and thy father, to fulfil the +promised covenants, and they have your charters in hand. But you have not +fulfilled those covenants well, as you should have done. Many times have they +called upon you to do so, and now again we call upon you, in the presence of +all your barons, to fulfil the covenants that are between you and them. Should +you do so, it shall be well. If not, be it known to you that from this day +forth they will not hold you as lord or friend, but will endeavour to obtain +their due by all the means in their power. And of this they now give you +warning, seeing that they would not injure you, nor any one, without first +defiance given; for never have they acted treacherously, nor in their land is +it customary to do so. You have heard what we have said. It is for you to take +counsel thereon according to your pleasure.” +</p> + +<p> +Much were the Greeks amazed and greatly outraged by this open defiance; and +they said that never had any one been so hardy as to dare defy the Emperor of +Constantinople in his own hall. Very evil were the looks now cast on the envoys +by the Emperor Alexius and by all the Greeks, who aforetime were wont to regard +them very favourably. +</p> + +<p> +Great was the tumult there within, and the envoys turned about and came to the +gate and mounted their horses. When they got outside the gate, there was not +one of them but felt glad at heart; nor is that to be marvelled at, for they +had escaped from very great peril, and it held to very little that they were +not all killed or taken. So they returned to the camp, and told the barons how +they had fared. +</p> + +<h2>THE WAR BEGINS—THE GREEKS ENDEAVOUR TO SET FIRE TO THE FLEET OF THE +CRUSADERS</h2> + +<p> +Thus did the war begin; and each side did to the other as much harm as they +could, by sea and by land. The Franks and the Greeks fought often; but never +did they fight, let God be praised therefor I that the Greeks did not lose more +than the Franks. So the war lasted a long space, till the heart of the winter. +</p> + +<p> +Then the Greeks bethought themselves of a very great device, for they took +seven large ships, and filled them full of big logs, and shavings, and tow, and +resin, and barrels, and then waited until such time as the wind should blow +strongly from their side of the straits. And one night, at midnight, they set +fire to the ships, and unfurled their sails to the wind. And the flames blazed +up high, so that it seemed as if the whole world were a-fire. Thus did the +burning ships come towards the fleet of the pilgrims; and a great cry arose in +the host, and all sprang to arms on every side. The Venetians ran to their +ships, and so did all those who had ships in possession, and they began to draw +them away out of the flames very vigorously. +</p> + +<p> +And to this bears witness Geoffry the Marshal of Champagne, who dictates this +work, that never did people help themselves better at sea than the Venetians +did that night; for they sprang into the galleys and boats belonging to the +ships, and seized upon the fire ships, all burning as they were, with hooks, +and dragged them by main force before their enemies, outside the port, and set +them into the current of the straits, and left them to go burning down the +straits. So many of the Greeks had come down to the shore that they were +without end and innumerable, and their cries were so great that it seemed as if +the earth and sea would melt together. They got into barges and boats, and shot +at those on our side who were battling with the flames, so that some were +wounded. +</p> + +<p> +All the knights of the host, as soon as they heard the clamour, armed +themselves; and the battalions marched out into the plain, each according to +the order in which they had been quartered, for they feared lest the Greeks +should also attack them on land. +</p> + +<p> +They endured thus in labour and anguish till daylight; but by God’s help +those on our side lost nothing, save a Pisan ship, which was full of +merchandise, and was burned with fire. Deadly was the peril in which we stood +that night, for if the fleet had been consumed, all would have been lost, and +we should never have been able to get away by land or sea. Such was the guerdon +which the Emperor Alexius would have bestowed upon us in return for our +services. +</p> + +<h2>MOURZUPHLES USURPS THE EMPIRE—ISAAC DIES, AND THE YOUNG ALEXIUS IS +STRANGLED</h2> + +<p> +Then the Greeks, being thus embroiled with the Franks, saw that there was no +hope of peace; so they privily took counsel together to betray their lord. Now +there was a Greek who stood higher in his favour than all others, and had done +more to make him embroil himself with the Franks than any other. This Greek was +named Mourzuphles. +</p> + +<p> +With the advice and consent of the others, one night towards midnight, when the +Emperor Alexius was asleep in his chamber, those who ought to have been +guarding him and specially Mourzuphles-took him in his bed and threw him into a +dungeon in prison. Then Mourzuphles assumed the scarlet buskins with the help +and by the counsel of the other Greeks (January 1204). So he made himself +emperor. Afterwards they crowned him at St. Sophia. Now see if ever people +were guilty of such horrible treachery! +</p> + +<p> +When the Emperor Isaac heard that his son was taken and Mourzuphles crowned, +great fear came upon him, and he fell into a sickness that lasted no long time. +So he died. And the Emperor Mourzuphles caused the son, whom he had in prison, +to be poisoned two or three times; but it did not please God that he should +thus die. Afterwards the emperor went and strangled him, and when he had +strangled him, he caused it to be reported everywhere that he had died a +natural death, and had him mourned for, and buried honourably and as an +emperor, and made great show of grief. +</p> + +<p> +But murder cannot be hid. Soon was it clearly known, both to the Greeks and to +the French, that this murder had been committed, as has just been told to you. +Then did the barons of the host and the Doge of Venice assemble in parliament, +and with them met the bishops and the clergy. And all the clergy, including +those who had powers from the Pope, showed to the barons and to the pilgrims +that any one guilty of such a murder had no right to hold lands, and that those +who consented thereto were abettors of the murder; and beyond all this, that +the Greeks had withdrawn themselves from obedience to Rome. “Wherefore we +tell you,” said the clergy, “that this war is lawful and just, and +that if you have a right intention in conquering this land, to bring it into +the Roman obedience, all those who die after confession shall have part in the +indulgence granted by the Pope.” And you must know that by this the +barons and pilgrims were greatly comforted. +</p> + +<h2>THE CRUSADERS CONTINUE THE WAR—DEFEAT OF MOURZUPHLES</h2> + +<p> +Dire was the war between the Franks and the Greeks, for it abated not, but +rather increased and waxed fiercer, so that few were the days on which there +was not fighting by sea or land. Then Henry, the brother of Count Baldwin of +Flanders rode forth, and took with him a great part of the good men in the +host. With him went James of Avesnes, and Baldwin of Beauvoir, Odo of Champagne +of Champlitte, William his brother, and the people of their country. They +started at vesper time and rode all night, and on the morrow, when it was full +day, they came to a good city, called Phile, and took it; and they had great +gain, beasts, and prisoners, and clothing, and food, which they sent in boats +down the straits to the camp, for the city lies on the sea of Russia. +</p> + +<p> +So they sojourned two days in that city, with food in great plenty, enough and +to spare. The third day they departed with the beasts and the booty, and rode +back towards the camp. Now the Emperor Mourzuphles heard tell how they had +issued from the camp, and he left Constantinople by night, with a great part of +his people, and set himself in ambush at a place by which they must needs pass. +And he watched them pass with their beasts and their booty, each division, the +one after the other, till it came to the rearguard. The rear-guard was under +the command of Henry, the brother of Count Baldwin of Flanders, and formed of +his people, and the Emperor Mourzuphles fell upon them at the entrance to a +wood; whereupon they turned against him. Very fiercely did the battle rage +there. +</p> + +<p> +By God’s help the Emperor Mourzuphles was discomfited, and came near to +being taken captive; and he lost his imperial banner and an Eikon that was home +before him, in which he and the other Greeks had great confidence—it was +an Eikon that figured our Lady—and he lost at least twenty knights of the +best people that he had. Thus was discomfited the Emperor Mourzuphles, as you +have just heard and fiercely did the war rage between him and the Franks; and +by this time a great part of the winter had already passed, and it was near +Candlemas (2nd February 1204), and Lent was approaching. +</p> + +<h2>OF THE PILGRIMS WHO HAD GONE TO SYRIA</h2> + +<p> +Now we will leave off speaking of the host before Constantinople, and speak of +those who sailed from other ports than Venice, and of the ships of Flanders +that had sojourned during the winter at Marseilles, and had all gone over in the +summer to the land of Syria; and these were far more in number than the host +before Constantinople. Listen now, and you shall hear what a great mischance it +was that they had not joined themselves to the host, for in that case would +Christendom have been for ever exalted. But because of their sins, God would +not so have it, for some died of the sickness of the land, and some turned back +to their own homes. Nor did they perform any great deeds, or achieve aught of +good, in the land oversea. +</p> + +<p> +And there started also a company of very good men to go to Antioch, to join +Boemond, prince of Antioch and Count of Tripoli, who was at war with King Leon, +the lord of the Armenians. This company was going to the prince to be in his +pay; and the Turks of the land knew of it, and made an ambuscade there where +the men of the company needs must pass. And they came thither, and fought, and +the Franks were discomfited, so that not one escaped that was not killed or +taken. +</p> + +<p> +There were slain Villain of Neuilly, who was one of the best knights in the +world, and Giles of Trasegnies, and many others; and were taken Bernard of +Moreuil, and Renaud of Dampierre, and John of Villers, and William of Neuilly. +And you must know that eighty knights were in this company, and every one was +either killed or taken. And well does this book bear witness, that of those who +avoided the host of Venice, there was not one but suffered harm or shame. He +therefore must be accounted wise who holds to the better course. +</p> + +<h2>AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE FRANKS AND VENETIANS BEFORE ATTACKING +CONSTANTINOPLE</h2> + +<p> +Now let us leave speaking of those who avoided the host, and speak of those +before Constantinople. Well had these prepared all their engines, and mounted +their petraries, and mangonels on the ships and on the transports, and got +ready all such engines of war as are needful for the taking of a city, and +raised ladders from the yards and masts of the vessels, so high that they were +a marvel to behold.* +</p> + +<p class="footnote"> +[Note: This passage is obscure in the original.] +</p> + +<p> +And when the Greeks saw this, they began, on their side, to strengthen the +defences of the city which was enclosed with high walls and high towers. Nor +was any tower so high that they did not raise thereon two or three stages of +wood to heighten it still more. Never was city so well fortified. Thus did the +Greeks and the Franks bestir themselves on the one side and the other during +the greater part of Lent. +</p> + +<p> +Then those of the host spoke together, and took counsel what they should do. +Much was advanced this way and that, but in the end, they devised that if God +granted them entry into the city by force, all the booty taken was to be +brought together, and fittingly distributed; and further, if the city fell into +their power, six men should be taken from among the Franks, and six from among +the Venetians, and these twelve should swear, on holy relics, to elect as +emperor the man who, as they deemed, would rule with most profit to the land. +And whosoever was thus elected emperor, would have one quarter of whatever was +captured, whether within the city or without, and moreover would possess the +palace of Bucoleon and that of Blachernæ; and the remaining three parts would +be divided into two, and one of the halves awarded to the Venetians and the +other to those of the host. +</p> + +<p> +And there should be taken twelve of the wisest and most experienced men among +the host of the pilgrims, and twelve among the Venetians, and those twenty-four +would divide fiefs and honours, and appoint the service to be done therefor to +the emperor. +</p> + +<p> +This covenant was made sure and sworn to on the one side and the other by the +Franks and the Venetians; with provision that at the end of March, a year +thence, any who so desired might depart hence and go their way, but that those +who remained in the land would be held to the service of the emperor in such +mariner as might be ordained. Thus was the covenant devised and made sure; and +such as should not observe it were excommunicated by the clergy. +</p> + +<h2>ATTACK OF THE CRUSADERS REPULSED—THEY MAKE READY FOR ANOTHER +ASSAULT</h2> + +<p> +The fleet was very well prepared and armed, and provisions were got together +for the pilgrims. On the Thursday after mid-Lent (8th April 1204), all entered +into the vessels, and put their horses into the transports. Each division had +its own ships, and all were ranged side by side; and the ships were separated +from the galleys and transports. A marvellous sight it was to see; and well +does this book bear witness that the attack, as it had been devised, extended +over full half a French league. +</p> + +<p> +On the Friday morning the ships and the galleys and the other vessels drew near +to the city in due order, and then began an assault most fell and fierce. In +many places the pilgrims landed and went up to the walls, and in many places +the scaling ladders on the ships approached so close, that those on the towers +and on the walls and those on the ladders crossed lances, hand to hand. Thus +lasted the assault, in more than a hundred places, very fierce, and very dour, +and very proud, till near upon the hour of nones. +</p> + +<p> +But, for our sins, the pilgrims were repulsed in that assault, and those who +had landed from the galleys and transports were driven back into them by main +force. And you must know that on that day those of the host lost more than the +Greeks, and much were the Greeks rejoiced thereat. And some there were who drew +back from the assault, with the ships in which they were. And some remained +with their ships at anchor so near to the city that from either side they shot +at one another with petraries and mangonels. +</p> + +<p> +Then, at vesper time, those of the host and the Doge of Venice called together +a parliament, and assembled in a church on the other side of the +straits—on the side where they had been quartered. There were many +opinions given and discussed; and much were those of the host moved for the +mischief that had that day befallen them. And many advised that they should +attack the city on another side—the side where it was not so well +fortified. But the Venetians, who had fuller knowledge of the sea, said that if +they went to that other side, the current would carry them down the straits, +and that they would be unable to stop their ships. And you must know that there +were those who would have been well pleased if the current had home them down +the straits, or the wind, they cared not whither, so long as they left that +land behind, and went on their way. Nor is this to be wondered at, for they +were in sore peril. +</p> + +<p> +Enough was there spoken, this way and in that; but the conclusion of their +deliberation was this: that they would repair and refit on the following day, +which was Saturday, and during the whole of Sunday, and that on the Monday they +would return to the assault; and they devised further that the ships that +carried the scaling ladders should be bound together, two and two, so that two +ships should be in case to attack one tower; for they had perceived that day +how only one ship had attacked each tower, and that this had been too heavy a +task for the ship, seeing that those in the tower were more in number than +those on the ladder. For this reason was it well seen that two ships would +attack each tower with greater effect than one. As had been settled, so was it +done, and they waited thus during the Saturday and Sunday. +</p> + +<h2>THE CRUSADERS TAKE A PART OF THE CITY</h2> + +<p> +Before the assault the Emperor Mourzuphles had come to encamp, with all his +power, in an open space, and had there pitched his scarlet tents. Thus matters +remained till the Monday morning, when those on the ships, transports, and +galleys were all armed. And those of the city stood in much less fear of them +than they did at the beginning, and were in such good spirits that on the walls +and towers you could see nothing but people. Then began an assault proud and +marvellous, and every ship went straight before it to the attack. The noise of +the battle was so great that it seemed to read the earth. +</p> + +<p> +Thus did the assault last for a long while, till our Lord raised a wind called +Boreas which drove the ships and vessels further up on to the shore. And two +ships that were bound together, of which the one was called the Pilgrim and the +other the <i>Paradise</i>, approached so near to a tower, the one on the one +side and the other on the other—so as God and the wind drove +them—that the ladder of the Pilgrim joined on to the tower. Immediately a +Venetian, and a knight of France, whose name was Andrew of Urboise, entered +into the tower, and other people began to enter after them, and those in the +tower were discomfited and fled.* +</p> + +<p class="footnote"> +[Note: [pp. 61–63]: I should like to quote here another feat of arms related by +Robert of Clari, one of those feats that serve to explain how the Crusaders +obtained mastery—the mastery of perfect fearlessness—over the +Greeks. Robert of Clari, then, relates how a small body of the besiegers, ten +knights and nine sergeants, had come before a postem which had been newly +bricked up. “Now there was there a clerk, Aleaume of Clari by name, who +had shown his courage whenever there was need, and was always first in any +assault at which he might be present; and when the tower of Galata was taken, +this same clerk had performed more deeds of prowess with his body, man for man, +than any one in the host, save only the Lord Peter of Bracuel; for the Lord +Peter it was who surpassed all others, whether of high or low degree, so that +there was none other that performed such feats of arms, or acts of prowess with +his body, as the Lord Peter of Bracuel. So when they came to the postern they +began to hew and pick at it very hardily; but the bolts flew at them so thick, +and so many stones were hurled at them from the wall, that it seemed as if they +would be buried beneath the stones—such was the mass of quarries and +stones thrown from above. And those who were below held up targes and shields +to cover those who were picking and hewing underneath; and those above threw +down pots of boiling pitch, and Greek fire, and large rocks, so that it was one +of God’s miracles that the assailants were not utterly confounded; for my +Lord Peter and his men suffered more than enough of blows and grievous danger. +However, so did they hack at the postern, both above and below, with their axes +and good swords, that they made a great bole therein; and when the postern was +broken through, they all swarmed to the aperture, but saw so many people above +and below, that it seemed as if half the world were there, and they dared not +be so bold as to enter.<br /> + “Now when Aleaume, the clerk, saw that no one dared to go in, be +sprang forward, and said that go in he would. And there was there present a +knight, a brother to the clerk (the knight’s name was Robert +of Clari), who forbade him, and said he should not go in. And the clerk said he +would, and scrambled in on his hands and feet. And when the knight saw this, he +took hold upon him, by the foot, and began to drag him back. But in his +brother’s despite, and whether his brother would or not, the clerk went +in. And when he was within, many were the Greeks who ran upon him, and those on +the walls cast big stones upon him. And the clerk drew his knife, and ran at +them; and he drave them before him as if they had been cattle, and cried to +those who were without, to the Lord Peter of Amiens and his folk, ‘Sire, +come in boldly, I see that they are falling back discomfited and flying.’ +When my Lord Peter heard this, he and his people who were without, they entered +in; and there were no more than ten knights with him, but there were some sixty +sergeants, and they were all on foot. And when those who were on the wall at +that place saw them, they had such fear that they did not dare to remain there, +but avoided a great space on the wall, and fled helter-skelter.<br /> + “Now the Emperor Mourzuphles, the traitor, was near by, at less than a +stone’s throw of distance, and he caused the silver horns to be sounded, +and the cymbals, and a great noise to be made. And when he saw my Lord Peter, +and his people, who had entered in on foot, he made a great show of falling +upon them, and spurring forward, came about half-way to where they stood. But +my Lord Peter, when he saw him coming, began to encourage his people, and to +say: ‘Now, Lord God, grant that we may do well, and the battle is ours. +Here comes the emperor! Let no one dare to think of retreat, but each bethink +himself to do well’ Then Mourzuphles, seeing that they would in no wise +give way, stayed where he was, and then turned back to his tents.”<br /> + After this, according to Robert of Clari, Lord Peter’s men break open +a gate, and the Crusaders enter into the city. See <i>Li Estoires de chiaus +qus conquisent Constantinoble, de Robert de Clari en aminois, chevalier</i>, pp. +60–62. The volume in the British Museum is undated, and there is this note in +the catalogue, “No more printed.” The volume itself is noteless, +though there are printed marks here and there which would suggest that notes +were intended. The Chronicle of Robert of Clari win also be found in +Hopf’s <i>Chroniques Gréco-romanes inédites ou peu connues</i>, etc., pp. +1–85, Berlin, 1873.] +</p> + +<p> +When the knights see this, who are in the transports, they land, and raise +their ladders against the wall, and scale the top of the wall by main force, +and so take four of the towers. And all begin to leap out of the ships and +transports and galleys, helter-skelter, each as best he can; and they break in +some three of the gates and enter in; and they draw the horses out of the +transports; and the knights mount and ride straight to the quarters of the +Emperor Mourzuphles. He had his battalions arrayed before his tents, and when +his men see the mounted knights coming, they lose heart and fly; and so goes +the emperor flying through the streets to the castle of Bucoleon. +</p> + +<p> +Then might you have seen the Greeks beaten down; and horses and palfreys +captured, and mules, and other booty. Of killed and wounded there was neither +end nor measure. A great part of the Greek lords had fled towards the gate of +Blachernæ. And vesper-time was already past, and those of the host were wear of +the battle and of the slaying,. And they began to assemble in a great open +space that was in Constantinople, and decided that they would take up their +quarters near the walls and towers they had captured. Never had they thought +that in a whole month they should be able to take the city, with its great +churches, and great palaces, and the people that were in it. +</p> + +<h2>FLIGHT OF MOURZUPHLES—SECOND FIRE IN CONSTANTINOPLE</h2> + +<p> +As they had settled, so was it done, and they encamped before the walls and +before the towers by their ships. Count Baldwin of Flanders and Hainault +quartered himself in the scarlet tents that the Emperor Mourzuphles had left +standing, and Henry his brother before the palace of Blachernæ; and Boniface, +Marquis of Montferrat, he and his men, towards the thickest part of the city. +So were the host encamped as you have heard, and Constantinople taken on the +Monday after Palm Sunday (12th April 1204). +</p> + +<p> +Now Count Louis of Blois and Chartres had languished all the winter with a +quartan fever, and could not bear his armour. And you must know that this was a +great misfortune to the host, seeing he was a good knight of his body; and he +lay in one of the transports. +</p> + +<p> +Thus did those of the host, who were very weary, rest that night. But the +Emperor Mourzuphles rested not, for he assembled all his people, and said he +would go and attack the Franks. Nevertheless he did not do as he had said, for +he rode along other streets, as far as he could from those held by the host, +and came to a gate which is called the Golden Gate, whereby he escaped, and +avoided the city; and afterwards all who could fled also. And of all this those +of the host knew nothing. +</p> + +<p> +During that night, towards the quarters of Boniface Marquis of Montferrat, +certain people, whose names are unknown to me, being in fear lest the Greeks +should attack them, set fire to the buildings between themselves and the +Greeks. And the city began to take fire, and to burn very direfully; and it +burned all that night and all the next day, till vesper-time. And this was the +third fire there had been in Constantinople since the Franks arrived in the +land; and more houses had been burned in the city than there are houses in any +three of the greatest cities in the kingdom of France. +</p> + +<p> +That night passed and the next day came, which was a Tuesday morning (13th +April 1204); and all armed themselves throughout the host, both knights and +sergeants, and each repaired to his post. Then they issued from their quarters, +and thought to find a sorer battle than the day before, for no word had come to +them that the emperor had fled during the night. But they found none to oppose +them. +</p> + +<h2>THE CRUSADERS OCCUPY THE CITY</h2> + +<p> +The Marquis Boniface of Montferrat rode all along the shore to the palace of +Bucoleon, and when he arrived there it surrendered, on condition that the lives +of all therein should be spared. At Bucoleon were found the larger number of +the great ladies who had fled to the castle, for there were found the sister* +of the King of France, who had been empress, and the sister** of the King of +Hungary, who had also been empress, and other ladies very many. Of the treasure +that was found in that palace I cannot well speak, for there was so much that +it was beyond end or counting. +</p> + +<p class="footnote"> +[* Agnes, sister of Philip Augustus, married successively to Alexius II., to +Andronicus, and to Theodore Branas] +</p> + +<p class="footnote"> +[** Margaret, sister of Emeric, King of Hungary, married to the Emperor Isaac, +and afterwards to the Marquis of Montferrat.] +</p> + +<p> +At the same time that this palace was surrendered to the Marquis Boniface of +Montferrat, did the palace of Blachernæ surrender to Henry, the brother of +Count Baldwin of Flanders, on condition that no hurt should be done to the +bodies of those who were therein. There too was found much treasure, not less +than in the palace of Bucoleon. Each garrisoned with his own people the castle +that had been surrendered to him, and set a guard over the treasure. And the +other people, spread abroad throughout the city, also gained much booty. The +booty gained was so great that none could tell you the end of it: gold and +silver, and vessels and precious stones, and samite, and cloth of silk, and +robes vair and grey, and ermine, and every choicest thing found upon the earth. +And well does Geoffry of Villehardouin the Marshal of Champagne, bear witness, +that never, since the world was created, had so much booty been won in any +city. +</p> + +<p> +Every one took quarters where he pleased and of lodgings there was no stint. So +the host of the pilgrims and of the Venetians found quarters, and greatly did +they rejoice and give thanks because of the victory God had vouchsafed to +them—for those who before had been poor were now in wealth and luxury. +Thus they celebrated Palm Sunday and the Easter Day following (25th April 1204) +in the joy and honour that God had bestowed upon them. And well might they +praise our Lord, since in all the host there were no more than twenty thousand +armed men, one with another, and with the help of God they had conquered four +hundred thousand men, or more, and in the strongest city in all the +world—yea, a great city—and very well fortified. +</p> + +<h2>DIVISION OF THE SPOIL</h2> + +<p> +Then was it proclaimed throughout the host by the Marquis Boniface of +Montferrat, who was lord of the host, and by the barons, and by the Doge of +Venice, that all the booty should be collected and brought together, as had +been covenanted under oath and pain of excommunication. Three churches were +appointed for the receiving of the spoils, and guards were set to have them in +charge, both Franks and Venetians, the most upright that could be found. +</p> + +<p> +Then each began to bring in such booty as he had taken, and to collect it +together. And some brought in loyally, and some in evil sort, because +covetousness, which is the root of all evil, let and hindered them. So from +that time forth the covetous began to keep things back, and our Lord began to +love them less. Ah God! how loyally they had borne themselves up to now! And +well had the Lord God shown them that in all things He was ready to honour and +exalt them above all people. But full oft do the good suffer for the sins of +the wicked. +</p> + +<p> +The spoils and booty were collected together, and you must know that all was +not brought into the common stock, for not a few kept thin-s back, maugre the +excommunication of the Pope. That which was brought to the churches was +collected together and divided, in equal parts, between the Franks and the +Venetians, according to the sworn covenant. And you must know further that the +pilgrims, after the division had been made, paid out of their share fifty +thousand marks of silver to the Venetians, and then divided at least one +hundred thousand marks between themselves, among their own people. And shall I +tell you in what wise? Two sergeants on foot counted as one mounted, and two +sergeants mounted as one knight. And you must know that no man received more, +either on account of his rank or because of his deeds, than that which had been +so settled and ordered—save in so far as he may have stolen it. +</p> + +<p> +And as to theft, and those who were convicted thereof, you must know that stem +justice was meted out to such as were found guilty, and not a few were hung. +The Count of St. Paul hung one of his knights, who had kept back certain +spoils, with his shield to his neck; but many there were, both great and small, +who kept back part of the spoils, and it was never known. Well may you be +assured that the spoil was very great, for if it had not been for what was +stolen, and for the part given to the Venetians, there would if have been at +least four hundred thousand marks of silver and at least ten thousand +horses—one with another. Thus were divided the spoils of Constantinople, +as you have heard. +</p> + +<h2>BALDWIN, COUNT OF FLANDERS, ELECTED EMPEROR</h2> + +<p> +Then a parliament assembled, and the commons of the host declared that an +emperor must be elected, as had been settled aforetime. And they parliamented +so long that the matter was adjourned to another day, and on that day would +they choose the twelve electors who were to make the election. Nor was it +possible that there should be lack of candidates, or of men covetous, seeing +that so great an honour was in question as the imperial throne of +Constantinople. But the greatest discord that arose was the discord concerning +Count Baldwin of Flanders and Hainault and the Marquis Boniface of Montferrat; +for all the people said that either of those two should be elected. +</p> + +<p> +And when the chief men of the host saw that all held either for Count Baldwin +or for the Marquis of Montferrat, they conferred together and said: +“Lords, if we elect one of these two great men, the other will be so +filled with envy that he will take away with him all his people. And then the +land that we have won may be lost, just as the land of Jerusalem came nigh to +be lost when, after it had been conquered, Godfrey of Bouillon was elected +king, and the Count of St. Giles became so fulfilled with envy that he enticed +the other barons, and whomsoever he could, to abandon the host. Then did many +people depart, and there remained so few that, if God had not sustained them, +the land of Jerusalem would have been lost. Let us therefore beware lest the +same mischance befall us also, and rather bethink ourselves how we may keep +both these lords in the host. Let the one on whom God shall bestow the empire +so devise that the other is well content; let him grant to that other all the +land on the further side of the straits, towards Turkey, and the Isle of +Greece, and that other shall be his liegeman. Thus shall we keep both lords in +the host.” +</p> + +<p> +As had been proposed, so was it settled, and both consented right willingly. +Then came the day for the parliament, and the parliament assembled. And the +twelve electors were chosen, six on one side and six on the other; and they +swore on holy relics to elect, duly, and in good faith, whomsoever would best +meet the needs of the host, and bear rule over the empire most worthily. +</p> + +<p> +Thus were the twelve chosen, and a day appointed for the election of the +emperor; and on the appointed day the twelve electors met at a rich palace, one +of the fairest in the world, where the Doge of Venice had his quarters. Great +and marvellous was the concourse, for every one wished to see who should be +elected. Then were the twelve electors called, and set in a very rich chapel +within the palace, and the door was shut, so that no one remained with them. +The barons and knights stayed without in a great palace. +</p> + +<p> +The council lasted till they were agreed; and by consent of all they appointed +Nevelon, Bishop of Soissons, who was one of the twelve, to act as spokesman. +Then they came out to the place where all the barons were assembled, and the +Doge of Venice. Now you must know that many set eyes upon them, to know how the +election had turned. And the bishop, lifting up his voice—while all +listened intently—spoke as he had been charged, and said: “Lords, +we are agreed, let God be thanked! upon the choice of an emperor; and you have +all sworn that he whom we shall elect as emperor shall be held by you to be +emperor indeed, and that it any one gainsay him, you will be his helpers. And +we name him now at the self-same hour when God was born, THE COUNT BALDWIN OF +FLANDERS AND HAINAULT!” +</p> + +<p> +A cry of joy was raised in the palace, and they bore the count out of the +palace, and the Marquis Boniface of Montferrat bore him on one side to the +church, and showed him all the honour he could. So was the Count Baldwin of +Flanders and Hainault elected emperor, and a day appointed for his coronation, +three weeks after Easter (16th May 1204). And you must know that many a rich +robe was made for the coronation; nor did they want for the wherewithal. +</p> + +<h2>BONIFACE WEDS ISAAC’S WIDOW, AND AFTER BALDWIN’S CORONATION +OBTAINS THE KINGDOM OF SALONIKA</h2> + +<p> +Before the time appointed for the coronation, the Marquis Boniface of +Montferrat espoused the empress who had been the wife of the Emperor Isaac, and +was sister to the King of Hungary. And within that time also did one of the +most noble barons of the host, who bore the name of Odo of Champlitte of +Champagne, make an end and die. Much was he mourned and bewept by William his +brother, and by his other friends; and he was buried in the church of the +Apostles with great honour. +</p> + +<p> +The time for the coronation drew near, and the Emperor Baldwin was crowned with +great joy and great honour in the church of St. Sophia, in the year of the +Incarnation of Jesus Christ one thousand twelve hundred and four. Of the +rejoicings and feasting there is no need to speak further, for the barons and +knights did all they could; and the Marquis Boniface of Montferrat and Count +Louis of Blois and Chartres did homage to the emperor as their lord. After the +great rejoicings and ceremonies of the coronation, he was taken in great pomp, +and with a great procession, to the rich palace of Bucoleon. And when the +feastings were over he began to discuss his affairs. +</p> + +<p> +Boniface the Marquis of Montferrat called upon him to carry out the covenant +made, and give him, as he was bound to do, the land on the other side of the +straits towards Turkey and the Isle of Greece. And the emperor acknowledged +that he was bound so to do, and said he would do it right willingly. And when +the Marquis of Montferrat saw that the emperor was willing to carry out this +covenant so debonairly, he besought him, in exchange for this land, to bestow +upon him the kingdom of Salonika, because it lay near the land of the King of +Hungary, whose sister he had taken to wife. +</p> + +<p> +Much was this matter debated in various ways; but in the end the emperor +granted the land of Salonika to the marquis, and the marquis did homage +therefor. And at this there was much joy throughout the host, because the +marquis was one of the knights most highly prized in all the world, and one +whom the knights most loved, inasmuch as no one dealt with them more liberally +than he. Thus the marquis remained in the land, as you have heard. +</p> + +<h2>BALDWIN MARCHES AGAINST MOURZUPHLES</h2> + +<p> +The Emperor Mourzuphles had not yet removed more than four days’ journey +from Constantinople; and he had taken with him the empress who had been the +wife of the Emperor Alexius, who aforetime had fled, and his daughter. This +Emperor Alexius was in a city called Messinopolis, with all his people, and +still held a great part of the land. And at that time the men of note in Greece +departed, and a large number passed over the straits towards Turkey; and each +one, for his own advantage, made himself master of such lands as he could lay +hands upon; and the same thing happened also throughout the other parts of the +empire. +</p> + +<p> +The Emperor Mourzuphles made no long tarrying before he took a city which had +surrendered to my lord the Emperor Baldwin, a city called Tchorlu. So he took +it and sacked it, and seized whatever he found there. When the news thereof +came to the Emperor Baldwin, he took counsel with the barons, and with the Doge +of Venice, and they agreed to this, that he should issue forth, with all his +host, to make conquest of the land, and leave a garrison in Constantinople to +keep it sure, seeing that the city had been newly taken and was peopled with +the Greeks. +</p> + +<p> +So did they decide, and the host was called together, and decision made as to +who should remain in Constantinople, and who should go in the host with the +Emperor Baldwin. In Constantinople remained Count Louis of Blois and Chartres, +who had been sick, and was not yet recovered, and the Doge of Venice. And Conon +of Béthune remained in the palaces of Blachernæ and Bucoleon to keep the city; +and with him Geoffry the Marshal of Champagne, and Miles the Brabant of +Provins, and Manasses of l’Isle, and all their people. All the rest made +ready to go in the host with the emperor. +</p> + +<p> +Before the Emperor Baldwin left Constantinople, his brother Henry departed +thence, by his command, with a hundred very good knights; and he rode from city +to city, and in every city to which he came the people swore fealty to the +emperor. So he fared forward till he came to Adrianople, which was a good city, +and wealthy; and those of the city received him right willingly and swore +fealty to the emperor. Then he lodged in the city, he and his people, and +sojourned there till the Emperor Baldwin came thither. +</p> + +<h2>MOURZUPHLES TAKES REFUGE WITH ALEXIUS, THE BROTHER OF ISAAC, WHO PUTS OUT +HIS EYES</h2> + +<p> +The Emperor Mourzuphles, when he heard that they thus advanced against him, did +not dare to abide their coming, but remained always two or three days’ +march in advance. So he fared forward till he came near Messinopolis, where the +Emperor Alexius was sojourning, and he sent on messengers, telling Alexius that +he would give him help, and do all his behests. And the Emperor Alexius +answered that he should be as welcome as if he were his own son, and that he +would give him his daughter to wife, and make of him his son. So the Emperor +Mourzuphles encamped before Messinopolis, and pitched his tents and pavilions, +and Alexius was quartered within the city. So they conferred together, and +Alexius gave him his daughter to wife, and they entered into alliance, and said +they should be as one. +</p> + +<p> +They sojourned thus for I know not how many days, the one in the camp and the +other in the city, and then did the Emperor Alexius invite the Emperor +Mourzuphles to come and eat with him, and to go with him to the baths. So were +matters settled. The Emperor Mourzuphles came privately, and with few people, +and when he was within the house, the Emperor Alexius called him into a privy +chamber, and had him thrown on to the ground, and the eyes drawn out of his +head. And this was done in such treacherous wise as you have heard. Now say +whether this people, who wrought such cruelty one to another, were fit to have +lands in possession I And when the host of the Emperor Mourzuphles heard what +had been done, they scattered, and fled this way and that; and some joined +themselves to the Emperor Alexius, and obeyed him as their lord, and remained +with him. +</p> + +<h2>BALDWIN MARCHES AGAINST ALEXIUS—HE IS JOINED BY BONIFACE</h2> + +<p> +Then the Emperor Baldwin moved from Constantinople, with all his host, and rode +forward till he came to Adrianople. There he found Henry his brother, and the +men with him. All the people whithersoever the emperor passed, came to him, and +put themselves at his mercy and under his rule. And while they were at +Adrianople, they heard the news that the Emperor Alexius had pulled out the +eyes of the Emperor Mourzuphles. Of this there was much talk among them; and +well did all say that those who betrayed one another so disloyally and +treacherously had no right to hold land in possession. +</p> + +<p> +Then was the Emperor Baldwin minded to ride straight to Messinopolis, where the +Emperor Alexius was. And the Greeks of Adrianople besought him, as their lord, +to leave a garrison in their city because of Johannizza, King of Wallachia and +Bulgaria, who ofttimes made war upon them. And the Emperor Baldwin left there +Eustace of Saubruic, who was a knight of Flanders, very worthy and very +valiant, together with forty right good knights, and a hundred mounted +sergeants. +</p> + +<p> +So departed the Emperor Baldwin from Adrianople, and rode towards Messinopolis, +where he thought to find the Emperor Alexius. All the people of the lands +through which he passed put themselves under his rule and at his mercy; and +when the Emperor Alexius saw this, he avoided Messinopolis and fled. And the +Emperor Baldwin rode on till he came before Messinopolis; and those of the city +went out to meet him and surrendered the city to his commandment. +</p> + +<p> +Then the Emperor Baldwin said he would sojourn there, wafting for the arrival +of Boniface, Marquis of Montferrat, who had not yet joined the host, seeing he +could not move as fast as the emperor, because he was bringing with him the +empress, his wife. However, he also rode forward till he came to Messinopolis, +by the river, and there encamped, and pitched his tents and pavilions. And on +the morrow he went to speak to the Emperor Baldwin, and to see him, and +reminded him of his promise. +</p> + +<p> +“Sire,” said he, “tidings have come to me from Salonika that +the people of the land would have me know that they are ready to receive me +willingly as their lord. And I am your liegeman, and hold the land from you. +Therefore, I pray you, let me go thither; and when I am in possession of my +land and of my city, I will bring you out such supplies as you may need, and +come ready prepared to do your behests. But do not go and ruin my land. Let us +rather, if it so pleases you, march against Johannizza, the King of Wallachia +and Bulgaria, who holds a great part of the land wrongfully.” +</p> + +<h2>RUPTURE BETWEEN BALDWIN AND BONIFACE—THE ONE MARCHES ON SALONIKA, THE +OTHER ON DEMOTICA</h2> + +<p> +I know not by whose counsel it was that the emperor replied that he was +determined to march towards Salonika, and would afterwards attend to his other +affairs. “Sire,” said Boniface, Marquis of Montferrat, “I +pray thee, since I am able without thee to get possession of my land, that thou +wilt not enter therein; but if thou dost enter therein, I shall deem that thou +art not acting for my good. And be it known to thee that I shall not go with +thee, but depart from among you.” And the Emperor Baldwin replied that, +notwithstanding all this, he should most certainly go. +</p> + +<p> +Alas! how ill-advised were they, both the one and the other, and how great was +the sin of those who caused this quarrel! For if God had not taken pity upon +them, now would they have lost all the conquests they had made, and Christendom +been in danger of ruin. So by ill fortune was there division between the +Emperor Baldwin of Constantinople and Boniface, Marquis of Montferrat,—and by +illadvice. +</p> + +<p> +The Emperor Baldwin rode towards Salonika, as he devised, with all his people, +and with all his power. And Boniface, the Marquis of Montferrat, went back, and +he took with him a great number of right worthy people. With him went James of +Avesnes, William of Champlitte, Hugh of Colemi, Count Berthold of +Katzenellenbogen, and the greater part of those who came from the Empire of +Germany and held with the marquis. Thus did the marquis ride back till he came +to a castle, very goodly, very strong, and very rich, which is called Demotica; +and it was surrendered by a Greek of the city, and when the marquis had entered +therein he garrisoned it. Then because of their knowledge of the empress (his +wife), the Greeks began to turn towards him, and to surrender to his rule from +all the country round about, within a day or two’s journey. +</p> + +<p> +The Emperor Baldwin rode straight on to Salonika, and came to a castle called +Christopolis, one of the strongest in the world. And it surrendered, and those +of the city did homage to him. Afterwards he came to another place called +Blache, which was very strong and very rich, and this too surrendered, and the +people did homage. Next he came to Cetros, a city strong and rich, and it also +came to his rule and order, and did homage. Then he rode to Salonika, and +encamped before the city, and was there for three days. And those within +surrendered the city, which was one of the best and wealthiest in Christendom +at that day, on condition that he would maintain the uses and customs +theretofore observed by the Greek emperor. +</p> + +<h2>MESSAGE OF THE CRUSADERS TO BONIFACE—HE SUSPENDS THE SIEGE OF +ADRIANOPLE</h2> + +<p> +While the Emperor Baldwin was thus at Salonika, and the land surrendering to +his good pleasure and commandment, the Marquis Boniface of Montferrat, with all +his people and a great quantity of Greeks who held to his side, marched to +Adrianople and besieged it, and pitched his tents and pavilions round about. +Now Eustace of Saubruic was therein, with the people whom the emperor had left +there, and they mounted the walls and towers and made ready to defend +themselves. +</p> + +<p> +Then took Eustace of Saubruic two messengers and sent them, riding night and +day, to Constantinople. And they came to the Doge of Venice, and to Count +Louis, and to those who had been left in the city by the Emperor Baldwin, and +told them that Eustace of Saubruic would have them know that the emperor and +the marquis were embroiled together, and that the marquis had seized Demotica, +which was one of the strongest castles in Roumania, and one of the richest, and +that he was besieging them in Adrianople. And when those in Constantinople +heard this they were moved with anger, for they thought most surely that all +their conquests would be lost. +</p> + +<p> +Then assembled in the palace of Blachernæ the Doge of Venice, and Count Louis +of Blois and Chartres, and the other barons that were in Constantinople; and +much were they distraught, and greatly were they angered, and fiercely did they +complain of those who had put enmity between the emperor and the marquis. At +the prayer of the Doge of Venice and of Count Louis, Geoffry of Villehardouin, +the Marshal of Champagne, was enjoined to go to the siege of Adrianople, and +appease the war, if he could, because he was well in favour with the marquis, +and therefore they thought he would have more influence than any other. And he, +because of their prayers, and of their great need, said he would go willingly; +and he took with him Manasses of l’Isle, who was one of the good knights +of the host, and one of the most honoured. +</p> + +<p> +So they departed from Constantinople, and rode day by day till they came to +Adrianople, where the siege was going on. And when the marquis heard thereof, +he came out of the camp and went to meet them. With him came James of Avesnes, +and William of Champlitte, and Hugh of Colemi, and Otho of la Roche, who were +the chief counsellors of the marquis. And when he saw the envoys, he did them +much honour and showed them much fair seeming. +</p> + +<p> +Geoffry the Marshal, with whom he was on very good terms, spoke to him very +sharply, reproaching him with the fashion in which he had taken the land of the +emperor and besieged the emperor’s people in Adrianople, and that without +apprising those in Constantinople, who surely would have obtained such redress +as was due if the emperor had done him any wrong. And the marquis disculpated +himself much, and said it was because of the wrong the emperor had done him +that he had acted in such sort. +</p> + +<p> +So wrought Geoffry, the Marshal of Champagne, with the help of God, and of the +barons who were in the confidence of the marquis, and who loved the said +Geoffry well, that the marquis assured him he would leave the matter in the +hands of the Doge of Venice, and of Count Louis of Blois and Chartres, and of +Conon of Béthune, and of Geoffry of Villehardouin, the Marshal-all of whom well +knew what was the covenant made between himself and the emperor. So was a truce +established between those in the camp and those in the city. +</p> + +<p> +And you must know that Geoffry the Marshal, and Manasses of l’Isle, were +right joyously looked upon, both by those in the camp and those in the city, +for very strongly did either side wish for peace. And in such measure as the +Franks rejoiced, so were the Greeks dolent, because right willingly would they +have seen the Franks quarrelling and at war. Thus was the siege of Adrianople +raised, and the marquis returned with all his people to Demotica, where was the +empress his wife. +</p> + +<h2>MESSAGE OF THE CRUSADERS TO BALDWIN—DEATH OF SEVERAL KNIGHTS</h2> + +<p> +The envoys returned to Constantinople, and told what they had done. Greatly did +the Doge of Venice, and Count Louis of Blois, and all besides, then rejoice +that to these envoys had been committed the negotiations for a peace; and they +chose good messengers, and wrote a letter, and sent it to the Emperor Baldwin, +telling him that the marquis had referred himself to them, with assurances that +he would accept their arbitration, and that he (the emperor) was even more +strongly bound to do the same, and that they besought him to do so—for +they would in no wise countenance war—and promise to accept their +arbitration, as the marquis had done. +</p> + +<p> +While this was in progress the Emperor Baldwin had settled matters at Salonika +and departed thence, garrisoning it with his people, and had left there as +chief Renier of Mons, who was a good knight and a valiant. And tidings had come +to him that the marquis had taken Demotica, and established himself therein, +an(f conquered a great part of the land lying round about, and besieged the +emperor’s people in Adrianople. Greatly enraged was the Emperor Baldwin +when these tidings came to him, and much did he hasten so as to raise the siege +of Adrianople, and do to the marquis all the harm that he could. Ah God! what +mischief their discord might have caused! If God had not seen to it, +Christendom would have been undone. +</p> + +<p> +So did the Emperor Baldwin journey day by day. And a very great mischance had +befallen those who were before Salonika, for many people of the host were +stricken down with sickness. Many who could not be moved had to remain in the +castles by which the emperor passed, and many were brought along in litters, +journeying in sore pain; and many there were who died at Cetros (La Serre). +Among those who so died at Cetros was Master John of Noyon, chancellor to the +Emperor Baldwin. He was a good clerk, and very wise, and much had he comforted +the host by the word of God, which he well knew how to preach. And you must +know that by his death the good men of the host were much discomforted. +</p> + +<p> +Nor was it long ere another great misfortune befell the host, for Peter of +Amiens died, who was a man rich and noble, and a good and brave knight, and +great dole was made for him by Hugh of St. Paul, who was his cousin-german; and +heavily did his death weigh upon the host. Shortly after died Gerard of +Mancicourt, who was a knight much prized, and Giles of Annoy, and many other +good people. Forty knights died during this expedition, and by their death was +the host greatly enfeebled. +</p> + +<h2>BALDWIN’S REPLY TO THE MESSAGE OF THE CRUSADERS</h2> + +<p> +The Emperor Baldwin journeyed so day by day that he met the messengers sent by +those of Constantinople. One of the messengers was a knight belonging to the +land of Count Louis of Blois, and the count’s liegeman; his name was +Bègue of Fransures, and he was wise and eloquent. He spoke the message of his +lord and the other barons right manfully, and said: “Sire, the Doge of +Venice, and Count Louis, my lord, and the other barons who are in +Constantinople send you health and greeting as to their lord, and they complain +to God and to you of those who have raised discord between you and the Marquis +of Montferrat, whereby it failed but little that Christendom was not undone; +and they tell you that you did very ill when you listened to such counsellors. +Now they apprise you that the marquis has referred to them the quarrel that +there is between him and you, and they pray you, as their lord, to refer that +quarrel to them likewise, and to promise to abide by their ruling. And be it +known to you that they will in no wise, nor on any ground, suffer that you +should go to war.” +</p> + +<p> +The Emperor Baldwin went to confer with his council, and said he would reply +anon. Many there were in the emperor’s council who had helped to cause +the quarrel, and they were greatly outraged by the declaration sent by those at +Constantinople, and they said: “Sire, you hear what they declare to you, +that they will not suffer you to take vengeance of your enemy. Truly it seems +that if you will not do as they order, they will set themselves against +you.” +</p> + +<p> +Very many big words were then spoken; but, in the end, the council agreed that +the emperor had no wish to lose the friendship of the Doge of Venice, and Count +Louis, and the others who were in Constantinople; and the emperor replied to +the envoys: “I will not promise to refer the quarrel to those who sent +you, but I will go to Constantinople without doing aught to injure the +marquis.” So the Emperor Baldwin journeyed day by day till he came to +Constantinople, and the barons, and the other people, went to meet him, and +received him as their lord with great honour. +</p> + +<h2>RECONCILIATION OF BALDWIN AND BONIFACE</h2> + +<p> +On the fourth day the emperor knew clearly that he had been ill-advised to +quarrel with the marquis, and then the Doge of Venice and Count Louis came to +speak to him and said: “Sire, we would pray you to refer this matter to +us, as the marquis has done.” And the emperor said he would do so right +willingly. Then were envoys chosen to fetch the marquis, and bring him thither. +Of them envoys one was Gervais of Châtel, and the second Renier of Trit, and +Geoffry, Marshal of Champagne the third, and the Doge of Venice sent two of his +people. +</p> + +<p> +The envoys rode day by day till they came to Demotica, and they found the +marquis with the empress his wife, and a great number of right worthy people, +and they told him how they had come to fetch him. Then did Geoffry the Marshal +desire him to come to Constantinople, as he had promised, and make peace in +such wise as might be settled by those in whose hands he had remitted his +cause; and they promised him safe conduct, as also to those who might go with +him. +</p> + +<p> +The marquis took counsel with his men. Some there were who agreed that he +should go, and some who advised that he should not go. But the end of the +debate was such that he went with the envoys to Constantinople, and took full a +hundred knights with him; and they rode day by day till they came to +Constantinople. Very gladly were they received in the city; and Count Louis of +Blois and Chartres, and the Doge of Venice went out to meet the marquis, +together with many other right worthy people, for he was much loved in the +host. +</p> + +<p> +Then was a parliament assembled, and the covenants were rehearsed between the +Emperor Baldwin and the Marquis Boniface; and Salonika was restored to +Boniface, with the land, he placing Demotica, which he had seized, in the hands +of Geoffry the Marshal of Champagne, who undertook to keep it till he heard, by +accredited messenger, or letters duly sealed, that the marquis was seized of +Salonika, when he would give back Demotica to the emperor, or to whomsoever the +emperor might appoint. Thus was peace made between the emperor and the marquis, +as you have heard. And great was the joy thereof throughout the host, for out +of this quarrel might very great evil have arisen. +</p> + +<h2>THE KINGDOM OF SALONIKA IS RESTORED TO BONIFACE—DIVISION OF THE LAND +BETWEEN THE CRUSADERS</h2> + +<p> +The marquis then took leave, and went towards Salonika with his people, and +with his wife; and with him rode the envoys of the emperor; and as they went +from castle to castle, each, with all its lordship, was restored to the marquis +on the part of the emperor. So they came to Salonika, and those who held the +place for the emperor surrendered it. Now the governor, whom the emperor had +left there, and whose name was Renier of Mons, had died; he was a man most +worthy, and his death a great mischance. +</p> + +<p> +Then the land and country began to surrender to the marquis, and a great part +thereof to come under his rule. But a Greek, a man of great rank, whose name +was Leon Sgure, would in no wise come under the rule of the marquis, for he had +seized Corinth and Napoli, two cities that lie upon the sea, and are among the +strongest cities under heaven. He then refused to surrender, but began to make +war against the marquis, and a very great many of the Greeks held with him. And +another Greek, whose name was Michael, and who had come with the marquis from +Constantinople, and was thought by the marquis to be his friend, he departed, +without any word said, and went to a city called Arthe (? Durazzo) and took to +wife the daughter of a rich Greek, who held the land from the emperor, and +seized the land, and began to make war on the marquis. +</p> + +<p> +Now the land from Constantinople to Salonika was quiet and at peace, for the +ways were so safe that all could come and go at their pleasure, and from the +one city to the other there were full twelve long days’ journey. And so +much time had now passed that we were at the beginning of September (1204). And +the Emperor Baldwin was in Constantinople, and the land at peace, and under his +rule. Then died two right good knights in Constantinople, Eustace of Canteleu, +and Aimery of Villeroi, whereof their friends had great sorrow. +</p> + +<p> +Then did they begin to divide the land. The Venetians had their part, and the +pilgrims the other. And when each one was able to go to his own land, the +covetousness of this world, which has worked so great evil, suffered them not +to be at peace, for each began to deal wickedly in his land, some more, and +some less, and the Greeks began to hate them and to nourish a bitter heart. +</p> + +<p> +Then did the Emperor Baldwin bestow on Count Louis the duchy of Nice, which was +one of the greatest lordships in the land of Roumania, and situate on the other +side of the straits, towards Turkey. Now all the land on the other side of the +straits had not surrendered to the emperor, but was against him. Then +afterwards he gave the duchy of Philippopolis to Renier of Trit. +</p> + +<p> +So Count Louis sent his men to conquer his land-some hundred and twenty +knights. And over them were set Peter of Bracieux and Payen of Orleans. They +left Constantinople on All Saints Day (1st November 1204), and passed over the +Straits of St. George on ship-board, and came to Piga, a city that lies on the +sea, and is inhabited by Latins. And they began to war against the Greeks. +</p> + +<h2>EXECUTION OF MOURZUPHLES AND IMPRISONMENT OF ALEXIUS</h2> + +<p> +In those days it happened that the Emperor Mourzuphles, whose eyes had been put +out—the same who had murdered his lord, the Emperor Isaac’s son, +the Emperor Alexius, whom the pilgrims had brought with them to that +land—it happened, I say, that the Emperor Mourzuphles fled privily, and +with but few people, and took refuge beyond the straits. But Thierri of Loos +heard of it, for Mourzuphles’ flight was revealed to him, and he took +Mourzuphles and brought him to the Emperor Baldwin at Constantinople,. And the +Emperor Baldwin rejoiced thereat, and took counsel with his men what he should +do with a man who had been guilty of such a murder upon his lord. +</p> + +<p> +And the council agreed to this: There was in Constantinople, towards the middle +of the city, a column, one of the highest and the most finely wrought in marble +that eye had ever seen; and Mourzuphles should be taken to the top of that +column and made to leap down, in the sight of all the people, because it was +fit that an act of justice so notable should be seen of the whole world. So +they led the Emperor Mourzuphles to the column, and took him to the top, and +all the people in the city ran together to behold the event. Then they cast him +down, and he fell from such a height that when he came to the earth he was all +shattered and broken. +</p> + +<p> +Now hear of a great marvel! On that column from which he fell were images of +divers kinds, wrought in the marble. And among these images was one, worked in +the shape of an emperor, falling headlong; for of a long time it had been +prophesied that from that column an emperor of Constantinople should be cast +down. So did the semblance and the prophecy come true. +</p> + +<p> +It came to pass, at this time also, that the Marquis Boniface of Montferrat, +who was near Salonika, took prisoner the Emperor Alexius—the same who had +put out the eyes of the Emperor Isaac—and the empress his wife with him. +And he sent the scarlet buskins, and the imperial vestments, to the Emperor +Baldwin, his lord, at Constantinople, and the emperor took the act in very good +part. Shortly after the marquis sent the Emperor Alexius and the empress his +wife, to Montferrat, there to be imprisoned. +</p> + +<h2>CAPTURE OF ABYDOS, OF PHILIPPOPOLIS, AND OF NICOMEDIA—THEODORE +LASCARIS PRETENDS TO THE EMPIRE</h2> + +<p> +At the feast of St. Martin after this (11th November 1204), Henry, the brother +of the Emperor Baldwin, went forth from Constantinople, and marched down by the +straits to the mouth of Abydos; and he took with him some hundred and twenty +good knights. He crossed the straits near a city which is called Abydos, and +found it well furnished with good things, with corn and meats, and with all +things of which man has need. So he seized the city, and lodged therein, and +then began to war with the Greeks who were before him. And the Armenians of the +land, of whom there were many, began to turn towards him, for they greatly +hated the Greeks. +</p> + +<p> +At that time Renier of Trit left Constantinople, and went towards +Philippopolis, which the emperor had given him; and he took with him some +hundred and twenty very good knights, and rode day by day till he passed beyond +Adrianople, and came to Philippopolis. And the people of the land received him, +and obeyed him as their lord, for they beheld his coming very willingly. And +they stood in great need of succour, for Johannizza, the King of Wallachia, had +mightily oppressed them with war. So Renier helped them right well, and held a +great part of the land, and most of those who had sided with Johannizza, now +turned to him. In those parts the war with Johannizza raged fiercely. +</p> + +<p> +The emperor had sent some hundred knights over the straits of Saint George +opposite Constantinople. Macaire of Sainte-Marehould was in command, and with +him went Matthew of Wallincourt, and Robert of Ronsoi. They rode to a city +called Nicomedia, which lies on a gulf of the sea, and is well two days’ +journey from Constantinople. When the Greeks saw them coming, they avoided the +city, and went away; so the pilgrims lodged therein, and garrisoned it, and +enclosed it with walls, and began to wage war before them, on that side also. +</p> + +<p> +The land on the other side of the straits had for lord a Greek named Theodore +Lascaris. He had for wife the daughter of the Emperor Alexius, through whom he +laid claim to the land—this was the Alexius whom the Franks had driven +from Constantinople, and who had put out his brother’s eyes. The same +Lascaris maintained the war against the Franks on the other side of the +straits, in whatsoever part they might be. +</p> + +<p> +In Constantinople remained the Emperor Baldwin and Count Louis, with but few +people, and the Count of St. Paul, who was grievously sick with gout, that held +him by the knees and feet; and the Doge of Venice, who saw naught. +</p> + +<h2>REINFORCEMENTS FROM SYRIA—DEATH OF MARY, THE WIFE OF BALDWIN</h2> + +<p> +After this time came from the land of Syria a great company of those who had +abandoned the host, and gone thither from other ports than Venice. With this +company came Stephen of Perche, and Renaud of Montmirail, who was cousin to +Count Louis, and they were by him much honoured, for he was very glad of their +coming. And the Emperor Baldwin, and the rest of the people also received them +very gladly, for they were of high rank, and very rich, and brought very many +good people with them. +</p> + +<p> +From the land of Syria came Hugh of Tabarie, and Raoul his brother, and Thierri +of Tenremonde, and very many people of the land, knights and light horsemen, +and sergeants. And the Emperor Baldwin gave to Stephen of Perche the duchy of +Philadelphia. +</p> + +<p> +Among other tidings came news at this time to the Emperor Baldwin whereby he +was made very sorrowful; for the Countess Mary* his wife, whom he had left in +Flanders, seeing she could not go with him because she was with child—he +was then but count—had brought forth a daughter—and afterwards, on +her recovery, she started to go to her lord overseass and passed to the port of +Marseilles, and coming to Acre, she had but just landed, when the tidings came +to her from Constantinople—told by the messengers whom her lord had +sent—that Constantinople was taken, and her lord made emperor, to the +great joy of all Christendom. On hearing this the lady was minded to come to +him forthwith. Then a sickness took her, and she made an end and died, whereof +there was great dole throughout all Christendom, for she was a gracious and +virtuous lady and greatly honoured. And those who came in this company brought +the tidings of her death, whereof the Emperor Baldwin had sore affliction, as +also the barons of the land, for much did they desire to have her for their +lady. +</p> + +<p class="footnote"> +[Note: She was the daughter of Henry Count of Champagne and of Mary, daughter +of Philip Augustus, King of France] +</p> + +<h2>DEFEAT OF THEODORE AND CONSTANTINE LASCARIS</h2> + +<p> +At that time those who had gone to the city of Piga—Peter of Bracieux and +Payen of Orléans being the chiefs—fortified a castle called Palormo; and +they left therein a garrison of their people, and rode forward to conquer the +land. Theodore Lascaris had collected all the people he could, and on the day +of the feast of our Lord St. Nicholas (6th December 1204), which is before the +Nativity, he joined battle in the plain before a castle called Poemaninon. The +battle was engaged with great disadvantage to our people, for those of the +other part were in such numbers as was marvellous; and on our side there were +but one hundred and forty knights, without counting the mounted sergeants. +</p> + +<p> +But our Lord orders battles as it pleases Him. By His grace and by His will, +the Franks vanquished the Greeks and discomfited them, so that they suffered +very great loss. And within the week, they surrendered a very large part of the +land. They surrendered Poemaninon, which was a very strong castle, and +Lopadium, which was one of the best cities of the land, and Polychna, which is +seated on a lake of fresh water, and is one of the strongest and best castles +that can be found. And you must know that our people fared very excellently, +and by God’s help had their will of that land. +</p> + +<p> +Shortly after, by the advice of the Armenians, Henry, the brother of the +Emperor Baldwin of Constantinople, started from the city of Abydos, leaving +therein a garrison of his people, and rode to a city called Adramittium, which +lies on the sea, a two days’ journey from Abydos. This city yielded to +him, and he lodged therein, and a great part of the land surrendered; for the +city was well supplied with corn and meats, and other goods. Then he maintained +the war in those parts against the Greeks. +</p> + +<p> +Theodore Lascaris, who had been discomfited at Poemaninon, collected as many +people as he could, and assembled a very great army, and gave the command +thereof to Constantine, his brother, who was one of the best Greeks in +Roumania, and then rode straight towards Adramittium. And Henry, the brother of +the Emperor Baldwin, had knowledge, through the Armenians, that a great host +was marching against him, so he made ready to meet them, and set his battalions +in order; and he had with him some very good men, as Baldwin of Beauvoir, and +Nicholas of Mailly, and Anseau of Cayeux, and Thierri of Loos, and Thierri of +Tenremonde. +</p> + +<p> +So it happened that on the Saturday which is before mid-Lent (19th March 1205), +came Constantine Lascaris with his great host, before Adramittium. And Henry, +when he knew of his coming, took counsel, and said he would not suffer himself +to be shut up in the city, but would issue forth. And those of the other part +came on with all their host, in great companies of horse and foot, and those on +our part went out to meet them, and began the onslaught. Then was there a dour +battle and fighting hand to hand; but by God’s help the Franks prevailed, +and discomfited their foes, so that many were killed and taken captive, and +there was much booty. Then were the Franks at ease, and very rich, so that the +people of the land turned to them, and began to bring in their rents. +</p> + +<h2>BONIFACE ATTACKS LEON SGURE; HE IS JOINED BY GEOFFRY OF VILLEHARDOUIN, THE +NEPHEW</h2> + +<p> +Now let us leave speaking further (for the nonce), of those at Constantinople, +and return to the Marquis Boniface of Montferrat. The marquis had gone, as you +have heard, towards Salonika, and then ridden forth against Leon Sgure, who +held Napoli and Corinth, two of the strongest cities in the world. Boniface +besieged both cities at once. James of Avesnes, with many other good men, +remained before Corinth, and the rest encamped before Napoli, and laid siege to +it. +</p> + +<p> +Then befell a certain adventure in the land. For Geoffry of Villehardouin, who +was nephew to Geoffry of Villehardouin, Marshal of Roumania and Champagne, +being his brother’s son, was moved to leave Syria with the company that +came to Constantinople. But wind and chance carried him to the port of Modon, +and there his ship was injured, so that, of necessity, it behoved him to winter +in that country. And a Greek, who was a great lord of the land, knew of it, and +came to him, and did him much honour, and said: “Fair Sir, the Franks +have conquered Constantinople, and elected an emperor. If thou wilt make +alliance with me, I will deal with thee in all good faith, and we together Will +conquer much land.” So they made alliance on oath, the Greek and Geoffry +of Villehardouin, and conquered together a great part of the country, and +Geoffry of Villehardouin found much good faith in the Greek. +</p> + +<p> +But adventures happen as God wills, and sickness laid hold of the Greek, and he +made an end and died. And the Greek’s son rebelled against Geoffry of +Villehardouin, and betrayed him, and the castles in which Geoffry had set a +garrison turned against him. Now he heard tell that the marquis was besieging +Napoli, so he went towards him with as many men as he could collect, and rode +through the land for some six days in very great peril, and thus came to the +camp, where he was received right willingly, and much honoured by the marquis +and all who were there. And this was but right, seeing he was very honourable +and valiant, and a good knight. +</p> + +<h2>EXPLOITS OF WILLIAM OF CHAMPLITTE AND GEOFFRY OF VILLEHARDOUIN, THE NEPHEW, +IN MOREA</h2> + +<p> +The marquis would have given him land and possessions so that he might remain +with him, but he would not, and spoke to William of Champlitte, who was his +friend, and said: “Sir, I come from a land that is very rich, and is +called Morea. Take as many men as you can collect, and leave this host, and let +us go and conquer that land by the help of God. And that which you will give me +out of our conquests, I will hold from you, and I will be your liegeman.” +And William of Champlitte, who greatly trusted and loved him, went to the +marquis, and told him of the matter, and the marquis allowed of their going. +</p> + +<p> +So William of Champlitte and Geoffry of Villehardouin (the nephew) departed +from the host, and took with them about a hundred knights, and a great number +of mounted sergeants, and entered into the land of Morea, and rode onwards till +they came to the city of Modon. Michael heard that they were in the land with +so few people, and he collected together a great number of people, a number +that was marvellous, and he rode after them as one thinking they were all no +better than prisoners, and in his hand. +</p> + +<p> +And when they heard tell that he was coming, they refortified Modon, where the +defences had long since been pulled down, and there left their baggage, and the +lesser folk. Then they rode out a day’s march, and ordered their array +with as many people as they had. But the odds seemed too great, for they had no +more than five hundred men mounted, whereas on the other part there were well +over five thousand. But events happen as God pleases; for our people fought +with the Greeks and discomfited and conquered them. And the Greeks lost very +heavily, while those on our side gained horses and arms enough, and other goods +in very great plenty, and so returned very happy, and very joyously, to the +city of Modon. +</p> + +<p> +Afterwards they rode to a city called Coron, on the sea, and besieged it. And +they had not besieged it long before it surrendered, and William gave it to +Geoffry of Villehardouin (the nephew) and he became his liegeman, and set +therein a garrison of his men. Next they went to a castle called Chalemate +which was very strong and fair, and besieged it. This castle troubled them for +a very long space, but they remained before it till it was taken. Then did more +of the Greeks of that land surrender than had done aforetime. +</p> + +<h2>SIEGE OF NAPOLI AND CORINTH; ALLIANCE BETWEEN THE GREEKS AND +JOHANNIZZA</h2> + +<p> +The Marquis of Montferrat besieged Napoli, but he could there do nothing, for +the place was too strong, and his men suffered greatly. James of Avesnes, +meanwhile, continued to besiege Corinth, where he had been left by the marquis. +Leon Sgure, who was in Corinth, and very wise and wily, saw that James had not +many people with him, and did not keep good watch. So one morning, at the break +of day, he issued from the city in force, and got as far as the tents, and +killed many before they could get to their armour. +</p> + +<p> +There was killed Dreux of Estruen, who was very honourable and valiant, and +greatly was he lamented. And James of Avesnes, who was in command, waxed very +wroth at the death of his knight, and did not leave the fray till he was +wounded in the leg right grievously. And well did those who were present bear +witness that it was to his doughtiness that they owed their safety; for you +must know that they came very near to being all lost. But by God’s help +they drove the Greeks back into the castle by force. +</p> + +<p> +Now the Greeks, who were very disloyal, still nourished treachery in their +hearts. They perceived at that time that the Franks were so scattered over the +land that each had his own matters to attend to. So they thought they could the +more easily betray them. They took envoys therefore privily, from all the +cities in the land, and sent them to Johannizza, the King of Wallachia and +Bulgaria, who was still at war with them as he had been aforetime. And they +told Johannizza they would make him emperor, and give themselves wholly to him, +and slay all the Franks. So they swore that they would obey him as their lord, +and he swore that he would defend them as though they were his own people. Such +was the oath sworn. +</p> + +<h2>UPRISING OF THE GREEKS AT DEMOTICA AND ADRIANOPLE; THEIR DEFEAT AT +ARCADIOPOLIS</h2> + +<p> +At that time there happened a great misfortune at Constantinople, for Count +Hugh of St. Paul, who had long been in bed, sick of the gout, made an end and +died; and this caused great sorrow, and was a great mishap, and much was he +bewept by his men and by his friends. He was buried with great honour in the +church of our Lord St. George of Mangana. +</p> + +<p> +Now Count Hugh in his lifetime had held a castle called Demotica, which was +very strong and rich, and he had therein some of his knights and sergeants. The +Greeks, who had made oath to the King of Wallachia that they would kill and +betray the Franks, betrayed them in that castle, and slaughtered many and took +many captive. Few escaped, and those who escaped went flying to a city called +Adrianople, which the Venetians held at that time. +</p> + +<p> +Not long after the Greeks in Adrianople rose in arms; and such of our men as +were therein, and had been set to guard it, came out in great peril, and left +the city. Tidings thereof came to the Emperor Baldwin of Constantinople, who +had but few men with him, he and Count Louis of Blois. Much were they then +troubled and dismayed. And thenceforth, from day to day, did evil tidings begin +to come to them, that everywhere the Greeks were rising, and that wherever the +Greeks found Franks occupying the land, they killed them. +</p> + +<p> +And those who had left Adrianople, the Venetians and the others who were there, +came to a city called Tzurulum, that belonged to the Emperor Baldwin. There +they found William of Blanvel, who kept the place for the emperor. By the help +and comfort that he gave them, and because he accompanied them with as many men +as he could, they turned back to a city, some twelve leagues distant, called +Arcadiopolis, which belonged to the Venetians, and they found it empty. So they +entered in, and put a garrison there. +</p> + +<p> +On the third day the Greeks of the land gathered together, and came at the +break of dawn before Arcadiopolis; and then began, from all sides, an assault, +great and marvellous. The Franks defended themselves right well, and opened +their gates, and issued forth, attacking vigorously. As was God’s will, +the Greeks were discomfited, and those on our side began to cut them down and +to slay them, and then chased them for a league, and killed many, and captured +many horses and much other spoil. +</p> + +<p> +So the Franks returned with great joy to Arcadiopolis, and sent tidings of +their victory to the Emperor Baldwin, in Constantinople, who was much rejoiced +thereat. Nevertheless they dared not hold the city of Arcadiopolis, but left +it on the morrow, and abandoned it, and returned to the city of Tzurulum. Here +they remained in very great doubt, for they misdoubted the Greeks who were in +the city as much as those who were without, because the Greeks in the city had +also taken part in the oath sworn to the King of Wallachia, and were bound to +betray the Franks. And many there were who did not dare to abide in Tzurulum, +but made their way back to Constantinople. +</p> + +<h2>THE CRUSADERS ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE STRAITS ARE RECALLED TO MARCH ON +ADRIANOPLE—EXPEDITION OF GEOFFRY OF VILLEHARDOUIN</h2> + +<p> +Then the Emperor Baldwin and the Doge of Venice, and Count Louis took counsel +together, for they saw they were losing the whole land. And they settled that +the emperor should tell his brother Henry, who was at Adramittium, to abandon +whatsoever conquests he had made, and come to their succour. +</p> + +<p> +Count Louis, on his side, sent to Payen of Orléans and Peter of Bracieux, who +were at Lopadium, and to all the people that were with them, telling them to +leave whatsoever conquests they had made, save Pioa only, that lay on the sea, +where they were to set a garrison—the smallest they could—and that +the remainder were to come to their succour. +</p> + +<p> +The emperor directed Macaire of Sainte-Menehould, and Matthew of Wallincourt, +and Robert of Ronsoi, who had some hundred knights with them in Nicomedia, to +leave Nicomedia and come to their succour. +</p> + +<p> +By command of the Emperor Baldwin, Geoffry of Villehardouin, Marshal of +Champagne and of Roumania, issued from Constantinople, with Manasses of +l’Isle, and with as many men as they could collect, and these were few +enough, seeing that all the land was being lost. And they rode to the city of +Tzurulum, which is distant a three days’ journey. There they found +William of Blanvel, and those that were with him, in very great fear, and much +were these reassured at their coming. At that place they remained four days. +The Emperor Baldwin sent after Geoffry the Marshal as many as he could, of such +people as were coming into Constantinople, so that on the fourth day there were +at Tzurulum eighty knights. +</p> + +<p> +Then did Geoffry the Marshal move forward, and Manasses of l’Isle, and +their people, and they rode on, and came to the city of Arcadiopolis, and +quartered themselves therein. There they remained a day, and then moved to a +city called Bulgaropolis. The Greeks had avoided this city and the Franks +quartered themselves therein. The following day they rode to a city called +Neguise, which was very fair and strong, and well furnished with all good +things. And they found that the Greeks had abandoned it, and were all gone to +Adrianople. Now Adrianople was distant nine French leagues, and therein were +gathered all the great multitude of the Greeks. And the Franks decided that +they should wait where they were till the coming of the Emperor Baldwin. +</p> + +<h2>RENIER OF TRIT ABANDONED AT PHILIPPOPOLIS BY HIS SON AND THE GREATER PART +OF HIS PEOPLE</h2> + +<p> +Now does this book relate a great marvel: for Renier of Trit, who was at +Philippopolis, a good nine days’ journey from Constantinople, with at +least one hundred and twenty knights, was deserted by Reginald his son, and +Giles his brother, and James of Bondies, who was his nephew, and Achard of +Verdun, who had his daughter to wife. And they had taken some thirty of his +knights, and thought to come to Constantinople; and they had left him, you must +know, in great peril. But they found the country raised against them, and were +discomfited; and the Greeks took them, and afterwards handed them over to the +King of Wallachia, who had their heads cut off. And you must know that they +were but little pitied by the people, because they had behaved in such evil +sort to one whom they were bound to treat quite otherwise. +</p> + +<p> +And when the other knights of Renier de Trit saw that he was thus abandoned by +those who were much more bound to him than themselves, they felt the less +shame, and some eighty together left him, and departed by another way. So +Renier of Trit remained among the Greeks with very few men, for he had not more +than fifteen knights at Philippopolis and Stanimac-which is a very strong +castle which he held, and where he was for a long time besieged. +</p> + +<h2>BALDWIN UNDERTAKES THE SIEGE OF ADRIANOPLE</h2> + +<p> +We will speak no further now of Renier of Trit but return to the Emperor +Baldwin, who is in Constantinople, with but very few people, and greatly +angered and much distracted. He was waiting for Henry his brother, and all the +people on the other side of the straits, and the first who came to him from the +other side of the straits came from Nicomedia, viz.: Macaire of +Sainte-Menehould, and Matthew of Wallincourt, and Robert of Ronsoi, and with +them full a hundred knights. +</p> + +<p> +When the emperor saw them, he was right glad, and he consulted with Count +Louis, who was Count of Blois and Chartres. And they settled to go forth, with +as many men as they had, to follow Geoffry the Marshal of Champagne, who had +gone before. Alas! what a pity it was they did not wait till all had joined +them who were on the other side of the straits, seeing how few people they had, +and how perilous the adventure on which they were bound. +</p> + +<p> +So they started from Constantinople, some one hundred and forty knights, and +rode from day to day till they came to the castle of Neguise, where Geoffry the +Marshal was quartered. That night they took counsel together, and the decision +to which they came was, that on the morrow they should go before Adrianople, +and lay siege to it. So they ordered their battalions, and did for the best +with such people as they had. +</p> + +<p> +When the morning came, and full daylight, they rode as had been arranged, and +came before Adrianople. And they found it very well defended, and saw the flags +of Johannizza, King of Wallachia and Bulgaria, on the walls and towers; and the +city was very strong and very rich, and very full of people. Then they made an +assault, with very few people, before two of the gates, and this was on the +Tuesday of Palmtide (29th March 1205). So did they remain before the city for +three days, in great discomfort, and but few in number. +</p> + +<h2>THE SIEGE OF ADRIANOPLE CONTINUED WITHOUT RESULT</h2> + +<p> +Then came Henry Dandolo, the Doge of Venice, who was an old man and saw naught. +And he brought with him as many people as he had, and these were quite as many +as the Emperor Baldwin and Count Louis had brought, and he encamped before one +of the gates. On the morrow they were joined by a troop of mounted sergeants, +but these might well have been better men than they proved themselves to be. +And the host* had small store of provisions, because the merchants could not +come with them; nor could they go foraging, because of the many Greeks that +were spread throughout the land. +</p> + +<p class="footnote"> +[Note: meaning here a little obscure. I think, however, the intention of the +original is to state that the host, and not only the sergeants, lacked +supplies] +</p> + +<p> +Johannizza, King of Wallachia, was coming to succour Adrianople with a very +great host; for he brought with him Wallachians and Bulgarians, and full +fourteen thousand Comans who had never been baptised. +</p> + +<p> +Now because of the dearth of provisions, Count Louis of Blois and Chartres went +foraging on Palm Sunday. With him went Stephen of Perche, brother of Count +Geoffry of Perche, and Renaud of Montmirail, who was brother of Count Hervée of +Nevers, and Gervais of Châtel, and more than half of the host. They went to a +castle called Peutace, and found it well garrisoned with Greeks, and assailed +it with great force and fury; but they were able to achieve nothing, and so +retreated without taking any spoils. Thus they remained during the week of the +two Easters (Palm Sunday to Easter Day), and fashioned engines of divers sorts, +and set such miners as they had to work underground and so undermine the wall. +And thus did they celebrate Easter (10th April) before Adrianople, being but +few in number and scant of provisions. +</p> + +<h2>JOHANNIZZA, KING OF WALLACHIA, COMES TO RELIEVE ADRIANOPLE</h2> + +<p> +Then came tidings that Johannizza, King of Wallachia, was coming upon them to +relieve the city. So they set their affairs in order, and it was arranged that +Geoffry the Marshal, and Manasses of l’Isle should guard the camp, and +that the Emperor Baldwin and all the remainder of the host should issue from +the camp if so be that Johannizza came and offered battle. +</p> + +<p> +Thus they remained till the Wednesday of Easter week, and Johannizza had by +that time approached so near that he encamped at about five leagues from us. +And he sent his Comans running before our camp, and a cry was raised throughout +the camp, and our men issued therefrom helterskelter, and pursued the Comans +for a full league very foolishly; for when they wished to return, the Comans +began to shoot at them in grievous wise, and wounded a good many of their +horses. +</p> + +<p> +So our men returned to the camp, and the barons were summoned to the quarters +of the Emperor Baldwin. And they took counsel, and all said that they had dealt +foolishly in thus pursuing people who were so lightly armed. And in the end +they settled that if Johannizza came on again, they would issue forth, and set +themselves in array of battle before the camp, and there wait for him, and not +move from thence. And they had it proclaimed throughout the host that none +should be so rash as to disregard this order, and move from his post for any +cry or tumult that might come to his ears. And it was settled that Geoffry the +Marshal should keep guard on the side of the city, with Manasses of +l’Isle. +</p> + +<p> +So they passed that night till the Thursday morning in Easter week, when they +heard mass and ate their dinner. And the Comans ran up to their tents, and a +cry arose, and they ran to arms, and issued from the camp with all their +battalions in array, as had afore been devised. +</p> + +<h2>DEFEAT OF THE CRUSADERS—BALDWIN TAKEN PRISONER</h2> + +<p> +Count Louis went out first with his battalion, and began to follow after the +Comans, and sent to urge the emperor to come after him. Alas! how ill did they +keep to what had been settled the night before! For they ran in pursuit of the +Comans for at least two leagues, and joined issue with them, and chased them a +long space. And then the Comans turned back upon them, and began to cry out and +to shoot. +</p> + +<p> +On our side there were battalions made up of other people than knights, people +having too little knowledge of arms, and they began to wax afraid and be +discomfited. And Count Louis, who had been the first to attack, was wounded in +two places full sorely; and the Comans and Wallachians began to invade our +ranks; and the count had fallen, and one of his knights, whose name was John of +Friaise, dismounted, and set him on his horse. Many were Count Louis’ +people who said: “Sir, get you hence, for you are too sorely wounded, and +in two places.” And he said: “The Lord God forbid that ever I +should be reproached with flying from the field, and abandoning the +emperor.” +</p> + +<p> +The emperor, who was in great straits on his side, recalled his people, and he +told them that he would not fly, and that they were to remain with him: and +well do those who were there present bear witness that never did knight defend +himself better with his hands than did the emperor. This combat lasted a long +time. Some were there who did well, and some were there who fled. In the end, +for so God suffers misadventures to occur, they were discomfited. There on the +field remained the Emperor Baldwin, who never would fly, and Count Louis; the +Emperor Baldwin was taken alive and Count Louis was slain. +</p> + +<p> +Alas! how woful was our loss! There was lost the Bishop Peter of Bethlehem, and +Stephen of Perche, brother to Count Geoffry, and Renaud of Montmirail, brother +of the Count of Nevers, and Matthew of Wallincourt, and Robert of Ronsoi, John +of Friaise, Walter of Neuilli, Ferri of Yerres, John his brother, Eustace of +Heumont, John his brother, Baldwin of Neuville, and many more of whom the book +does not here make mention. Those who were able to escape, they came back +flying to the camp. +</p> + +<h2>THE CRUSADERS RAISE THE SIEGE OF ADRIANOPLE</h2> + +<p> +When Geoffry the Marshal of Champagne, who was keeping guard at one of the +gates of the city, saw this he issued from the camp as soon as he could, with +all the men that were with him, and gave command to Manasses of lisle, who was +on guard at another gate, that he should follow after him. And he rode forth +with all his force at full speed, and in full array, to meet the fugitives, and +the fugitives all rallied round him. And Manasses of l’Isle followed as +soon as he was able, with his men, and joined himself to him, so that together +they formed a very strong body; and all those who came out of the rout, and +whom they could stop, were taken into their ranks. +</p> + +<p> +The rout was thus stayed between Nones and Vespers. But the most part of the +fugitives were so afeared that they fled right before them till they came to +the tents and quarters. Thus was the rout stayed, as you have heard; and the +Comans, with the Wallachians and Greeks, who were in full chace, ceased their +pursuit. But these still galled our force with their bows and arrows, and the +men of our force kept still with their faces turned towards them. Thus did both +sides remain till nightfall, when the Comans and Wallachians began to retire. +</p> + +<p> +Then did Geoffry of Villehardouin, the Marshal of Champagne and Roumania, +summon to the camp the Doge of Venice, who was an old man and saw naught, but +very wise and brave and vigorous; and he asked the Doge to come to him there +where he stood with his men, holding the field; and the Doge did so. And when +the Marshal saw him, he called him into council, aside, all alone, and said to +him: “Lord, you see the misadventure that has befallen us. We have lost +the Emperor Baldwin and Count Louis, and the larger part of our people, and of +the best. Now let us bethink ourselves how to save what is left. For if God +does not take pity of them, we are but lost.” +</p> + +<p> +And in the end they settled it thus: that the Doge would return to the camp, +and put heart into the people, and order that every one should arm and remain +quiet in his tent or pavilion; and that Geoffry the Marshal would remain in +full order of battle before the camp till it was night, so that their enemies +might not see the host move; and that when it was night all would move from +before the city; the Doge of Venice would go before, and Geoffry the Marshal +would form the rear-guard, with those who were with him. +</p> + +<h2>RETREAT OF THE CRUSADERS</h2> + +<p> +Thus they waited till it was night; and when it was night the Doge of Venice +left the camp, as had been arranged, and Geoffry the Marshal formed the +rear-guard. And they departed at foot pace, and took with them all their people +mounted and dismounted, the wounded as well those who were whole-they left not +one behind. And they journeyed towards a city that lies upon the sea, called +Rodosto, and that was full three days’ journey distant. So they departed +from Adrianople, as you have heard; and this adventure befell in the year of +the Incarnation of Jesus Christ twelve hundred and five. +</p> + +<p> +And in the night that the host left Adrianople, it happened that a company +started to get to Constantinople earlier, and by a more direct way; and they +were greatly blamed therefor. In this company was a certain count from Lombardy +named Gerard, who came from the land of the marquis, and Odo of Ham, who was +lord of a castle called Ham in Vermandois, and John of Maseroles, and many +others to the number of twenty-five knights, whom the book does not name. And +they went away so fast after the discomfiture, which had taken place on the +Thursday evening, that they came to Constantinople on the Saturday night, +though it was ordinarily a good five days’ journey. And they told the +news to the Cardinal Peter of Capua, who was there by the authority of Innocent +Pope of Rome, and to Conon of Béthune, who guarded the city, and to Miles the +Brabant, and to the other good men in the city. And you must know that these +were greatly affeared, and thought of a certainty that all the rest, who had +been left before Adrianople, were lost, for they had no news of them. +</p> + +<h2>PETER OF BRACIEUX AND PAYEN OF ORLEANS MEET THE RETREATING HOST</h2> + +<p> +Now will we say no more about those at Constantinople, who were in sore +trouble, but go back to the Doge of Venice and Geoffry the Marshal, who marched +all the night that they left Adrianople, till the dawn of the following day; +and then they came to a city called Pamphyle. Now listen and you shall hear how +adventures befall as God wills: for in that city had lain during the night, +Peter of Bracieux and Payen of Orleans, and all the men belonging to the land +of Count Louis, at least a hundred very good knights and one hundred and forty +mounted sergeants, and they were coming from the other side of the straits to +join the host at Adrianople. +</p> + +<p> +When they saw the host coming, they ran to their arms right nimbly, for they +thought we were the Greeks. So they armed themselves, and sent to know what +people we were, when their messengers discovered that we were the host +retreating after our discomfiture. So the messengers went back, and told them +that the Emperor Baldwin was lost, and their lord Count Louis, of whose land +and country they were, and of whose following. +</p> + +<p> +Sadder news could they not have heard. There might you have seen many tears +wept, and many hands wrung for sorrow and pity. And they went on, all an-ned as +they were, till they came to where Geoffry, the Marshal of Champagne, was +keeping guard in the rear, in very great anxiety and misease. For Johannizza, +the King of Wallachia and Bulgaria, had come at the point of day before +Adrianople with all his host, and found that we had departed, and so ridden +after us till it was full day; and when he found us not, he was full of grief; +and well was it that he found us not, for if he had found us we must all have +been lost beyond recovery. +</p> + +<p> +“Sir,” said Peter of Bracieux and Payen of Orléans to Geoffry the +Marshal, “what would you have us do? We will do whatever you wish.” +And he answered them: “You see how matters stand with us. You are fresh +and unwearied, and your horses also; therefore do you keep guard in the rear, +and I will go forward and hold in hand our people, who are greatly dismayed and +in sore need of comfort.” To this they consented right willingly. So they +established the rearguard duly and efficiently, and as men who well knew how, +for they were good knights and honourable. +</p> + +<h2>THE HOST REACHES RODOSTO</h2> + +<p> +Geoffry the Marshal rode before and led the host, and rode till he came to a +city called Cariopolis. Then he saw that the horses were weary with marching +all night, and entered into the city, and put them up till noon. And they gave +food to their horses, and ate themselves of what they could find, and that was +but little. +</p> + +<p> +So they remained all the day in that city until night. And Johannizza, the King +of Wallachia, had followed them all the day with all his powers, and encamped +about two leagues from them. And when it was night, those in the city all armed +themselves and departed. Geoffry the Marshal led the van, and those formed the +rear-guard who had formed it during the day. So they rode through that night, +and the following day (16th April) in great fear and much hardship, till they +came to the city of Rodosto, a city very rich and very strong, and inhabited by +Greeks. These Greeks did not dare to defend themselves, so our people entered +in and took quarters; so at last were they in safety. +</p> + +<p> +Thus did the host escape from Adrianople, as you have heard. Then was a council +held in the city of Rodosto; and it seemed to the council that Constantinople +was in greater jeopardy than they were. So they took messengers, and sent them +by sea, telling them to travel night and day, and to advise those in the city +not to be anxious about them—for they had escaped—and that they +would repair back to Constantinople as soon as they could. +</p> + +<h2>SEVEN THOUSAND PILGRIMS LEAVE THE CRUSADERS</h2> + +<p> +At the time when the messengers arrived, there were in Constantinople five +ships of Venice, very large and very good, laden with pilgrims, and knights and +sergeants, who were leaving the land and returning to their own countries. +There were at least seven thousand men at arms in the ships, and one was +William the advocate of Béthune, and there were besides Baldwin of Aubigny, and +John of Virsin, who belonged to the land of Count Louis, and was his liegeman, +and at least one hundred other knights, whom the book does not here name. +Master Peter of Capua, who was cardinal from the Pope of Rome, Innocent, and +Conon of Béthune, who commanded in Constantinople, and Miles the Brabant, and a +great number of other men of mark, went to the five ships, and prayed those who +were in them, with sighs and tears, to have mercy and pity upon Christendom, +and upon their liege lords who had been lost in battle, and to remain for the +love of God. But they would not listen to a single word, and left the port. +They spread their sails, and went their way, as God ordained, in such sort that +the wind took them to the port of Rodosto; and this was on the day following +that on which those who had escaped from the discomfiture came thither. +</p> + +<p> +The same prayers, with tears and weeping, that had been addressed to them at +Constantinople-those same prayers were now addressed to them at Rodosto; and +Geoffry the Marshal, and those who were with him, besought them to have mercy +and pity on the land, and remain, for never would they be able to succour any +land in such dire need. They replied that they would consult together, and give +an answer on the morrow. +</p> + +<p> +And now listen to the adventure which befell that night in the city. There was +a knight from the land of Count Louis, called Peter of Frouville, who was held +in honour, and of great name. The same fled by night, and left all his baggage +and his people, and gat himself to the ship of John of Virsin, who was from the +land of Count Louis of Blois and Chartres. And those on board the five ships, +who in the morning were to give their answer to Geoffry the Marshal and to the +Doge of Venice, so soon as they saw the day, they spread their sails, and went +their way without word said to any one. Much and great blame did they receive, +both in the land whither they went, and in the land they had left; and he who +received most blame of all was Peter of Frouville. For well has it been said +that he is but ill-advised who, through fear of death, does what will be a +reproach to him for ever. +</p> + +<h2>MEETING OF MANY OF THE CRUSADERS—HENRY, THE BROTHER OF BALDWIN, IS +MADE REGENT</h2> + +<p> +Now let us speak of these last no farther, but speak of Henry, brother to the +Emperor Baldwin of Constantinople, who had left Adramittium, which he had +conquered, and passed the straits at the city of Abydos, and was coming towards +Adrianople to succour the Emperor Baldwin, his brother. And with him had come +the Armenians of the land, who had helped him against the Greeks—some +twenty thousand with all their wives and children—for they dared not +remain behind. +</p> + +<p> +Then came to him the news, by certain Greeks, who had escaped from the +discomfiture, that his brother the Emperor Baldwin was lost, and Count Louis, +and the other barons. Afterwards came the news of those who had escaped and +were at Rodosto; and these asked him to make all the haste he could, and come +to them. And because he wanted to hasten as much as he could, and reach them +earlier, he left behind the Armenians, who travelled on foot, and had with them +chariots, and their wives and children; and inasmuch as these could not come on +so fast, and he thought they would travel safely and without hurt, he went +forward and encamped in a village called Cartopolis. +</p> + +<p> +On that very day came thither the nephew of Geoffry the Marshal, Anseau of +Courcelles, whom Geoffry had summoned from the parts of Macre, Trajanopolis, +and the Baie, lands that had been bestowed upon him; and with Anseau came the +people from Philippopolis, who had left Renier of Trit. This company held full +a hundred good knights, and full five hundred mounted sergeants, who all were +on their way to Adrianople to succour the Emperor Baldwin. But tidings had come +to them, as to the others, that the emperor had been defeated, so they turned +to go to Rodosto, and came to encamp at Cartopolis, the village where Henry, +the brother of the Emperor Baldwin, was then encamped. And when Baldwin’s +men saw them coming, they ran to arms, for they thought they were Greeks, and +the others thought the same of Baldwin’s men. And so they advanced till +they became known to one another, and each was right glad of the other’s +coming, and felt all the safer; and they quartered themselves in the village +that night until the morrow. +</p> + +<p> +On the morrow they left, and rode straight towards Rodosto, and came that night +to the city; and there they found the Doge of Venice and Geoffry the Marshal, +and all who had escaped from the late discomfiture; and right glad were these +to see them. Then were many tears shed for sorrow by those who had lost their +friends. Ah, God! what pity it was that those men now assembled had not been at +Adrianople with the Emperor Baldwin, for in that case would nothing have been +lost. But such was not God’s pleasure. +</p> + +<p> +So they sojourned there on the following day, and the day after, and arranged +matters; and Henry, the brother of the Emperor Baldwin, was received into +lordship, as regent of the empire, in lieu of his brother. +</p> + +<p> +And then misfortune came upon the Armenians, who were coming after Henry, the +brother of the Emperor Baldwin, for the people of the land gathered together +and discomfited the Armenians, so that they were all taken, killed or lost. +</p> + +<h2>RETURN TO CONSTANTINOPLE—APPEALS FOR HELP SENT TO THE POPE, AND TO +FRANCE AND TO OTHER LANDS—DEATH OF THE DOGE</h2> + +<p> +Johannizza, King of Wallachia and Bulgaria, had with him all his power, and he +occupied the whole land; and the country, and the cities, and the castles held +for him; and his Comans over-ran the land as far as Constantinople. Henry the +regent of the empire, and the Doge of Venice, and Geoffry the Marshal, were +still at Rodosto, which is a three days’ journey from Constantinople. And +they took council, and the Doge of Venice set a garrison of Venetians in +Rodosto—for it was theirs. And on the morrow they put their forces in +array, and rode, day by day, towards Constantinople. +</p> + +<p> +When they reached Selymbria, a city which is two days’ journey from +Constantinople, and belonged to the Emperor Baldwin, Henry his brother set +there a garrison of his people, and they rode with the rest to Constantinople, +where they were received right willingly, for the people were in great terror. +Nor is that to be wondered at, for they had lost so much of the country, that +outside Constantinople they only held Rodosto and Selymbria; the whole of the +rest of the country being held by Johannizza, King of Wallachia and Bulgaria. +And on the other side of the straits of St. George, they held no more than the +castle of Piga, while the rest of the land was in the hands of Theodore +Lascaris. +</p> + +<p> +Then the barons decided to send to the Apostle of Rome, Innocent, and to France +and Flanders, and to other lands, to ask for succour. And for this purpose were +chosen as envoys Nevelon, Bishop of Soissons, and Nicholas of Mailly, and John +Bliaud. The rest remained in Constantinople, in great distress, as men who +stood in fear of losing the land. So they remained till Pentecost (29th May +1205). And within this time a very great misfortune happened to the host, for +Henry Dandolo was taken sick; so he made an end and died, and was buried with +great honour in the church of St. Sophia. +</p> + +<p> +When Pentecost had come, Johannizza, the King of Wallachia and Bulgaria, had +pretty well had his will of the land; and he could no longer hold his Comans +to-ether, because they were unable to keep the field during the summer; so the +Comans departed to their own country. And he, with all his host of Bulgarians +and Greeks, marched against the marquis towards Salonika. And the marquis, who +had heard the news of the discomfiture of the Emperor Baldwin, raised the siege +of Napoli, and went to Salonika with as many men as he could collect, and +garrisoned it. +</p> + +<h2>THE REGENT OBTAINS CERTAIN ADVANTAGES OVER THE GREEKS</h2> + +<p> +Henry, the brother of the Emperor Baldwin of Constantinople, with as many +people as he could gather, marched against the Greeks to a city called +Tzurulum, which is a three days’ journey from Constantinople. This city +surrendered, and the Greeks swore fealty to him-an oath which at that time men +observed badly. From thence he marched to Arcadiopolis, and found it void, for +the Greeks did not dare to await his coming. And from thence again he rode to +the city of Bizye, which was very strong, and well garrisoned with Greeks; and +this city too surrendered. Afterwards he rode to the city of Napoli (Apros) +which also remained well garrisoned with Greeks. +</p> + +<p> +As our people were preparing for an assault, the Greeks within the city asked +to negotiate for capitulation. But while they thus negotiated, the men of the +host effected an entrance into the city on another side, and Henry the Regent +of the empire and those who were negotiating knew nothing of it. And this +proved very disastrous to the Greeks. For the Franks, who had effected an +entrance, began to slaughter them, and to seize their goods, and to take all +that they had. So were many killed and taken captive. In this wise was Napoli +(Apros) captured; and the host remained there three days. And the Greeks were +so terrified by this slaughter, that they abandoned all the cities and castles +of the land, and fled for refuge to Adrianople and Demotica, which were very +strong and good cities. +</p> + +<h2>SERES SURRENDERS TO JOHANNIZZA—HE FORFEITS HIS WORD</h2> + +<p> +At that time it happened that Johannizza, the King of Wallachia and Bulgaria, +with all his host, marched against the marquis, towards a city called Seres. +And the marquis had set a strong garrison of his people in the city, for he had +set there Hugh of Colemi, who was a very good knight, and high in rank, and +William of Arles, who was his marshal, and great part of his best men. And +Johannizza, the King of Wallachia besieged them; nor had he been there long +before he took the burgh by force. And at the taking of the burgh a great +misfortune befell, for Hugh of Colemi was killed; he was struck through the +eye. +</p> + +<p> +When he was killed, who was the best of them all, the rest of the garrison were +greatly afeared. They drew back into the castle, which was very strong; and +Johannizza besieged them, and erected his petraries and mangonels. Nor had he +besieged them long before they began to talk about surrendering, for which they +were afterwards blamed, and incurred great reproach. And they agreed to yield +up the castle to Johannizza, and Johannizza on his side caused twenty-five of +the men of highest rank that he had to swear to them that they should be taken, +safe and sound, with all their horses, and all their arms, and all their +baggage, to Salonika, or Constantinople, or Hungary—whichever of the +three it liked them best. +</p> + +<p> +In this manner was Seres surrendered, and Johannizza caused the besieged to +come forth from the castle and encamp near him in the fields; and he treated +them with much fair seeming, and sent them presents. So he kept them for three +days, and then he lied and foreswore his promises; for he had them taken, and +spoiled of their goods, and led away to Wallachia, naked, and unshod, and on +foot. The poor and the mean people, who were of little worth, he sent into +Hungary; and as for the others, he caused their heads to be cut off. Of such +mortal treachery was the King of Wallachia guilty, as you have heard. Here did +the host suffer grievous loss, one of the most dolorous that ever it suffered. +And Johannizza had the castle and city razed, and went on after the marquis. +</p> + +<h2>THE REGENT BESIEGES ADRIANOPLE IN VAIN</h2> + +<p> +Henry, the Regent of the empire, with all his power, rode towards Adrianople, +and laid siege to it; and he was in great peril, for there were many, both +within and without the city who so hemmed him in, he and his people, that they +could scantly buy provisions, or go foraging. Therefore they enclosed their camp +with palisades and barriers, and told off part of their men to keep guard +within the palisades and barriers, while the others attacked the city. +</p> + +<p> +And they devised machines of divers kinds, and scaling ladders, and many other +engines, and wrought diligently to take the city. But they could not take it, +for the city was very strong and well furnished for defence. So matters went +ill with them, and many of their people were wounded; and one of their good +knights, Peter of Bracieux, was struck on the forehead from a mangonel, and +brought near to death; but he recovered, by the will of God, and was taken away +in a litter. +</p> + +<p> +When they saw that they could in no wise prevail against the city, Henry the +Regent of the empire, and the French host departed. And greatly were they +harassed by the people of the land and by the Greeks; and they rode from day +to day till they came to a city called Pamphyle, and lodged there, and +sojourned in it for two months. And they made thence many forays towards +Demotica and the country round about, where they captured much cattle, and +other booty. So the host remained in those parts till the beginning of winter; +and supplies came to them from Rodosto, and from the sea. +</p> + +<h2>DESTRUCTION OF PHILIPPOPOLIS BY JOHANNIZZA</h2> + +<p> +Now let us leave speaking of Henry, the Regent of the empire, and speak of +Johannizza, the King of Wallachia and Bulgaria, who had taken Seres, as you +have already heard, and killed by treachery those who had surrendered to him. +Afterwards he had ridden towards Salonika, and sojourned thereby a long while, +and wasted a great part of the land. The Marquis Boniface of Montferrat was at +Salonika, very wroth, and sorrowing greatly for the loss of his lord the +Emperor Baldwin, and for the other barons, and for his castle of Seres that he +had lost, and for his men. +</p> + +<p> +And when Johannizza saw that he could do nothing more, he retired towards his +own land, with all his force. And the people in Philippopolis—which +belonged to Renier of Trit, for the Emperor Baldwin had bestowed it upon +him-heard tell how the Emperor Baldwin was lost, and many of his barons, and +that the marquis had lost Seres; and they saw that the relatives of Renier of +Trit, and his own son and his nephew, had abandoned him, and that he had with +him but very few people; and they deemed that the Franks would never be in +power again. So a great part of the people, who were Paulicians,* betook +themselves to Johannizza, and surrendered themselves to him, and said: +“Sire, ride to Philippopolis, or send thither thy host, and we will +deliver the whole city into thy hands.” +</p> + +<p class="footnote"> +[Note: An Eastern sect. They believed, among other things, that all matter is +evil, and that Christ suffered in appearance only.] +</p> + +<p> +When Renier of Trit, who was in the city, knew of this, he doubted not that +they would yield up the city to Johannizza. So he issued forth with as many +people as he could collect, and left at the point of day, and came to one of +the outlying quarters of the city where dwelt the Paulicians who had repaired +to Johannizza, and he set fire to that quarter of the city, and burned a great +part of it. Then he went to the castle of Stanimac, which was at three +leagues’ distance, and garrisoned by his people, and entered therein. And +in this castle he lay besieged for a long while, some thirteen months, in great +distress and great poverty, so that for famine they ate their horses. He was +distant a nine days’ journey from Constantinople, and could neither +obtain tidings therefrom, nor send tidings thither. +</p> + +<p> +Then did Johannizza send his host before Philippopolis; nor had he been there +long before those who were in the city surrendered it to him, and he promised +to spare their lives. And after he had promised to spare their lives, he first +caused the archbishop of the city to be slain, and the men of rank to be flayed +alive, and certain others to be burned, and certain others to have their heads +cut off, and the rest he caused to be driven away in chains. And the city he +caused to be pulled down, with its towers and walls; and the high palaces and +rich houses to be burned and utterly destroyed. Thus was destroyed the noble +city of Philippopolis, one of the three finest cities in the empire of +Constantinople. +</p> + +<h2>THE REGENT SETS GARRISONS IN SUCH PLACES AS HE STILL HELD</h2> + +<p> +Now let us leave off speaking of those who were at Philippopolis, and of Renier +of Trit, who is shut up in Stanimac, and return to Henry, the brother of the +Emperor Baldwin, who had sojourned at Pamphyle till the beginning of winter. +Then he took council with his men and with his barons; and they decided to set +a garrison in a city called Rusium, which was situate at a place rich and +fertile in the middle of the land; and the chiefs placed over this garrison +were Thierri of Loos, who was seneschal, and Thierri of Tenremonde, who was +constable. And Henry,,the Regent of the empire, gave to them at least seven +score knights, and a great many mounted sergeants, and ordered them to maintain +the war against the Greeks, and to guard the marches. +</p> + +<p> +And he himself went with the rest of his people to the city of Bizye, and +placed a garrison there; and left in command Anseau of Cayeux, and confided to +him at least six score knights, and a great many mounted sergeants. Another +city, called Arcadiopolis was garrisoned by the Venetians. And the city of +Napoli was restored by the brother of the Emperor Baldwin to Vemas, who had to +wife the sister* of the King of France, and was a Greek who sided with us; and +except he, no other Greek was on our part. And those who were in these cities +maintained the war against the Greeks, and made many forays. Henry himself +returned to Constantinople with the rest of his men. +</p> + + +<p class="footnote"> +[Note: Agnes, sister to Philip Augustus, King of France] +</p> + +<p> +Now Johannizza, the King of Wallachia and Bulgaria, though rich and of great +possessions, never forgat his own interests, but raised a great force of Comans +and Wallachians. And when it came to three weeks after Christmas, he sent these +men into the land of Roumania to help those at Adrianople and Demotica; and the +latter, being now in force, grew bolder and rode abroad with the greater +assurance. +</p> + +<h2>DEFEAT OF THE FRANKS NEAR RUSIUM</h2> + +<p> +Thierri of Tenremonde, who was chief and constable, made a foray on the fourth +day before the feast of St. Mary Candlemas (30th January 1206); and he rode all +night, having six score knights with him, and left Rusium with but a small +garrison. When it was dawn, he came to a village where the Comans and +Wallachians were encamped, and surprised them in such sort that those who were +in the village were unaware of their coming. They killed a good many of the +Comans and Wallachians, and captured some forty of their horses; and when they +had done this execution, they turned back towards Rusium. +</p> + +<p> +And on that very night the Comans and Wallachians had ridden forth to do us +hurt; and there were some seven thousand of them. They came in the morning +before Rusium, and were there a long space; and the garrison, which was but +small, closed the gates, and mounted the walls; and the Comans and Wallachians +turned back. They had not gone more than a league and a half from the city, +when they met the company of the French under the command of Thierri of +Tenremonde. So soon as the French saw them advancing, they formed into their +four battalions, with intent to draw into Rusium in slow time; for they knew +that if, by God’s grace, they could come thither, they would then be in +safety. +</p> + +<p> +The Comans, and the Wallachians, and the Greeks of the land rode towards them, +for they were in very great force. And they came upon the rear-guard, and began +to harass it full sorely. Now the rear-guard was formed of the men of Thierri +of Loos, who was seneschal, and had returned to Constantinople, and his brother +Villain was now in command. And the Comans and Wallachians and Greeks pressed +them very hard, and wounded many of their horses. Loud were the cries and +fierce the onslaught, so that by main force and pure distress they drove the +rear-guard back on the battalion of Andrew of Urboise and John of Choisy; and +in this manner the Franks retreated, suffering greatly. +</p> + +<p> +The enemy renewed their onslaught so fiercely that they drove the Franks who +were nearest to them back on the battalion of Thierri of Tenremonde, the +constable. Nor was it long before they drove them back still further on to the +battalions led by Charles of the Frêne. And now the Franks had retreated, sore +harassed, till they were within half a mile of Rusium. And the others ever +pressed upon them more hardily; and the battle went sore against them, and many +were wounded, and of their horses. So, as God will suffer misadventures, they +could endure no further, but were discomfited; for they were heavily armed, and +their enemies lightly; and the latter began to slaughter them. +</p> + +<p> +Alas! well might Christendom rue that day! For of all those six score knights +did not more than ten escape who were not killed or taken; and those who +escaped came flying into Rusium, and rejoined their own people. There was +slain Thierri of Tenremonde, the constable, Orri of l’Isle, who was a +good knight and highly esteemed, and John of Pompone, Andrew of Urboise, John +of Choisy, Guy of Conflans, Charles of the Frêne, Villain the brother of +Thierri the seneschal. Nor can this book tell the names of all who were then +killed or taken. On that day happened one of the greatest mishaps, and the most +grievous that ever befell to the Christendom of the land of Roumania, and one +of the most pitiful. +</p> + +<p> +The Comans and Greeks and Wallachians retired, having done according to their +will in the land, and won many good horses and good hawberks. And this +misadventure happened on the day before the eve of our Lady St. Mary Candlemas +(31st January 1206). And the remnant who had escaped from the discomfiture, +together with those who had been in Rusium, escaped from the city, so soon as +it was night, and went all night flying, and came on the morrow to the city of +Rodosto. +</p> + +<h2>NEW INVASION OF JOHANNIZZA; RUIN OF NAPOLI</h2> + +<p> +This dolorous news came to Henry the Regent of the empire, while he was going +in procession to the shrine of our Lady of Blachernæ, on the day of the feast +of our Lady St. Mary Candlemas. And you must know that many were then dismayed +in Constantinople, and they thought of a truth that the land was but lost. And +Henry, the Regent of the empire, decided that he would place a garrison in +Selymbria, which was a two days’ journey from Constantinople, and he sent +thither Macaire of Sainte-Menehould, with fifty knights to garrison the city. +</p> + +<p> +Now when tidings came to Johannizza, King of Wallachia, as to how his people +had fared, he was very greatly rejoiced; for they had killed or taken a very +great part of the best men in the French host. So he sent throughout all his +lands to collect as many people as he could, and raised a great host of Comans, +and Greeks and Wallachians, and entered into Roumania. And the greater part of +the cities held for him, and all the castles; and he had so large a host that +it was a marvel. +</p> + +<p> +When the Venetians heard tell that he was coming with so great a force, they +abandoned Arcadiopolis. And Johannizza rode with all his hosts till he came to +Napoli, which was garrisoned by Greeks and Latins, and belonged to Vemas, who +had to wife the empress, the sister of the King of France; and of the Latins +was chief Bègue of Fransures, a knight of the land of the Beauvaisais. And +Johannizza, the King of Wallachia, caused the city to be assaulted, and took it +by force. +</p> + +<p> +There was so great a slaughter of people killed, that it was a marvel. And +Bègue of Fransures was taken before Johannizza, who had him killed +incontinently, together with all, whether Greek or Latin, who were of any +account; and all the meaner folk, and women and children, he caused to, be led +away captive to Wallachia. Then did he cause all the city—which was very +good and very rich, and in a good land, to be cast down and utterly destroyed. +Thus was the city of Napoli rased to the ground as you have heard. +</p> + +<h2>DESTRUCTION OF RODOSTO</h2> + +<p> +Twelve leagues thence lay the city of Rodosto, on the sea. It was very strong, +and rich, and large, and very well garrisoned by Venetians, And besides all +this, there had come thither a body of sergeants, some two thousand strong, and +they had also come to guard the city. When they heard that Napoli had been +taken by force, and that Johannizza had caused all the people that were therein +to be put to death, they fell in to such terror that they were utterly +confounded and foredone. As God suffers misadventures to fall upon men, so the +Venetians rushed to their ships, helter-skelter, pell-mell, and in such sort +that they almost drowned one another; and the mounted sergeants, who came from +France and Flanders, and other countries, went flying through the land. +</p> + +<p> +Now listen and hear how little this served them, and what a misadventure was +their flight; for the city was so strong, and so well enclosed by good walls +and good towers, that no one would ever have ventured to assault it, and that +Johannizza had no thought of going thither. But when Johannizza, who was full +half a day’s journey distant, heard tell that they had fled, he rode +thither. The Greeks who had remained in the city, surrendered, and he +incontinently caused them to be taken, small and great-save those who +escaped-and led captive into Wallachia; and the city he ordered to be destroyed +and rased to the ground. Ah! the loss and damage! for the city was one of the +best in Roumania, and of the best situated. +</p> + +<h2>JOHANNIZZA CONTINUES HIS CONQUESTS AND RAVAGES</h2> + +<p> +Near there was another city called Panedor, which surrendered to him; and he +caused it to be utterly destroyed, and the people to be led captive to +Wallachia like the people of Rodosto. Afterwards he rode to the city of +Heraclea, that lay by a good seaport, and belonged to the Venetians, who had +left in it but a weak garrison; so he assaulted it, and took it by force. There +again was a mighty slaughter, and the remnant that escaped the slaughter he +caused to be led captive to Wallachia, while the city itself he destroyed, as +he had destroyed the others. +</p> + +<p> +Thence he marched to the city of Daonium, which was very strong and fine; and +the people did not dare to defend it. So he caused it to be destroyed and rased +to the ground. Then he marched to the city of Tzurulum, which had already +surrendered to him, and caused it to be destroyed and rased to the ground, and +the people to be led away captive. And thus he dealt with every castle and city +that surrendered; even though he had promised them safety, he caused the +buildings to be destroyed, and the men and women to be led away captive; and no +covenant that he made did he ever keep. +</p> + +<p> +Then the Comans and Wallachians scoured the land up to the gates of +Constantinople, where Henry the Regent then was, with as many men as he could +command; and very dolorous was he and very wroth, because he could not get men +enough to defend his land. So the Comans seized the cattle off the land, and +took captive men, women, and children, and destroyed the cities and castles, +and caused such ruin and desolation that never has man heard tell of greater. +</p> + +<p> +So they came to a city called Athyra, which was twelve leagues from +Constantinople, and had been given to Payen of Orléans by Henry, the +emperor’s brother. This city held a very great number of people, for the +dwellers in the country round about had fled thither; and the Comans assaulted +it, and took it by force. There the slaughter was so great, that there had been +none such in any city where they had been. And you must know that all the +castles and all the cities that surrendered to Johannizza under promise of +safety were destroyed and rased to the ground, and the people led away captive +to Wallachia in such manner as you have heard. +</p> + +<p> +And you must know that within five days’ journey from Constantinople +there remained nothing to destroy save only the city of Bizye, and the city of +Selymbria, which were garrisoned by the French. And in Bizye abode Anseau of +Cayeux, with six score knights, and in Salymbria abode Macaire of +Sainte-Menehould with fifty knights; and Henry the brother of the Emperor +Baldwin remained in Constantinople with the remainder of the host. And you may +know that their fortunes were at the lowest, seeing that outside of +Constantinople they had kept possession of no more than these two cities. +</p> + +<h2>THE GREEKS ARE RECONCILED TO THE CRUSADERS—JOHANNIZZA BESIEGES +DEMOTICA</h2> + +<p> +When the Greeks who were in the host with Johannizza—the same who had +yielded themselves up to him, and rebelled against the Franks—when they +saw how he destroyed their castles and cities, and kept no covenant with them, +they held themselves to be but dead men, and betrayed. They spoke one to +another, and said that as Johannizza had dealt with other cities, so would he +deal with Adrianople and Demotica, when he returned thither, and that if these +two cities were destroyed, then was Roumania for ever lost. +</p> + +<p> +So they took messengers privily, and sent them to Vernas in Constantinople. And +they besought Vernas to cry for pity to Henry, the brother of the Emperor +Baldwin, and to the Venetians, so that they might make peace with them; and +they themselves, in turn, would restore Adrianople and Demotica to the Franks; +and the Greeks would all turn to Henry; and the Greeks and Franks dwell +together in good accord. +</p> + +<p> +So a council was held, and many words were spoken this way and that, but in the +end it was settled that Adrianople and Demotica, with all their appurtenances, +should be bestowed on Vernas and the empress his wife, who was sister to the +King Philip of France, and that they should do service therefor to the emperor +and to the empire. Such was the convention made and concluded, and so was peace +established between the Greeks and the Franks. +</p> + +<p> +Johannizza, the King of Wallachia and Bulgaria, who had sojourned long in +Roumania, and wasted the country during the whole of Lent, and for a good while +after Easter (2nd April 1206), now retired towards Adrianople and Demotica, and +had it in mind to deal with those cities as he had dealt with the other cities +of the land. And when the Greeks who were with him saw that he turned towards +Adrianople, they began to steal away, both by day and by night, some twenty, +thirty, forty, a hundred, at a time. +</p> + +<p> +When he came to Adrianople, he required of those that were within that they +should let him enter, as he had entered elsewhere. But they said they would +not, and spoke thus: “Sire, when we surrendered to thee, and rebelled +against the Franks, thou didst swear to protect us in all good faith, and to +keep us in safety. Thou hast not done so, but hast utterly ruined Roumania; and +we know full well that thou wilt do unto us as thou hast done unto +others.” And when Johannizza heard this, he laid siege to Demotica, and +erected round it sixteen large petraries, and began to construct engines of +every kind for the siege, and to waste all the country round. +</p> + +<p> +Then did those in Adrianople and Demotica take messengers, and send them to +Constantinople, to Henry, the Regent of the empire, and to Vemas, and prayed +them, for God’s sake, to rescue Demotica, which was being besieged. And +when those at Constantinople heard these tidings, they decided to succour +Demotica. But some there were who did not dare to advise that our people should +issue from Constantinople, and so place in jeopardy the few Christian folk that +remained. Nevertheless, in the end, as you have heard, it was decided to issue +forth, and move on Selymbria. +</p> + +<p> +The cardinal, who was there as legate on the part of the Pope of Rome, preached +thereon to the people, and promised a full indulgence to all such as should go +forth, and lose their lives on the way. So Henry issued from Constantinople +with as many men as he could collect, and marched to the city of Selyrnbria; +and he encamped before the city for full eight days. And from day to day came +messengers from Adrianople praying him to have mercy upon them, and come to +their relief, for if he did not come to their relief, they were but lost. +</p> + +<h2>THE CRUSADERS MARCH TO THE RELIEF OF DEMOTICA</h2> + +<p> +Then did Henry take council with his barons, and their decision was that they +would go to the city of Bizye, which was a fair city, and strong. So they did +as they had devised, and came to Bizye, and encamped before the city on the eve +of the feast of our Lord St. John the Baptist, in June (23rd June 1206). And on +the day that they so encamped came messengers from Adrianople, and said to +Henry, the brother of the Emperor Baldwin: “Sire, be it known to thee +that if thou dost not relieve the city of Demotica, it cannot hold out more +than eight days, for Johannizza’s petraries have breached the walls in +four places, and his men have twice got on to the walls.” +</p> + +<p> +Then he asked for counsel as to what he should do. Many were the words spoken, +to and fro; but in the end they said: “Lord, we have come so far that we +shall be for ever shamed if we do not succour Demotica. Let every man now +confess and receive the communion; and then let us set our forces in +array.” And it was reckoned that they had with them about four hundred +knights, and of a certainty no more. So they summoned the messengers who had +come from Adrianople, and asked them how matters stood, and what number of men +Johannizza had with him. And the messengers answered that he had with him at +least forty thousand men-at-arms, not reckoning those on foot, of whom they had +no count. +</p> + +<p> +Ah God! what a perilous battle—so few against so many! In the morning, on +the day of the feast of our Lord St. John the Baptist, all confessed and +received the communion, and on the following day they marched forward. The van +was commanded by Geoffry, the Marshal of Roumania and Champagne, and with him +was Macaire of Sainte-Menehould. The second division was under Conon of Béthune +and Miles the Brabant; the third under Payen of Orléans and Peter of Bracieux; +the fourth was under Anseau of Cayeux; the fifth under Baldwin of Beauvoir; the +sixth under Hugh of Beaumetz; the seventh under Henry, brother of the Emperor +Baldwin; the eighth, with the Flemings, under Walter of Escornai; Thierri of +Loos, who was seneschal, commanded the rear-guard. +</p> + +<p> +So they rode for three days, all in order; nor did any host ever advance +seeking battle so perilously. For they were in peril on two accounts; first +because they were so few, and those they were about to attack so many; and +secondly, because they did not believe the Greeks, with whom they had just made +peace, would help them heartily. For they stood in fear lest, when need arose, +the Greeks would go over to Johannizza, who, as you have already heard, had +been so near to taking Demotica. +</p> + +<h2>JOHANNIZZA RETREATS, FOLLOWED BY THE CRUSADERS</h2> + +<p> +When Johannizza heard that the Franks were coming, he did not dare to abide, +but burned his engines of war, and broke up his camp. So he departed from +Demotica; and you must know that this was accounted by all the world as a great +miracle. And Henry, the Regent of the empire, came on the fourth day (28th +June) before Adrianople, and pitched his camp near the river of Adrianople, in +the fairest meadows in the world. When those who were within the city saw his +host coming, they issued forth, bearing all their crosses, and in procession, +and showed such joy as had never been seen. And well might they rejoice for +they had been in evil case. +</p> + +<p> +Then came tidings to the host that Johannizza was lodged at a castle called +Rodosto. So in the morning they set forth and marched to those parts to seek +battle; and Johannizza broke up his camp, and marched back towards his own +land. The host followed after him for five days, and he as constantly retired +before them. On the fifth day they encamped at a very fair and pleasant place +by a castle called Fraim; and there they sojourned three days. +</p> + +<p> +And at this place there was a division in the host, and a company of valiant +men separated themselves therefrom because of a quarrel that they had with +Henry, the brother of the Emperor Baldwin. Of this company Baldwin of Beauvoir +was chief; and Hugh of Beaumetz went with him, and William of Gommegnies and +Dreux of Beaurain. There were some fifty knights who departed together in that +company; and they never thought the rest would dare to remain in the land in +the midst of their enemies. +</p> + +<h2>RENIER OF TRIT RELIEVED AND DELIVERED</h2> + +<p> +Then did Henry, the Regent of the empire, take council with the barons that +were with him; and they decided to ride forward. So they rode forward for two +days, and encamped in a very fair valley, near a castle called Moniac. The +castle yielded itself to them, and they remained there five days; and then said +they would go and relieve Renier of Trit, who was besieged in Stanimac, and had +been shut up therein for thirteen months. So Henry the Regent of the empire, +remained in the camp, with a great part of the host, and the remainder went +forward to relieve Renier of Trit at Stanimac. +</p> + +<p> +And you must know that those who went forward went in very great peril, and +that any rescue so full of danger has but seldom been undertaken, seeing that +they rode for three days through the land of their enemies. In this rescue took +part Conon of Béthune, and Geoffry of Villehardouin, Marshal of Roumania and +Champagne, and Macaire of Sainte-Menehould, and Miles the Brabant, and Peter of +Bracieux, and Payen of Orléans, and Anseau of Cayeux, and Thierri of Loos, and +William of Perchoi, and a body of Venetians under command of Andrew Valère. So +they rode forward till they came to the castle of Stanimac, and approached so +near that they could now see it. +</p> + +<p> +Renier of Trit was on the walls, and he perceived the advanced guard, which was +under Geoffry the Marshal, and the other battalions, approaching in very good +order; and he knew not what people they might be. And no wonder that he was in +doubt, for of a long time he had heard no tidings of us; and he thought we +were Greeks coming to besiege him. +</p> + +<p> +Geoffry the Marshal of Roumania and Champagne took certain Turcoples* and +mounted cross-bowmen and sent them forward to see if they could learn the +condition of the castle; for they knew not if those within it were alive or +dead, seeing that of a long time they had heard no tidings of them. And when +these came before the castle, Renier of Trit and his men knew them; and you may +well think what joy they had! They issued forth and came to meet their friends, +and all made great joy of each other. +</p> + +<p class="footnote"> +[Note: soldiers born of a Turkish father and a Greek mother] +</p> + +<p> +The barons quartered themselves in a very good city that lay at the foot of the +castle, and had aforetime besieged the castle. Then said the barons that they +had often heard tell that the Emperor Baldwin had died in Johannizza’s +prison, but that they did not believe it. Renier of Trit, however, told them of +a truth that the emperor was dead, and then they believed it. Greatly did many +then grieve; alas I if only their grief had not been beyond remedy I +</p> + +<p> +So they lay that night in the city; and on the morrow they departed, and +abandoned Stanimac. They rode for two days., and on the third they came to the +camp, below the castle of Moniac, that lies on the river Arta, where Henry, the +Emperor’s brother, was waiting for them. Greatly did those of the host +rejoice over Renier of Trit, who had thus been rescued from durance, and great +was the credit given to those who had brought him back, for they had gone for +him in great peril. +</p> + +<h2>HENRY CROWNED EMPEROR—JOHANNIZZA RAVAGES THE COUNTRY AGAIN—THE +EMPEROR MARCHES AGAINST HIM</h2> + +<p> +The barons now resolved that they would go to Constantinople, and crown Henry, +the brother of the Emperor Baldwin as emperor, and leave in the country Vemas, +and all the Greeks of the land, together with forty knights, whom Henry, the +Regent of the empire, would leave with him. So Henry, the Regent of the empire, +and the other barons, went towards Constantinople, and they rode from day to +day till they came thither, and right well were they received. They crowned +Henry as emperor with great joy and great honour in the church of St. Sophia, +on the Sunday (20th August) after the festival of our Lady St. Mary, in August. +And this was in the year of the Incarnation of our Lord Jesus Christ twelve +hundred and six. +</p> + +<p> +Now when Johannizza, the King of Wallachia and Bulgaria, heard that the emperor +had been crowned in Constantinople, and that Vemas had remained in the land of +Adrianople and Demotica, he collected together as large a force as he could. +And Vemas had not rebuilt the walls of Demotica where they had been breached by +Johannizza with his petraries and mangonels, and he had set but a weak garrison +therein. So Johannizza marched on Demotica, and took it, and destroyed it, and +rased the walls to the ground, and overran the whole country, and took men, +women, and children for a prey, and wrought devastation. Then did those in +Adrianople beseech the Emperor Henry to succour them, seeing that Demotica had +been lost in such cruel sort. +</p> + +<p> +Then did the Emperor Henry summon as many people as he could, and issued from +Constantinople, and rode day by day towards Adrianople, with all his forces in +order. And Johannizza, the King of Wallachia, who was in the land, when he +heard that the emperor was coming, drew back into his own land. And the Emperor +Henry rode forward till he came to Adrianople, and he encamped outside the city +in a meadow. +</p> + +<p> +Then came the Greeks of the land, and told him that Johannizza, the King of +Wallachia, was carrying off men and women and cattle, and that he had destroyed +Demotica, and wasted the country round; and that he was still within a +day’s march. The emperor settled that he would follow after, and do +battle-if so be that Johannizza would abide his coming—and deliver the +men and women who were being led away captive. So he rode after Johannizza, and +Johannizza retired as the emperor advanced, and the emperor followed him for +four days. Then they came to a city called Veroi. +</p> + +<p> +When those who were in the city saw the host of the Emperor Henry approaching, +they fled into the mountains and abandoned the city. And the emperor came with +all his host, and encamped before the city, and found it well furnished with +corn and meat, and such other things as were needful. So they sojourned there +for two days, and the emperor caused his men to overrun the surrounding +country, and they obtained a large booty in beeves and cows and buffaloes, and +otl-ler beasts in very great plenty. Then he departed from Veroi with all his +booty, and rode to another city, a day’s journey distant, called Blisnon. +And as the other Greeks had abandoned Veroi, so did the dwellers in Blisnon +abandon their city; and he found it furnished with all things necessary, and +quartered himself there. +</p> + +<h2>THE EMPEROR MEETS JOHANNIZZA, AND RECAPTURES HIS PRISONERS</h2> + +<p> +Then came tidings that in a certain valley, three leagues distant from the +host, were the men and women whom Johannizza was leading away captive, together +with all his plunder, and all his chariots. Then did Henry appoint that the +Greeks from Adrianople and Demotica should go and recover the captives and the +plunder, two battalions of knights going with them; and as had been arranged, +so was this done on the morrow. The command of the one battalion was given to +Eustace, the brother of the Emperor Henry of Constantinople, and the command of +the other to Macaire of Sainte-Menehould. +</p> + +<p> +So they rode, they and the Greeks, till they came to the valley of which they +had been told; and there they found the captives. And Johannizza’s men +engaged the Emperor Henry’s men, and men and horses were killed and +wounded On either side; but by the goodness of God, the Franks had the +advantage, and rescued the captives, and caused them to turn again, and brought +them away. +</p> + +<p> +And you must know that this was a mighty deliverance; for the captives numbered +full twenty thousand men, women, and children; and there were full three +thousand chariots laden with their clothes and baggage, to say nothing of other +booty in good quantity. The line of the captives, as they came to the camp, was +two great leagues in length, and they reached the camp that night. Then was the +Emperor Henry greatly rejoiced, and all the other barons; and they had the +captives lodged apart, and well guarded, with their goods, so that they lost +not one pennyworth of what they possessed. On the morrow the Emperor Henry +rested for the sake of the people he had delivered. And on the day after he +left that country, and rode day by day till he came to Adrianople. +</p> + +<p> +There he set free the men and women he had rescued; and each one went +whithersoever he listed, to the land where he was born, or to any other place. +The booty, of which he had great plenty, was divided in due shares among the +host. So the Emperor Henry sojourned there five days, and then rode to the city +of Demotica, to see how far it had been destroyed, and whether it could again +be fortified. He encamped before the city, and saw, both he and his barons, +that in the state in which it then was, it were not well to refortify it. +</p> + +<h2>PROJECTED MARRIAGE BETWEEN THE EMPEROR AND THE DAUGHTER OF +BONIFACE—THE CRUSADERS RAVAGE THE LANDS OF JOHANNIZZA</h2> + +<p> +Then came to the camp, as envoy, a baron, Otho of La Roche by name, belonging +to the Marquis Boniface of Montferrat. He came to speak of a marriage that had +been spoken of aforetime between the daughter of Boniface, the Marquis of +Montferrat, and the Emperor Henry; and brought tidings that the lady had come +from Lombardy, whence her father had sent to summon her, and that she was now +at Salonika. Then did the emperor take council, and it was decided that the +marriage should be ratified on either side. So the envoy, Otho of La Roche, +returned to Salonika. +</p> + +<p> +The emperor had reassembled his men, who had gone to place in safe holding the +booty taken at Veroi. And he marched day by day from Adrianople till he came to +the land of Johannizza, the King of Wallachia and Bulgaria. They came to a city +called Ferme, and took it, and entered in, and won much booty. They remained +there for three days, and overran all the land, got very much spoil, and +destroyed a city called Aquilo. +</p> + +<p> +On the fourth day they departed from Ferme, which was a city fair and well +situated, with hot water springs for bathing, the finest in the world; and the +emperor caused the city to be burned and destroyed, and they carried away much +spoil, in cattle and goods. Then they rode day by day till they came back to +the city of Adrianople; and they sojourned in the land till the feast of All +Saints (1st November 1206), when they could no longer carry on the war because +of the winter. So Henry and all his barons, who were much aweary of +campaigning, turned their faces towards Constantinople; and he left at +Adrianople, among the Greeks, a man of his named Peter of Radinghem, with ten +knights. +</p> + +<h2>THE EMPEROR RESUMES THE WAR AGAINST THEODORE LASCARIS</h2> + +<p> +At that time Theodore Lascaris, who held the land on the other side of the +straits towards Turkey, was at truce with the Emperor Henry; but that truce he +had not kept well, having broken and violated it. So the emperor held council, +and sent to the other side of the straits, to the city of Piga, Peter of +Bracieux, to whom land had been assigned in those parts, and with him Payen of +Orléans, and Anseau of Cayeux, and Eustace, the emperor’s brother, and a +great part of his best men to the number of seven score knights. These began to +make war in very grim and earnest fashion against Theodore Lascaris, and +greatly wasted his land. +</p> + +<p> +They marched to a land called Skiza, which was surrounded by the sea except on +one side. And in old days the way of entry had been defended with walls and +towers, and moats, but these were now decayed. So the host of the French +entered in, and Peter of Bracieux, to whom the land had been devised, began to +restore the defences, and built two castles, and made two fortified ways of +entry. From thence they overran the land of Lascaris, and gained much booty and +cattle, and brought such booty and cattle into their island: Theodore Lascaris, +on the other hand, harked back upon Skiza, so that there were frequent battles +and skirmishes, and losses on the one side and on the other; and the war in +those parts was fierce and perilous. +</p> + +<p> +Now let us leave speaking of those who were at Skiza, and speak of Thierri of +Loos, who was seneschal, and to whom Nicomedia should have belonged; and +Nicomedia lay a day’s journey from Nice the Great, the capital of the +land of Theodore Lascaris. Thierri then went thither, with a great body of the +emperor’s men, and found that the castle had been destroyed. So he +enclosed and fortified the church of St. Sophia, which was very large and fair, +and maintained the war in that place. +</p> + +<h2>ADVANTAGES OBTAINED BY BONIFACE—MARRIAGE OF HIS DAUGHTER WITH THE +EMPEROR</h2> + +<p> +At that time the Marquis Boniface of Montferrat departed from Salonika, and +went to Seres, which Johannizza had destroyed; and he rebuilt it; and +afterwards rebuilt a castle called Drama in the valley of Philippi. All the +country round about surrendered to him, and came under his rule; and he +wintered in the land. +</p> + +<p> +Meanwhile, so much time had gone by, that Christmas was now past. Then came +messengers from the marquis to the emperor at Constantinople to say that the +marquis had sent his daughter in a galley to the city of Abydos. So the Emperor +Henry sent Geoffry the Marshal of Roumania and Champagne, and Miles the +Brabant, to bring the lady; and these rode day by day till they came to Abydos. +</p> + +<p> +They found the lady, who was very good and fair, and saluted her on behalf of +their lord Henry, the emperor, and brought her to Constantinople in great +honour. So the Emperor Henry was wedded to her in the Church of St. Sophia, on +the Sunday after the feast of our Lady St. Mary Candlemas (4th February 1207), +with great joy and in great pomp; and they both wore a crown; and high were the +marriage-feastings in the palace of Bucoleon. Thus, as you have just heard, was +the marriage celebrated between the emperor and the daughter of the Marquis +Boniface, Agnes the empress by name. +</p> + +<h2>THEODORE LASCARIS FORMS AN ALLIANCE WITH JOHANNIZZA</h2> + +<p> +Theodore Lascaris, who was warring against the Emperor Henry, took messengers +and sent them to Johannizza, the King of Wallachia and Bulgaria. And he advised +Johannizza that all the forces of the Emperor Henry were fighting against him +(Lascaris) on the other side of the straits towards Turkey; that the emperor +was in Constantinople with but very few people; and that now was the time for +vengeance, inasmuch as he himself would be attacking the emperor on the one +side, and Johannizza on the other, and the emperor had so few men that he would +not be able to defend himself against both. Now Johannizza had already engaged +a great host of Comans, who were on their way to join his host; and had +collected together as large a force of Wallachians and Bulgarians as ever he +could. And so much time had now gone by, that it was the beginning of Lent (7th +March 1207). +</p> + +<p> +Macaire of Sainte-Menehould had begun to build a castle at Charax, which lies +on a gulf of the sea, six leagues from Nicomedia, towards Constantinople. And +William of Sains began to build another castle at Cibotos, that lies on the +gulf of Nicomedia, on the other side, towards Nice. And you must know that the +Emperor Henry had as much as he could do near Constantinople; as also the +barons who were in the land. And well does Geoffry of Villehardouin, the +Marshal of Champagne and Roumania, who is dictating this work, bear witness, +that never at any time were people so distracted and oppressed by war; this was +by reason that the host were scattered in so many places. +</p> + +<h2>SIEGE OF ADRIANOPLE BY JOHANNIZZA—SIEGE OF SKIZA AND CIBOTOS BY +LASCARIS</h2> + +<p> +Then Johannizza left Wallachia with all his hosts, and with a great host of +Comans who joined themselves to him, and entered Roumania. And the Comans +overran the country up to the gates of Constantinople; and he himself besieged +Adrianople, and erected there thirty-three great petraries, which hurled stones +against the walls and the towers. And inside Adrianople were only the Greeks +and Peter of Radinghem, who had been set there by the emperor, with ten +knights. Then the Greeks and the Latins together sent to tell the Emperor Henry +how Johannizza had besieged them, and prayed for succour. +</p> + +<p> +Much was the emperor distraught when he heard this; for his forces on the other +side of the straits were so scattered, and were everywhere so hard pressed that +they could do no more than they were doing, while he himself had but few men in +Constantinople. None the less he undertook to take the field with as many men +as he could collect, in the Easter fortnight; and he sent word to Skiza, where +most of his people were, that they should come to him. So these began to come +to him by sea; Eustace, the brother of the Emperor Henry, and Anseau of Cayeux, +and the main part of their men, and thus only Peter of Bracieux, and Payen of +Orléans, with but few men, remained in Skiza. +</p> + +<p> +When Theodore Lascaris heard tidings that Adrianople was besieged, and that the +Emperor Henry, through utter need, was recalling his people, and did not know +which way to turn—whether to this side or to that—so heavily was he +oppressed by the war, then did Lascaris with the greater zeal gather together +all the people he could,, and pitched his tents and pavilions before the gates +of Skiza; and many were the battles fought before Skiza, some lost and some +won. And when Theodore Lascaris saw that there were few people remaining in the +city, he took a great part of his host, and such ships as he could collect on +the sea, and sent them to the castle of Cibotos, which William of Sains was +fortifying; and they set siege to the castle by sea and land, on the Saturday +in mid-Lent (31st March 1207). +</p> + +<p> +Within were forty knights, very good men, and Macaire of Sainte-Menehould was +their chief; and their castle was as yet but little fortified, so that their +foes could come at them with swords and lances. The enemy attacked them by land +and by sea very fiercely; and the assault lasted during the whole of Saturday, +and our people defended themselves very well. And this book bears witness that +never did fifty knights defend themselves at greater disadvantage against such +odds. And well may this appear, for of the knights that were there, all were +wounded save five only; and one was killed, who was nephew to Miles the +Brabant, and his name was Giles. +</p> + +<h2>THE EMPEROR ATTACKS THE FLEET OF THEODORE LASCARIS, AND RESCUES +CIBOTOS</h2> + +<p> +Before this assault began, on the Saturday morning, there came a messenger +flying to Constantinople. He found the Emperor Henry in the palace of +Blachernæ, sitting at meat, and spoke to him thus: “Sire, be it known to +you that those at Cibotos are being attacked by land and sea; and if you do not +speedily deliver them, they will be taken, and but dead men.” +</p> + +<p> +With the emperor were Conon of Béthune, and Geoffry the Marshal of Champagne, +and Miles the Brabant, and but very few people. And they held a council, and +the council was but short, and the emperor went down to the shore, and entered +into a galleon; and each one was to take ship such as he could find. And it was +proclaimed throughout the city that all were to follow the emperor in the utter +need wherein he stood, to go and rescue his men, seeing that without help they +were but lost. Then might you have seen the whole city of Constantinople all +a-swarrn with Venetians and Pisans and other seafaring folk, running to their +ships, helterskelter and pell-mell; and with them entered into the ships the +knights, fully armed; and whosoever was first ready, he first left port to go +after the emperor. +</p> + +<p> +So they went rowing hard all the evening, as long as the light lasted, and all +through the night till the dawn of the following day. And the emperor had used +such diligence, that a little after sun-rising he came in sight of Cibotos, and +of the host surrounding it by sea and land. And those who were within the +castle had not slept that night, but had kept guard through the whole night, +however sick or wounded they might be, as men who expected nothing but death. +</p> + +<p> +The emperor saw that the Greeks were close to the walls and about to assault +the city. Now he himself had but few of his people with him-among them were +Geoffry the Marshal in another ship, and Miles the Brabant, and certain Pisans, +and other knights, so that he had some sixteen ships great and small, while on +the other side there were full sixty. Nevertheless they saw that if they waited +for their people, and suffered the Greeks to assault Cibotos, then those within +must be all killed or taken; and when they saw this they decided to sail +against the enemy’s ships. +</p> + +<p> +They sailed thitherward therefore in line; and all those on board the ships +were fully armed, and with their helms laced. And when the Greeks, who were +about to attack the castle, saw us coming, they perceived that help was at hand +for the besieged, and they avoided the castle, and came to meet us; and all +this great host, both horse and foot, drew up on the shore. And the Greeks on +ship-board* when they saw that the emperor and his people meant to attack them +in any case, drew back towards those on shore, so that the latter might give +them help with bows and darts. +</p> + +<p class="footnote"> +[Note: The meaning here is a little obscure in the original ] +</p> + +<p> +So the emperor held them close with his seventeen ships, till the shouts of +those coming from Constantinople began to reach him; and when the night fell so +many had come up that the Franks were everywhere in force upon the sea; and +they lay all armed during the night, and cast anchor. And they settled that as +soon as they saw the day, they would go and do battle with the enemy on the +shore, and also seize their ships. But when it came to about midnight, the +Greeks dragged all their ships to land, and set fire to them, and burned them +all, and broke up their camp, and went away flying. +</p> + +<p> +The Emperor Henry and his host were right glad of the victory that God had +given them,,and that they had thus been able to succour their people. And when +it came to be morning, the emperor and his barons went to the castle of +Cibotos, and found those who were therein very sick, and for the most part sore +wounded. And the emperor and his people looked at the castle, and saw that it +was so weak as not to be worth the holding. So they gathered all their people +into the ships, and left the castle and abandoned it. Thus did the Emperor +Henry return to Constantinople. +</p> + +<h2>JOHANNIZZA RAISES THE SIEGE OF ADRIANOPLE</h2> + +<p> +Johannizza, the king of Wallachia, who had besieged Adrianople, gave himself no +rest, for his petraries, of which he had many, cast stones night and day +against the walls and towers, and damaged the walls and towers very greatly. +And he set his sappers to mine the walls, and made many assaults. And well did +those who were within, both Greeks and Latins, maintain themselves, and often +did they beg the Emperor Henry to succour them, and warn him that, if he did +not succour them, they were utterly undone. The emperor was much distraught; +for when he wished to go and succour his people at Adrianople on the one side, +then Theodore Lascaris pressed upon him so straitly on the other side, that of +necessity he was forced to draw back. +</p> + +<p> +So Johannizza remained during the whole month of April (1207) before +Adrianople; and he came so near to taking it that in two places he beat down +the walls and towers to the ground, and his men fought hand to hand, with +swords and lances, against those who were within. Also he made assaults in +force, and the besieged defended themselves well; and there were many killed +and wounded on one side and on the other. +</p> + +<p> +As it pleases God that adventures should be ordered, so it befell that the +Comans who had overrun the land, and gained much booty, and returned to the +camp before Adrianople, with all their spoils, now said they would remain with +Johannizza no longer, but go back to their own land. Thus the Comans abandoned +Johannizza. And without them he dared not remain before Adrianople. So he +departed from before the city, and left it. +</p> + +<p> +And you must know that this was held to be a great miracle: that the siege of a +city so near to the taking should be abandoned, and by a man possessed of such +power. But as God wills, so do events befall. Those in Adrianople made no delay +in begging the emperor, for the love of God, to come to them as soon as he +could; for sooth it was that if Johannizza, the King of Wallachia returned, +they would all be killed or taken. +</p> + +<h2>SKIZA AGAIN BESIEGED BY THEODORE LASCARIS—THE EMPEROR DELIVERS THE +CITY</h2> + +<p> +The emperor, with as many men as he possessed, had prepared to go to +Adrianople, when tidings came, very grievous, that Escurion, who was admiral of +the galleys of Theodore Lascaris, had entered with seventeen galleys into the +straits of Abydos, in the channel of St. George, and come before Skiza, where +Peter of Bracieux then was, and Payen of Orléans; and that the said Escurion +was besieging the city by sea, while Theodore Lascaris was besieging it by +land. Moreover, the people of the land of Skiza had rebelled against Peter of +Bracieux, as also those of Marmora, and had wrought him great harm, and killed +many of his people. +</p> + +<p> +When these tidings came to Constantinople, they were greatly dismayed. Then +did the Emperor Henry take council with his men, and his barons, and the +Venetians also; and they said that if they did not succour Peter of Bracieux, +and Payen of Orléans, they were but dead men, and the land would be lost. So +they armed fourteen galleys in all diligence, and set in them the Venetians of +most note, and all the barons of the emperor. +</p> + +<p> +In one galley entered Conon of Béthune and his people; in another Geoffry of +Villehardouin and his people; in the third Macaire of Sainte-Menehould and his +people; in the fourth Miles the Brabant in the fifth Anscau of Cayeux; in the +sixth Thierri of Loos, who was seneschal of Roumania; m the seventh William of +Perchoi; and in the eighth Eustace the Emperor’s brother. Thus did the +Emperor Henry put into all these galleys the best people that he had; and when +they left the port of Constantinople, well did all say that never had galleys +been better armed, nor manned with better men. And thus, for this time, the +march on Adrianople was again put off. +</p> + +<p> +Those who were in the galleys sailed down the straits, right towards Skiza. How +Escurion, the admiral of Theodore Lascaris’ galleys, heard of it, I know +not; but he abandoned Skiza, and went away, and fled down the straits. And the +others chased him two days and two nights, beyond the straits of Abydos, forty +miles. And when they saw they could not come up with him, they turned back, and +came to Skiza, and found there Peter of Bracieux and Payen of Orléans; and +Theodore Lascaris had dislodged from before the city and repaired to his own +land. Thus was Skiza relieved, as you have just heard; and those in the galleys +turned back to Constantinople, and prepared once more to march on Adrianople. +</p> + +<h2>THE EMPEROR TWICE DELIVERS NICOMEDIA, BESIEGED BY THEODORE LASCARIS</h2> + +<p> +Theodore Lascaris sent the most part of his force into the land of Nicomedia. +And the people of Thierri of Loos, who had fortified the church of St. Sophia, +and were therein, besought their lord and the emperor to come to their relief; +for if they received no help they could not hold out, especially as they had no +provisions. Through sheer distress and sore need, the Emperor Henry and his +people agreed that they must once more abandon thought of going to Adrianople, +and cross the straits of St. George, to the Turkish side, with as many people +as they could collect, and succour Nicomedia. +</p> + +<p> +And when the people of Theodore Lascaris heard that the emperor was coming, +they avoided the land, and retreated towards Nice the Great. And when the +emperor knew of it, he took council, and it was decided that Thierri of Loos, +the seneschal of Roumania, should abide in Nicomedia, with all his knights, and +all his sergeants, to guard the land; and Macaire of Sainte-Menehould should +abide at Charax, and William of Perchoi in Skiza; and each defend the land +where he abode. +</p> + +<p> +Then did the Emperor Henry, and the remainder of his people return to +Constantinople, and prepare once again to go towards Adrianople. And while he +was so preparing, Thierri of Loos the seneschal, who was in Nicomedia, and +William of Perchoi, and all their people, went out foraging on a certain day. +And the people of Theodore Lascaris knew of it, and surprised them, and fell +upon them. Now the people of Theodore Lascaris were very many, and our people +very few. So the battle began, and they fought hand to hand, and before very +long the few were not able to stand against the many. +</p> + +<p> +Thierri of Loos did right well, as also his people; he was twice struck down, +and by main strength his men remounted him. And William of Perchoi was also +struck down, and remounted and rescued. But numbers hemmed them in too sore, +and the Franks were discomfited. There was taken Thierri of Loos, wounded in +the face, and in peril of death. There, too, were most of his people taken, for +few escaped. William of Perchoi fled on a hackney, wounded in the hand. Those +that escaped from the discomfiture rallied in the church of St. Sophia. +</p> + +<p> +He who dictates this history heard blame attached in this affair—whether +rightly or wrongly he knows not—to a certain knight named Anseau of Remi, +who was liegeman of Thierri of Loos the seneschal, and chief of his men; and +who abandoned him in the fray. +</p> + +<p> +Then did those who had returned to the church of St. Sophia in Nicomedia, viz. +William of Perchoi and Anseau of Remi, take a messenger, and send him flying to +Constantinople, to the Emperor Henry; and they told the emperor what had +befallen, how the seneschal had been taken with his men; how they themselves +were besieged in the church of St. Sophia, in Nicomedia, and how they had food +for no more than five days; and they told him he must know of a certainty that +if he did not succour them they must be killed or taken. The emperor, as one +hearing a cry of distress, passed over the straits of St. George, he and his +people, each as best he could, and pell-mell, to go to the relief of those in +Nicomedia. And so the march to Adrianople was put off once more. +</p> + +<p> +When the emperor had passed over the straits of St. George, he set his troops +in array, and rode day by day till he came to Nicomedia. When the people of +Theodore Lascaris, and his brothers, who formed the host, heard thereof, they +drew back, and passed over the mountain on the other side, towards Nice. And +the emperor encamped by Nicomedia in a very fair field that lay beside the +river on this side of the mountain. He had his tents and pavilions pitched; and +caused his men to overrun and harry the land, because the people had rebelled +when they heard that Thierri of Loos, the seneschal, was taken; and the +emperor’s men captured much cattle and many prisoners. +</p> + +<h2>TRUCE WITH THEODORE LASCARIS—THE EMPEROR INVADES THE LANDS OF +JOHANNIZZA</h2> + +<p> +The Emperor Henry sojourned after this manner for five days in the meadow by +Nicomedia. And while he was thus sojourning, Theodore Lascaris took messengers, +and sent them to him, asking him to make a truce for two years, on condition +that the emperor would suffer him to demolish Skiza and the fortress of the +church of St. Sophia of Nicomedia, while he, on his side, would yield up all +the prisoners taken in the last victory, or at other times of whom he had a +great many in his land. +</p> + +<p> +Now the emperor took council with his people; and they said that they could not +maintain two wars at the same time, and that it was better to suffer loss as +proposed than suffer the loss of Adrianople, and the land on the other side of +the straits; and moreover that they would (by agreeing to this truce) cause +division between their enemies, viz. Johannizza, the King of Wallachia and +Bulgaria and Theodore Lascaris who were now friends, and helped one another in +the war. +</p> + +<p> +The matter was thus settled and agreed to. Then the Emperor Henry summoned +Peter of Bracieux from Skiza; and he came to him; and the Emperor Henry so +wrought with him that he gave up Skiza into his hands, and the emperor +delivered it to Theodore Lascaris to be demolished, as also the church of St. +Sophia of Nicomedia. So was the truce established, and so were the fortresses +demolished. Thierri of Loos was given up, and all the other prisoners. +</p> + +<p> +Then the Emperor Henry repaired to Constantinople, and undertook once more to +go to Adrianople with as many men as he could collect. He assembled his host at +Selymbria; and so much time had already passed that this did not take place +till after the feast of St. John, in June (1207). And he rode day by day till +he came to Adrianople, and encamped in the fields before the city. And those +within the city, who had greatly desired his coming, went out to meet him in +procession, and received him very gladly. And all the Greeks of the land came +with them. +</p> + +<p> +The emperor remained only one day before the city to see all the damage that +Johannizza had done to the walls and towers, with mines and petraries; and +these had worked great havoc to the city. And on the morrow he departed, and +marched towards the country of Johannizza, and so marched for four days. On the +fifth day he came to the foot of the mountain of Wallachia, to a city called +Euloi, which Johannizza had newly repeopled with his folk. And when the people +of the land saw the host coming, they abandoned the city, and fled into the +mountains. +</p> + +<h2>THE EMPEROR’S FORAGERS SUFFER LOSS</h2> + +<p> +The Emperor Henry and the host of the French encamped before the city; and the +foraging parties overran the land and captured oxen, and cows, and beeves in +great plenty and other beasts. And those from Adrianople, who had brought their +chariots with them, and were poor and illfurnished with food, loaded their +chariots with corn and other grain; and they found also provisions in plenty +and loaded with them, in great quantities, the other chariots that they had +captured. So the host sojourned there for three days; and every day the foraging +parties went foraging throughout the land; but the land was full of mountains, +and strong defiles, and the host lost many foragers, who adventured themselves +madly. +</p> + +<p> +In the end, the Emperor Henry sent Anscau of Cayeux to guard the foragers, and +Eustace his brother, and Thierri of Flanders, his nephew, and Walter of +Escomai, and John Bliaud. Their four battalions went to guard the foragers, and +entered into a land rough and mountainous. And when their people had overrun +the land, and wished to return, they found the defiles very well guarded. For +the Wallachians of the country had assembled, and fought against them, and did +them great hurt, both to men and horses. Hardly were our men put to it to +escape discomfiture; and the knights had, of necessity, to dismount and go on +foot. But by God’s help they returned to the camp, though not without +great loss and damage. +</p> + +<p> +On the morrow the Emperor Henry, and the host of the French departed thence, +and marched day by day till they came to Adrianople; and they stored therein +the corn and other provisions that they brought with them. The emperor +sojourned in the field before the city some fifteen days. +</p> + +<h2>HOMAGE RENDERED BY BONIFACE TO THE EMPEROR, AND BY GEOFFRY OF VILLEHARDOUIN +TO BONIFACE</h2> + +<p> +At that time Boniface, the Marquis of Montferrat, who was at Seres, which he +had fortified, rode forth as far as Messinopolis, and all the land surrendered +to his will. Then he took messengers, and sent them to the Emperor Henry, and +told him that he would right willingly speak with him by the river that runs +below Cypsela. Now they two had never been able to speak together face to face +since the conquest of the land, for so many enemies lay between them that the +one had never been able to come to the other. And when the emperor and those of +his council heard that the marquis Boniface was at Messinopolis, they rejoiced +greatly; and the emperor sent back word by the messengers that he would speak +with the marquis on the day appointed. +</p> + +<p> +So the emperor went thitherward, and he left Conon of Bethune to guard the land +near Adrianople, with one hundred knights. And they came on the set day to the +place of meeting in a very fair field, near the city of Cypsela. The emperor +came from one side, and the marquis from the other, and they met with very +great joy; nor is that to be wondered at, seeing they had not, of a long time, +beheld one another. And the marquis asked the emperor for tidings of his +daughter Agnes; and the emperor told him she was with child, and the marquis +was glad thereof and rejoiced. Then did the marquis become liegeman to the +emperor, and held from him his land, as he had done from the Emperor Baldwin, +his brother. And the marquis gave to Geoffry of Villehardouin, Marshal of +Roumania and Champagne, the city of Messinopolis, and all its appurtenances, or +else that of Seres, whichever he liked best; and the Marshal became his +liegeman, save in so far as he owed fealty to the emperor of Constantinople. +</p> + +<p> +They sojourned thus in that field for two days, in great joy, and said that, as +God had granted that they should come together, so might they yet again defeat +their enemies. And they made agreement to meet at the end of the summer, in the +month of October, with all their forces, in the meadow before the city of +Adrianople, and make war against the King of Wallachia. So they separated +joyous and well content. The marquis went to Messinopolis, and the Emperor +Henry towards Constantinople. +</p> + +<h2>BONIFACE IS KILLED IN A BATTLE AGAINST THE BULGARIANS</h2> + +<p> +When the marquis had come to Messinopolis, he did not remain there more than +five days before he rode forth, by the advice of the Greeks of the land, on an +expedition to the mountain of Messinopolis, which was distant a long +day’s journey. And when he had been through the land, and was about to +depart, the Bulgarians of the land collected and saw that the marquis had but a +small force with him. So they came from all parts and attacked the rear-guard. +And when the marquis heard the shouting, he leapt on a horse, all unarmed as he +was, with a lance in his hand. And when he came together, where the Bulgarians +were fighting with the rear-guard, hand to hand, he ran in upon them, and drove +them a great way back. +</p> + +<p> +Then was the Marquis Boniface of Montferrat wounded with an arrow, in the thick +of the arm, beneath the shoulder, mortally, and he began to lose blood. And +when his men saw it, they began to be dismayed, and to lose heart, and to bear +themselves badly. Those who were round the marquis held him up, and he was +losing much blood; and he began to faint. And when his men perceived that he +could give them no farther help, they were the more dismayed, and began to +desert him. So were they discomfited by misadventure; and those who remained by +him—and they were but few—were killed. +</p> + +<p> +The head of the Marquis Boniface of Montferrat was cut off, and the people of +the land sent it to Johannizza; and that was one of the greatest joys that ever +Johannizza had. Alas! what a dolorous mishap for the Emperor Henry, and for all +the Latins of the land of Roumania, to lose such a man by such a +misadventure—one of the best barons and most liberal, and one of the best +knights in the world! And this misadventure befell in the year of the +Incarnation of Jesus Christ, twelve hundred and seven. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div style='display:block; margin-top:4em'>*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK CHRONICLE OF THE FOURTH CRUSADE AND THE CONQUEST OF CONSTANTINOPLE ***</div> +<div style='text-align:left'> + +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +Updated editions will replace the previous one—the old editions will +be renamed. +</div> + +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright +law means that no one owns a United States copyright in these works, +so the Foundation (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United +States without permission and without paying copyright +royalties. Special rules, set forth in the General Terms of Use part +of this license, apply to copying and distributing Project +Gutenberg™ electronic works to protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG™ +concept and trademark. Project Gutenberg is a registered trademark, +and may not be used if you charge for an eBook, except by following +the terms of the trademark license, including paying royalties for use +of the Project Gutenberg trademark. If you do not charge anything for +copies of this eBook, complying with the trademark license is very +easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose such as creation +of derivative works, reports, performances and research. Project +Gutenberg eBooks may be modified and printed and given away--you may +do practically ANYTHING in the United States with eBooks not protected +by U.S. copyright law. Redistribution is subject to the trademark +license, especially commercial redistribution. +</div> + +<div style='margin:0.83em 0; font-size:1.1em; text-align:center'>START: FULL LICENSE<br /> +<span style='font-size:smaller'>THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE<br /> +PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK</span> +</div> + +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +To protect the Project Gutenberg™ mission of promoting the free +distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work +(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase “Project +Gutenberg”), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full +Project Gutenberg™ License available with this file or online at +www.gutenberg.org/license. +</div> + +<div style='display:block; font-size:1.1em; margin:1em 0; font-weight:bold'> +Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg™ electronic works +</div> + +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg™ +electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to +and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property +(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all +the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or +destroy all copies of Project Gutenberg™ electronic works in your +possession. If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a +Project Gutenberg™ electronic work and you do not agree to be bound +by the terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person +or entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. +</div> + +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +1.B. “Project Gutenberg” is a registered trademark. It may only be +used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who +agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few +things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg™ electronic works +even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See +paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project +Gutenberg™ electronic works if you follow the terms of this +agreement and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg™ +electronic works. See paragraph 1.E below. +</div> + +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation (“the +Foundation” or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection +of Project Gutenberg™ electronic works. Nearly all the individual +works in the collection are in the public domain in the United +States. If an individual work is unprotected by copyright law in the +United States and you are located in the United States, we do not +claim a right to prevent you from copying, distributing, performing, +displaying or creating derivative works based on the work as long as +all references to Project Gutenberg are removed. Of course, we hope +that you will support the Project Gutenberg™ mission of promoting +free access to electronic works by freely sharing Project Gutenberg™ +works in compliance with the terms of this agreement for keeping the +Project Gutenberg™ name associated with the work. You can easily +comply with the terms of this agreement by keeping this work in the +same format with its attached full Project Gutenberg™ License when +you share it without charge with others. +</div> + +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern +what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are +in a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, +check the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this +agreement before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, +distributing or creating derivative works based on this work or any +other Project Gutenberg™ work. The Foundation makes no +representations concerning the copyright status of any work in any +country other than the United States. +</div> + +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: +</div> + +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other +immediate access to, the full Project Gutenberg™ License must appear +prominently whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg™ work (any work +on which the phrase “Project Gutenberg” appears, or with which the +phrase “Project Gutenberg” is associated) is accessed, displayed, +performed, viewed, copied or distributed: +</div> + +<blockquote> + <div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> + This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and most + other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions + whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms + of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online + at <a href="https://www.gutenberg.org">www.gutenberg.org</a>. If you + are not located in the United States, you will have to check the laws + of the country where you are located before using this eBook. + </div> +</blockquote> + +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg™ electronic work is +derived from texts not protected by U.S. copyright law (does not +contain a notice indicating that it is posted with permission of the +copyright holder), the work can be copied and distributed to anyone in +the United States without paying any fees or charges. If you are +redistributing or providing access to a work with the phrase “Project +Gutenberg” associated with or appearing on the work, you must comply +either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 or +obtain permission for the use of the work and the Project Gutenberg™ +trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. +</div> + +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg™ electronic work is posted +with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution +must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any +additional terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms +will be linked to the Project Gutenberg™ License for all works +posted with the permission of the copyright holder found at the +beginning of this work. +</div> + +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg™ +License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this +work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg™. +</div> + +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this +electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without +prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with +active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project +Gutenberg™ License. +</div> + +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, +compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including +any word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access +to or distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg™ work in a format +other than “Plain Vanilla ASCII” or other format used in the official +version posted on the official Project Gutenberg™ website +(www.gutenberg.org), you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense +to the user, provide a copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means +of obtaining a copy upon request, of the work in its original “Plain +Vanilla ASCII” or other form. Any alternate format must include the +full Project Gutenberg™ License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. +</div> + +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, +performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg™ works +unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. +</div> + +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing +access to or distributing Project Gutenberg™ electronic works +provided that: +</div> + +<div style='margin-left:0.7em;'> + <div style='text-indent:-0.7em'> + • You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from + the use of Project Gutenberg™ works calculated using the method + you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is owed + to the owner of the Project Gutenberg™ trademark, but he has + agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the Project + Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments must be paid + within 60 days following each date on which you prepare (or are + legally required to prepare) your periodic tax returns. Royalty + payments should be clearly marked as such and sent to the Project + Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the address specified in + Section 4, “Information about donations to the Project Gutenberg + Literary Archive Foundation.” + </div> + + <div style='text-indent:-0.7em'> + • You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies + you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he + does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg™ + License. You must require such a user to return or destroy all + copies of the works possessed in a physical medium and discontinue + all use of and all access to other copies of Project Gutenberg™ + works. + </div> + + <div style='text-indent:-0.7em'> + • You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of + any money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the + electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days of + receipt of the work. + </div> + + <div style='text-indent:-0.7em'> + • You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free + distribution of Project Gutenberg™ works. + </div> +</div> + +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project +Gutenberg™ electronic work or group of works on different terms than +are set forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing +from the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the manager of +the Project Gutenberg™ trademark. Contact the Foundation as set +forth in Section 3 below. +</div> + +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +1.F. +</div> + +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable +effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread +works not protected by U.S. copyright law in creating the Project +Gutenberg™ collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg™ +electronic works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may +contain “Defects,” such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate +or corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other +intellectual property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or +other medium, a computer virus, or computer codes that damage or +cannot be read by your equipment. +</div> + +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the “Right +of Replacement or Refund” described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project +Gutenberg™ trademark, and any other party distributing a Project +Gutenberg™ electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all +liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal +fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT +LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE +PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE +TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE +LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR +INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH +DAMAGE. +</div> + +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a +defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can +receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a +written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you +received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium +with your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you +with the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in +lieu of a refund. If you received the work electronically, the person +or entity providing it to you may choose to give you a second +opportunity to receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If +the second copy is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing +without further opportunities to fix the problem. +</div> + +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth +in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you ‘AS-IS’, WITH NO +OTHER WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT +LIMITED TO WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. +</div> + +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied +warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of +damages. If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement +violates the law of the state applicable to this agreement, the +agreement shall be interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or +limitation permitted by the applicable state law. The invalidity or +unenforceability of any provision of this agreement shall not void the +remaining provisions. +</div> + +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the +trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone +providing copies of Project Gutenberg™ electronic works in +accordance with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the +production, promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg™ +electronic works, harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, +including legal fees, that arise directly or indirectly from any of +the following which you do or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this +or any Project Gutenberg™ work, (b) alteration, modification, or +additions or deletions to any Project Gutenberg™ work, and (c) any +Defect you cause. +</div> + +<div style='display:block; font-size:1.1em; margin:1em 0; font-weight:bold'> +Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg™ +</div> + +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +Project Gutenberg™ is synonymous with the free distribution of +electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of +computers including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It +exists because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations +from people in all walks of life. +</div> + +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the +assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg™’s +goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg™ collection will +remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure +and permanent future for Project Gutenberg™ and future +generations. To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation and how your efforts and donations can help, see +Sections 3 and 4 and the Foundation information page at www.gutenberg.org. +</div> + +<div style='display:block; font-size:1.1em; margin:1em 0; font-weight:bold'> +Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation +</div> + +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non-profit +501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the +state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal +Revenue Service. The Foundation’s EIN or federal tax identification +number is 64-6221541. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent permitted by +U.S. federal laws and your state’s laws. +</div> + +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +The Foundation’s business office is located at 809 North 1500 West, +Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887. Email contact links and up +to date contact information can be found at the Foundation’s website +and official page at www.gutenberg.org/contact +</div> + +<div style='display:block; font-size:1.1em; margin:1em 0; font-weight:bold'> +Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation +</div> + +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +Project Gutenberg™ depends upon and cannot survive without widespread +public support and donations to carry out its mission of +increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be +freely distributed in machine-readable form accessible by the widest +array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations +($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt +status with the IRS. +</div> + +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating +charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United +States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a +considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up +with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations +where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To SEND +DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any particular state +visit <a href="https://www.gutenberg.org/donate/">www.gutenberg.org/donate</a>. +</div> + +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we +have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition +against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who +approach us with offers to donate. +</div> + +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make +any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from +outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. +</div> + +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +Please check the Project Gutenberg web pages for current donation +methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other +ways including checks, online payments and credit card donations. To +donate, please visit: www.gutenberg.org/donate +</div> + +<div style='display:block; font-size:1.1em; margin:1em 0; font-weight:bold'> +Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg™ electronic works +</div> + +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +Professor Michael S. Hart was the originator of the Project +Gutenberg™ concept of a library of electronic works that could be +freely shared with anyone. For forty years, he produced and +distributed Project Gutenberg™ eBooks with only a loose network of +volunteer support. +</div> + +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +Project Gutenberg™ eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as not protected by copyright in +the U.S. unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not +necessarily keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper +edition. +</div> + +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +Most people start at our website which has the main PG search +facility: <a href="https://www.gutenberg.org">www.gutenberg.org</a>. +</div> + +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +This website includes information about Project Gutenberg™, +including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to +subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. +</div> + +</div> + +</body> + +</html> + + |