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+The Project Gutenberg eBook of The Fourth Crusade and The Conquest of Constantinople, by Geoffrey de Villehardouin
+
+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
+www.gutenberg.org. 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.
+
+Title: Chronicle of The Fourth Crusade and The Conquest of Constantinople
+
+Author: Geoffrey de Villehardouin
+
+Translator: Frank T. Marzials
+
+Release Date: October 23, 2002 [eBook #6032]
+[Most recently updated: September 9, 2021]
+
+Language: English
+
+Character set encoding: UTF-8
+
+Produced by: Norm Wolcott
+
+*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK CHRONICLE OF THE FOURTH CRUSADE AND THE CONQUEST OF CONSTANTINOPLE ***
+
+
+
+
+Chronicle of The Fourth Crusade and The Conquest of Constantinople
+
+by Geoffrey de Villehardouin
+
+Translated by Frank T. Marzials
+
+London:
+J.M. Dent,
+1908
+
+
+
+
+THE FIRST PREACHING OF THE CRUSADE
+
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+[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.]
+
+
+
+
+OF THOSE WHO TOOK THE CROSS
+
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+[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].
+
+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.
+
+[Note: Geoffry de Joinville—the father of the chronicler Joinville.]
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+
+
+
+THE CRUSADERS SEND SIX ENVOYS TO VENICE
+
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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).
+
+
+
+
+THE ENVOYS ARRIVE IN VENICE, AND PROFFER THEIR REQUEST
+
+
+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.
+
+[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 _Princes of Achaia_.) 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.]
+
+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.”
+
+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.
+
+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.”
+
+“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.”
+
+
+
+
+CONDITIONS PROPOSED BY THE DOGE
+
+
+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.
+
+“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.
+
+[Note: The old French term is _Vuissiers_, 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.]
+
+“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.
+
+“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.”
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+
+
+
+CONCLUSION OF THE TREATY, AND RETURN OF THE ENVOYS
+
+
+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.
+
+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.”
+
+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.
+
+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!”
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+
+
+
+THE CRUSADERS LOOK FOR ANOTHER CHIEF
+
+
+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.”
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.”
+
+[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 _Notice_].
+
+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.
+
+
+
+
+BONIFACE, MARQUIS OF MONTFERRAT, BECOMES CHIEF OF THE CRUSADE—NEW
+CRUSADERS—DEATH OF GEOFFRY COUNT OF PERCHE
+
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+
+
+
+FIRST STARTING OF THE PILGRIMS FOR VENICE, AND OF SOME WHO WENT NOT
+THITHER
+
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+
+
+
+OF THE PILGRIMS WHO CAME TO VENICE, AND OF THOSE WHO WENT TO APULIA
+
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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 _livres_ to accompany him on this journey. With these went a
+great company of knights and sergeants, whose names are not recorded.
+
+Thus was the host of those who went by Venice greatly weakened; and
+much evil befell them therefrom, as you shall shortly hear.
+
+
+
+
+THE PILGRIMS LACK MONEY WHEREWITH TO PAY THE VENETIANS
+
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.”
+
+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.”
+
+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.
+
+
+
+
+THE CRUSADERS OBTAIN A RESPITE BY PROMISING TO HELP THE VENETIANS
+AGAINST ZARA
+
+
+Then the Doge spoke to his people, and said unto them:
+
+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.
+
+“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.
+
+
+
+
+THE DOGE AND A NUMBER OF VENETIANS TAKE THE CROSS
+
+
+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.
+
+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.”
+
+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!”
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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).
+
+
+
+
+MESSAGE OF ALEXIUS, THE SON OF ISAAC, THE DETHRONED EMPEROR OF
+CONSTANTINOPLE—DEATH OF FULK OF NEUILLY—ARRIVAL OF THE GERMANS
+
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+
+
+
+THE CRUSADERS LEAVE VENICE TO BESIEGE ZARA
+
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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?”
+
+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).
+
+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.*
+
+[Note: Literally, “in the passage of March,” _i.e._ among the pilgrims
+who periodically started for the Holy Land in March.]
+
+
+
+
+THE INHABITANTS OF ZARA OFFER TO CAPITULATE, AND THEN DRAW BACK—ZARA IS
+TAKEN
+
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.”
+
+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.”
+
+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.
+
+
+
+
+THE CRUSADERS ESTABLISH THEMSELVES IN THE CITYAFFRAY BETWEEN THE
+VENETIANS AND THE FRANKS
+
+
+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.”
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+
+
+
+ON WHAT CONDITIONS ALEXIUS PROPOSES TO OBTAIN THE HELP OF THE CRUSADERS
+FOR THE CONQUEST OF CONSTANTINOPLE
+
+
+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.
+
+“‘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.
+
+“‘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.’”
+
+“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.”
+
+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.
+
+
+
+
+DISCORD AMONG THE CRUSADERS—OF THOSE WHO ACCEPT THE PROPOSALS OF THE
+YOUNG ALEXIUS
+
+
+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.
+
+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.”
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+
+
+
+OF THOSE WHO SEPARATED THEMSELVES FROM THE HOST TO GO TO SYRIA, AND OF
+THE FLEET OF THE COUNT OF FLANDERS
+
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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 _vidame_ 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.
+
+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.
+
+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!
+
+
+
+
+THE CRUSADERS OBTAIN THE POPE’S ABSOLUTION FOR THE CAPTURE OF ZARA
+
+
+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.
+
+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.”
+
+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.
+
+
+
+
+DEPARTURE OF THE CRUSADERS FOR CORFU—ARRIVAL OF THE YOUNG
+ALEXIUS—CAPTURE OF DURAS
+
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+
+
+
+HOW THE CHIEFS OF THE CRUSADERS HELD BACK THOSE WHO WANTED TO ABANDON
+THE HOST
+
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.”
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+
+
+
+DEPARTURE FROM CORFU—CAPTURE OF ANDROS AND ABYDOS
+
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+
+
+
+ARRIVAL AT ST. STEPHEN—DELIBERATION AS TO PLAN OF ATTACK
+
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+“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.
+
+
+
+
+THE CRUSADERS LAND AT CHALCEDON AND SCUTARI
+
+
+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.
+
+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).
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+
+
+
+THE FORAGERS DEFEAT THE GREEKS
+
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+
+
+
+MESSAGE OF THE EMPEROR ALEXIUS—REPLY OF THE CRUSADERS
+
+
+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.
+
+“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.”
+
+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.”
+
+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.
+
+
+
+
+THE CRUSADERS SHOW THE YOUNG ALEXIUS TO THE PEOPLE OF CONSTANTINOPLE,
+AND PREPARE FOR THE BATTLE
+
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+
+
+
+THE CRUSADERS SEIZE THE PORT
+
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+
+
+
+CAPTURE OF THE TOWER OF GALATA
+
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+
+
+
+ATTACK ON THE CITY BY LAND AND SEA
+
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+
+
+
+FIRST INCIDENTS OF THE ASSAULT
+
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+
+
+
+ASSAULT OF THE CITY
+
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+
+
+
+CAPTURE OF TWENTY-FIVE TOWERS
+
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+
+
+
+THE EMPEROR ALEXIUS COMES OUT FOR BATTLE, BUT RETIRES WITHOUT ATTACKING
+
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+
+
+
+ALEXIUS ABANDONS CONSTANTINOPLE—HIS BROTHER ISAAC IS REPLACED ON THE
+THRONE—THE CRUSADERS SEND HIM A MESSAGE
+
+
+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.
+
+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.”
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+
+
+
+THE EMPEROR ISAAC RATIFIES THE COVENANTS ENTERED INTO BY HIS SON
+
+
+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.”
+
+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.
+
+
+
+
+ENTRY OF THE CRUSADERS INTO CONSTANTINOPLE—CORONATION OF THE YOUNG
+ALEXIUS
+
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+
+
+
+ALEXIUS BEGS THE CRUSADERS TO PROLONG THEIR STAY
+
+
+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.
+
+“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.”
+
+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.
+
+
+
+
+DEBATE AMONG THE CRUSADERS—DEATH OF MATTHEW OF MONTMORENCY
+
+
+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.”
+
+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.”
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+
+
+
+PROGRESS OF THE YOUNG ALEXIUS THROUGH THE EMPIRE
+
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+
+
+
+CONFLICT BETWEEN THE GREEKS AND LATINS IN CONSTANTINOPLE-BURNING OF THE
+CITY
+
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+
+
+
+THE YOUNG ALEXIUS RETURNS TO CONSTANTINOPLIZHE FAILS IN HIS PROMISES TO
+THE CRUSADERS
+
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+
+
+
+THE CRUSADERS DEFY THE EMPERORS
+
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.”
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+
+
+
+THE WAR BEGINS—THE GREEKS ENDEAVOUR TO SET FIRE TO THE FLEET OF THE
+CRUSADERS
+
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+
+
+
+MOURZUPHLES USURPS THE EMPIRE—ISAAC DIES, AND THE YOUNG ALEXIUS IS
+STRANGLED
+
+
+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.
+
+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!
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+
+
+
+THE CRUSADERS CONTINUE THE WAR—DEFEAT OF MOURZUPHLES
+
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+
+
+
+OF THE PILGRIMS WHO HAD GONE TO SYRIA
+
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+
+
+
+AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE FRANKS AND VENETIANS BEFORE ATTACKING
+CONSTANTINOPLE
+
+
+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.*
+
+[Note: This passage is obscure in the original.]
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+
+
+
+ATTACK OF THE CRUSADERS REPULSED—THEY MAKE READY FOR ANOTHER ASSAULT
+
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+
+
+
+THE CRUSADERS TAKE A PART OF THE CITY
+
+
+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.
+
+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 _Paradise_, 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.*
+
+[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.
+    “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.
+    “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.”
+    After this, according to Robert of Clari, Lord Peter’s men break
+    open a gate, and Crusaders enter into the city. See _Li
+    Estoires de chiaus qus conquisent Constantinoble, de Robert de
+    Clari en aminois, chevalier_, 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 _Chroniques Gréco-romanes inédites ou peu connues_, etc.,
+    pp. 1–85, Berlin, 1873.]
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+
+
+
+FLIGHT OF MOURZUPHLES—SECOND FIRE IN CONSTANTINOPLE
+
+
+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).
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+
+
+
+THE CRUSADERS OCCUPY THE CITY
+
+
+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.
+
+[* Agnes, sister of Philip Augustus, married successively to Alexius
+II., to Andronicus, and to Theodore Branas]
+
+[** Margaret, sister of Emeric, King of Hungary, married to the Emperor
+Isaac, and afterwards to the Marquis of Montferrat.]
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+
+
+
+DIVISION OF THE SPOIL
+
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+
+
+
+BALDWIN, COUNT OF FLANDERS, ELECTED EMPEROR
+
+
+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.
+
+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.”
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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!”
+
+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.
+
+
+
+
+BONIFACE WEDS ISAAC’S WIDOW, AND AFTER BALDWIN’S CORONATION OBTAINS THE
+KINGDOM OF SALONIKA
+
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+
+
+
+BALDWIN MARCHES AGAINST MOURZUPHLES
+
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+
+
+
+MOURZUPHLES TAKES REFUGE WITH ALEXIUS, THE BROTHER OF ISAAC, WHO PUTS
+OUT HIS EYES
+
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+
+
+
+BALDWIN MARCHES AGAINST ALEXIUS—HE IS JOINED BY BONIFACE
+
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+“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.”
+
+
+
+
+RUPTURE BETWEEN BALDWIN AND BONIFACE—THE ONE MARCHES ON SALONIKA, THE
+OTHER ON DEMOTICA
+
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+
+
+
+MESSAGE OF THE CRUSADERS TO BONIFACE—HE SUSPENDS THE SIEGE OF
+ADRIANOPLE
+
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+
+
+
+MESSAGE OF THE CRUSADERS TO BALDWIN—DEATH OF SEVERAL KNIGHTS
+
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+
+
+
+BALDWIN’S REPLY TO THE MESSAGE OF THE CRUSADERS
+
+
+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.”
+
+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.”
+
+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.
+
+
+
+
+RECONCILIATION OF BALDWIN AND BONIFACE
+
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+
+
+
+THE KINGDOM OF SALONIKA IS RESTORED TO BONIFACE—DIVISION OF THE LAND
+BETWEEN THE CRUSADERS
+
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+
+
+
+EXECUTION OF MOURZUPHLES AND IMPRISONMENT OF ALEXIUS
+
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+
+
+
+CAPTURE OF ABYDOS, OF PHILIPPOPOLIS, AND OF NICOMEDIA—THEODORE LASCARIS
+PRETENDS TO THE EMPIRE
+
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+
+
+
+REINFORCEMENTS FROM SYRIA—DEATH OF MARY, THE WIFE OF BALDWIN
+
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+[Note: She was the daughter of Henry Count of Champagne and of Mary,
+daughter of Philip Augustus, King of France]
+
+
+
+
+DEFEAT OF THEODORE AND CONSTANTINE LASCARIS
+
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+
+
+
+BONIFACE ATTACKS LEON SGURE; HE IS JOINED BY GEOFFRY OF VILLEHARDOUIN,
+THE NEPHEW
+
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+
+
+
+EXPLOITS OF WILLIAM OF CHAMPLITTE AND GEOFFRY OF VILLEHARDOUIN, THE
+NEPHEW, IN MOREA
+
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+
+
+
+SIEGE OF NAPOLI AND CORINTH; ALLIANCE BETWEEN THE GREEKS AND JOHANNIZZA
+
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+
+
+
+UPRISING OF THE GREEKS AT DEMOTICA AND ADRIANOPLE; THEIR DEFEAT AT
+ARCADIOPOLIS
+
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+
+
+
+THE CRUSADERS ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE STRAITS ARE RECALLED TO MARCH ON
+ADRIANOPLE—EXPEDITION OF GEOFFRY OF VILLEHARDOUIN
+
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+
+
+
+RENIER OF TRIT ABANDONED AT PHILIPPOPOLIS BY HIS SON AND THE GREATER
+PART OF HIS PEOPLE
+
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+
+
+
+BALDWIN UNDERTAKES THE SIEGE OF ADRIANOPLE
+
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+
+
+
+THE SIEGE OF ADRIANOPLE CONTINUED WITHOUT RESULT
+
+
+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.
+
+[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]
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+
+
+
+JOHANNIZZA, KING OF WALLACHIA, COMES TO RELIEVE ADRIANOPLE
+
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+
+
+
+DEFEAT OF THE CRUSADERS—BALDWIN TAKEN PRISONER
+
+
+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.
+
+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.”
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+
+
+
+THE CRUSADERS RAISE THE SIEGE OF ADRIANOPLE
+
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.”
+
+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.
+
+
+
+
+RETREAT OF THE CRUSADERS
+
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+
+
+
+PETER OF BRACIEUX AND PAYEN OF ORLEANS MEET THE RETREATING HOST
+
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+“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.
+
+
+
+
+THE HOST REACHES RODOSTO
+
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+
+
+
+SEVEN THOUSAND PILGRIMS LEAVE THE CRUSADERS
+
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+
+
+
+MEETING OF MANY OF THE CRUSADERS—HENRY, THE BROTHER OF BALDWIN, IS MADE
+REGENT
+
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+
+
+
+RETURN TO CONSTANTINOPLE—APPEALS FOR HELP SENT TO THE POPE, AND TO
+FRANCE AND TO OTHER LANDS—DEATH OF THE DOGE
+
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+
+
+
+THE REGENT OBTAINS CERTAIN ADVANTAGES OVER THE GREEKS
+
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+
+
+
+SERES SURRENDERS TO JOHANNIZZA—HE FORFEITS HIS WORD
+
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+
+
+
+THE REGENT BESIEGES ADRIANOPLE IN VAIN
+
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+
+
+
+DESTRUCTION OF PHILIPPOPOLIS BY JOHANNIZZA
+
+
+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.
+
+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.”
+
+[Note: An Eastern sect. They believed, among other things, that all
+matter is evil, and that Christ suffered in appearance only.]
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+
+
+
+THE REGENT SETS GARRISONS IN SUCH PLACES AS HE STILL HELD
+
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+[Note: Agnes, sister to Philip Augustus, King of France]
+
+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.
+
+
+
+
+DEFEAT OF THE FRANKS NEAR RUSIUM
+
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+
+
+
+NEW INVASION OF JOHANNIZZA; RUIN OF NAPOLI
+
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+
+
+
+DESTRUCTION OF RODOSTO
+
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+
+
+
+JOHANNIZZA CONTINUES HIS CONQUESTS AND RAVAGES
+
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+
+
+
+THE GREEKS ARE RECONCILED TO THE CRUSADERS—JOHANNIZZA BESIEGES DEMOTICA
+
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+
+
+
+THE CRUSADERS MARCH TO THE RELIEF OF DEMOTICA
+
+
+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.”
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+
+
+
+JOHANNIZZA RETREATS, FOLLOWED BY THE CRUSADERS
+
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+
+
+
+RENIER OF TRIT RELIEVED AND DELIVERED
+
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+[Note: soldiers born of a Turkish father and a Greek mother]
+
+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
+
+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.
+
+
+
+
+HENRY CROWNED EMPEROR—JOHANNIZZA RAVAGES THE COUNTRY AGAIN—THE EMPEROR
+MARCHES AGAINST HIM
+
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+
+
+
+THE EMPEROR MEETS JOHANNIZZA, AND RECAPTURES HIS PRISONERS
+
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+
+
+
+PROJECTED MARRIAGE BETWEEN THE EMPEROR AND THE DAUGHTER OF BONIFACE—THE
+CRUSADERS RAVAGE THE LANDS OF JOHANNIZZA
+
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+
+
+
+THE EMPEROR RESUMES THE WAR AGAINST THEODORE LASCARIS
+
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+
+
+
+ADVANTAGES OBTAINED BY BONIFACE—MARRIAGE OF HIS DAUGHTER WITH THE
+EMPEROR
+
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+
+
+
+THEODORE LASCARIS FORMS AN ALLIANCE WITH JOHANNIZZA
+
+
+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).
+
+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.
+
+
+
+
+SIEGE OF ADRIANOPLE BY JOHANNIZZA—SIEGE OF SKIZA AND CIBOTOS BY
+LASCARIS
+
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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).
+
+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.
+
+
+
+
+THE EMPEROR ATTACKS THE FLEET OF THEODORE LASCARIS, AND RESCUES CIBOTOS
+
+
+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.”
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+[Note: The meaning here is a little obscure in the original ]
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+
+
+
+JOHANNIZZA RAISES THE SIEGE OF ADRIANOPLE
+
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+
+
+
+SKIZA AGAIN BESIEGED BY THEODORE LASCARIS—THE EMPEROR DELIVERS THE CITY
+
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+
+
+
+THE EMPEROR TWICE DELIVERS NICOMEDIA, BESIEGED BY THEODORE LASCARIS
+
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+
+
+
+TRUCE WITH THEODORE LASCARIS—THE EMPEROR INVADES THE LANDS OF
+JOHANNIZZA
+
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+
+
+
+THE EMPEROR’S FORAGERS SUFFER LOSS
+
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+
+
+
+HOMAGE RENDERED BY BONIFACE TO THE EMPEROR, AND BY GEOFFRY OF
+VILLEHARDOUIN TO BONIFACE
+
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+
+
+
+BONIFACE IS KILLED IN A BATTLE AGAINST THE BULGARIANS
+
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+
+
+
+*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK CHRONICLE OF THE FOURTH CRUSADE AND THE CONQUEST OF CONSTANTINOPLE ***
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