Soldan therewith in the middle of the hand

They went therefore to those of the Halca, and demanded of them that they should kill the Soldan, so soon as they had eaten with him, as he had invited them to do. Thus it befell that, after they had eaten, and the Soldan had taken leave of his emirs, and was going to his chamber, one of the knights of the Halca, who bore the Soldan’s sword, struck the Soldan therewith in the middle of the hand, between the four fingers, and clove the hand up to the arm. The Soldan turned to the emirs, who had caused this to be done to him, and said: “Lords, I make appeal to you against these people of the Halca, who desire to slay me, as you can see! ” Then the knights of the Halca made answer to the Soldan with one voice, and said: “ As thou safest that we desire to slay thee, better is it that we should slay thee than that thou should slay us! ”

Then they caused the cymbals to be struck, and all the host came to ask what was the Soldan’s will. And they answered that Damietta was taken, and that the Soldan was going thither, and that he ordered them to follow. So the host gat to their arms, and spurred towards Damietta. And when we saw that they were going towards Damietta, we were in sore trouble of heart, for we thought that Damietta was lost. But the Soldan, being young and active, fled into ‘ the tower that stood behind his chamber (as you have already ‘ heard), with three of his bishops, who had sat at meat with him; and he was there with them in the tower.

Soldan’s pavilions

Those of the Halca, who were in number five hundred mounted men, threw down the Soldan’s pavilions, and swarmed round and about the tower, besieging him and the three bishops; and they cried to him to come down. And he said so he would if they promised him safety’. They told him they would make him come down by force, for he was not in Damietta. Then they threw at him Greek fire, and it caught the tower, which was made of pine planks and cotton cloth. The tower flared up quickly, nor have I ever seen finer nor straighter flame. When the Soldan saw this, he gat down swiftly, and came flying towards the river, all along the way of which I have already spoken to you.

THE TOWERS BURNED BY THE GREEK FIRE

King of Sicily

The king’s brothers kept guard over the towers by day, and went to the top of the towers to shoot bolts from the crossbows at the Saracens who were in the Saracens’ camp; for the king had decided that the King of Sicily was to keep guard over the towers by day, while we were to keep guard over them by night; and now on a day when the King of Sicily was thus keeping guard, and we were to keep guard by night, we were in sore trouble of heart, because the Saracens had well-nigh shattered our towers. And the Saracens brought out their petrary in full daylight, whereas they had so far only brought it out by night, and they threw’ Greek fire pn to our towers. And they had brought their engines so near to the causeway which the host were building that no one dared to go to the towers because of the great stones that the engines cast, and that fell upon the causeway. Whence it happened that the two towers were burned, and the King of Sicily was so beside himself that he wished to throw himself there where the fire was, in order to put it out; and if he was incensed, why I and my knights could but praise God, seeing that if we had been on guard (in the towers) that night, we should all have been burned.

When the king saw this, he sent for all the barons of the host, and begged them each to give him wood from their ships to build a tower to help to dam up the stream; and he showed them clearly that there was no wood with which this could be done, save the wood of the vessels that had brought our goods up the river. Each brought according to his will, and when the tower was made, the wood was valued at ten thousand livres and more.

The king decided also that the tower should not be pushed forward on to the causeway until the day came when it was the turn of the king of Sicily to mount guard, so that he might thus repair the loss of the other towers that had been burned while he was on guard. As it had been decided, so was it done; as soon as the King of Sicily came on guard, he caused the tower to be pushed forward along the causeway, to the point where the other towers guarding the covered way had been burned.

When the Saracens saw this, they so arranged that all their sixteen engines should cast their shot upon the cause way, to the place whither the tower had been brought; and when they saw that our people feared to go to the tower because of the stones from the engines that fell on the causeway, they brought up the petrary, and cast Greek fire at the tower, and burned it utterly. Great was the courtesy that God showed to me and to my knights in this matter, for if we had mounted guard that night we should have done so in as great peril as on the former occasion, of which I have already spoken to you.

FORDING OF THE RIVER DEATH OF THE COUNT OF ARTOIS

When the king saw this he called all his barons into council; and they agreed that they could not build a causeway on which to pass over against the Saracens, because our people were unable to dam up as much on our side as the Saracens could excavate on the other guided tour istanbul.

Then did constable my Lord Imbert of Beaujeu say to the king that a Bedouin had come to him and told him that he could show us a good ford, provided we gave him five hundred besants. The king agreed that the besants should be given him, provided he (on his part) proved the truth of what he promised. The constable thereon spoke to the Bedouin; but the Bedouin said he would not show the ford unless the moneys were first placed in his hands. So it was agreed that the besants should be given to him; and given to him they were.

The king decided that the Duke of Burgundy and the men of note from oversea who were with the host, should guard the camp, so that no harm might come to it; and that the king and his three brothers should pass the ford at the place which the Bedouin was to show them. So was the matter settled, and preparation made to pass over on Shrove Tuesday (8th February 1250), on which day we came to the Bedouin’s ford. There, as the dawn of the day was appearing, we collected from all points; and when we were ready, we went to the stream and our horses began to swim. When we got to the middle of the stream, we touched ground and our horses found footing; and on the other bank of the stream were full three hundred Saracens, all mounted on their horses.

Then said I to my people: “ Sirs, look only to the left hand, and let each draw thither; the banks are wet and soft and the horses are falling upon their riders and drown ing them.” And it was sooth that some were drowned in the crossing, and among others was drowned my Lord John of Orleans, who carried a banner vivre. Thereupon we moved in such sort that we turned up the stream, and found a dry way, and so passed over, praise God 1 that not one of us fell; and as soon as we had passed over, the Turks fled.

Geoffry the Marshal of Roumania

Geoffry the Marshal of Roumania and Champagne took certain Turcoples1 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.

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 Joharmizza’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! if only their grief had not been beyond remedy!

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 Bald win as emperor, and ieave in the country Vernas, 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 to wards 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 oF3t. 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 guided istanbul tour.

Now when Johannizza, the King of Wallachia and Bulgaria, heard that the emperor had been crowned in Constantinople, and that Vernas had remained in the land of Adrianople and Demotica, he collected together as large a force as he could. And Vernas 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 Jnhannizza marched on Demotica, and took it, and destroyed it, and rased the walls to the ground, and over ran the whole country, and took men, women, and children for a prey, and wrought devastation. Then did those in Adnanople beseech the Emperor Henry to succour them, seeing that Demotica had been lost in such cruel sort.

And Johannizza

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 heTieanf 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 Wallarilia. 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 Johaniizza retired as the emperor advanced, and the emperor followed him for four days. Then they came to a city called Veroi.

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 Messinople, 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 Walachia and Bulgaria, who ofttimes made war upon them. And the Emperor Baldwin left there Eustace of Saubruic, who was a .might of Flanders, very worthy and very valiant, together with forty right good knights, and a hundred mounted sergeants.

Emperor Baldwin from Adnanoole

So departed the Emperor Baldwin from Adnanoole, and rode towards Messinople, 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 Messinople and fled. And the Emperor Baldwin rode on till he came before Messinople; 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, waiting 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 Messinople, 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 re minded 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 you behests. But do not go and ruin my land. Let us rather, if it so pleases you, march against Johannizza, the King of Walachia and Bulgaria, who holds a great part of the land wrongfully.”

CAPTURE OF THE TOWER OF GALATA

Count Baldwin of Flanders and Hainault, with the ad vanced 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.

James of Avesnes

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 Ids 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 succored him right well, and so won great honour.

Then a cry was raised m the host, and our people ran to gether from all sides, and drove back the foe with great fury, so that many w ere 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.