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.