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.