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.