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.