Then the Emperor Alexius issued from the city, with all his forces, by
other gates which were at least a league from the camp; and so many
began to issue forth that it seemed as if the whole world were there
assembled. The emperor marshalled his troops in the plain, and they
rode towards the camp; and when our Frenchmen saw them coming, they ran
to arms from all sides. On that day Henry, the brother of Count Baldwin
of Flanders, was mounting guard over the engines of war before the gate
of Blachernæ, together with Matthew of Wallincourt, and Baldwin of
Beauvoir, and their followers. Against their encampment the Emperor
Alexius had made ready a great number of his people, who were to issue
by three gates, while he himself should fall upon the host from another
side.
Then the six divisions issued from our camp as had been devised, and
were marshalled in ranks before the palisades: the sergeants and
squires on foot behind the horses, and the archers and crossbowmen in
front. And there was a division of the knights on foot, for we had at
least two hundred who, were without horses. Thus they stood still
before the palisades. And this showed great good sense, for if they had
moved to the attack, the numbers of the enemy were such that they must
have been overwhelmed and (as it were) drowned among them.
It seemed as if the whole plain was covered with troops, and they
advanced slowly and in order. Well might we appear in perilous case,
for we had but six divisions, while the Greeks had full forty, and
there was not one of their divisions but was larger than any of ours.
But ours were ordered in such sort that none could attack them save in
front. And the Emperor Alexius rode so far forward that either side
could shoot at the other. And when the Doge of Venice heard this, he
made his people come forth, and leave the towers they had taken, and
said he would live or die with the pilgrims. So he came to the camp,
and was himself the first to land, and brought with him such of his
people as he could.
Thus, for a long space, the armies of the pilgrims and of the Greeks
stood one against the other; for the Greeks did not dare to throw
themselves upon our ranks, and our people would not move from their
palisades. And when the Emperor Alexius saw this, he began to withdraw
his people, and when he had rallied them, he turned back. And seeing
this, the host of the pilgrims began to march towards him with slow
steps, and the Greek troops began to move backwards, and retreated to a
palace called Philopas.
And be it known to you, that never did God save any people from such
peril as He saved the host that day; and be it known to you further
that there was none in the host so hardy but he had great joy thereof.
Thus did the battle remain for that day. As it pleased God nothing
further was done. The Emperor Alexius returned to the city, and those
of the host to their quarters-the latter taking off their armour, for
they were weary and overwrought; and they ate and drank little, seeing
that their store of food was but scanty.
ALEXIUS ABANDONS CONSTANTINOPLE—HIS BROTHER ISAAC IS REPLACED ON THE
THRONE—THE CRUSADERS SEND HIM A MESSAGE
Now listen to the miracles of our Lord-how gracious are they
whithersoever it pleases Him to perform them! That very might the
Emperor Alexius of Constantinople took of his treasure as much as he
could carry, and took with him as many of his people as would go, and
so fled and abandoned the city. And those of the city remained
astonied, and they drew to the prison in which lay the Emperor Isaac,
whose eyes had been put out. Him they clothed imperially, and bore to
the great palace of Blachernæ, and seated on a high throne; and there
they did to him obeisance as their lord. Then they took messengers, by
the advice of the Emperor Isaac, and sent them to the host, to apprise
the son of the Emperor Isaac, and the barons, that the Emperor Alexius
had fled, and that they had again raised up the Emperor Isaac as
emperor.
When the young man knew of this he summoned the Marquis Boniface of
Montferrat, and the marquis summoned the barons throughout the host.
And when they were met in the pavilion of the Emperor Isaac’s son, he
told them the news. And when they heard it, their joy was such as
cannot be uttered, for never was greater joy in all this world. And
greatly and most devoutly was our Lord praised by all, in that He had
succoured them within so short a term, and exalted them so high from
such a low estate. And therefore well may one say: “Him whom God will
help can no man injure.”
Then the day began to dawn, and the host to put on their armour; and
all gat them to their arms throughout the host, because they did not
greatly trust the Greeks. And messengers began to come out from the
city, two or three together, and told the same tale. The barons and
counts, and the Doge of Venice had agreed to send envoys into the city,
to know how matters really stood; and, if that was true which had been
reported, to demand of the father that he should ratify the covenants
made by the son; and, if he would not, to, declare that they on their
part should not suffer the son to enter into the city. So envoys were
chosen: one was Matthew of Montmorency, and Geoffry the Marshal of
Champagne was the other, and two Venetians on the part of the Doge of
Venice.
The envoys were conducted to the gate, and the gate was opened to them,
and they dismounted from their horses. The Greeks had set Englishmen
and Danes, with their axes, at the gate and right up to the palace of
Blachernæ. Thus were the envoys conducted to the great palace. There
they found the Emperor Isaac, so richly clad that you would seek in
vain throughout the world for a man more richly apparelled than he, and
by his side the empress, his wife, a most fair lady, the sister of the
King of Hungary; and of great men and great ladies there were so many,
that you could not stir foot for the press, and the ladies were so
richly adorned that richer adornment might not be. And all those who,
the day before, had been against the emperor were, on that day, subject
in everything to his good pleasure.