The fleet was very well prepared and armed, and provisions were got
together for the pilgrims. On the Thursday after mid-Lent (8th April
1204), all entered into the vessels, and put their horses into the
transports. Each division had its own ships, and all were ranged side
by side; and the ships were separated from the galleys and transports.
A marvellous sight it was to see; and well does this book bear witness
that the attack, as it had been devised, extended over full half a
French league.
On the Friday morning the ships and the galleys and the other vessels
drew near to the city in due order, and then began an assault most fell
and fierce. In many places the pilgrims landed and went up to the
walls, and in many places the scaling ladders on the ships approached
so close, that those on the towers and on the walls and those on the
ladders crossed lances, hand to hand. Thus lasted the assault, in more
than a hundred places, very fierce, and very dour, and very proud, till
near upon the hour of nones.
But, for our sins, the pilgrims were repulsed in that assault, and
those who had landed from the galleys and transports were driven back
into them by main force. And you must know that on that day those of
the host lost more than the Greeks, and much were the Greeks rejoiced
thereat. And some there were who drew back from the assault, with the
ships in which they were. And some remained with their ships at anchor
so near to the city that from either side they shot at one another with
petraries and mangonels.
Then, at vesper time, those of the host and the Doge of Venice called
together a parliament, and assembled in a church on the other side of
the straits—on the side where they had been quartered. There were many
opinions given and discussed; and much were those of the host moved for
the mischief that had that day befallen them. And many advised that
they should attack the city on another side—the side where it was not
so well fortified. But the Venetians, who had fuller knowledge of the
sea, said that if they went to that other side, the current would carry
them down the straits, and that they would be unable to stop their
ships. And you must know that there were those who would have been well
pleased if the current had home them down the straits, or the wind,
they cared not whither, so long as they left that land behind, and went
on their way. Nor is this to be wondered at, for they were in sore
peril.
Enough was there spoken, this way and in that; but the conclusion of
their deliberation was this: that they would repair and refit on the
following day, which was Saturday, and during the whole of Sunday, and
that on the Monday they would return to the assault; and they devised
further that the ships that carried the scaling ladders should be bound
together, two and two, so that two ships should be in case to attack
one tower; for they had perceived that day how only one ship had
attacked each tower, and that this had been too heavy a task for the
ship, seeing that those in the tower were more in number than those on
the ladder. For this reason was it well seen that two ships would
attack each tower with greater effect than one. As had been settled, so
was it done, and they waited thus during the Saturday and Sunday.