Count Louis went out first with his battalion, and began to follow
after the Comans, and sent to urge the emperor to come after him. Alas!
how ill did they keep to what had been settled the night before! For
they ran in pursuit of the Comans for at least two leagues, and joined
issue with them, and chased them a long space. And then the Comans
turned back upon them, and began to cry out and to shoot.
On our side there were battalions made up of other people than knights,
people having too little knowledge of arms, and they began to wax
afraid and be discomfited. And Count Louis, who had been the first to
attack, was wounded in two places full sorely; and the Comans and
Wallachians began to invade our ranks; and the count had fallen, and
one of his knights, whose name was John of Friaise, dismounted, and set
him on his horse. Many were Count Louis’ people who said: “Sir, get you
hence, for you are too sorely wounded, and in two places.” And he said:
“The Lord God forbid that ever I should be reproached with flying from
the field, and abandoning the emperor.”
The emperor, who was in great straits on his side, recalled his people,
and he told them that he would not fly, and that they were to remain
with him: and well do those who were there present bear witness that
never did knight defend himself better with his hands than did the
emperor. This combat lasted a long time. Some were there who did well,
and some were there who fled. In the end, for so God suffers
misadventures to occur, they were discomfited. There on the field
remained the Emperor Baldwin, who never would fly, and Count Louis; the
Emperor Baldwin was taken alive and Count Louis was slain.
Alas! how woful was our loss! There was lost the Bishop Peter of
Bethlehem, and Stephen of Perche, brother to Count Geoffry, and Renaud
of Montmirail, brother of the Count of Nevers, and Matthew of
Wallincourt, and Robert of Ronsoi, John of Friaise, Walter of Neuilli,
Ferri of Yerres, John his brother, Eustace of Heumont, John his
brother, Baldwin of Neuville, and many more of whom the book does not
here make mention. Those who were able to escape, they came back flying
to the camp.