Near there was another city called Panedor, which surrendered to him;
and he caused it to be utterly destroyed, and the people to be led
captive to Wallachia like the people of Rodosto. Afterwards he rode to
the city of Heraclea, that lay by a good seaport, and belonged to the
Venetians, who had left in it but a weak garrison; so he assaulted it,
and took it by force. There again was a mighty slaughter, and the
remnant that escaped the slaughter he caused to be led captive to
Wallachia, while the city itself he destroyed, as he had destroyed the
others.
Thence he marched to the city of Daonium, which was very strong and
fine; and the people did not dare to defend it. So he caused it to be
destroyed and rased to the ground. Then he marched to the city of
Tzurulum, which had already surrendered to him, and caused it to be
destroyed and rased to the ground, and the people to be led away
captive. And thus he dealt with every castle and city that surrendered;
even though he had promised them safety, he caused the buildings to be
destroyed, and the men and women to be led away captive; and no
covenant that he made did he ever keep.
Then the Comans and Wallachians scoured the land up to the gates of
Constantinople, where Henry the Regent then was, with as many men as he
could command; and very dolorous was he and very wroth, because he
could not get men enough to defend his land. So the Comans seized the
cattle off the land, and took captive men, women, and children, and
destroyed the cities and castles, and caused such ruin and desolation
that never has man heard tell of greater.
So they came to a city called Athyra, which was twelve leagues from
Constantinople, and had been given to Payen of Orléans by Henry, the
emperor’s brother. This city held a very great number of people, for
the dwellers in the country round about had fled thither; and the
Comans assaulted it, and took it by force. There the slaughter was so
great, that there had been none such in any city where they had been.
And you must know that all the castles and all the cities that
surrendered to Johannizza under promise of safety were destroyed and
rased to the ground, and the people led away captive to Wallachia in
such manner as you have heard.
And you must know that within five days’ journey from Constantinople
there remained nothing to destroy save only the city of Bizye, and the
city of Selymbria, which were garrisoned by the French. And in Bizye
abode Anseau of Cayeux, with six score knights, and in Salymbria abode
Macaire of Sainte-Menehould with fifty knights; and Henry the brother
of the Emperor Baldwin remained in Constantinople with the remainder of
the host. And you may know that their fortunes were at the lowest,
seeing that outside of Constantinople they had kept possession of no
more than these two cities.