When the marquis had come to Messinopolis, he did not remain there more
than five days before he rode forth, by the advice of the Greeks of the
land, on an expedition to the mountain of Messinopolis, which was
distant a long day’s journey. And when he had been through the land,
and was about to depart, the Bulgarians of the land collected and saw
that the marquis had but a small force with him. So they came from all
parts and attacked the rear-guard. And when the marquis heard the
shouting, he leapt on a horse, all unarmed as he was, with a lance in
his hand. And when he came together, where the Bulgarians were fighting
with the rear-guard, hand to hand, he ran in upon them, and drove them
a great way back.
Then was the Marquis Boniface of Montferrat wounded with an arrow, in
the thick of the arm, beneath the shoulder, mortally, and he began to
lose blood. And when his men saw it, they began to be dismayed, and to
lose heart, and to bear themselves badly. Those who were round the
marquis held him up, and he was losing much blood; and he began to
faint. And when his men perceived that he could give them no farther
help, they were the more dismayed, and began to desert him. So were
they discomfited by misadventure; and those who remained by him—and
they were but few—were killed.
The head of the Marquis Boniface of Montferrat was cut off, and the
people of the land sent it to Johannizza; and that was one of the
greatest joys that ever Johannizza had. Alas! what a dolorous mishap
for the Emperor Henry, and for all the Latins of the land of Roumania,
to lose such a man by such a misadventure—one of the best barons and
most liberal, and one of the best knights in the world! And this
misadventure befell in the year of the Incarnation of Jesus Christ,
twelve hundred and seven.