Albert of Aix: HISTORIA HIEROSOLYMITANAE EXPEDITIONIS

Igitur post Petri Eremitae profectionem, post Waltheri Senzavehor militis egregii occisionem ejusque exercitus gravissimum casum, dehinc modico intervallo post crudelem stragem Godescalci presbyteri, et ejus exercitus, post infortunium comitis Alemanniae, Emichonis, caeterorumque fortium virorum et principum de terra Galliae, scilicet Drogonis [0410D] de Nahella, Clareboldi de Vinduil, ac contritionem sui exercitus crudeliter factam in regno Hungariae ad portam Meseburg, Godefridus, dux Lotharingiae, vir nobilissimus, fraterque ejus uterinus, Baldewinus, Wernerus de Greis, cognatus ipsius ducis, Baldewinus pariter de Burg, Reinardus comes de Tul, Petrusque frater ejus, Dudo de Cons, Henricus de Ascha, ac frater illius Godefridus, fortissimi milites ac principes clarissimi, eodem anno medio mensis Augusti, [0411A] viam recto itinere in Jerusalem facientes, in terram Osterreich ad civitatem Tollenburg, ubi fluvius Lintax regnum Galliae terminat et dividit hospitio resederunt curriculo trium hebdomadarum mensis Septembris, ut audirent et intelligerent qua occasione exorta seditione, peregrinorum exercitus paulo ante hos dies perierit, et a proposito eundi Jerusalem cum suis principibus et ductoribus aversus fuerit, jamque eis obviam desperatus redierit.

Therefore after the departure of Peter the Hermit, after the killing of the noble knight Walther Senzavehor and the grievous disaster of his army, then after a short interval following the cruel massacre of the priest Godescalc and his force, after the misfortune of the count of Alemannia, Emich, and of other brave men and princes from the land of Gaul, namely Drogon [0410D] of Nahella, Clarebold of Vinduil, and the cruel destruction of his army made in the kingdom of Hungary at the gate of Meseburg, Godefrid, duke of Lotharingia, a most noble man, and his uterine brother Baldwin, Werner of Greis, a kinsman of that duke, Baldwin likewise of Bourg, Reinard the count of Toul, and Peter his brother, Dudo of Cons, Henry of Ascha, and his brother Godefrid, very valiant soldiers and most renowned princes, in that same year in the middle of the month of August, taking the direct road to Jerusalem, rested for hospitality in the land of Osterreich at the town of Tollenburg, where the river Lintax bounds and divides the kingdom of Gaul, for the space of a course of three weeks in the month of September, so that they might hear and learn on what occasion the uprising had arisen by which the pilgrims’ army a little before those days perished, and had been turned aside from their purpose of going to Jerusalem with their princes and leaders, and had now, despairing, returned to meet them.

CAP. II. - Principes per internuntios convenerunt Pannoniae regem, quare perdiderit populum Domini.

CHAPTER 2. - The princes by messengers summoned the King of Pannonia, to ask why he had destroyed the people of the Lord.

Tandem post plurimum mali rumoris, quid primum, quid cautius et consultius agerent ad explorandam rem et crudelitatem Hungarorum, quam [0411B] fecerant adversus Christianos confratres, dum saepius tractarent, visum est omnibus utile consilium, ut neminem ex nominatissimis et capitaneis viris ad inquisitionem tam nefandi homicidii et sceleris praemitterent, praeter Godefridum de Ascha, eo quod notus esset Calomano, regi terrae, ante multum tempus hujus viae in legationem ducis Godefridi missus ad eumdem regem Hungarorum. Alios vero duodecim electos ex familia ipsius ducis, Baldericum, inquam, Stabelonem et quorum nomina latent, una cum illo direxerunt, ut legationem tantorum principum hoc modo aperirent: «Regi Hungarorum CALOMANO GODEFRIDUS, dux Lotharingorum, et caeteri comprimores Galliae, salutem et omne bonum in [0411C] Christo. Mirantur domini et principes nostri, cum Christianae professionis sitis, cur tam crudeli martyrio exercitum Dei viventis interemistis, terram vero et regnum pertransire interdixistis, et variis calumniis eos affecistis.

At length, after much evil rumour, and after often debating what first, and what more cautiously and wisely should be done to investigate the matter and the cruelty of the Hungarians which they had wrought against their Christian brethren, it seemed to all a useful plan that they should send none of the most renowned and captainly men ahead to the inquiry into so nefarious a homicide and crime, except Godefrid of Ascha, because he was known to Caloman, king of the land, having long before been sent on this road in the legation of Duke Godefrid to that same king of the Hungarians. Moreover they appointed twelve others chosen from the duke’s own household, Balderic, I say, Stabelon and those whose names lie hidden, who, together with him, were to conduct the legation of such princes and to open it in this manner: “To CALOMAN, king of the Hungarians, GODEFRID, duke of the Lotharingians, and the rest, the chief peers of Gaul, greeting and every good in Christ. Our lords and princes marvel, since you are of the Christian profession, why you have put to death with such cruel martyrdom the army of the living God, and have forbidden them to pass through your land and kingdom, and have subjected them to various calumnies.

Quapropter nunc timore et dubietate concussi, Tollenburg moram facere decreverunt, donec ex ore regis intelligant cur tam crudele facinus a Christianis, persecutoribus Christianorum, commissum sit.»

Wherefore now, shaken by fear and hesitation, they at Tollenburg resolved to delay, until from the king’s mouth they might learn why so cruel a deed was committed by Christians, the persecutors of Christians.

CAP. III. - Responsio regis, quomodo ducem accersierit.

CHAPTER 3. - Response of the king, how he summoned the duke.

Respondit rex, universo coetu suorum audiente: «Non Christianorum persecutores sumus, sed quidquid crudelitatis ostendimus aut in illorum interitu commisimus, nimia necessitate compulsi fecimus. Cum [0411D] enim primo exercitui vestro, quem Petrus Eremita contraxit, omnia accomodaremus, emendi licentia concessa in mensura et pondere aequitatis, et pacifice illis per terram Hungariae transitum constitueremus, malum pro bono nobis reddiderunt, non solum in auro et argento, equis et mulis et pecore regionis nostrae auferentes, sed et civitates et castella evertentes, hominesque nostros ad quatuor millia mortificantes, rebus et vestibus exspoliaverunt. Post has a comitatu Petri nobis tam innumerabiles, sed injuste illatas injurias, subsequens exercitus Godescalci, et nunc recenter attritus, quem in fugam conversum obviam habuistis, castellum ac munitionem regni nostri Meseburg obsederunt, in superbia et impotentia virtutis suae ad nos intrare volentes, [0412A] ut nos punirent et exterminarent, de quibus Deo auxiliante vix defensi sumus.» Rex autem ut haec respondit, jussit eosdem legatos ducis honorifice in palatio suo hospitari in loco qui dicitur Pannonia, ubi per dies octo omnia illis necessaria in ipsa regis mensa affluenter ministrata sunt.

The king answered, the whole company of his men hearing: «We are not persecutors of Christians, but whatever acts of cruelty we have shown or have committed in their destruction we did, being driven by excessive necessity. For when [0411D] at first we put all things in order for your army, which Peter the Hermit gathered, allowance being granted for buying in measure and weight of equity, and we had peacefully established for them a passage through the land of Hungary, they repaid evil for good to us, not only carrying off the gold and silver, horses and mules and the cattle of our region, but also overturning towns and castles, and killing up to four thousand of our men, and plundering them of goods and garments. After these things, with Peter’s company having inflicted upon us so many but unjust injuries, the following army of Godescalc, and now lately broken, which you met as it was put to flight, besieged the castle and fortification of our kingdom, Meseburg, desiring in the arrogance and impotence of their strength to enter upon us, [0412A] so as to punish and exterminate us, of whom, God helping, we were scarcely defended.» And when the king had thus answered, he ordered those same envoys of the duke to be honorably entertained in his palace in the place called Pannonia, where for eight days all things necessary were abundantly served to them at the king’s own table.

Post dies vero octo rex super legationem ducis consilio primatum suorum accepto, remisit legatos cum legatis de domo sua, ut duci et primis exercitus in hunc modum responsa portarent: «Rex CALOMANUS duci GODEFRIDO et omnibus Christianis, salutem et dilectionem sine simulatione. Audivimus de te quia vir potens et princeps tua sis in terra, et fidelis inventus ab universis qui te noverunt. Idcirco te semper diligens ex sola bona fama, nunc te videre et agnoscere [0412B] optavi.

After eight days, however, the king, upon the mission of the duke’s envoys and with the counsel of his chiefs taken, sent back the envoys together with attendants from his house, so that they might carry these answers to the duke and the leaders of the army in this manner: «King CALOMANUS to Duke GODEFRID and to all Christians, greeting and affection without pretense. We have heard of you that you are a powerful man and that your rule is princely in the land, and that you have been found faithful by all who have known you. Therefore, always esteeming you from your good reputation alone, now to see and recognize you I have desired [0412B].

Et exinde consilium accepi, ut descendas ad nos in castellum Cyperon sine opinione alicujus periculi, et utraque ripa paludis residentes, totum colloquium teneamus de omnibus quae a nobis requiris, et quorum nos reos arbitraris.»

And from that I have taken counsel that you should descend to us at the castle Cyperon without any suspicion of danger, and, you dwelling on either bank of the marsh, that we hold the whole conference about all things which you request of us and concerning which you deem us guilty.

CAP. IV. - Dux Pannoniam ingrediens quam decenter susceptus sit, et quid inter eum et regni primores convenerit.

CHAPTER 4. - How the duke, entering Pannonia, was becomingly received, and what was agreed between him and the foremost men of the kingdom.

Hoc regis nuntio audito, dux universo coetu relicto, ex consilio majorum trecentis tantum militibus assumptis, ad regem profectus est in loco praesignato. Et utrinque hinc et hinc omisso comitatu suorum, dux solummodo Wernero de Greis, viro nobilissimo et propinquo ejus, Reinardo de Tul et Petro evocatis, pontem qui paludi imminet ascendit, in quo regem [0412C] reperiens, benignissime salutavit, et humili devotione osculatus est eum. Dehinc inter se diversa habuere colloquia de concordia et reconciliatione Christianorum, quousque ratio haec pacis et dilectionis adeo firmiter processit, ut se dux fidei ejus credens duodecim ex trecentis susceperit; cum quibus cum rege in Pannoniam et terram Hungarorum descendit; fratrem vero Baldewinum, relictum Tollenburg populum regere et procurare, remisso exercitu trecentorum, constituit.

On hearing this royal message, the duke, having left the entire assembly, by the counsel of the elders, with only 300 soldiers taken, proceeded to the king at the preappointed place. And both sides, his retinue left behind, the duke with only Wernero of Greis, a most noble man and his kinsman, Reinardo of Tul and Peter summoned, ascended the bridge that overhangs the marsh, where finding the king [0412C] he greeted him most kindly and, with humble devotion, kissed him. Thence they held various parleys together about concord and the reconciliation of Christians, until this plan of peace and love so firmly advanced that the duke, trusting in his faith, took upon himself 12 of the 300; with whom, together with the king, he descended into Pannonia and the land of the Hungarians; and he appointed his brother Baldwin, left at Tollenburg, to govern and provide for the people, the army of 300 having been dismissed.

Dux itaque Pannoniam ingressus, honorifice ab ipso rege et primatibus suis susceptus est, eique benigne et copiose omnia necessaria parata sunt de domo regis et mensa, quae tam egregium virum decebant. Dehinc rex per dies [0412D] octo plurimum conventum suorum habens, qui etiam ad videndum tam nominatissimum principem confluxerant, quaerebat consilium qua fide et fiducia salvo regno suo rebusque suorum tam copiosus exercitus fortiter armatus intromitteretur. Tandem repertum est consilium et duci declaratum quomodo, nisi darentur obsides viri egregii et primores exercitus, nullus sibi suisque concederetur transitus, ne aliqua occasione assumpta, in virtute tam innumerabilis gentis terram et regnum amitteret.

The duke therefore, having entered Pannonia, was received honorably by the king himself and by his chiefs, and all necessary things were kindly and copiously prepared for him from the king’s house and table, which befitted so distinguished a man. Thence the king, for eight days [0412D] holding a very large assembly of his men, who had also flocked together to see so renowned a prince, sought counsel how, with what faith and trust, so copious an army, strongly armed, might be admitted while keeping his kingdom and the affairs of his people safe. At length counsel was found and declared to the duke how, unless hostages of that distinguished man and the leading men of the army were given, no passage would be granted to him and his followers, lest, some occasion being seized, by the power of so innumerable a people he should lose the land and the kingdom.

His auditis, dux voluntati regis in omnibus cessit, et obsides quos petebat dari non abnuit, hac tamen conditione ut ultra peregrinorum exercitus, tam praesens quam futurus, per terram ejus transiret sine aliquo obstaculo, et pacifice mutuaret vitae necessaria. Nec mora, [0413A] percussit rex foedus cum duce, percusserunt et universi principes regni sui in jurejurando non ultra nocere peregrinis transituris. His ergo sic utringue in vera fide firmatis, rex ex consilio suorum requisivit Baldewinum, fratrem ipsius ducis, obsidem fieri, uxorem quoque ac familiam ejus.

Having heard these things, the duke yielded in all respects to the will of the king, and did not refuse to give the hostages he requested, on this condition however, that henceforth the army of pilgrims, both present and future, should pass through his land without any obstacle, and peaceably procure the necessities of life. Nor was there delay, [0413A] the king struck a pact with the duke, and all the princes of his kingdom likewise swore an oath not to injure passing pilgrims any more. These matters therefore, thus by both sides fastened in true faith, the king, by the counsel of his men, demanded that Baldwin, the duke’s brother, be made a hostage, and also his wife and household.

Quod dux sine ulla contradictione adimpleri concessit, statimque post dies octo missa legatione, dux universum exercitum praecepit properare ad castellum Cyperon, ac tabernacula sua hac altera in ripa fluminis et paludis collocari.

Which the duke allowed to be fulfilled without any contradiction, and immediately after eight days, the embassy having been sent, the duke ordered the whole army to hasten to the castle Cyperon, and that their tents be placed on the other bank of the river and of the marsh.

CAP. V. - Ubi exercitus jussu ducis castra posuerit.

CHAPTER 5. - Where the army, by the duke's command, encamped.

Ad hanc ducis legationem coepit exercitus nimium hilarescere, et gavisi sunt universi, qui antea [0413B] ex diutina ducis absentia haesitabant, existimantes eum in falsa fide traditum et exstinctum, sed nunc, quasi de gravi somno expergefacti, surrexerunt, et juxta ducis mandatum venientes, in ripa fluminis et paludis castrametati sunt. Collocatis itaque tentoriis, dux de regno Hungariae reductus, et suis restitutus est, referens quantam ei rex curam et honorem exhibuerit, et omnia, quae cum rege et principibus ejus pactus sit, et quomodo frater ejus Baldewinus a rege in obsidem cum uxore et familia requisitus sit, donec populus cum silentio et pace transeat, alio qui nullam sibi dari licentiam transeundi. Et post pauca statim admonuit fratrem suum Baldewinum, obses fieret pro populo, sicut [0413C] decretum erat.

At this ducal legation the army began to grow excessively joyful, and all rejoiced who before [0413B] had lingered in the long absence of the duke, thinking him betrayed in false faith and dead; but now, as if roused from a deep sleep, they rose up, and coming according to the duke’s command, they encamped on the bank of the river and the marsh. Having pitched their tents, the duke was led back from the kingdom of Hungary and restored to his own people, reporting how much care and honor the king had shown him, and all the things which he had agreed with the king and his princes, and how his brother Baldwin had been demanded by the king as a hostage with his wife and family, until the people should pass with silence and peace, in place of another who had been granted no licence to pass. And after a little he at once admonished his brother Baldwin to become a hostage for the people, as [0413C] had been decreed.

Qui vehementer coepit reniti et contradicere, donec dux haesitatione illius turbatus, constituit, ut ille curam exercitus Dei gereret, et ipse pro fratribus obses fieri non dubitaret. Tandem Baldewinus omni mentis suae fluctuatione exclusa, concessit obses fieri, et exsilio pro salute fratrum suorum transferri.

Who began vehemently to resist and to contradict, until the duke, troubled by his hesitation, determined that he should bear the care of the army of God, and that he himself should not hesitate to be made a hostage for his brothers. At length Baldewinus, every fluctuation of his mind excluded, consented to be made a hostage, and to be transferred into exile for the salvation of his brothers.

CAP. VI. - Obsidibus datis, qualiter Hungariam transierint.

CHAPTER 6. - With hostages having been given, how they crossed into Hungary.

Igitur tam praeclaro principe jam obside facto, et rege una cum illo in Pannoniam regresso, universus exercitus ex jussu et concessu regis per pontem trans paludem intromissus est, et ad fluvium Lintax castrametatus est. Castris vero positis, et universis hospitio sedatis, Godefridus dux praecones per singulas [0413D] domos ac tentoria acclamare constituit sub judicio mortis, ne quidquam contingerent, aut violenter in regno Hungariae raperent, et nullam seditionem moverent, sed omnia aequo pretio mutuarentur. Similiter et rex per universum regnum acclamari praecepit, ut omnem copiam rerum necessariarum reperiret exercitus in pane, vino, frumento, hordeo, in bestiis agri et volatilibus coeli; jussumque sub judicio vitae, ne injusta venditione Hungari gravarent exercitum aut conturbarent, sed potius omnia venalia illis alleviarent.

Therefore, with such a noble hostage now given, and the king having returned with him into Pannonia, the whole army, by the king’s order and concession, was led across the bridge over the marsh and encamped at the river Lintax. Once the camp was pitched and all settled in lodging, Duke Godefridus appointed heralds to cry through each [0413D] house and tent, announcing under penalty of death that nothing should be taken or plundered violently in the kingdom of Hungary, that no sedition be raised, but that all things be exchanged at an equal price. Likewise the king commanded throughout the whole kingdom that the army’s full supply of necessary things be found in bread, wine, grain, barley, in beasts of the field and birds of the air; and he ordered, under penalty of loss of life, that by unjust sale the Hungarians should not burden or disturb the army, but rather that all goods for sale be made easier to them.

Sic et sic per singulos dies in silentio et pace, in mensura aequa, et justa venditione dux et populus regnum Hungariae pertransiens, ad Drowa fluvium pervenerunt. Ubi congerie lignorum composita, et plurima viminum copulatione [0414A] facta, eumdem fluvium trajecerunt, assidue rege cum validissima manu equitum a sinistris gradiente una cum Baldewino et caeteris obsidibus, quousque ad locum, qui dicitur Francavilla, perventum est. Illic per tres dies remorati, vitae necessaria, et quibus indigebat exercitus, pretio mutuantes, cum omnibus Malevillam descenderunt, in littore Sowa diebus quinque pernoctantes.

Thus, and thus through successive days in silence and peace, in equitable measure and just sale, the duke and people passing through the kingdom of Hungary came to the river Drowa. There, with a pile of wood laid together, and a very great joining of wickerwork [0414A] made, they crossed that same river, the king continually advancing with a most valiant band of horsemen on the left, together with Baldwin and the other hostages, until they reached the place called Francavilla. There having remained for three days, borrowing at a price the necessities of life and those things the army lacked, they all descended to Malevilla, spending five nights on the shore of the Sowa.

Illic duci caeterisque principibus exercitus innotuit quam intolerabilis virtus militiae imperatoris Constantinopolis adfuisset ad prohibendam peregrinis viam per regnum Bulgariae. Quapropter dux et universi consilium inierunt, ut partem exercitus in armis trans fluvium praemitterent ad reprimendos hostes milites imperatoris, quousque populus enavigaret. Non amplius [0414B] enim quam tres naves illic repertae sunt, cum quibus mille equites loricati ad praeoccupandum littus transmissi sunt.

There it became known to the duke and the other leaders of the army how intolerable a force of the emperor’s militia from Constantinople had been present to forbid strangers’ passage through the kingdom of Bulgaria. Wherefore the duke and the whole council resolved that part of the army, armed, should be sent across the river in advance to check the emperor’s hostile soldiers until the people could sail over. For no more than three ships were found there [0414B], with which one thousand loricate horsemen were transmitted to preoccupy the shore.

Caetera multitudo, copulatione lignorum et viminum, fluminis alveum superaverunt.

The rest of the multitude, by a coupling of logs and of wickers, surmounted the river's bed.

CAP. VII. - Ubi rex obsides reconsignat, et qualiter rex Graeciae ducem per internuntios interpellaverit.

CHAPTER 7. - Where the king restores the hostages, and how the king of Greece summoned the duke by intermediaries (messengers).

Vix enavigavit populus et eorum princeps, et ecce rex cum omni apparatu suo, et fratre ducis Baldewino, ejusque uxore et cunctis obsidibus adfuit, quos ibidem in manu ducis restituit. Ac dehinc nimia dilectione commendato duce fratreque ejus in donis plurimis et osculo pacis, in terram regni sui reversus est. Dux vero et omnis exercitus illius altera in ripa constituti, in villa Belegrave Bulgarorum [0414C] hospitio pernoctarunt, quam Petrus et illius exercitus non longe ante depraedati combusserant.

The people and their prince had scarcely crossed, when behold the king came with all his retinue, and with the duke Baldwin’s brother, and his wife, and all the hostages were present, whom there he restored into the duke’s custody. And thence, the duke commended to him with excessive affection his brother and in very many gifts and a kiss of peace, he returned into the land of his kingdom. But the duke and all his army, having taken position on the other bank, spent the night in the villa Belegrave Bulgarorum [0414C] as guests, which Peter and his army not long before had plundered and burned.

Mane autem facto, dux et exercitus illius exsurgentes, silvas immensas et inauditas regni Bulgarorum ingressi sunt. Ubi legati imperatoris illis occurrerunt, in haec verba nuntia deferentes: «ALEXIUS, imperator Constantinopolis regni Graecorum, duci GODEFRIDO suisque sequacibus, integram dilectionem. Rogo te, dux Christianissime, quatenus regnum et terras meas, quas ingressus es, gentem tuam vastare et depraedari non patiaris, sed emendi licentiam obtineas, et sic omnia sufficienter ex nostro imperio emenda et vendenda tui reperiant.» Hanc itaque imperatoris legationem dux intelligens, in [0414D] omnibus se imperatoris parere pollicetur mandatis.

Mane autem facto, the duke and his army rising, entered the immense and unheard-of forests of the kingdom of the Bulgars. There the emperor’s envoys met them, bearing this message in these words: «ALEXIUS, emperor of Constantinople of the kingdom of the Greeks, to duke GODEFRID and his followers, full goodwill. I ask you, most Christian duke, that insofar as you have entered my kingdom and lands you do not permit your people to devastate and plunder them, but obtain leave to buy, and thus that all things to be sufficiently bought and sold from our empire may be found for you.» Having thus understood the emperor’s legation, the duke in [0414D] promises to obey all the emperor’s commands.

Unde universis indictum est ne deinceps quidquam aliqua injusta vi contingant, praeter pabula equorum. Sic vero pacifice ex rogatu imperatoris pertranseuntes, pervenerunt Niczh praesidium ejus. Ubi mira affluentia ciborum in frumunto, hordeo, vino et oleo plurimaque venatione ex imperatoris dono duci oblata est, caeteris licentia vendendi et emendi concessa.

Whereupon it was proclaimed to all that henceforth nothing unjust should be touched by any force, save fodder for the horses. Thus indeed, peacefully, at the emperor’s request those passing through reached Niczh, his garrison. There a wondrous abundance of food — wheat, barley, wine and oil — and very much game was offered to the duke as a gift from the emperor, and the others were granted leave to sell and to buy.

Illic siquidem per dies quatuor in omni opulentia et jucunditate recreati sunt. Post haec dux cum omni exercitu Sternitz profectus est: ubi non minori pinguedine donorum imperatoris sibi satisfactum est. Dehinc post aliquot dies discedens, ad Phinopolim, civitatem praeclaram, descendens, illic similiter ex imperatoris dono omnem abundantiam [0415A] necessariorum habuit per dies octo.

There indeed they were refreshed for four days in every opulence and delight. After this the duke, with the whole army, set out for Sternitz: where he was satisfied with no less profusion of the emperor’s gifts. Thence, after several days departing, and descending to Phinopolis, a very celebrated city, there likewise by the emperor’s gift he had every abundance [0415A] of necessities for eight days.

Ubi nuntia illi allata sunt, quemodo imperator Hugonem Magnum, fratrem regis Franciae, Drogonem et Clareboldum, in vinculis et carcere tenuisset.

When news was brought to him how the emperor had held Hugh Magnus, brother of the king of France, Drogon and Clareboldus in chains and in prison.

CAP. VIII. - Quid dux resalutato regi mandaverit, et pro retentis principibus quid egerit.

CHAPTER 8. - What the duke, having returned the greeting to the king, commanded, and what he did for the detained princes.

Hoc audito, dux imperatori legationem misit, quatenus hos principes terrae suae, quos tenebat captivos, libertati restitueret, alioqui se fidem illi et amicitiam non posse servare. Baldewinus, Hamaicorum comes, et Henricus de Ascha, intellecta ducis legatione ad imperatorem destinata, primo diluculo, duce ignorante, viam anticipaverunt in Constantinopolim, ut legatos praevenientes ab imperatore majora dona consequerentur. Dux vero audiens [0415B] graviter accepit; sed tamen dissimulans iram, Adrianopolim profectus est: ubi quodam flumine natatu equorum superato, tentoriis positis pernoctavit.

When this was heard, the duke sent a legation to the emperor, that he should restore to liberty those princes of his land whom he held captive, otherwise that he could not keep faith and friendship with him. Baldewinus, count of the Hamaeans, and Henry of Ascha, the duke’s legates to the emperor having been understood/destined, at first dawn, the duke being ignorant, anticipated the road to Constantinople, so that, arriving before the envoys, they might obtain greater gifts from the emperor. The duke, however, on hearing this [0415B] took it grievously; yet dissembling his wrath, he set out for Adrianople: where, having crossed a certain river by swimming the horses, he placed tents and passed the night.

Pons denique, qui trans fluvium per mediam civitatem porrigitur, sibi et suis ab incolis interdicitur. Deinde exsurgentes, et Salabriam properantes, tentoria posuerunt per amoena loca pratorum. Ubi reversi nuntii ducis ab imperatore, retulerunt, quomodo captivos principes minime reddidissent.

Finally the bridge, which stretches across the river through the middle of the city, was interdicted to him and his by the inhabitants. Then, rising up and hastening to Salabria, they pitched their tents through the pleasant places of the meadows. When the duke’s messengers returned from the emperor, they reported how the captive princes had in no wise been restored.

Unde dux et omnis societas in iram exarserunt, et ultra illi fidem et foedus pacis servare noluerunt. Statimque ex praecepto ducis omnis terra illa in praedam data est peregrinis et advenis militibus, qui per dies octo illic moram facientes, totam regionem illam depopulati sunt.

Whereupon the duke and the whole society burned with anger, and moreover they refused to keep faith and the treaty of peace with him. And immediately by the duke’s command all that land was given over as prey to foreign and arriving soldiers, who, making a stay there for 8 days, plundered and devastated that entire region.

CAP. IX. - Rex Graecorum quomodo captivis principibus absolutis, regno suo consuluerit, ducem simul accersens. [0415C]

CHAPTER 9. - How the King of the Greeks, the captive princes having been released, provided for his kingdom, while at the same time summoning the leader. [0415C]

Imperator autem, intelligens regionem depopulari, Rudolfum Peel de Lan et Rotgerum, filium Dagoberti, viros disertissimos, de terra et cognatione Francigenarum, duci misit, rogans ut a praeda regni sui et vastatione cessaret exercitus, et captivos quos petebat sine dilatione redderet. Dux vero, inito consilio cum caeteris principibus, acquievit legationi imperatoris, et amovens castra, praeda interdicta, secessit ad ipsam urbem Constantinopolim cum universo comitatu peregrinorum. Ubi fixis tentoriis, hospitati sunt in manu robusta et intolerabili, loricis et omni bellica armatura muniti.

But the emperor, perceiving the region to be plundered, sent Rudolf Peel de Lan and Rotger, son of Dagobert, very eloquent men, from the land and kin of the Franks, to the duke, beseeching that the army cease from the plunder of his realm and from devastation, and return the captives it sought without delay. The duke, having conferred with the other princes, acceded to the emperor’s legation, and breaking camp, the booty interdicted, withdrew to the city of Constantinople itself with the entire company of foreigners. There, with their tents set up, they were billeted under a stern and intolerable guarda, equipped with loricae and all warlike armor.

Et [0415D] ecce in occursum Hugo, Drogo, Willhelmus Carpentarius et Clareboldus, laxati ab imperatore, duci adfuerunt, gaudentes illius adventu et suae multitudinis, et in amplexum ducis caeterorumque plurimo osculo corruentes. Similiter et praedicti legati imperatoris duci occurerunt, rogantes eum, ut intraret palatium imperatoris cum aliquibus primis de exercitu, ut audiret verbum regis, caetera multitudo extra muros civitatis remaneret. Vix hanc legationem dux accepit, et ecce quidam advenae de terra Francorum occulte in castris duci adfuerunt, qui plurimum eum monuerunt, ut caveret versutias et venenatas vestes ipsius imperatoris ac verba dolosa, et nequaquam ad eum intraret aliqua blanda promissione, sed extra muros sedens omnia quae sibi [0416A] offerret secure susciperet.

And [0415D] behold, Hugo, Drogo, Willhelmus the Carpentier and Clarebold, released by the emperor, were present to the duke’s meeting, rejoicing at his arrival and that of their multitude, and falling into the duke’s embrace and that of the others with many kisses. Likewise the aforementioned envoys of the emperor met the duke, begging him to enter the emperor’s palace with some chiefs of the army, that he might hear the king’s words, while the rest of the host remained outside the city walls. The duke scarcely accepted this embassy, and behold certain strangers from the land of the Franks secretly came into the duke’s camp, who most strongly warned him to beware the emperor’s craft and poisoned garments and deceitful words, and on no account to enter him by any soft promise, but sitting outside the walls to accept securely whatever might be offered to him.

Dux igitur, sic praemonitus ab advenis et Graecorum deceptiones edoctus, ad imperatorem minime introivit. Quapropter imperator indignatione vehemente motus adversus ducem et omnem ejus exercitum, vendendi et emendi licentiam illis interdixit. Baldewinus vero frater ducis, agnita hac imperatoris indignatione et videns populi indigentiam nimiamque defectionem necessariorum, egit cum duce et magnificis exercitus quatenus rursus per regiones et terras Graecorum praedas contraherent, escas comportarent, donec imperator his cladibus coactus, rursus emendi vendendique licentiam concederet.

Therefore the duke, thus forewarned by the newcomers and instructed in the deceptions of the Greeks, did not at all enter the emperor. Wherefore the emperor, moved by vehement indignation against the duke and all his army, interdicted for them the licence of selling and buying. Baldwin, the duke’s brother, having perceived this imperial indignation and seeing the people’s need and the excessive failure of necessities, acted with the duke and the magnates of the army so that again through the regions and lands of the Greeks they might gather spoils and bring together provisions, until the emperor, forced by these disasters, would again grant the licence to buy and sell.

Imperator ergo videns terrae regni sui praedas et mala ingruere, licentiam vendendi et emendi omnibus iteravit.

Therefore the emperor, seeing plunder and evils pressing upon the land of his realm, renewed the permission to sell and to buy for all.

CAP. X. - Post aliquantas utrinque animositates tandem dux cum imperatore pacem componit. [0416B]

CHAPTER 10. - After several animosities on both sides, at last the duke composes peace with the emperor. [0416B]

Erat Natalis Domini, ideoque in tam solemni tempore et diebus pacis et gaudii, visum est universis bonum et laudabile et acceptum coram Deo, utrinque concordiam renovari, inter domum imperatoris et ducem ac universos praepotentes exercitus. Et sic pace composita, continuerunt manus suas ab omni praeda et injuria. His ergo quatuor diebus sanctis, in omni quiete et jucunditate resederunt ante urbis moenia Constantinopoli.

It was the Nativity of the Lord, and therefore in so solemn a time and days of peace and joy it seemed to all good and laudable and acceptable before God that concord be renewed on both sides between the house of the emperor and the duke and all the very powerful men of the army. And thus, peace being made, they kept their hands from all plunder and injury. Therefore in these four holy days, in all quiet and gladness they sat before the walls of the city of Constantinople.

CAP. XI. - Causa imperatoris dux castrorum loca mutat, benevolentiae nuntios ad eum mittit, rogatus venire dissimulat.

CHAPTER 11. - For the sake of the emperor the camp commander changes the camp’s location, sends envoys of goodwill to him, and, when asked to come, feigns (pretends) inability to do so.

Post quatuor vero dies legatio imperatoris processit [0416C] ad ducem, quatenus castra moveret ejus causa et precibus, et intra palatia, quae in littore brachii maris sita erant, cum exercitu suo hospitaretur propter medios algores nivis et hiemis, qui pluviali tempore imminebant, ne tentoria eorum madefacta et attrita deperirent. Cessit tandem dux et caeteri comprimores imperatoris voluntati, et amotis tentoriis, per palatia et turritas domos, quae spatium triginta milliarium in littore maris comprehendunt, hospitati sunt cum omni exercitu Christianorum. Ab ea die et deinceps omnem plenitudinem cibariorum et rerum necessariarum ex imperatoris jussu repererunt et emerunt.

After four days indeed the emperor’s legation proceeded [0416C] to the duke, so that he might move his camp for that reason and by entreaties; and, since he was being hosted with his army within the palaces that lay on the shore of the arm of the sea because of the mid cold of snow and winter, which threatened in the rainy season, lest their tents, soaked and worn, perish, the duke and the other co-commanders at last yielded to the emperor’s will; and, the tents having been removed, they were lodged throughout the palaces and towered houses, which embrace a space of thirty miles on the sea-shore, together with the whole army of the Christians. From that day onward they found and bought every fullness of provisions and necessary things by the emperor’s command.

Post paululum dehinc rursus imperatoris legatio duci adfuit, quae eum admonuit ad eum ingredi et ejus verba intelligere. Quod dux [0416D] omnino renuit, praemonitus ab advenis civibus de versutia illius, sed viros egregios direxit illi nuntios, Cunonem comitem de Monte acuto, Baldewinum de Burg, et Godefridum de Ascha, qui excusarent eum, et in hunc modum loquerentur: «GODEFRIDUS dux imperatori fidem et obsequium. Libenter et optato ad te ingrederer, honores et divitias domus tuae considerarem, sed terruerunt me plurima mala, quae auribus meis de te innotuerunt.

After a little while thereafter the emperor’s legation again came to the duke, which admonished him to go to him and to hear his words. But the duke [0416D] wholly refused, forewarned by the arriving townsmen of that man’s craftiness; yet he sent excellent men as envoys to him, Cuno the count of Monte Acuto, Baldwin of Burg, and Godfrey of Ascha, to excuse him and to speak in this manner: «GODEFRIDUS dux to the emperor faith and obedience. I would gladly and, as longed for, come to you and consider the honors and riches of your house, but very many evils, which have become known to my ears about you, have terrified me.

Nescio tamen si vel invidia aut odio tui haec adinventa et vulgata sint.» Imperator haec audiens, plurimum de omnibus se excusavit, dicens nunquam oportere ducem vel aliquem de societate, quidquam fallaciae de eo timere, sed eum suosque quasi filium et amicos servare et honorare. Regressi autem nuntii ducis, omnia, quae [0417A] bene promissa et fideliter ex ore imperatoris audierant, in bonum retulerunt. Verum dux adhuc minime mellifluis illius promissis credens, prorsus colloquium ejus refutavit.

I do not know, however, whether these things were invented and spread out of envy or hatred of you.» The emperor, hearing this, excused himself greatly in regard to all, saying that it should never be that the duke or any of his retinue should fear any deceit concerning him, but that he would keep and honor him and his men as a son and as friends. The duke’s messengers having returned, all things which [0417A] had been well promised and faithfully heard from the emperor’s own mouth they reported back favourably. But the duke, still by no means trusting his mellifluous promises, wholly rejected his overture.

Et sic inter haec nuntia hinc et hinc, quindecim dies evoluti sunt.

And thus, between these dispatches from here and from there, fifteen days elapsed.

CAP. XII. - Imperator alimenta emenda subtrahit, exercitus partes Graeciae invadit.

CHAPTER 12. - The emperor withholds funds to buy provisions, the army invades parts of Greece.

Imperator itaque cognoscens ducis constantiam, eumque ad suam praesentiam invitari non posse, iterato moleste accepit, et hordeum et pisces ad vendendum subtraxit, deinde panis alimentum, ut vel sic coactus dux imperatoris praesentiam non recusaret. Sed nec sic imperatore proficiente, ut animum ducis emolliret, quadam die ex instinctu imperatoris quingenti Turcopoli navibus invecti per [0417B] brachium maris, armati arcu et pharetra, matutinos milites ducis sagittis infixerunt, alios mortificatos, alios sauciatos a littore arcentes, ne illic emere ex solito alimenta liceret. Continuo haec crudelis fama in solio ducis allata est.

The emperor therefore, learning the commander’s steadfastness and that he could not be summoned to his presence, took it ill a second time, and withheld barley and fish from sale, then bread as food, that thus by compulsion the commander might not refuse the emperor’s presence. But even with the emperor setting out, so as to soften the commander’s mind, on a certain day by the emperor’s prompting five hundred Turcopoli conveyed by ships along the sea-arm, armed with bow and quiver, fastened morning soldiers with the commander’s arrows, killing some, wounding others, scorching them from the shore, so that it would not be lawful to buy provisions there as usual. Immediately this cruel deed was reported at the commander’s throne.

Qui illico jussit cornua perstrepere, populum universum armari, et ante ipsam urbem Constantinopolim redire, tentoriaque relocare. Ad hanc ducis jussionem signo dato cornicinum, eruperunt universi ad arma, et palatia et turres, in quibus hospitio manserant, alia incendio vastaverunt, alia comminuerunt, damnum irrecuperabile Constantinopoli inferentes.

Who at once ordered the horns to resound, that the whole people be armed, and to return before the city of Constantinople itself, and to remove the tents. At this command of the duke, the signal given by the horn-player, all burst forth to arms, and they both laid some of the palaces and towers in which they had remained as guests waste by fire, and demolished others, inflicting irrecoverable damage upon Constantinople.

CAP. XIII. - Frater ducis cum periculo populum ducis transduxit, dimicantes inter se partes dirimit.

CHAPTER 13. - The duke’s brother, at peril, led the duke’s people across, and he severs the fighting parties from one another.

Exorta denique jam in palatio fama tam vehementis [0417C] incendii et exterminii, dux nimium expavit, metuens ne flamma aedificiorum et strepitu moti exercitus percepto, pontem, per quem transierant a civitate Constantinopoli ad palatiorum mansiones, subito in manu robusta praeoccuparent milites et sagittarii imperatoris. Ideoque sine mora praemisit Baldewinum fratrem suum cum quingentis loricatis militibus ad obtinendum pontem, ne aliqua vis imperatoris praecurrens, illum corrumperet; et sic peregrinis transitus et reditus ultra negaretur. Baldewinus vix medio ponte constiterat, et ecce a dextris et sinistris Turcopoli, milites imperatoris, navigio invecti circumquaque in transeuntes sagittis irruunt, et fortiter impugnant.

When at last in the palace there arose a report of so vehement a fire and extermination [0417C], the duke became excessively fearful, fearing that, if the flame of the buildings and the noise of the stirred army were perceived, soldiers and the emperor’s archers would suddenly preoccupy by force the bridge by which they had crossed from the city of Constantinople to the palace mansions. Therefore, without delay he sent ahead Baldwin his brother with five hundred cuirassed soldiers to secure the bridge, lest any force of the emperor running forward should seize it; and so the foreigners would be denied passage and return beyond. Baldwin had scarcely stood in the middle of the bridge, when lo, from right and left the Turcopoli, the emperor’s soldiers, borne in ships all around, rushed at those crossing with arrows and fought fiercely.

Quibus Baldewinus [0417D] e ponte resistere nullam habens copiam, sagittas illorum effugere properavit; et sic superato ponte, velociter in aliam partem pontis sicco littore se contulit, pontem obtinens et observans versus moenia dominae et magistrae civitatis, quousque totus per pontem migraret exercitus. Dux vero a tergo cum suis custodiam agebat. Interea a portis versus Sanctum Argenium infinita manus Turcopolorum et totius generis militum prosiluit in sagittis et varia armatura ad expugnandum Baldewinum, et universum gentis Christianae comitatum.

Baldewinus [0417D], having no chance to make stand on the bridge against them, hastened to escape their arrows; and thus, the bridge being passed, he quickly withdrew himself to another part of the bridge onto the dry shore, holding and watching the bridge toward the walls of the lady and mistress of the city, until the whole army had crossed over the bridge. The duke, however, kept guard from the rear with his men. Meanwhile from the gates toward Saint Argenius an infinite host of Turcopoli and soldiers of every kind leapt forth with arrows and diverse armor to storm Baldewinus and the entire retinue of the Christian people.

Sed Baldewinus immobilis et insuperabilis ab omni illorum assultu in loco constituto perstitit, donec a mane usque ad vesperam populo trans pontem ante urbis moenia relato, et castris positis hospitato, eosdem [0418A] Turcopolos, a portis egressos, et populum impugnantes cum quingentis loricatis fortiter incurrit; et utrinque graviter commisso praelio, plurimi hinc et hinc ceciderunt, et plurimi equi Francorum sagittis interierunt. Sed ad ultimum Baldewinus praevalens, milites hos imperatoris gravatos ac fugitivos in portas ire compulit, camposque et victoriam potenter obtinuit. Verum Turcopoli et milites imperatoris indignantes se victos, et bello fugitivos, iterato crebrius a portis eruperunt, ad lacessendum et expugnandum exercitum: quousque dux adveniens, quia nox erat, omnia pace composuit; commonens fratrem suum cum universis in castra redire, et a pugna hac in noctis umbra manus et arma continere.

But Baldewin, immovable and unsurpassable, stood firm in the place against all their assaults, until from morning even to evening, with the people brought across the bridge before the city’s walls and the camp pitched and quartered, he charged the same Turcopoli [0418A], who had sallied from the gates and were assaulting the populace, with five hundred armored soldiers; and with a fierce battle begun on both sides very many fell on this side and that, and many of the Franks’ horses perished from arrows. But at last Baldewin prevailing, he drove those imperial soldiers, now pressed and routed, back to the gates, and powerfully took the fields and the victory. Yet the Turcopoli and the emperor’s soldiers, enraged at having been defeated and routed in battle, frequently burst forth again from the gates to harass and to assault the army; until the leader, arriving, because it was night, settled everything by peace, ordering his brother with all to return into the camp, and to withhold hands and arms from fighting in the shadow of night.

Similiter imperator, metuens amplius [0418B] et validius hanc belli tempestatem ingruere, et vespere umbroso suos deficere et perire, pacem et ipse fieri imperat, laetatus ducem suos a bello pacare voluisse.

Similarly the emperor, fearing that this tempest of war would press in further and more strongly [0418B], and that in the shadowed evening his men would fail and perish, also commands that peace be made, rejoicing that the duke had wished to pacify his men from war.

CAP. XIV. - Imperator, promissis obsidibus, ducem ad se invitat, et quid ipse dux legatis Boemundi responderit.

CHAPTER 14. - Emperor, with hostages promised, invites the duke to his presence, and what the duke himself replied to the envoys of Bohemund.

Crastina vero luce exorta, ex praecepto ducis exsurgens populus, terram et regnum imperatoris perlustrans, curriculo dierum sex graviter depraedatus est; ut vel sic saltem imperatoris suorumque superbia humiliari videretur. Quo cognito, imperator tristari et dolere coepit, quod terra et regnum sic dissiparetur. Qui statim accepto consilio, duci legationem misit, quatenus praedam et incendium prohiberet, et in omnibus illi satisfaceret, in haec verba [0418C] loquens: «Cessent inter nos et vos inimicitiae, et dux ad me ingrediatur, fiduciam et obsides sine aliqua dubietate a me recipiens, quod incolumis veniat et redeat, certus de omni honore et gloria, quam sibi suisque facere poterimus.» Quod benigne dux annuit, si tales darentur obsides, quibus credere possit de vita et salute sua; et sic procul dubio ad eum descendens, libenter sibi et viva voce et ore ad os loqueretur.

On the morrow’s light having arisen, the people, rising at the duke’s command, scoured the emperor’s land and kingdom, grievously plundering over the course of six days; so that at least thus the pride of the emperor and of his men might seem to be humbled. When this was learned, the emperor began to be sad and to grieve that the land and kingdom were thus being wasted. He, immediately after taking counsel, sent an envoy to the duke, that he should forbid pillage and burning, and satisfy him in all things, speaking these words [0418C]: «Let enmities between us and you cease, and let the duke come to me, receiving trust and hostages from me without any doubt, that he may come and return unharmed, assured of every honor and glory which we shall be able to confer on him and his.» Which the duke kindly assented to, if such hostages were given as he could trust for his life and safety; and thus, without doubt, coming down to him from afar, he would gladly speak to him face to face with living voice and mouth.

Vix post hanc ducis responsionem legati imperatoris recesserant, et ecce quidam alii legati ad eumdem ducem venientes ex parte Boemundi salutaverunt eum, sic loquentes: «Rogat te Boemundus, princeps ditissimus Siciliae et Calabriae, ut nequaquam cum imperatore in concordiam [0418D] redeas; sed in civitates Bulgarorum Adrianopolim et Phinopolim secedas, et tempus hyemale illic peragas; certus quod mense Martio inchoante, idem Boemundus cum universis copiis in auxilium tibi est affuturus, ad expugnandum hunc imperatorem, et illius regnum invadendum.» Audita hac Boemundi legatione, dux omne responsum econtra fieri distulit, dum luce proxima exorta, ex consilio suorum respondit: «Se non causa quaestus, aut pro destructione Christianorum, a terra et cognatione sua exiisse, sed in Christi nomine viam institisse Jerusalem; hancque velle perficere et adimplere consilio imperatoris, si ejus gratiam et bonam voluntatem recuperare et observare possit.» Hanc autem ducis intentionem et responsionem nuntii Boemundi intelligentes, [0419A] benigne a duce commendati, in terram Apuliae reversi sunt, omnia sicut ex ore ducis didicerant, referentes.

Scarcely after this answer of the duke had the emperor’s envoys withdrawn, when behold other envoys coming to the same duke on behalf of Boemund greeted him, speaking thus: «Boemund asks you, the most wealthy prince of Sicily and Calabria, that in no wise you return into concord with the emperor [0418D]; but withdraw into the cities of the Bulgars, Adrianople and Phinopolis, and spend the winter there; certain that, with March beginning, the same Boemund with all his forces will be present to help you, to besiege this emperor and to invade his kingdom.» Having heard this embassy of Boemund, the duke postponed any reply on the contrary, and when the next day had dawned, answered by the counsel of his men: «That he did not depart from his land and kin for the sake of gain, nor for the destruction of Christians, but in the name of Christ instituted a journey to Jerusalem; and that he wishes to accomplish and fulfil this with the emperor’s counsel, if he can recover and secure his favor and good will.» And when Boemund’s messengers understood this intention and answer of the duke, commended kindly by the duke, they returned into the land of Apulia, reporting all things as they had learned from the duke’s mouth [0419A].

CAP. XV. - Filio imperatoris obside accepto, dux curiam ingreditur.

CHAPTER 15. - Having received the emperor's son as a hostage, the duke enters the court.

Imperator vero Boemundi hanc novam legationem et suggestionem intelligens, ducem ac ejus amicos amplius de concordia sollicitabat, quatenus, si ei placari vellet, et terram ejus pacifice pertransire, sibi vero facie ad faciem praesentari in colloquio, dilectissimum filium suum, Joannem nomine, sibi obsidem daret; et omnia necessaria cum emendi licentia sibi suisque accommodaret. Haec imperatoris promissa decreta et firmata dux intelligens, ex consilio suorum castra movit a muro civitatis, et [0419B] iterum trans pontem hospitandi gratia in brachio maris in muratis aedificiis secessit, universum populum admonens, ut pacifici essent, et sine seditione necessaria emerent. Crastina vero luce exorta, Cunonem comitem de Monte acuto, et Baldewinum de Burg, viros nobilissimos, et in omni verbo disertissimos, jussit coram adesse, quos ad suscipiendum obsidem filium imperatoris confidenter direxit: quod actum est.

Emperor Boemund, however, understanding this new legation and suggestion, pressed the duke and his friends further about concord, so that, if he wished to be appeased and to pass peacefully through his land, he would present himself face to face in conference, and give to him as a hostage his most beloved son, named John; and provide to him and his men all necessities with license to purchase. The duke, understanding these promises of the emperor, decreed and confirmed, by the counsel of his own, broke camp from the city wall, and [0419B] again, across the bridge for the sake of lodging, withdrew into the built houses on the arm of the sea, admonishing the whole people to be peaceful, and to buy what was necessary without sedition. At dawn on the next day he ordered Cunon, count of Monte Acuto, and Baldwin de Burg, men most noble and most eloquent in every word, to be present before him, whom he confidently directed to receive as hostage the emperor’s son: which was done.

Abducto ergo jam obside filio imperatoris, ac in potestatem ducis suorumque fideli custodia constituto, dux sine dilatione navigio per brachium maris Constantinopolin advectus est. Et assumptis egregiis viris, Wernero de Greis, Petro de * et caeteris principibus, audacter curiam imperatoris ingressus, facie ad faciem sibi astitit, ut [0419C] audiret verbum ejus; et viva voce responderet ei super omnibus quae requireret, aut eum interpellaret. Baldewinus vero nequaquam tunc palatium imperatoris introivit, sed in littore cum multitudine remansit.

Having therefore now carried off the emperor’s son as hostage, and having set him in the duke’s power and in the faithful custody of his men, the duke without delay was brought by ship through the arm of the sea to Constantinople. And having taken with him distinguished men, Werner of Greis, Peter of * and the other princes, he boldly entered the emperor’s court, stood face to face before him, so that he might hear his word; and with living voice answer him concerning all things which he demanded, or interrupt him; and Baldwin, however, in no wise then entered the emperor’s palace, but remained on the shore with the multitude. [0419C]

CAP. XVI. - Quam gloriose dux ab imperatore susceptus sit et exhibitus, et quid inter eos convenerit.

CHAPTER 16. - How gloriously the duke was received and presented by the emperor, and what passed between them.

Imperator autem, tam magnifico et honorifico duce viso, ejusque sequacibus, in splendore et ornatu pretiosarum vestium tam ex ostro quam aurifrigio, et in niveo opere harmelino et ex mardrino grisioque et vario, quibus Gallorum principes praecipue utuntur, vehementer admirans honorem ac decorem illorum, primum ducem in osculo benigne suscepit, dehinc universos primates et collaterales illius eodem pacis osculo honorare non distulit. Sedebat [0419D] autem imperator more suo potenter in throno regni sui, non duci, non alicui assurgens ad porrigenda oscula, sed flexis genibus dux incurvatus est, incurvati sunt et sui ad osculandum tam gloriosissimum imperatorem et potentissimum. Osculatis denique omnibus ex ordine, duci in haec verba locutus est: «Audivi de te, quoniam miles et princeps potentissimus tua sis in terra, et vir prudentissimus ac perfectae fidei.

But the emperor, seeing so magnificent and honourable a duke and his followers, in the splendour and ornament of precious garments both of purple and of gold-threaded work, and in snowy ermine work and of marten-skin grey and variegated, which the princes of the Gauls especially use, greatly admiring their honour and splendor, first received the duke kindly with a kiss, then did not fail to honour all the chief men and the duke’s retainers with the same kiss of peace. The emperor, however, sat [0419D] in his usual manner powerfully upon the throne of his kingdom, not rising to the duke, nor to anyone, to proffer kisses; but with knees bent the duke was bowed down, and his men likewise bowed themselves to kiss so most glorious and most powerful an emperor. Finally, after all had kissed in order, he spoke to the duke in these words: “I have heard of you, that you are a soldier and the most powerful prince in your land, and a most prudent man and of perfect fidelity.”

Quapropter te in filium adoptivum suscipio; et universa quae possideo, in potestate tua constituo, ut per te imperium meum et terra mea a facie praesentis et adfuturae multitudinis liberari ac salutari possit.» His pacificis et piis imperatoris sermonibus dux placatus, et illectus [0420A] non solum se ei in filium, sicut mos est terrae, sed etiam vassallum junctis manibus reddidit cum universis primis, qui tunc aderant, et postea subsecuti sunt. Nec mora, aliqua ex aerario imperatoris allata sunt dona inaestimabilia duci, et cunctis qui convenerant, tam in auro quam argento, et ostro diversi generis, in mulis et equis, et in omni quod pretiosius habebat. Sic vero imperatore ac duce perfectae fidei et amicitiae vinculo insolubili innodatis, a tempore Dominicae Incarnationis, quo haec concordia contigit, usque ante paucos dies Pentecostes per singulas hebdomadas quatuor viri, aureis Byzantiis onerati, cum decem modiis monetae tartaron, de domo imperatoris duci mittebantur, quibus milites sustentari possent!

Therefore I take you up as an adoptive son; and all the things which I possess I place under your power, so that by you my empire and my land may be freed and saved from the face of the present and future multitude.» By these peaceful and pious words of the emperor the duke, placated and enticed, not only gave himself to him as a son, as is the custom of the land, but also rendered himself a vassal with joined hands together with all the chiefs who then were present and who afterwards followed. Nor was there delay: priceless gifts brought from the emperor’s treasury were delivered to the duke and to all who had assembled, both in gold and in silver, and purple of diverse kinds, in mules and horses, and in everything that he prized most. Thus indeed, the emperor and the duke, bound by a bond of perfect fidelity and friendship not to be dissolved, from the time of the Lord’s Incarnation, when this concord occurred, up to a few days before Pentecost, for each of the four weeks men, laden with golden Byzantines, with ten modii of tartaron coin, were sent from the emperor’s house to the duke, by which the soldiers could be sustained!

Mirabile dictu! universa, quae ex [0420B] dono imperatoris dux militibus distribuebat, in mutatione alimentorum ad aerarium regis protinus redibant; et non solum haec, sed etiam quae sub universo orbe illuc congessit exercitus. Nec mirum, nam nullius praeter imperatoris merces tam in vino et oleo quam in frumento et hordeo, omnique esca, vendebatur in toto regno.

Mirabile dictu! All the things which from [0420B] the emperor’s gift the duke was distributing to the soldiers, by way of exchange of provisions, immediately returned to the king’s treasury; and not only these, but also those which the army had heaped there from the entire world. Nor is it wonderful, for no one’s merchandise except the emperor’s — whether in wine and oil or in grain and barley and every kind of food — was sold throughout the whole kingdom.

Et ideo regis aerarium assidua pecunia abundans, nulla datione evacuari potest.

And therefore the king's aerarium, abounding in steady money, cannot be emptied by any grant.

CAP. XVII. - Monitu imperatoris populus Domini in Cappadociam migrat.

CHAPTER 17. - By the admonition of the emperor the people of the Lord migrate into Cappadocia.

Dux imperatorem pro necessariis rebus saepius interpellat.

The leader frequently interrupts the emperor concerning necessary matters.

Pace et concordia inter imperatorem et ducem hac conditione firmata quam diximus, dux in hospitia aedificiorum in brachio maris relatus, hactenus obsidem filium imperatoris honorifice remisit, certus ultra de fide [0420C] et amicitia ab imperatore suscepta. Altera dehinc die, acclamatum est ex jussu ducis per universum exercitum, ut pax et honor imperatori et omnibus suis deinceps exhiberetur, et justitia servaretur in omni mensura venditionis et emptionis. Imperator similiter interdixit in omni regno suo sub judicio vitae, ne quis noceret aut defraudaret quemquam de exercitu, sed omnia aequo pondere et mensura peregrinis venderentur, pretium vero alleviaretur.

With peace and concord between the emperor and the duke thus established on the condition we have set forth, the duke, conveyed into the lodging of the buildings on the arm of the sea, thereupon honorably sent back as hostage the emperor’s son, assured moreover concerning the fidelity [0420C] and friendship received from the emperor. On the next day it was cried out by the command of the duke throughout the whole army that peace and honour should thenceforth be shown to the emperor and to all his people, and that justice should be kept in every measure of sale and purchase. The emperor likewise forbade throughout his entire realm, under penalty of life, that anyone should harm or defraud any one of the army; but that all things should be sold to foreigners with equal weight and measure, and that the price should be lightened.

Post haec quadragesimali tempore inchoante, imperator ducem admonuit suae adesse praesentiae, multum per amicitiam et fidem datam illum obtestans et deprecans, quatenus transfretaret, et in terram Cappadociae tabernacula collocaret, propter aedificia, [0420D] quae populus incorrigibilis destruebat. Quod dux benigne annuit, ac trajecto flumine, alio in littore in pratis Cappadociae, ipse et universus populus castris positis commorati sunt. Ab hinc et deinceps, paulatim peregrinis chare omnia vendebantur, sed tamen munera imperatoris nequaquam duci imminuta sunt; metuebat enim eum valde.

After these things, with the Lenten time beginning, the emperor admonished the duke to be present with him, beseeching and imploring him much by friendship and by the faith given, that he cross the sea and set up tents in the land of Cappadocia, on account of the buildings, [0420D] which the incorrigible people were destroying. The duke kindly assented to this, and having crossed the river, on another shore in the meadows of Cappadocia he himself and the whole people, the camp having been pitched, sojourned. From here onward, gradually all things of value were sold to foreigners, yet the emperor’s gifts were in no way diminished to the duke; for he greatly feared him.

Dux vero, venditionis penuriam rerum necessariarum intuens et populi clamorem moleste accipiens, imperatorem saepius navigio conveniebat, et de gravitate venditionis eum arguebat. Sed imperator, quasi inscius et id fieri nolens, rursus peregrinis omnia alleviabat.

But the duke, seeing the scarcity of sale in necessary things and taking the people's clamour ill, more often met the emperor by ship and accused him of the gravity of the sales. Yet the emperor, as if unaware and unwilling that this should happen, again eased everything for the foreigners.

CAP. XVIII. - Boemundus adveniens, aegre persuasus est imperatoris homo fieri.

CHAPTER 18. - Boemundus arriving, was reluctantly persuaded to become the emperor's man.

Interea dum ad haec ducem cum imperatore agerentur, [0421A] et sancta Pascha, jam tribus septimanis evolutis, processisset, Boemundus decem millia habens equitum, et plurimas copias peditum, per Valonam et Durax et caeteras civitates regni Bulgarorum descendens, in virtute magna ante muros civitatis Constantinopolis astitit. Cui dux ex rogatu imperatoris cum viginti primoribus de suo assumpto exercitu occurrit, ut eum ad imperatoris praesentiam sub firma fide introduceret, priusquam arma reponerent, aut tentoria collocarent. Tandem vero cum se invicem salutassent, et dux diu cum ipso Boemundo ageret, plurimisque blanditiis ei persuaderet, ut verbum imperatoris auditurus curiam intraret, Boemundus vero prorsus negaret, ac referret, nimium se imperatorem pertimescere, eo quod vir callidus et subdolus haberetur, [0421B] ad extremum victus bona promissione ducis et allocutione, fiducialiter palatium imperatoris introivit, in osculo pacis, et in omni gratia et honore susceptus.

Meanwhile, while the duke and the emperor were treating these matters, [0421A] and the holy Pasch, three weeks now having passed, had advanced, Boemund, having ten thousand horsemen and very many contingents of foot, descending through Valona and Durazzo and the other cities of the kingdom of the Bulgars, stood in great strength before the walls of the city Constantinople. To him the duke, at the emperor’s request, with twenty leading men from his own levied army went out to meet him, that he might introduce him into the emperor’s presence under a sure pledge, before they should lay down arms or pitch tents. At last, when they had greeted one another, and the duke had long conferred with Boemund himself, and by very many blandishments had persuaded him to enter the curia to hear the emperor’s word, Boemund however wholly refused and reported that he feared the emperor too much, because he was thought a crafty and deceitful man, [0421B] yet finally, conquered by the duke’s promise of goods and speech, he trustingly entered the emperor’s palace, received in the kiss of peace, and accepted into every favour and honour.

Deinde diversis colloquiis et consiliis inter se habitis, Boemundus homo imperatoris factus est, cum juramento et fide data pactus cum eo quod nihil de regno ejus sibi retineret, nisi ex ejus gratia et consensu. Statimque allata sunt Boemundo sicut Godefrido munera, miri et inauditi thesauri in auro et argento, vasa quoque pretiosa opere et decore, multoque ampliora quam ab aliquo possit aestimari.

Then, after diverse colloquies and counsels held between them, Boemund was made the emperor’s man, and, his oath and fidelity given, he made pact with him that he would retain nothing of his kingdom for himself except by the emperor’s grace and consent. Immediately gifts were brought to Boemund like to Godfrey — wondrous and unheard-of treasures in gold and silver, vessels likewise precious in workmanship and adornment, and far more ample than any one could appraise.

CAP. XIX. - Nepos Boemundi clanculo digreditur: dux cum suis decenter ab imperatore dimittitur: Robertus comes.

CHAPTER 19. - The nephew of Boemund departs secretly: the duke with his men is decently dismissed by the emperor: Robert the count.

Cum haec concordia et foedus inter imperatorem [0421C] et Boemundum fieret, Tankradus, sororis filius Boemundi, brachium maris cum universo comitatu et apparatu tam suo quam Boemundi transfretavit, clam imperatore, duce ac Boemundo, ne et ipse subditus illi fieret. Hac igitur Tankradi praesumptione imperator audita, moleste accepit, eo quod ejus colloquium vitaverit. Sed tamen prudenter dissimulans, Boemundum atque ducem cum amore et immenso honore munerumque largitione commendatos, trans fluvium ad exercitum remisit.

When this concord and treaty between the emperor [0421C] and Boemund was made, Tankradus, Boemund’s sister’s son, crossed the arm of the sea with his entire retinue and equipment, both his own and Boemund’s, secretly from the emperor, the duke, and Boemund, lest he himself become subject to him. Wherefore, the emperor, having heard this presumption of Tankrad, received it with displeasure, because he had been avoided in the meeting. Yet nevertheless, prudently dissembling, he commended Boemund and the duke with affection and immense honor and a lavish distribution of gifts, and sent them back across the river to the army.

Brevi dehinc intervallo adfuit Robertus Flandrensis cum immensis copiis, qui et ipse audita concordia ducis et Boemundi cum imperatore, foedus iniit, homo illius factus. Unde ipse quoque sicut et illi, [0421D] ingentia munera de manu imperatoris meruit accipere. Dehinc post aliquot dies ab imperatore benigne commendatus est, et flumine praedicti maris emenso, in regione et pratis Cappadociae sociis et Christianis principibus admistus, armis et copiis associatus est.

Soon after, Robert of Flanders arrived with immense forces, who himself, having heard of the concord of the duke and of Boemund with the emperor, entered into a pact, becoming a man of that one. Whence he likewise, as they did, [0421D] earned to receive enormous gifts from the emperor’s hand. Then, after some days, he was kindly commended by the emperor, and, the river of the aforesaid sea having been crossed, in the region and meadows of Cappadocia he was mingled with allied and Christian princes, joined with arms and forces.

CAP. XX. - Exercitus versus Nicaeam iter dirigit; de Reymundo comite et Petro Eremita et de quibusdam aliis principibus.

CHAPTER 20. - The army directs its march toward Nicaea; concerning Count Raymond and Peter the Hermit and concerning certain other princes.

Non multo dehinc tempore tam egregiis viris in unum collatis, placuit, ex communi consilio, quatenus jam congruum tempus expeditionis operti, sicut devoverant, deinceps viam continuarent versus civitatem Nicaeam, quam gentilis virtus Turcorum, imperatori injuste ereptam, [0422A] suo subjugavit dominio. Eadem siquidem die, qua castra moverunt, Rufinel applicuerunt. Et ecce legatio Reymundi, comitis Sancti Aegidii adfuit, quomodo et ipse in civitatem Constantinopolim ingressus cum imperatore foedus percussisset, rogans et obtestans, quatenus eum et episcopum de Podio, Reymerum nomine, praestolari vellent.

Not long thereafter, with such distinguished men gathered together, it was agreed, by common counsel, that, now that the suitable time for the expedition had been set, as they had vowed, they should henceforth continue their route toward the city of Nicaea, which the pagan might of the Turks, unjustly snatched from the emperor, [0422A] had subjected to their dominion. Indeed on the same day on which they broke camp they drew near Rufinel. And behold a legation of Reymundus, count of Saint Aegidius, was present, showing how he himself, having entered the city of Constantinople, had struck a treaty with the emperor, begging and imploring that they would await him and the bishop of Podium, named Reymerus.

Hi vero se minime eum praestolari, aut longius his partibus immorari astruxerunt, sed paulatim se praecedere, ipsum vero comitem recto et non nimium maturato calle posse subsequi, rebus suis caute et diligenter cum imperatore ordinatis. Ibidem Rufinel, Petrus Eremita, praestolatus principes, cum paucis reliquis suae attritae multitudiuis adjunctus est. Comitis vero Reymundi legati, accepto ducis responso, Constantinopolim [0422B] reversi sunt.

But these men contrived not at all to wait for him, nor to linger longer in these parts, but gradually to go before him, and that the count himself could follow on a direct and not overly hurried road, his affairs having been ordered cautiously and diligently with the emperor. There Rufinel, Peter the Hermit, the waiting princes, with a few others joined his worn multitude. The envoys of Count Reymund, having received the duke’s reply, returned to Constantinople [0422B].

Dux siquidem et Boemundus et Robertus Flandrensis, donis a rege pretiosis donati et nimium commendati, iter suum continuant. Reymundus gratiosus et dilectus factus imperatori, diebus quindecim Constantinopoli moram fecit, plurimum honoris et doni ab imperatore consecutus, sub fide et sacramento homo illius factus.

The leaders Bohemund and Robert of Flanders, having been given costly gifts by the king and overly commended, continued their journey. Reymund, made gracious and beloved by the emperor, remained in Constantinople for 15 days, having received very great honour and gifts from the emperor, and was made his man under faith and oath.

CAP. XXI. - De obsidione urbis Nicaeae.

CHAPTER 21. - On the siege of the city of Nicaea.

In his itaque diebus Robertus, Nortmanorum comes, Stephanus Blesensis, Eustachius, frater praedicti ducis cum ingenti manu equitum et peditum similiter adfuerunt: qui et ipsi cum imperatore foedus et amicitiam ineuntes, hominesque illius in fidei juramento facti, nimiis donis ab eo honestati sunt. Dux vero et qui cum eo erant, interea Nicaeam urbem [0422C] adierunt, quo ipse dux primum obsidionem, ante majorem portam urbis positis castris, constituit fieri. Subsecutis vero principibus, paucissima requies in terminis Cappadociae fuit trans praedictum brachium maris S. Georgii, sed festinato itinere et ipsi castrametati, circa Nicaeam urbem consederunt; quae moenibus, muris, munitionibus turrium insuperabilis videbatur.

In those same days Robert, count of the Normans, Stephen of Blois, and Eustace, brother of the aforesaid duke, arrived with a great host of horse and foot: who likewise, entering into treaty and friendship with the emperor and making his men by oath of fidelity, were honoured by him with excessive gifts. The duke, however, and those who were with him meanwhile approached the city of Nicaea [0422C], where that duke first caused a siege to be made, having placed his camp before the greater gate of the city. With the princes following, there was very little rest on the borders of Cappadocia beyond the aforesaid arm of the sea of St. George; but by a hurried march they themselves likewise encamped and sat down around the city of Nicaea, which by its walls, ramparts, and towered fortifications appeared unsurpassable.

In hac urbe antiqua et robustissima, Solymanus, unus ex principibus Turcorum, vir nobilissimus, sed gentilis, dominio praeerat. Qui, audito Christianorum intentionis adventu, omni armatura fortium virorum civitatem munivit, quin et alimenta copiosa, undecunque collecta, intulit, portas vere undique seris firmissimis obstruxerunt. Ut enim circa Nicaeam et ejus moenia in equis velocissimis [0422D] praedicti principes convenerunt, alii in assultibus et discursibus equorum delectabantur, turres et fortissima moenia admirantes, murosque duplices.

In this ancient and most robust city Solymanus, one of the princes of the Turks, a most noble man but a pagan, presided over the dominion. Who, on hearing of the Christians’ intended arrival, fortified the city with all the armature of brave men; moreover he brought abundant provisions, collected from wherever, and the gates were in truth barred on every side with very strong bolts. For when the aforesaid princes gathered about Nicaea and its ramparts on very swift horses [0422D], some delighted in assaults and horse-sallies and skirmishes of horses, admiring the towers and the very strong fortifications and the double walls.

Sed neque his circumspectis, aliqua formidine concuti potuerunt; verum omni virtute et militari habitu animati, urbem assiliunt et oppugnant; alii vero pedestri aggressu, non minus arcu et sagittis defensores urbi bello lacessunt, sed plures gravissimis ictibus et jaculis desuper repugnantium attriti sunt, qui incaute et caeco impetu ac fragore subito praelia juxta muros tentare ausi sunt.

But these, though circumspect, could not be shaken by any fear; rather, animated with every valour and military accoutrement, they leapt upon and assaulted the city; others, however, by a foot assault, no less with bow and arrows harassed the city’s defenders in battle, but many were worn down by very grievous blows and javelins from above of those resisting, who rashly and with blind onset and sudden tumult dared to attempt engagements beside the walls.

CAP. XXII. - Item dispositio obsidionis; quibus principibus quae partes civitatis delegatae sint.

CHAPTER 22. - Also the disposition of the siege; which parts of the city have been delegated to which princes.

Principes vero exercitus, videntes sic frustra et [0423A] inutiliter bello populum perire; nec quidquam inclusis huic praesidio posse nocere, nil melius senserunt quam ut, obsidione circumquaque posita, urbem cogerent et custodes murorum. Unde in prima obsidione Godefridus, dux Lotharingiae, princeps ac dominus de castello Bullionis, cum universo comitatu Lotharingorum constitutus est; Boemundus princeps Siciliae et Calabriae, natione Northmannus, vir alti cordis et miri ingenii, ac omni militari virtute in rebus bellicis aptissimus, et opibus ditissimus, vicinus sedem collocavit; Tankradus, tiro illustris, juxta eumdem Boemundum, avunculum suum, cum suis sodalibus considere decernitur; Tatinus quidam truncati nasi, familiaris imperatoris Constantinopolis, et ejus secretorum conscius, ductor [0423B] Christiani exercitus, eo quod loca regionis nota sibi essent, cum auxiliari manu militum ejusdem imperatoris, urbem in decreta sibi parte premebat. Robertus, comes Flandrensis, nulli illorum dispar in armis, divitiis et viribus, et comes Robertus, princeps Northmanniae, filius regis Anglorum ferocissimus, armis rebusque militaribus ditissimus, juxta praedictos in obsidione ejusdem urbis in ordine locati sunt.

The chiefs of the army, seeing thus that the people were perishing in the war so vainly and [0423A] to no purpose; and that nothing could harm those shut up with this garrison, judged there was nothing better than, with a siege set all around, to hem in the city and guard the walls. Hence in the first siege Godefridus, duke of Lorraine, prince and lord of the castle of Bullion, was appointed with the whole company of the Lorrainers; Boemund, prince of Sicily and Calabria, a Northman by nation, a man of high heart and of wondrous wit, and fitted in every military habit for warlike affairs, and very rich in means, took position nearby; Tankradus, a distinguished youth, was decreed to encamp next to that same Boemund, his uncle, with his comrades; a certain Tatinus of a truncated nose, intimate of the emperor at Constantinople, and privy to his secrets, commander [0423B] of the Christian army, because the places of the region were known to him, with an auxiliary hand of that same emperor’s soldiers pressed the city on the part allotted to him. Robert, count of Flanders, in arms no less than any of them, equal in riches and strength, and Count Robert, prince of the Normans, fiercest son of the king of the English, richest in arms and military affairs, were placed in order beside the aforesaid in the siege of that same city.

Wernerus de Greis castro, miles irreprehensibilis in arte bellica, Eustachius, frater praedicti ducis Godefridi, cum Baldewino fratre eorum, viro clarissimo, et bello invictissimo, pariter in ordine consederunt. Baldewinus de Montecastello, Hamaicorum comes et princeps, vir illustrissimus in omni militari actione, Thomas de Feria castro, [0423C] Francigena, miles acerrimus, una cum Baldewino de Burg, Drogo de Nahella, Gerhardus de Keresicastello, Anselmus de Riburgismonte, Hugo comes de S. Paulo, Engilradus ejusdem Hugonis filius, miles egregius, Wido de castro Porsessa, tiro in armis fortissimus, Baldewinus de castello Gant, Baldewinus quoque vir bello nominatissimus, cognomine Calderim comes, una Willhelmus de Foreis castello, omni virtute et potentia bellica praeclarus, ad observandam urbem, vix humanis viribus superabilem, omnes viri fortissimi, in decreta sibi parte consederunt.

Wernerus of Greis Castle, a knight irreproachable in the art of war, Eustachius, brother of the aforesaid duke Godefridus, together with their brother Baldewin, a man most renowned and invincible in war, sat likewise in order. Baldewinus of Montecastello, count and prince of the Hamaeans, a most illustrious man in every military action; Thomas of Feria Castle, a Frank, a most fierce soldier, together with Baldewinus of Burg, Drogo of Nahella, Gerhardus of Keresicastello, Anselmus of Riburgismonte, Hugo, count of St. Paul, Engilradus, that Hugo’s son, an outstanding knight, Wido of Porsessa Castle, a young man most valiant in arms, Baldewinus of Gant Castle, Baldewinus also a man most famed in war, surnamed Calderim, a count, and likewise Willhelmus of Foreis Castle, eminent in all virtue and warlike power—these very brave men, to observe the city, scarcely surmountable by human strength, took their places in their allotted part.

CAP. XXIII. - Item de eodem.

CHAPTER 23. - Also concerning the same.

Episcopus vero de Podio, Reymerus nomine, [0423D] omni bonitate repletus, non modica manu et apparatu circa urbem vires augebat. Stephanus, comes Blesensis, et caput et primus consilio in omni exercitu, in multitudine gravi uno in latere urbem tuebatur. Hugo, cognomine Magnus, frater regis Franciae, illustrissimus socius, ad custodiendam urbem suo sedit in ordine.

The bishop of Podio, Reymerus by name, [0423D] filled with every goodness, was increasing the forces about the city with considerable means and equipment. Stephen, count of Blois, both head and foremost in counsel of the whole army, was defending the city on one flank with a weighty multitude. Hugh, surnamed Magnus, brother of the king of France, a most illustrious companion, took his place in the rank to guard the city.

Robertus, filius Gerardi, Reymundus cognomine Pellez, Bonwankerus de Capis castello, Milo quoque cognomine Lover miles fortissimus, Stephanus de Albemarla, filius Udonis comitis de Campania, Waltherus de Dromedart, et ejus filius Bernardus dilectissimus, in omni facto et forma delectabilis; Gerardus de Gorna, Gothardus, filius Godefridi, juvenis clarissimus, Rudolfus, ditissimus copiarum, dominus Alenus, cognomine [0424A] Ferrans, Conanus quoque, ambo principes Britannorum, Reinoldus de civitate Belvaciae, Walo de Calmont, Willhelmus de Montpelir, viri imperterriti, fixis papilionibus cum caeteris praefatis in circuitu urbis consederunt. Castus quoque de Berdeiz civitate, Gebardus de Roselon civitate, Giselbertus de Treva, unus de principibus Burgundiae, Oliverus de castro Jussi, miles audax et pugnax, Achar de Motinerla, candidus capite, Reimboldus, comes de Oringis civitate, quo non alter valentior, Lodowicus de Monzons, mirabilis in opere militari, filius comitis Dirici de Monthiliart, Dudo de Cons, rufus capite, bello doctissimus; Gozelo et frater ejus Lambertus, bello peritissimus, cum patre suo Cunone de Monte acuto, viro illustrissimo, juxta praedictorum papiliones [0424B] tabernacula collocaverunt. Petrus de Stadeneis, Reinardus de Tul civitate, Walterus de Verveis, Arnolfus de Tyr, Joannes de Namecca, Herebrandus de Boillon, hi omnes ad omne bellorum incendium indefessi urbem cingebant.

Robertus, son of Gerard, Reymundus by the surname Pellez, Bonwankerus of Capis castle, Milo likewise by the surname Lover, a most valiant knight, Stephanus of Albemarle, son of Udo, count of Champagne, Waltherus of Dromedart, and his most beloved son Bernard, delightful in every deed and manner; Gerardus of Gorna, Gothardus, son of Godefrid, a most renowned youth, Rudolf, richest in resources, lord Alenus, by the surname [0424A] Ferrans, Conan also, both princes of the Britons, Reinoldus of the city of Belvacia, Walo of Calmont, William of Montpelir, undaunted men, with their pavilions set they sat together with the aforesaid others around the circuit of the city. Castus also of the city of Berdeiz, Gebardus of the city of Roselon, Giselbert of Treva, one of the princes of Burgundy, Oliver of the castle Jussi, a bold and combative knight, Achar of Motinerla, fair of head, Reimboldus, count of the city of Oringis, than whom none is more powerful, Lodowicus of Monzons, wondrous in military deed, son of Count Diric of Monthiliart, Dudo of Cons, red of head, most learned in warfare; Gozelo and his brother Lambert, most skilled in war, with their father Cunon of Sharp-mount, a most illustrious man, placed their tents near the aforesaid pavilions [0424B] tabernacula. Peter of Stadeneis, Reinard of the city of Tul, Walter of Verveis, Arnolf of Tyr, John of Namecca, Herebrand of Boillon, all these, indefatigable for every outbreak of war, encompassed the city.

CAP. XXIV. - De viris sacri ordinis et vulgo inermi, et de lacu civitatis.

CHAPTER 24. - On the men of the sacred order and generally unarmed, and on the lake of the city.

Nec dubitandum est, cum tot capitaneis primis non paucos adfuisse sequaces et inferiores, servos et ancillas, nuptas et innuptas, cujusque ordinis viros et mulieres. His omnibus, episcopi, abbates, monachi, canonici et presbyteri praeerant ad instruendos et corroborandos. Obsessa ab his copiis tota continetur civitas praeter locum, quem ad tuendum, et vacuum relictum, comiti Reymundo decreverant.

There is no doubt that, since with so many foremost captains not a few followers and inferiors were present — slaves and maidservants, married and unmarried women, men and women of every rank — bishops, abbots, monks, canons and presbyters presided over all these to instruct and to strengthen them. The whole city was held besieged by these forces, except for the place which they had decreed to Count Raymond to guard and to leave vacant.

[0424C] Victum, et omne quod necesse est corpori, nullis immitti portis tam copiosus sinebat exercitus. Sed lacus quidam mirae latitudinis et longitudinis, in modum maris altus, aptus remis et navigio, in quodam latere murorum civitatis habebatur, per quem saepius ingressus et egressus viris Solymani, necessaria inferentibus, ipsique Solymano, patere solebat. Nondum vero Reymundus, praefatus comes de terra S. Aegidii, quae dicitur Provincia, vires et opem contulerat.

[0424C] The army was not permitted to admit victuals, and all that is necessary for the body, so copiously through any gates. But a certain lake of wondrous breadth and length, deep like the sea, fit for oars and for a ship, lay along one side of the city's walls, through which the comings and goings of Solyman's men, bringing necessities, and for Solyman himself, were often wont to be open. Not yet, however, had Reymundus, the aforesaid count from the land of St. Aegidius, which is called Provence, brought forces and aid.

Nam cum imperatore Constantinopoli cum suis cuneis moram faciebat, multum ei foederatus prae donis magnificis, quibus de die in diem de domo regis augebatur.

For when he was staying at Constantinople with the emperor with his bands, he was greatly bound to him by magnificent gifts, by which he was daily increased from the king’s household.

CAP. XXV. - De principe urbis Nicaeae et de exploratoribus ejus. [0424D]

CHAPTER 25. - On the prince of the city of Nicaea and on his scouts. [0424D]

Solymanus audita tantorum virorum belligeratorum adunatione, a praesidio Nicaeae egressus est propter auxilium caeterorum Turcorum et gentilium, spatio plurimorum dierum desudans, quousque quingenta millia virorum pugnatorum et ferratorum equitum ex omni Romania contraxit. Quibus undique collectis et admonitis, fama obsidionis Nicaeae et exercitus Christianorum ad aures ejus perlata est, et quia numerus tot millium supra quadringenta millia illic consedisse referatur. Fama autem hac attonitus, cum universa collectione suorum iter suum per montana movit versus moenia Nicaeae, si forte e specula rupium posset oculis deprehendere, si tot, ut audierat, illuc millia convenissent, et qua [0425A] parte hos sanius aggredi posset.

Solymanus, having heard of the gathering of so many warlike men, departed from the garrison of Nicaea for the aid of the other Turks and gentiles, after toiling for the space of many days, until he had drawn together five hundred thousand men, fighters and armored horsemen, from all Romania. With these assembled and marshaled on every side, the report of the siege of Nicaea and of the Christian army was brought to his ears, and that the number of so many thousands was said to have encamped there above four hundred thousand. Astonished by this report, he moved his march with the entire collection of his forces through the mountains toward the walls of Nicaea, that perhaps from a lookout on the rocks he might with his eyes discover whether so many thousands, as he had heard, had come together there, and by which [0425A] part he might more prudently attack them.

Tandem ex consilio suorum, quarta die obsidionis transacta, idem Solymanus duos ex suis sub falsa specie Christiana in morem peregrinorum ad explorandam virtutem et actus Christiani exercitus direxit, qui custodibus arcis, et defensoribus Nicaeae urbis, in hunc modum nuntia deferrent: «Scitote quia princeps et dominus urbis nostrae, Solymanus, mittit nos ad vos, ut spem firmissimam in suo juvamine teneatis. Nil formidinis vobis ab his circumsedentibus incutiatur, qui longinquo fatigati itinere, et huc in exsilium progressi, pro stultis computabuntur, quos simili poena et martyrio, ut Petri agmina ante hos dies, tractabit, et in proximo vobis succurrere in manu robusta et in millibus infinitis paratus est.» Hac [0425B] Solymani legatione accepta, viri duo praemissi per loca nota et devia versus locum quo urbs inobsessa erat, viam insistunt, si forte enavigare occulte ad ipsos urbis defensores valerent, et nota facere quae illis a Solymano injuncta erant, qualiter Solymanus, factis cuneis, in brevi peregrinos aggrederetur, et ut omnis virtus Turcorum a portis erumperet, et sic in fortitudine admista populum Domini deleret. Sed ex Domini voluntate a custodibus Christianis, circumquaque diffusis ad tuenda loca et semitas, ne qua fraus aut vis ex adverso noceret, hi duo praemissi a Solymano, capti et retenti sunt, quorum alter in impetu occisus est, alter ad praesentiam Christianorum principum adductus est.

At last, by the counsel of his men, on the fourth day of the siege having passed, the same Solyman sent two of his men, under the false guise of Christians and in the manner of pilgrims, to reconnoiter the valor and deeds of the Christian army, who should carry messages to the guardians of the citadel and defenders of the city of Nicaea in this fashion: «Know that the prince and lord of our city, Solyman, sends us to you, that you may hold a most firm hope in his aid. Let no fear be put upon you by those besieging you, who, weary from a distant march and come here into exile, will be counted fools, whom he will deal with by like punishment and martyrdom, as the bands of Peter before these days, and he is ready to come to your aid with a powerful hand and with countless thousands.» With this embassy of Solyman received, the two men sent on ahead took the well-known and devious paths toward the place where the city was unbesieged, making their way to see if by stealth they could approach the very defenders of the city, and to report what had been commanded to them by Solyman, how Solyman, with his cohorts made ready, would soon fall upon the pilgrims, and how all the force of the Turks would burst forth from the gates, and thus, with strength joined, would destroy the people of the Lord. But by the will of the Lord, and by the Christians’ guardians being spread all around to watch paths and ways, lest any fraud or force from outside do harm, those two men sent on by Solyman were seized and detained, one of whom was killed in the attack, the other was led to the presence of the Christian princes. [0425B]

CAP. XXVI. - Item de uno exploratorum illorum, et quam sollicite populus Domini gentilium praestolaretur adventum. [0425C]

CHAPTER 26. - Likewise concerning one of those scouts, and how anxiously the Lord's people awaited the arrival of the Gentiles. [0425C]

Virum itaque apprehensum Godefridus dux et Boemundus, et caeteri minis suppliciorum coegerunt, ut cujus rei causa missus venerit, sola veritate explicaret. Ille autem tot electorum principum minas expavescens, et vitam suam in articulo mortis positam agnoscens, flebili voce, humili vultu lacrymarumque continua inundatione de vita et salute sua multum precatur, omnibus trepidans membris, et rei veritatem pollicetur aperire, et quod utile et salubre universo populo futurum esset. Fatetur enim se a Solymano missum, quem jugis montium cum innumerabili gente hospitatum, et adeo vicinum asserit, [0425D] ut in crastino die circa horam tertiam eum ad pugnam credant adfuturum, et ejus dolos ac repentinos incursus sua relatione posse praecavere.

The man therefore, having been seized, Duke Godfrey and Bohemond, and the others by threats of punishments compelled him to state, with simple truth, for what cause he had been sent. He, however, terrified by the threats of so many chosen princes and acknowledging that his life was placed on the brink of death, with a plaintive voice, a humble countenance, and a continual inundation of tears, entreated much for his life and salvation, trembling in all his limbs, and promised to disclose the truth of the matter, and what would be useful and wholesome for the whole people. For he confesses that he was sent by Solomon, whom he asserts to be encamped on the mountain ridges with an innumerable people, and so near [0425D] that they believe he will be present for battle on the morrow about the third hour, and that by his report they can guard against his deceits and sudden incursions.

Rogabat enim se in custodiam usque ad praedictam horam teneri, quousque rei veritas et Solymani probaretur adventus; sin autem aliquando his fefellisset, nequaquam sibi vitam donari, sed collo amputato velle perire. Instabat etiam multa et humili prece, quatenus Christianitatis professione baptismum susciperet, et Christiano jure Christianis communicaret. Sed hoc potius petebat timore susceptae mortis quam aliquo catholicae fidei amore.

He begged, indeed, that he be kept in custody up to the aforesaid hour, until the truth of the matter and the coming of Solyman were proved; but if at any time he had deceived them in these things, that life in no wise be granted to him, but that, his neck being cut off, he wished to perish. He also pressed many things with humble prayer, so that by a profession of Christianity he might receive baptism, and by Christian right communicate with the Christians. Yet he sought this more from fear of the death he had incurred than from any love of the Catholic faith.

Tandem miserabili fletu illius et nimia Christianitatis promissione, primorum exercitus mollita sunt corda, ac illius miserti, vitam sibi donaverunt, sed tamen [0426A] mittitur in custodiam quam petebat. Ab hinc et deinceps pervigili cura totus sollicitatur exercitus Christianorum, die ac nocte, armis et apparatu providus, usque ad hanc horam, quam ex captivi promissione Solymani copias ab Alpibus innumerabiles ebullire didicerant. Dux Godefridus, Boemundus, Robertus Flandrensis et universi qui aderant, comiti Reymundo tota nocte hac legationem direxerunt, quatenus plus solito viam maturaret, si cum Turcis bellum committere vellet, et sociis subvenire.

Together, by his miserable weeping and the excessive promise of Christianity, the hearts of the chiefs of the army were softened, and, pitying him, they granted him life; yet nevertheless [0426A] he is sent into the custody which he had asked. From that time forward the whole army of Christians is kept in watchful care, day and night, provident in arms and equipment, up to this hour, when from the captive’s promise they had learned that innumerable forces of Solyman were boiling forth from the Alps. Duke Godfrey, Bohemond, Robert of Flanders and all who were present directed this legation to Count Raymond through the whole night, so that he might hasten his journey more than usual, if he wished to enter into war with the Turks and succor his allies.

Sciebant enim eum in proximo jam ab imperatore laxatum, et multis honoribus et divitiis commendatum. Qui tantorum principum legatione cognita, et Solymani tam maturata adventatione, nihil morae ultra faciens, toto hujus noctis tempore acceleravit [0426B] iter; ac prima hora diei, jam sole mundum replente, cum Podiensi episcopo in signis varii coloris et decoris adfuit, in loricis et galeis, in fortitudine vehemente equestris et pedestris exercitus.

For they knew that he had by now been released nearby by the emperor, and commended with many honors and riches. Who, the legation of such great princes being known, and Solomon's arrival so advanced, doing nothing of further delay, throughout the whole time of that night hastened his journey [0426B]; and at the first hour of the day, the sun already filling the world, he was present with the bishop of Podiensis, with standards of varied color and ornament, in cuirasses and helmets, in the vehement valour of the cavalry and infantry of the army.

CAP. XXVII. - Adventus Solymani: exhortatio Podiensis episcopi: conflictus et victoria populi Christiani.

CHAPTER 27. - The arrival of Solyman: the exhortation of the Podiensis bishop: the conflict and victory of the Christian people.

Itaque ipsius comitis vix tentoria ponebantur, cum Solymanus circa horam tertiam ab altitudine montium descendebat, et omnis comitatus ejus, ut arena maris per diversas semitas factis aciebus exundans, omnes viri fortissimi, et bello cautissimi, loricis et galeis et clypeis aureis valde armati, signaque plurima mirae pulchritudinis in manibus praeferentes. Horum in prima acie ad decem millia, viri omnes [0426C] sagittarii, in convallem Nicaeae praecucurrerant, arcus corneos et osseos, ad feriendum rigidissimos manu ferentes; et universi equis insidentes cursu velocissimis et bello aptissimis. Sic Solymanus et sui descendentes, per portam urbis irrumpere in impetu nitebantur, quam Reymundus, praedictus comes, ad tuendum obsederat.

Thus scarcely had the tents of the very count been set up, when Solyman about the third hour was descending from the height of the mountains, and his whole retinue, like the sand of the sea overflowing after making diverse paths into ranks, all most valiant men and most prudent in war, very well armed with loricae and helms and golden shields, and bearing many standards of wondrous beauty in their hands. In the first line of these up to 10,000 men, all [0426C] archers, had run forward into the valley of Nicaea, bearing in hand very stiff cornel and bone bows for striking; and all were mounted on horses of the swiftest course and most fit for war. Thus Solyman and his followers, descending, strove to burst in through the city gate with an assaulting onset, which Reymundus, the aforesaid count, had beset for its defence.

Sed ab ipso comite et a Baldewino, fratre ducis, illis ex adverso cum Baldewino Calderim occurrentibus plurima manu, graviter retrusi et expugnati sunt. In hoc horrore crudelissimi belli inter manus festinantes, sermo episcopi sic populum consolatur: «O gens Deo dicata, omnia pro Dei amore Dei reliquistis, divitias, agros, vineas et castella; nunc in promptu vita perpetua est ei cui [0426D] contigerit hoc in praelio martyrio coronari. Indubibitanter hos inimicos, Deo viventi contrarios, adite, Deo donante hodie victoriam suscipietis.» Hac admonitione Paganus de Garlanda, dapifer regis Francorum, Wido de Porsessa, Tankradus et Rotgerus de Barnavilla, Robertus Flandrensis, Robertus Northmannorum princeps, confratribus in Christo sine mora subveniunt, per medias acies fulmineis ictibus et equorum celeritate discurrentes.

But by the count himself and by Baldwin, the duke’s brother, many of those meeting them opposite, with Baldwin Calderim, were severely driven back and taken. In this terror of the cruel war, hastening into the hands, the bishop’s speech thus consoles the people: "O people dedicated to God, you have renounced all things for the love of God, riches, fields, vineyards and castles; now eternal life is at hand for him to whom [0426D] it shall have fallen in this battle to be crowned with martyrdom. Undoubtedly attack these enemies, adversaries of the living God; God giving it, today you will receive victory." By this admonition Paganus de Garlanda, the steward of the king of the Franks, Wido de Porsessa, Tancred and Rotgerus de Barnavilla, Robert the Fleming, Robert the prince of the Northmen, come to the aid of their brothers in Christ without delay, rushing through the middle of the ranks with lightning blows and the speed of their horses.

Dux Godefridus et Boemundus, non equo tardantes, laxis frenis per medios hostes advolant, hos lanceis perforantes, hos ab equis dejicientes et socios saepe hortantes, ad trucidandos hostes virili admonitione consolantur. Illic non modicus fragor hastarum, tinnitus gladiorum et galearum in hoc luctamine [0427A] belli est auditus; non modica Turcorum ruina ab his egregiis viris eorumque sociis facta est. Hac victoria Dei gratia in populo catholico habita, Solymanus et sui in montana fuga reversi sunt, nulla ulterius pugna in hac obsidione populum Dei aggredi audentes.

Duke Godefridus and Boemund, not lingering on horseback, with loosened reins flew through the midst of the enemies, piercing some with lances, throwing others from their horses and often exhorting their comrades, consoling them with manly admonition to slaughter the foes. There was heard in that struggle of war [0427A] no small din of spears, the ringing of swords and helmets; no small ruin of the Turks was wrought by these outstanding men and their companions. By this victory, held by the grace of God among the Catholic people, Solyman and his men returned in flight to the mountains, daring no further battle against the people of God in that siege.

Ab illo die omnem clementiam erga captivum legatum Solymani fideles Christi exhibebant, quia eum verum et fidelem in sua promissione experti sunt, et privatus inter familiares summorum principum diligebatur. Occisorum vero et vulneratorum capita Christiani amputantes, secum in signum victoriae deferenda in sellarum suarum corrigiis ad tentoria sua detulerunt, et ad societatem, partim in tabernaculis relictam circa urbem ad prohibendum exitum inclusorum, cum gaudio reversi [0427B] sunt. At hujus primi belli turbine sedato circa Nicaeam, capita Turcorum amputata intra urbis moenia jactabant, ad terrendos magistros arcis et custodes murorum.

From that day the faithful of Christ showed every clemency toward the captive envoy of Solyman, because they had found him true and faithful to his promise, and, stripped of rank, he was cherished among the household of the highest princes. And the Christians, cutting off the heads of the slain and of the wounded, carried them in the straps of their saddles to their tents as a sign of victory, and returned with joy to their fellowship, partly left in the huts around the city to prevent the escape of those shut in [0427B]. After the whirlwind of this first battle had subsided about Nicaea, the severed heads of the Turks were thrown within the city’s walls to terrify the commanders of the citadel and the guardians of the ramparts.

Deinde mille capita Turcorum collecta, in curribus et saccis plaustrisque reposita, detulerunt usque ad portum qui Civitot dicitur, et sic navigio imperatori Constantinopolim missa sunt.

Then a thousand heads of the Turks having been gathered, placed in chariots and sacks and wagons, they carried them to the port called Civitot, and thus they were sent by ship to the emperor at Constantinople.

CAP. XXVIII. - De munificentia imperatoris in principes, et de Turco falsi nominis Christiano.

CHAPTER 28. - On the munificence of the emperor toward princes, and concerning a Turk of the false name "Christian."

Imperator, visis tot capitibus adversariorum suorum et militum Solymani, cujus injusta vi urbem Nicaeam in dolo amiserat, plurimum in hoc fidelium triumpho exhilarescit, ac disponit ut pro labore bellico magnam recipiant remunerationem. Unde pecuniam [0427C] non modicam, ostra diversi generis, et omnia necessaria ad remunerandum quemque potentem in vehiculis mulorum et equorum direxit, victus innumerabiles pariter attribuit, vendendi et emendi undique suo in regno largissima facultas concessa est. Nautae et mercatores certabant ex imperatoria jussione navibus plenis cibariis frumenti, carnis, vini, olei et hordei per mare discurrere, quousque ad portum Civitot anchoras jaciunt, ubi fidelium turmae ad refocillandum corpus, ante jejuniis aggravatum, omnia venalia reperiebant.

The emperor, having seen so many heads of his adversaries and the soldiers of Solyman, by whose unjust force he had lost the city Nicaea through guile, is exceedingly elated at this triumph of the faithful, and arranges that for their war-service they receive great remuneration. Whence money [0427C] not small, oysters of diverse kinds, and all things necessary to reward each potentate he dispatched in the vehicles of mules and horses, and he allotted innumerable victuals likewise; a very wide liberty to sell and to buy everywhere in his realm was granted. Sailors and merchants, by imperial command, vied to run their ships full of provisions of grain, meat, wine, oil, and barley over the sea, until they cast anchors at the port called Civitot, where bands of the faithful, to refresh their bodies before enfeebled by fasting, found all things for sale.

Hac frequentia escarum fruentes et gaudentes, conspirant et affirmant se non recessuros, quousque urbs superata et capta imperatoris potestati restituatur. Promiserant enim juramento nihil de regno imperatoris, non castra, [0427D] non civitates, nisi ex ejus voluntate aut dono, retinere. Hoc comperto et investigato, et visa Christianorum victoria et Turcorum caede cruentissima, captivus ille, quem praediximus, diffisus vitae, et Christianitatis jugum effugere cogitans, quadam die visa opportunitate clarissima et custodiae negligentia, facilis saltu pedis, vallum murorum urbis transvolat; Turcos per moenia praesentes, et tunc belli otio vacantes, ad subveniendum sibi incessabili voce admonet ac precatur.

With this abundance of victuals feasting and rejoicing, they conspire and affirm that they will not withdraw until the city, having been overcome and captured, is restored to the power of the emperor. For they had sworn by oath to retain nothing of the emperor’s kingdom, not the camp, [0427D] not the cities, except by his will or gift. This having been discovered and examined, and the Christians’ victory and the Turks’ most bloody slaughter having been seen, that captive whom we aforesaid, despairing of life and devising to escape the yoke of Christianity, on a certain day seeing a most clear opportunity and negligence of the guard, with an easy bound of foot, leaps over the rampart of the city’s walls; the Turks present along the walls, and then idle in the repose of war, he admonishes and beseeches with unceasing voice to come to his aid.

Qui sine mora funiculo a moenibus dimisso inter manus fallacis et fugitivi, pereni mox in ipso pendentem et manibus haerentem, intra moenia non parvo clamore ac fragore facto interius et exterius, levaverunt. Nullus tamen Christianorum [0428A] fugientem sequi aut retinere praesumpsit, propter Turcorum jacula desuper infestantium.

Those who, without delay having let down a rope from the walls, between the hands of the treacherous man and the fugitive, were soon suspended on it and clinging with their hands, they lifted up within the walls amid no small shouting and crash made within and without. No Christianorum [0428A], however, dared to follow or to hold the fleeing man, because of the Turks' javelins threatening from above.

CAP. XXIX. - De viris capitaneis in eadem obsidione occumbentibus.

CHAPTER 29. - On the captains who fell in the same siege.

Cum in decreto firmissimo obsidionis et destructionis urbis, curricula septem hebdomadarum ibidem circa moenia ejus versarentur, et principes, alii jactus et tormenta lapidum ad minuendos muros et turres aptarent, alii arietes ferratos componerent, et diversa ingenia quaererent assultusque plurimos inferrent, Baldewinus Calderim incessanter muros impugnans, nimisque temerario et audaci conatu praecurrens, in ictu praemissi lapidis fractis cervicibus vita exspiravit. Baldewinus de Gant dum ibidem in assultu urbis desudaret, et incaute muros appeteret, [0428B] vertice transfixo in impetu sagittae, vitam exhalavit. Post haec dum ex consilio et decreto principum rursus exercitus iteraret assultum, comes de Foreis et alter de insula Flandriae, Walo nomine, in eodem assultu nimium ferventes et bello vehementes, dum hostes lacesserent, sagittis infixi interierunt.

When, by the most firm decree of the siege and destruction of the city, seven weeks’ circuits were there being made about its walls, and the leaders — some fitting slings and stone-throwing engines to lessen the walls and towers, others composing iron rams, and seeking diverse contrivances and bringing very many assaults — Baldwinus Calderim, incessantly assailing the walls and running on with too rash and daring an attempt, at the blow of a hurled stone, his neck broken, breathed his last. Baldwinus of Ghent, while there perspiring in the assault of the city and rashly pressing upon the walls, [0428B] with his head pierced by the force of an arrow, gave up his life. After these things, while by the counsel and decree of the princes the army again renewed the assault, the count of Foreis and another from the isle of Flanders, called Walo, in that same assault, too ardent and vehement in war while they provoked the enemies, were fixed through by arrows and perished.

Wido de Porsessa, illustris eques ibidem infirmitate occupatus, vita decessit. Flevit super his omnis populus Catholicorum, quoniam fortes consiliarii et auctores rerum capitalium habebantur. Tantos etenim viros nobilissimos cum omni honore et religione episcopi et abbates sepelierunt, non modicam eleemosynarum largitionem pro salute animarum illorum dividentes egenis et mendicis.

Wido of Porsessa, an illustrious knight there, seized by infirmity, died. All the people of the Catholics wept over this, since he was reckoned among the brave counselors and the authors of capital affairs. For the bishops and abbots buried such very noble men with all honor and religion, distributing no small largess of alms for the salvation of those souls among the needy and beggars.

CAP. XXX. - Item de aliis ibidem pereuntibus.

CHAPTER 30. - Also concerning others who died there.

[0428C] Dehinc quadam die, dum plurimorum principum strues, et machinae muro Nicaeae applicarentur, et quaedam non in vanum, quaedam frustra laborarent, Henricus de Ascha et Hartmanus comes, unus de majoribus Alemanniae, vulpem ex proprio sumptu quercinis trabibus composuerunt, cujus in gyro tutos intexuerunt parietes, ut gravissimos Turcorum sufferret ictus armorum, omniumque jaculorum genera, ac sic in ea manentes, tuti et illaesi urbem fortiter impugnando perforarent. Hoc tandem vulpis instrumentum dum ad unguem opere et ligaturis perduceretur, milites praedictorum principum loricati ad viginti in eadem vulpis protectione sunt constituti. Sed magna virorum inundatione et conamine juxta muros applicata, non aequo subsedit aggere, [0428D] non recto impulsu aut aequo conductu moderata, et sic trabes, postes, universaeque ligaturae contritae, viros in ea latentes in momento oppresserunt.

[0428C] Then on a certain day, while engines and machines of many princes were being applied to the wall of Nicaea in a mass, and some labored not in vain, some in vain, Henry of Ascha and Count Hartman, one of the leading men of Alemannia, at their own expense constructed a "fox" of oak beams, whose walls they wove safe all around, so that it might bear the heaviest blows of arms and all kinds of missiles, and thus those remaining in it, safe and uninjured, might bravely batter and pierce the city. At last, while this fox-instrument was being brought to a finish with perfect workmanship and lashings, twenty cuirassed soldiers of the said princes were placed within the same fox for protection. But, with a great flood and effort of men brought up beside the walls, it did not settle evenly on the rampart, not moderated by a straight impulse or even bearing, and thus the beams, posts, and all the lashings being shattered, crushed the men lying within it in an instant. [0428D]

Hartmanus ac Henricus dolentes, et magnum de casu suorum luctum habentes, sepultura exstinctos honorifice condiderunt, sed non parum gaudere potuerunt, quod cum suis non in hac momentanea suffocatione perierunt.

Hartmanus and Henricus, sorrowing and bearing great grief for the loss of their men, honorably laid to rest those slain, but were able to rejoice not a little that their own did not perish in this momentary suffocation.

CAP. XXXI. - De murorum et praecipue cujusdam turris oppugnatione.

CHAPTER 31. - On the assault of the walls and especially of a certain tower.

Alia post haec die, dum creberrimi assuitus plurimorum in vanum consumerentur, comes Reymundus turrim quamdam duobus tormentis lapidum, quae vulgo dicuntur Mangenae, fortiter quassatam [0429A] oppugnavit. Sed minui et dissolvi vel lapis unus ab hoc antiquo opere, et caemento vix solubili, robustissimo tam jactu non potuit, dum ad extremum plura adaucta sunt lapidum quassantium instrumenta, quibus tandem muri concussi rimas per loca pertulerunt, et aliqui lapides prae creberrima jactatione cum caemento minui ac labi coeperunt. Quod videns exercitus Dei viventis, adunata manu, et facta testudine viminea vallum superans, audaci transitu muros impetunt, turrim muris eminentem uncis ligonibus perrumpere et perforare moliuntur, quam Turci interius coacervatione lapidum compleverant, ut validius staret densitate lapidum, et si forte exterior murus a Gallis corrumperetur, volentibus penetrare impedimento esset congeries infinitorum lapidum.

On another day after this, while the very frequent assaults of many were being spent in vain, Count Reymundus bravely attacked a certain tower, shaken by two stone-tortures, which are commonly called Mangenae [0429A]. But neither could a single stone be lessened or loosened from this ancient work, and in mortar scarcely soluble, by so mighty a casting, until at last more instruments for hurling stones were added, with which finally the shaken walls conveyed cracks through places, and some stones by the very frequent casting together with the mortar began to be diminished and to slip. Which thing seeing, the army of the living God, joined hand to hand, and having made a wicker testudo surmounting the rampart, with a bold passage assailed the walls, striving to break through and pierce the tower rising above the walls with hooks and pick-axes, which the Turks had filled within by a piling of stones, so that it might stand the more strongly by the density of stones, and if haply the outer wall were broken by the Franks, there would be, to those willing to penetrate, as an impediment a mass of infinite stones.

[0429B] Populus autem Dei vivi, aceensa magis ac magis ira, et strage suorum commotus, turrim percurrit acumine mordacis ferri, quousque foramen trans turrim tanta virtute reddunt ut hiatus cavati muri duos insimul penetrare praesumentes capere videretur, qui coacervationem lapidum singulatim eruerent et minuerent, viamque ad hostes patenter aperirent. Sed nec sic proficere potuerunt.

[0429B] But the people of the living God, their anger kindled more and more, and moved by the slaughter of their own, assailed the tower with the biting point of iron, until they made a hole right through the tower with such force that the gap of the hollowed wall seemed about to be penetrated in two places at once, as if to seize and enter, which would pull down and diminish the coacervation of stones one by one, and plainly open a way to the enemies. But even thus they could not prevail.

CAP. XXXII. - Populus Domini supradictum lacum navali obsidione circumdat.

CHAPTER 32. - The people of the Lord surround the aforesaid lake with a naval blockade.

Nocte vero quadam ab hac colluctatione, et plurima stragis conamine, circa urbem populo vexato et interdum in castris relato, deprehensum est, Turcos [0429C] navigio per lacum ab urbe saepius exire, viros coadjutores arma et omnia necessaria clam inferre, mercatores usquequaque illuc convenire, et a Turcis omnia venalia in eodem lacu reperire. Ex hoc denique principes plurimis usi sunt consiliis, quid agerent vel insisterent, qualiter lacus his interdicatur, et inclusis exitus et introitus ultra navigio negetur, dicentes non aliter suos assultus vel laborem posse perficere. Tandem inter plurimas discussiones tale repertum est consilium, quia nisi navali custodia tam spatiosus observaretur lacus, nequaquam hostes posse reprimi, nec urbem alimentis posse vacuari.

On a certain night, however, from this wrestling and the very many attempts at slaughter, with the people distressed around the city and at times returned to the camps, it was discovered that the Turks [0429C] by boat more often went out from the city across the lake, secretly bringing in men as helpers, arms and all things necessary, merchants everywhere assembling thither, and all the Turks’ wares being found for sale in the same lake. From this, finally, the leaders, having employed very many counsels, debated what they should do or insist upon, how the lake might be interdicted to these, and with exits and entrances shut and navigation further denied, saying that otherwise they could in no way complete their assaults or labor. At length, among very many discussions, such a plan was devised: that unless so spacious a lake were watched by a naval guard, the enemies could by no means be restrained, nor could the city be emptied of food.

Unde magnis et parvis in unum vocatis, decretum est communi consilio ut ad portum Civitot innumerabiles copiae equestris et pedestris vulgi [0429D] mitterentur, qui naves a domino imperatore impetratas, ejusque dono concessas, a mari per siccum iter vehiculis, arte lignorum aptatis funibus canabinis, et loris taureis humero et collo hominum et equorum impositis, usque ad lacum Nicaeae perducere valerent. Quod actum est, et noctis in silentio viam septem milliarum trahentes, has naves miri ponderis et magnitudinis, quae numerum centum virorum capere poterant, orto sole, ad praedictum locum applicuerunt, has in littore et undis reponentes. Nec mora, principes exercitus exsurgentes undique pervenerunt ad lacum, videre et scire de navibus, gavisi quod sui incolumes et sine hostili infestatione, et naves sine laesione receptae sunt.

Whence, the great and the small having been called together into one, it was decreed by common counsel that innumerable forces of horse and foot of the populace [0429D] be sent to the port of Civitot, who might convey the ships obtained from the lord emperor and granted as his gift from the sea by dry land with vehicles, by the art of wood fitted with ropes of hemp and with thongs of oxhide, and with the shoulders and necks of men and horses bearing them, all the way to the lake of Nicaea. Which was done, and drawing a road of seven miles in the silence of the night, they brought those ships of wondrous weight and size, which could hold a hundred men, and at sunrise moored them at the aforesaid place, laying them up on the shore and in the waves. Nor was there delay: the chiefs of the army rising up came from all sides to the lake to see and learn about the ships, rejoicing that their men were unharmed and without hostile molestation, and that the ships had been received without damage.

CAP. XXXIII. - Profani resistentes valde Christicolas defatigant.

CHAPTER 33. - The profane, resisting, greatly fatigue Christians.

Ubi dux ipse Turcorum bellicosissimum sagitta trajecit. [0430A]

Where the leader himself of the Turks hurled the most warlike arrow. [0430A]

Navibus itaque receptis sanis et illaesis, fortissimi milites Gallorum in eis sunt constituti, qui ultra exitu Turcis interdicto obstarent, et nihil prorsus necessariorum eis inferri paterentur. In una autem nave de Turcopolis imperatoris viri sagittarii habebantur, qui navali certamine in aquis multum praevalere solebant. Turci vero, et universi custodes praesidii, circa lacum tumultum populi, et principum tam matutinos conventus intelligentes, ad moenia versus fluvium concurrunt, multum de noviter adductis navibus admirati, quas procul dubio suas aestimassent, nisi quod suae adhuc altero in littore [0430B] juxta muros est moenia catenatae ferro et seris stare videbantur.

Thus, the ships having been recovered sound and unharmed, the most valiant soldiers of the Gauls were placed in them, who, with passage to the Turks forbidden, should oppose any advance, and should permit nothing whatsoever of necessities to be conveyed to them. In one ship, however, from Turcopolis the emperor’s men, archers, were kept, who in naval combat on the waters were wont to prevail greatly. The Turks, indeed, and all the garrison’s guards, perceiving the tumult of the people around the lake and the princes’ so early assemblages, ran together toward the walls on the river, much admiring the newly brought ships, which they would doubtless have judged their own from afar, had not theirs still on the other shore [0430B] beside the walls seemed to stand chained with iron and bolts.

Sic lacu navali obsidione praeoccupato, et militum illic in flumine loricata manu, in lanceis, arcu et sagittis armata, relicta, comes Reymundus et sui satellites, ac plurima manus de exercitu iterato, praedictam turrim conveniunt; assultus et lapidum jactus multiplicant, Turcos non parce vexant et impugnant, ariete ferrato muros crebra hominum vociferatione impellentes. Turci siquidem videntes crebro ariete muros impelli et concuti, et turrim ligonibus perfodi, adipem, oleum picemque stuppis et facibus ardentissimis commistam fundebant a moenibus, quae instrumentum arietis et crates vimineas prorsus assumpserunt; alii sagittis et corneo arcu plurimos interimebant, alii saxorum laesione [0430C] secus muros et turrim laborantes opprimebant. In hac Turcorum defensione et reluctatione, quidam miles illorum ferocissimi animi et cordis non parce desudabat arcu et jaculis, et (quod dictu mirabile est) in vulnere sibi illato diffisus vitae, procul abjecto clypeo, manifeste opposuit pectus telis cunctorum, et rupea saxa in medium vulgus ambabus manibus torquebat.

Thus, with the lake preoccupied by a naval blockade, and the soldiers there in the river clad in lorica and armed with lances, bow and arrows having been left behind, comes Count Reymund and his satellites, and a very large band from the army a second time, and they assemble at the aforesaid tower; they multiply assaults and the hurling of stones, they harass and attack the Turks without sparing, driving the walls with an iron ram amid the loud shouting of men. The Turks, indeed, seeing that the walls were often driven and shaken by the ram, and the tower pierced with mattocks, poured down from the walls fat, oil, and pitch mixed with tow and most burning torches — which the ram’s device and the wicker crates had completely taken up; others slew very many with arrows and horn bows, others, by the impact of stones [0430C], were pressing down those laboring along the walls and the tower. In this defence and resistance of the Turks, a certain soldier of most ferocious spirit and heart did not spare his sweat with bow and javelins, and (which is wonderful to say) with a wound inflicted on him, despairing of life, his shield cast far away, he openly set his breast against the missiles of all, and hurled huge rocks into the midst of the crowd with both hands.

Hic quamvis, ut aiunt pro vero qui adfuerunt, viginti sagittis adhuc haerentibus in praecordiis premeretur, non continebat manus a jactura lapidum et percussione Gallorum, sed amplius et saevius damnum exercebat in populo. Dux vero Godefridus, videns tam ferocissimum et crudelissimum saevire, nec tot sagittarum in fixione deficere, sed plures fidelium illius jaculatione perire, arrepto [0430D] arcu baleari, et stans post scuta duorum sociorum eumdem Turcum trans vitalia cordis perculit, sicque mortuum ultra a caede horrenda compescit. Tandem fatigato populo Christianorum, et sole declinato, et assultu tam horribili sedato, Turci angustiati prae foramine turris, rursus saxorum acervos comportant interius noctis in silentio, ne facilis aditus in crastino reperiretur.

Here, although—so say those who were present—he was pressed with twenty arrows yet sticking in his breast, the hands did not cease from the hurling of stones and the striking of the Gauls, but wrought still greater and fiercer havoc upon the people. The leader Godefridus, seeing him rage so ferociously and most cruelly, and that so many arrows did not fail to fix but that more of his faithful were perishing by his shooting, seized a bow to shoot, and standing behind the shields of two comrades struck the same Turk through the vital part of the heart, and thus, dead, checked him from further dreadful slaughter. Finally, with the Christian people fatigued, the sun declined, and the assault so horrible abated, the Turks, cramped before the breach of the tower, again in the silence of night carry inward heaps of stones [0430D], so that no easy approach might be found on the morrow.

CAP. XXXIV. - De occiso Christiano bellatore qui ad ludibrium fidelium in muro suspenditur.

CHAPTER 34. - Concerning the slain Christian warrior who is hung on the wall as a mockery of the faithful.

Mane autem sole relato, populus Dei ad iterandum assultum, et ampliandum turris penetrale, animatur et armatur. Sed visa et agnita rursus lapidum collatione opposita, in recenti foramine, [0431A] memor periculi et anxietatis, quam priori luce pertulerat, coepit animo mollescere et quisque alium commonere ut praeiret. Tandem miles quidam illustris, de tabernaculis praedicti Roberti Northmannorum comitis exsiliens, galea opertus et lorica, et tectus clypeo, trans vallum muros imperterritus invadit, ad turrim properat, et acervos lapidum a foramine eruere nititur, et aditum saxis occupatum vacuare.

But in the morning, the sun having risen, the people of God are roused and armed to renew the assault and to enlarge the tower's inner chamber. But when the opposed bringing together of stones was seen and recognized again at the fresh breach, [0431A] mindful of the danger and anxiety which they had borne at the earlier light, they began to grow faint in spirit, and each exhorted another to take the lead. At last a certain illustrious soldier, issuing from the tents of the aforesaid Robert, count of the Normans, clad with galea and lorica and protected by a clypeus, crossed the rampart and, undaunted, stormed the walls, hastening to the tower, striving to uproot the heaps of stones from the breach, and to clear the approach occupied by rocks.

Sed grandine saxorum, et assidua inundatione jaculorum incoepti obliviscitur. Videns autem idem miles omni auxilio se destitutum et prae oppressione immensorum lapidum nihil posse proficere, cominus muro se astringit, ad devitanda jacula Turcorum, quae sine intermissione fatigabant virum egregium. Sed nec sic evadendi manus illorum ulla [0431B] via aut facultas illi monstratur.

But he forgets the hail of stones and the steady inundation of javelins with which the enterprise had begun. And when that same soldier saw himself deprived of every aid and that, before the crushing of immeasurable stones, he could accomplish nothing, he pressed himself close to the wall to avoid the Turks’ javelins, which without intermission were harrying the distinguished man. Yet no way or means of escaping from their hands was shown to him even thus [0431B].

Tandem tot millium lapidibus a collo et capite illius scuto avulso, fractis cervicibus juxta muros obruitur et in ipsa lorica et galea moritur in aspectu omnium fidelium, nequaquam illi subvenientium. Turci ergo videntes virum immobilem jam obisse, ab ipsa nefanda turri catenam projiciunt, ungues ferreos acutissimos et rapacissimos ex fabrili ingenio et opere habentem quasi hamos, quae annulo loricae exstincti militis infixa, eumdem arripiens ac retinens, cum cadavere mortuo intra moenia levatur. Dehinc corpus militis apprehensum, licet exstinctum, in laqueo funis ad moenia suspenderunt, ut Christianos per hanc inhumanitatem amplius offenderent.

Together, by so many thousands of stones, with his shield torn away from his neck and head, his necks broken, he is crushed beside the walls and dies in his very lorica and galea in the sight of all the faithful, none of them coming to his aid. The Turks therefore, seeing the man motionless and already dead, cast down from the wicked tower a chain bearing iron claws very sharp and most rapacious by smithly skill and workmanship, like hooks, which, fixed into the ring of the dead soldier’s lorica, seizing and holding him, lift the corpse within the walls. Thereupon the soldier’s body, though slain, they suspended by a noose of rope on the walls, that by this inhumanity they might further outrage the Christians.

Offensi igitur et tristes universi lamentabantur confratrem [0431C] tam crudeli nece et vili tractatu obiisse. Quem post hanc diutinam illusionem nudum a moenibus projectum, honorifice susceptum cum caeteris praefatis et ibidem occisis fidelibus, in eleemosynarum distributione, sacerdotumque commendatione sepelierunt.

Offended therefore and sorrowful, all bewailed that their brother [0431C] had perished by so cruel a death and by vile treatment. After this long illusion, he, stripped and cast from the walls, was honorably taken up and, together with the other aforesaid faithfuls slain there, buried in the distribution of alms and by the commendation of the priests.

CAP. XXXV. - Quomodo Longobardus quidam novum genus machinae operatus sit.

CHAPTER 35. - How a certain Lombard contrived a new kind of machine.

Hac ruina virorum fortium, et creberrimis damnis Christianorum, quae in assultu urbis per singulos dies patiebantur, duce Godefrido et Boemundo cunctisque principibus turbatis, et quia nullo conamine machinarum et balistarum aut impetu virium muris aliquam laesionem inferre poterant, [0431D] sed omnis labor, et virtus eorum incassum consumebatur, quidam Longobardus genere, magister et inventor magnarum artium et operum, videns miserias et strages Christianorum, ultro se obtulit praefatis principibus, quorum animum hujuscemodi solatione et promissione relevat dicens: «Video quia omne opus machinarum nostrarum in vanum laborat, vestrates crebra morte circa muros minuuntur, et magnis periculis vita residuorum adhuc subjacet. Nam Turci inclusi confidenter et securi a turribus et moenibus repugnant, incautos et nudos sagittis et saxis obruunt; quin murus, antiquorum astutia fundatus, non ferro aut aliquo robore potest rescindi. Unde quia omnem virtutem vestram sic frustrari perspexi, majestatem vestram adire et [0432A] compellare disposui, quatenus, si consiliis meis acquiescatis et aliquod laboris mei praemium a vobis consequar, Deo auxiliante, turrim hanc, quae valida et insuperabilis videtur, humi cogam procumbere sine damno et vestrorum periculo commilitonum, per quam aditus patebit ad inimicos, vobisque contrarios.

With this overthrow of brave men, and with the very frequent losses of Christians which they suffered each day in the assault on the city, the leaders Godfrey and Bohemond and all the princes being confounded, and because by no contrivance of machines and ballistae or by force of arms they could inflict any breach upon the walls, [0431D] but all their labor and valor was consumed in vain, a certain Lombard by birth, a master and inventor of great arts and works, seeing the miseries and slaughter of the Christians, voluntarily offered himself to the aforesaid princes, and lifting their spirits with such consolation and promise said: “I see that every work of our machines labors in vain, your men are repeatedly diminished by death around the walls, and the lives of the remaining ones yet lie under great danger. For the Turks, shut in, resist confidently and securely from the towers and walls, they overwhelm the unwary and naked with arrows and stones; moreover the wall, founded by the craft of the ancients, cannot be torn up by iron or by any strength. Wherefore, since I have perceived that all your might is thus frustrated, I resolved to approach and address your majesty, [0432A] so that, if you assent to my counsels and I obtain some reward for my labor from you, God helping, I will force this tower, which seems strong and insuperable, to fall to the ground without damage and without danger to your comrades, by which the approaches to the enemies and to you will be opened.

Tantum necessaria arti meae et communi sumptu et juvamine administrentur.» Audita hac viri promissione, cum omni benevolentia pacti sunt ei dare quindecim libras Cartanensis monetae, praemium laboris sui, et quidquid necessarium operi requireret, indesinenter administrare, gavisi et confidentes in spe promissi artificii. Magister itaque artis, facta praedicta conventione, ingenia sua aptat, parietes declives connectit, et virgeas crates [0432B] assuit mirifico instrumento; sub cujus protectione ipse ac secum desudantes capita sua tuta a jaculis Turcorum, desuper resistentium, haberent.

Tending only to what was necessary for his craft at common cost and aid.» Having heard this man’s promise, with all goodwill they agreed to give him fifteen libras of the Cartanian coin, the reward of his labour, and whatever things his work would require, to furnish without stint, rejoicing and confident in the hope of the promised art. The master of the craft, therefore, after the aforesaid bargain was made, fitted his devices, joined sloping walls, and fastened rods and crates [0432B] with a wondrous instrument; under whose protection he himself and those sweating with him would keep their heads safe from the Turks’ darts, from those resisting above.

CAP. XXXVI. - De eversione immanissimae turris, et domina civitatis quomodo capta sit.

CHAPTER 36. - On the overthrow of the most immense tower, and how the lady of the city was taken.

Ad unguem vero instrumento suae protectionis perducto, viri Christianorum loricati et clypeati circa machinam conglobantur. Quam in virtute sua trans vallum impulerunt trahentes, et juxta muros, invitis et prohibentibus desuper omnibus Turcis, cominus adjunctam statuerunt. In qua magister artis cum caeteris opificibus suis tutus relinquitur, regressis sine magna laesione fidelium turmis.

With his protective instrument having been brought to a point, the armored and shielded Christian men massed about the machine. By their strength they pushed it across the rampart, dragging it, and beside the walls, despite the Turks above who were unwilling and forbidding, they placed it close at hand. In it the master of the art, together with his other workmen, was left safe, and they retired without great loss to the bands of the faithful.

Turci vero, videntes hujus ingenii instrumentum in detrimento urbis posse praevalere, faculas ardentes cum [0432C] pice et adipe jactant super machinam, et saxeas moles convolvunt a moenibus, si sic aliqua arte ars muro illata destruatur, et inclusi in ea absterreantur. Sed frustra omnia jactant aut conantur, quia parietes declives nil ingestum ignis aut lapidis retinebant. Magister vero artis fiducialiter latens in machina cum sociis secum habitis, sub fundamento turris ligonibus et acutissimo ferro cavare terram non desinit, donec trabes, postes et caetera immanissima robora lignorum in ipsa cavatione sub fundamento componeret, quibus muri, ablata terra, ne subito super adhuc fodientes ruerent, inniterentur.

But the Turks, seeing that the instrument of this ingenuity could prevail to the detriment of the city, cast burning torches with [0432C] pitch and fat upon the machine, and roll rocky masses down from the walls, hoping that thus by some art the skill applied to the wall might be destroyed, and those enclosed in it driven out. Yet they cast and attempt all things in vain, because the sloping walls retained nothing of the fire or of the stones hurled at them. The master of the art, however, confidently hidden in the machine with his companions kept with him, did not cease to hollow out the earth under the foundation of the tower with mattocks and very sharp iron, until he had set beams, posts, and other very huge timbers of wood in that very excavation beneath the foundation, on which the walls, the earth being removed, might rest, lest they suddenly collapse upon those still digging above.

Jam vero cavatione permaxima facta in latitudine et longitudine, ex admonitione magistri artis, universi [0432D] de exercitu, parvi et magni, sarmenta, stipulas, tegulas, calamosque aridos, stuppas et omnia fomenta ignis conferunt, et inter postes, et trabes et magnificas arbores coacervant, undique his lignis cavatione occupata. Post haec ignis, a magistro operis immissus, magno spiramine suscitatur, quousque perstrepens et discurrens flamma insuperabilis magis ac magis invaluit; quae postes, trabes, et omnia ligna supposita in cinerem redegit. His ita in favillam redactis et fundamentis sustentaculo deficiente, tam terrae quam lignorum aedificium vetustissimae turris resupinum in momento, noctis medio, corruens, tantum reddidit sonitum ut tonitrui fragor, omnibus somno excitatis, videretur.

Now indeed, with an excavation most extensive made in breadth and length, at the admonition of the master of the art, all [0432D] of the army, small and great, bring together brushwood, stalks, tiles, dry reeds, tow and all fuel for fire, and heap them up between the posts, and the beams and the magnificent trees, these woods occupying the excavation on every side. After this the fire, kindled by the master of the work, is blown up with a great blast, until, crackling and running, the flame, irresistible, grew stronger and stronger; which reduced the posts, beams, and all the wood laid beneath into ashes. These thus reduced to embers, and the foundations failing for want of support, the building of both earth and timbers of the very ancient tower, overturned in a moment in the middle of the night, falling, gave forth such a sound as the crash of thunder, it seemed to all who were roused from sleep.

Igitur tam intolerabile pondus collapsae turris licet [0433A] repentino casu procumberet, non caementorum aut petrarum collisione, in plurimas partes dissiliit, sed quassi et corrupti per loca muri ipsius arcis jacentes rimarum laesione hiabant, aditumque, sed tamen difficilem, exhibebant. In hac itaque turris ruina et contritione, uxor nobilissima Solymani vehementer exterrita, non ultra in urbis confisa praesidio, noctis in silentio, a suis in lacus flumine immissa est, ut sic navigio Christianos evaderet. Sed percepto ejus abscessu, a militibus lacum tuentibus remigio noviter adductarum pavium capta, et in custodiam principum cum duobus tenellis filiis reposita est.

Therefore, although the intolerable weight of the collapsed tower fell by a sudden accident [0433A], it did not break into many parts by collision of masonry or stones, but the shattered and ruined portions, lying in the places of the wall of the very citadel, gaped with breaches and showed an entrance, albeit a difficult one. In this ruin and crushing of the tower the most noble wife of Solyman, greatly terrified, no longer trusting in the city’s defense, was in the silence of night cast by her own people into the lake, that thus by boat she might escape to the Christians. But her departure having been perceived, she was seized by the soldiers guarding the lake by the oars of boats newly brought, and was placed in the custody of the princes together with her two little sons.

CAP. XXXVII. - Deditio civitatis Nicaeae et de quadam sanctimoniali femina captiva.

CHAPTER 37. - The surrender of the city of Nicaea and concerning a certain sanctimonial woman taken captive.

[0433B] Turci et arcis defensores pariter, turri humi procumbente perterriti, ac matronae hujus captivitate stupefacti, et lacus enavigatione amodo desperati, suorum occisorum interius gravi imminutione desolati, longa obsidione fatigati, nec se evadere posse videntes, consilio invicem habito de vita et salute membrorum, precantur sibi parci ab exercitu Christiano, claves urbis polliciti reddere in manus imperatoris Constantinopolis, sub cujus conditione urbis primitus haereditario jure serviens habebatur, quousque injusta vi Solymanus sibi subjugatam invasit. Tatinus vero truncatae naris, familiaris imperatoris, consilio majorum exercitus satisfaciens, precibus illorum, suscepta utrinque fide et reddita, apud Christianos proceres pro eis [0433C] intercessit, hac conditione ut ab urbe incolumes exeant, et in imperatoris deditionem veniant, cum uxore Solymani nobilissima, quae nuper capta, in custodia principum Francorum habebatur cum duobus filiis suis tenellis. Sic utrinque sedato assultu, dum diversa consilia reddendae civitatis agerentur, et plures captivi Christianorum redderentur, quaedam sanctimonialis femina de coenobio S. Mariae ad horrea Trevirensis Ecclesiae cum caeteris restituta et absoluta est in manus Christiani exercitus, quae se de attrito Petri agmine captam et abductam professa est, parumque intermissionis a foeda et abominabili cujusdam Turci et caeterorum commissione habuisse conquesta est.

[0433B] The Turks and the defenders of the citadel alike, terrified with the tower lying prostrate on the ground, and the matrons amazed by this captivity, and the lake henceforth despaired of for navigation, bereft within by the grievous slaughter of their people, worn out by a long siege, and seeing that they could not escape, having conferred together about the life and safety of their members, begged to be spared by the Christian army, promising to deliver the keys of the city into the hands of the emperor of Constantinople, under whose condition the city had at first been held as servient by hereditary right, until Solyman unjustly invaded and subjected it by force. Tatinus, however, of the truncated nose, a familiar of the emperor, complying with the counsel of the elders of the army, by their entreaties, faith having been received and given on both sides, interceded with the Christian nobles on their behalf [0433C] on this condition that they leave the city safe and come into the emperor’s surrender, together with Solyman’s most noble wife, who had lately been captured and was kept in the custody of the Frankish princes with her two tender sons. Thus, the assault having been quelled on both sides, while various plans for the restoration of the city were being discussed and many Christian captives were returned, a certain holy woman of the convent of St. Mary at the granaries of the Church of Treveris was restored and delivered into the hands of the Christian army along with others, who declared that she had been taken and carried off from the trodden troop of Peter, and complained that she had had little respite from the foul and abominable assaults of a certain Turk and of others.

Dum vero super his injuriis miserabiles gemitus in audientia Christianorum [0433D] proferret, inter proceres et milites Christi Henricum de Ascha castello recognovit. Quem ex nomine lacrymabili et humili voce compellans, ad auxilium suae emendationis adesse commonuit. Qui statim hac recognita, super infortunio ejus motus est, omnique industria et misericordia, qua potuit, apud ducem Godefridum obtinuit, quatenus ei a domino Reymero, venerabili episcopo, consilium poenitentiae daretur de hujuscemodi incestu.

While she uttered pitiable groans in the hearing of the Christians [0433D] over these injuries, she recognized among the princes and soldiers of Christ Heinrich of the castle of Ascha. Addressing him by name with tearful and humble voice, she admonished him to be present to the aid of her emendation. Who, as soon as this was made known, was moved by her misfortune, and with all the industry and mercy he could, obtained from Duke Godefrid that Lord Reymer, the venerable bishop, should give him counsel of penance concerning such incest.

Tandem consilio accepto a clero, facta est ei remissio illicitae copulationis cum Turco, et alleviata poenitentia, eo quod vi et nolens ab impiis et sceleratissimis hominibus hanc foedam pertulit oppressionem. Post haec modico intervallo solius noctis, per internuntium [0434A] ejusdem Turci, qui eam violaverat, et caeteris abstulerat, plurima suasione et blanda promissione ad illicitos et incestos thalamos reinvitatur. Exarserat enim idem Turcus in illius inaestimabilem pulchritudinem, unde nimium aegre ferebat ipsius absentiam, cui adeo praemia promiserat, quae illius animo sic insederant ut ad nefandum maritum rediret.

Finally, with the counsel having been accepted by the clergy, she was granted remission for the illicit copulation with the Turk, and her penance was lightened, because by force and unwillingly she had endured this foul oppression from impious and most wicked men. After this, after the brief interval of a single night, by the intermediary [0434A] of that same Turk, who had violated her and carried her off with the others, she is invited back to illicit and incestuous chambers by much persuasion and soft promises. For that same Turk had been inflamed by her priceless beauty, and therefore bore her absence with excessive pain, to whom he had promised such rewards that they had so settled in her mind that she would return to the nefarious husband.

Promittebat enim se idem Turcus in brevi Christianum fieri, si forte a captivitate et vinculis imperatoris exiret. Tandem misella, si vi ante deliquit, nunc blanditiis et vana spe decepta ad impium sponsum et adulterinas nuptias recurrit, universo ignorante exercitu, quae astutia et lascivia ab eis subtracta est. Post haec a relatoribus innotuit quod ad eumdem Turcum reversa sit in exsilio quo erat, [0434B] non alia de causa, nisi propter libidinis intolerantiam.

For that Turk was promising that he himself would soon become a Christian, if perhaps he should come out of captivity and the emperor’s chains. At last the poor little woman, if before she had yielded by force, now deceived by blandishments and vain hope, returns to the impious spouse and to adulterous nuptials, the whole army being ignorant, those things having been taken away from them by craft and lasciviousness. After these things it became known from the relators that she had returned to that same Turk in the exile where she had been, [0434B] for no other reason than because of intemperate lust.

Jam sic turbine sedato belli, et Christianis captivis ab urbe restitutis, Turcisque in deditionem imperatoris susceptis et transmissis, exercitus Dei viventis hanc diem in magno gaudio et exsultatione ibidem in castris exegit, quia pro spe illis adhuc omnia contingebant.

Now thus, the tumult of war having been quelled, the Christian captives restored from the city, and the Turks received and delivered into the emperor’s surrender and sent on, the army of the living God spent that day there in the camp in great joy and exultation, because, in accordance with hope, all things were still happening for them.

CAP. XXXVIII. - Qualiter ex consultu principum populus Dei in duas partes divisus sit.

CHAPTER 38. - How by the counsel of the princes the people of God was divided into two parts.

Crastino vero die illucescente, usui sumptis necessariis, movit omnis populus, iter faciens per mediam Romaniam securus, et nihil metuens adfuturae adversitatis. Biduo autem communi agmine gradientes per juga montium, et angustas fauces viarum, decreverunt tanti exercitus divisionem fieri [0434C] ut liberius et spatiosius in castris populus habitaret, sicque divisus, plenius escis et pabulo equorum abundaret. Convenerunt quidem inter duos montium apices, ubi per pontem flumine quodam superato, Boemundus prorsus cum suis sequacibus turmis a duce Godefrido dissociatur.

On the next day at dawn, the whole people moved, having taken necessities for use, journeying through the midst of Romania secure and fearing nothing of coming adversity. For two days, marching in a common column over mountain ridges and the narrow defiles of the roads, they resolved that the division of so great an army be made [0434C] so that the people might dwell more freely and more spaciously in the camps, and thus divided, might abound more fully in food and in fodder for the horses. They met, moreover, between two mountain peaks, where, after crossing a certain river by a bridge, Bohemond with his attendant companies was wholly separated from the leader Godfrey.

Quem quidam magnifici primores sunt secuti, Robertus comes Northmannorum, et Stephanus Blesensium princeps, sic semper viam ad dexteram insistentes ac moderantes ut amplius milliari a confratribus non elongarentur. Dux suique contubernales cum episcopo Podiensi et Reymundo comite semper ad dexteram tendebant. Hac ergo divisione facta, Boemundus cum omni exercitu suo in vallem Dogorganhi, quae [0434D] a modernis Ozellis nuncupatur, hospitandi gratia circumquaque sociis in gramine diffusis, circa horam nonam descendit, ut alimentis, caeterisque necessariis, in locis, aptis rivis et pratis, castra locarent.

Some of the great leaders followed whom: Robert, count of the Normans, and Stephen, prince of the Blesensians, thus ever keeping to the right-hand way and restraining themselves so that they would not be separated more than a mile from their confratres. The duke and his tent-companions together with the bishop of Podiensis and Count Reymund constantly leaned to the right. This division having been made, Boemund with his whole army descended into the valley of Dogorganhi, which [0434D] is called Ozellis by the moderns, for the sake of lodging, his companions spread about on the grass here and there, about the ninth hour, that they might pitch camp in places fit with streams and meadows for provisions and other necessities.

CAP. XXXIX. - De immanissima caede Christianorum per insidias principis Nicaeni.

CHAPTER 39. - On the most monstrous slaughter of Christians by the treachery of the Nicaean prince.

Vix vero Boemundus et caeteri viri fortissimi ab equis descenderant, et ecce Solymanus, qui ab eo tempore, quo in fugam ab urbe Nicaea versus est, auxilium et vires contraxit ab Antiochia, Tarso, Alapia et caeteris civitatibus Romaniae, a Turcis sparsim positis, adfuit in impetu vehementi et multitudine gravi. Nec mora, nec requies ulla caedendi et expugnandi exercitum, ac discurrendi [0435A] per castra fuit, aliis sagittis transfixis, aliis gladio detruncatis, nonnullis a tam crudeli hoste captivatis; ad haec undique clamor magnus et tremor in populo excitatur, mulieres nuptae et innuptae una cum viris et infantulis detruncantur. Robertus vero Parisiensis miseris volens succurrere, sagitta volatili confixus et exstinctus est.

Scarcely had Boemund and the other very brave men dismounted from their horses, when behold Solyman, who since the time when he fled from the city of Nicaea had gathered aid and forces from Antioch, Tarsus, Alapia and the other cities of Romania, the Turks having been placed here and there, was present with a violent onset and a heavy multitude. Nor was there delay or any respite in slaughtering and storming the army, and in running about [0435A] through the camp, some pierced by arrows, others cut down by the sword, some taken captive by so cruel an enemy; moreover from all sides a great cry and trembling arose among the people, married and unmarried women were cut down together with men and little children. Robert of Paris, truly wishing to succor the miserable, was fixed by a flying arrow and perished.

Boemundus hac strage gravissima attonitus caeterique priores equos reparant, ad loricas et arma festinantes in unum conglobantur, ac plurimum se ex improviso defendentes, diu praelia cum hostibus committebant. Willhelmus juvenis audacissimus, et tiro pulcherrimus, frater Tankradi, dum multum in armis resisteret, Turcos hasta saepius perforaret, in conspectu ipsius Boemundi sagitta percussus corruit. [0435B] Tankradus viriliter in gladio defensus, vix vivens evasit, sed signum decoris, quod in hasta praetulerat, ibidem cum fratre reliquit.

Boemund, stunned by this most grievous slaughter, and the others recover their former horses; hastening to their cuirasses and arms they are rolled together into one, and, largely defending themselves by surprise, for a long while they fought battles with the foes. William, a most daring youth and a very fair tyro, brother of Tancred, while he held out greatly in arms and oft pierced the Turks with his spear, in the sight of Boemund himself was struck by an arrow and fell. [0435B] Tancred, manfully defending himself with the sword, scarcely escaped alive, but the token of honour which he had borne on his spear he left there with his brother.

Turci, cum principe suo Solymano magis ac magis invalescentes fortiter irrumpunt in castra, sagittis et corneo arcu ferientes et mortificantes pedites, peregrinos, puellas, mulieres, parvulos ac senes, nulli parcentes aetati. Hac crudelitate atrocissimae mortis stupefactae tenerae puellae et nobilissimae vestibus ornari festinabant, se offerentes Turcis, ut saltem amore honestarum formarum accensi et placati, discant captivarum misereri.

The Turks, with their prince Solyman growing more and more powerful, burst fiercely into the camp, striking with arrows and the horn bow and killing footsoldiers, strangers, girls, women, little children and old men, sparing no age. By this cruelty of most atrocious death the tender girls, stunned, hastened to be clad in noble garments, offering themselves to the Turks, so that, at least inflamed and pacified by love of modest beauty, they might learn to pity the captives.

CAP. XL. - De nuntio fidelium Christi ad ducem.

CHAPTER 40. - On the messenger of the faithful of Christ to the duke.

Cum sic afficerentur fidelium greges, et Boemundi virtus jam minus resistere valeret, eo quod ex improviso [0435C] in se suosque armis exutos irruissent, jamque ad quatuor millia de exercitu Christianorum in manu hostili cecidissent, nuntius per abrupta montium sine mora equo transvolat, quousque ad castra ducis tristis et exhaustus spiritu venit. Quem ut Godefridus dux, ab ostio tabernaculi aliquo spatio transgressus ad considerandos socios, a longe perspexit rapido cursu festinantem et moesto vultu pallentem, qua de causa viam acceleraverit requirit ut sibi caeterisque primoribus referat et exponat. Hic amara et gravia nuntia retulit dicens: «Nostri principes cum ipso Boemundo gravissimum belli laborem sustinent, vulgusque sequens jam totum capitalem subiit sententiam, qua et domini [0435D] principes nostri sunt casuri in praesens, nisi festinato manus vestra subveniat.

When thus the flocks of the faithful were being afflicted, and Boemund’s valour was now less able to resist, because unexpectedly [0435C] they had rushed upon him and his men stripped of arms, and now about four thousand of the Christian army had fallen into the hostile hand, a messenger flies over the ravines of the mountains without delay on horseback, until he comes to the duke’s camp, sad and exhausted in spirit. Whom when Godfrey the duke, having passed a little distance from the entrance of the tent to consider his comrades, perceived from afar hastening with rapid course and pale in a mournful countenance, he asked for what cause he had quickened the road, that he might relate and explain it to himself and the other chiefs. He brought back bitter and grievous news, saying: “Our leaders, together with Boemund, endure the most grievous toil of war, and the common folk following have already suffered a capital sentence, by which our lords [0435D] our princes are about to fall in the present, unless your hand come speedily to lend aid.

Turci quidem castra nostra irruperunt, et per vallem, quae dicitur Ozellis vel terribilis, descendentes ad vallem Degorganhi peregrinos trucidare non cessant. Robertum Parisiensem capite deciso jam interemerunt, Willhelmum juvenem egregium, sororis Boemundi filium, dignum planctu, percusserunt. Et idcirco vos omnis invitat societas ad ferendum auxilium, nulla vos mora aut dilatio impediat aut retardet.»

The Turks indeed have burst into our camp, and passing through the valley which is called Ozellis, or the Terrible, and descending to the valley Degorganhi, they do not cease to massacre pilgrims. They have already put Robert of Paris to death with his head cut off, and they struck down William, a noble youth, the son of Boemund’s sister, worthy of lamentation. And therefore the whole company invites you all to bring aid; let no delay or postponement hinder or retard you.

CAP. XLI. - Ubi dux et qui cum eo erant subveniunt pereuntibus.

CHAPTER 41. - Where the duke and those who were with him come to the aid of those perishing.

Hac audita miseria et Turcorum audacia, dux per universa agmina jussit cornua perstrepere, socios commonere universos et arma capere, signa erigere, [0436A] sociis sine ulla dilatione aut requie subvenire. Tanquam si ad convivium omnium deliciarum vocarentur, festinant arma capere, loricas induere, gladios recingere, equis frena referre, sellas tergis imponere, clypeos resumere, et ad sexaginta millia equitum e castris procedunt cum caetera manu pedestri. Jam dies clarissima illuxerat, sol radiis fulgebat lucidissimus: cujus splendor in clypeos aureos et vestes ferreas refulsit, signa et vexilla, gemmis et ostro fulgida erecta et hastis infixa, coruscabant.

Hearing this misery and the Turks' audacity, the commander ordered horns to be sounded throughout the whole host, to rouse all the allies and to take up arms, to raise the standards, [0436A] to relieve the allies without any delay or rest. As if summoned to a feast of all delights, they hurry to take up arms, to put on cuirasses, to gird on swords, to replace bridles on their horses, to set saddles upon the backs, to take up shields again, and sixty thousand horsemen march forth from the camps with the remaining body of infantry. Now the most clear day had dawned, the sun most bright was shining with rays: whose splendor flashed upon the golden shields and iron garments, the standards and banners, gleaming with gems and purple set up and fixed to spears, they glittered.

Caballi celeres calcatibus urgebantur, nullus socium aut fratrem exspectabat, sed quisque, quo velocius poterat, ad auxilium et vindictam Christianorum viam insistebat. Hos denique Turci ex improviso ut persenserunt ad auxilium sociorum omni velocitate [0436B] et belli instantia animatos esse tam robusta manu, et in armis et veste ferrea, et in signis luciferis ad bella erectis, fugam arripiunt, et timore concussi, a caede horrenda declinant, alii per devia, alii per semitas notas diffugium facientes. Sed Solymanus, cum ampliori manu et densioribus cuneis in montis cacumine fuga elapsus consistens, Christianis insequentibus occurrere ibidem et in faciem resistere disposuit.

Swift horses were urged on by their trampling, no man waited for a comrade or brother, but each, as swiftly as he could, pressed along the road to the aid and vengeance of the Christians. When at length the Turks perceived these unexpectedly to be hastening to the succor of their allies with all speed [0436B] and stirred by the urgency of war, so stout of hand, both in arms and iron garments, and with luciferous standards raised for battle, they seized flight, and struck with fear, turned away from the dreadful slaughter, some making their escape by unfrequented ways, others along known paths. But Solyman, having escaped the flight and halted upon the mountain summit with a larger force and denser wedges, resolved there to meet the pursuing Christians and to resist them face to face.

CAP. XLII. - Ubi dux et alii quidam procerum ex nomine notantur, qui tunc fortiter pro Deo egerunt.

CHAPTER 42. - Where a duke and certain other nobles are noted by name, who then bravely acted for God.

Dux autem Godefridus, qui solus cum quinquaginta sodalibus in equi velocitate praecesserat, subsequentis populi in brevi adunatis viribus, indubitanter ad ardua mentis conscendit, cum Turcis [0436C] ferire et armis committere, quos conglobatos et immobiles ad resistendum in montis vertice respiciebat. Jamque undique suis receptis et adjunctis, hostes immobiles incurrit, hastas in eos dirigit, sociosque, ut constanter eos adeant, virili voce adhortatur. Turci vero cum duce suo Solymano ducis Godefridi et suorum constantiam nequaquam animo ad praesens bellum deficere videntes, a montis summitate laxis frenis equorum velocitate fugam parant.

But the leader Godefridus, who alone with fifty companions had gone ahead in the swiftness of horse, with the pursuing people in a short time gathered in force, indubitably mounted the heights of resolve, to strike at the Turks [0436C] and engage them with arms, whom he saw massed and motionless to resist on the mountain’s summit. And now, his men being received and joined on every side, he charges the motionless enemies, levels his spears at them, and with a manly voice exhorts his comrades to advance against them steadfastly. The Turks, however, with their leader Solymano, seeing that the constancy of Duke Godefrid and his men in no wise failed in spirit for the present battle, prepare flight from the mountain’s summit with loosened reins at the speed of their horses.

Quos dux via sex milliarium insecutus, alios in ore gladii percussit, nonnullos captivos cum suis tenuit, praedas et spolia illorum non pauca cepit, puellas et juvenes et omne quod asportare vel abducere sperabant ab hostibus excusserunt. [0436D] Gerardus de Keresi, in equo laudabili residens, in eadem hostium insecutione, in supercilio montis adhuc Turcum manentem et nimium audentem viribus respiciens, scuto tectus fortiter hasta incurrit. Quem sagitta illius emissa et clypeo excussa, trans jecur et pulmonem perforat, equumque morientis et labentis abduxit.

The leader, having pursued them by a road of six miles, struck others with the blade of the sword, kept some as captives with his own men, took not a few of their prey and spoils, and drove off the girls and youths and everything which the enemies hoped to carry away or abduct. [0436D] Gerardus de Keresi, seated on a notable horse, in the same pursuit of the enemies, seeing on the brow of the mountain a Turk still remaining and too daring in his strength, covered by his shield boldly charged with a spear. Whom, an arrow of his being sent and rebounded from the shield, pierced through liver and lung, and he led off the dying man’s horse as it stumbled.

Baldewimus comes Hamaicorum, vir et largitor magnarum eleemosynarum, cum Roberto Flandrensi Turcos fugientes sternit; hortatur socios, circumquaque concurrentes ut feriant et trucident, et ab insecutione illorum nunquam retardari aut manus continere videantur. Baldewinus de Burg, Thomas de Feria castro, Reinoldus Belvacio, Walo de Calmont, Gothardus filius Godefridi, Gastus de Berdeiz, Rudolphus [0437A] etiam, hi omnes unanimes in luctamine belli desudabant, Turcorum agmina in virtute militari insequentes ac scindentes. Equorum illa gravis anhelitus pulsat, fumus ab ipso anhelitu per medias acies in nubem densabatur.

Baldwin, Count of Hama, a man and bountiful giver of great eleemosynary gifts, with Robert the Fleming lays low the fleeing Turks; he exhorts his comrades, those running up on every side, to strike and to slaughter, and that they never seem to be delayed from pursuit nor to hold back their hands. Baldwin de Burg, Thomas of Feria castle, Reinoldus Belvacio, Walo of Calmont, Gothardus son of Godefridus, Gastus of Berdeiz, Rudolphus also — all these, unanimous in the struggle of war, were sweating, pursuing and cleaving the bands of the Turks with military valour. The heavy panting of the horses smote, and smoke from that very panting thickened into a cloud through the middle of the ranks.

Turci vero interdum recuperatis viribus, in virtute multitudinis suae freti, viriliter resistebant in grandine sagittarum denso volantium et cadentium. Sed hujus grandinis tempestate cito transmissa, fidelium turmae, tela manu retinentes, illorum globos attenuant et mortificant, victosque tandem cogunt in diffugium per devia viarum et abrupta montium, quorum semitas notas habebant.

The Turks, however, sometimes, their strength recovered and relying on the force of their multitude, resisted manfully amid a dense hail of flying and falling arrows. But when this storm of hail was quickly spent, the bands of the faithful, holding their missiles in hand, thinned and mortified their volleys, and at last forced the defeated into flight along the byways and the rugged ascents of the mountains, whose paths they knew well.

CAP. XLIII. - Post victoriam quid inter fideles Domini convenerit, et quomodo sacer ordo curaverit cadavera prostratorum.

CHAPTER 43. - After the victory what was agreed among the Lord's faithful, and how the sacred order cared for the corpses of the slain.

[0437B] Christiani ergo victores, quidquid in stipendio suae expeditionis Turci conduxerant, frumentum, vinum non modicum, buflos, boves et arietes, camelos, asinos, equos et mulos, et praeterea aurum pretiosum et argentum infinitum, papiliones mirifici decoris et operis abstulerunt. In hujus victoriae prospero [0438A] successu omnes unanimiter, Boemundus scilicet et caeteri principes praefati, qui erant ductores et columnae exercitus, in concordiam et consilium redeunt, et ab illo die commistis cibariis cunctisque rebus necessariis, omnia communia habere decreverunt. Quod et actum est.

[0437B] The Christian victors therefore carried off whatever for the maintenance of their expedition the Turks had gathered: grain, not a little wine, buffaloes, oxen and rams, camels, asses, horses and mules, and moreover precious gold and countless silver, pavilions of marvelous decoration and workmanship. In the prosperous success of this victory [0438A] all unanimously — Boemund, to be sure, and the other aforesaid princes, who were the leaders and pillars of the army — returned to concord and counsel, and from that day, having entrusted the victuals and all necessary things, they decreed that all things should be held in common. Which also was done.

In hoc conflictu belli Turcorumque diffugio, nonnulli Christianorum militum sagittis vulnerati perierunt; Turcorum autem tria millia cecidisse referuntur. Hoc tam crudeli certamine finito, circa flumen quoddam et ejus carectum Christiani milites spatio trium dierum quieverunt, curantes corpora nimis fessa ex abundantia escarum, quas Turci occisi reliquerant. Episcopi vero, presbyteri, monachi qui aderant, corpora occisorum terrae tradiderunt, animas fideles illorum [0438B] in manu Jesu Christi precibus et psalmis commendantes.

In this clash of war and the Turks’ rout, some Christian soldiers wounded by arrows perished; of the Turks, however, it is reported that 3,000 fell. This so cruel contest being finished, about a certain river and its reed-bed the Christian soldiers rested for a space of three days, attending to bodies too spent from the abundance of food which the Turks left behind when slain. The bishops, priests, and monks who were present delivered the bodies of the slain to the earth, commending the faithful souls of those [0438B] into the hand of Jesus Christ with prayers and psalms.

Solymanus jam denuo victus, Alpes Romaniae vix evadens condescenderat, nihil ultra spei habens urbis Nicaeae, uxoris filiorumque, ac nimium luctum faciens suorum, quos ante hos dies in campo Nicaeae exstinctos a Gallis amiserat, et nunc eorum quos in valle Gorgonia captos et peremptos reliquit.

Solymanus, now defeated again, scarcely escaping the Alps of Romania, had descended, having no further hope of the city of Nicaea, of his wife and sons, and making excessive mourning for his own men, whom before these days he had lost on the plain of Nicaea, killed by the Franks, and now those whom he left captured and slain in the valley of Gorgonia.