William of Tyre: HISTORIA RERUM IN PARTIBUS TRANSMARINIS GESTARUM

Eodemque anno, qui erat ab Incarnatione Domini 1096, mense Augusto, quintadecima die mensis, vir magnificus et illustris Godefridus, Lotharingiae dux, post discessum Petri Eremitae et ejus exercitus casum, ut praediximus, lamentabilem; post legionum Godescalci stragem praemissam; post illud etiam infortunii genus, quod, ut praemisimus, subsequenti multitudini citra Hungariam accidisse dicitur: convocatis viae consortibus et compositis de more sarcinis, iter aggressus est. Fuerunt autem qui ejus castris se adjunxerunt viri nobiles et inclyti, et perpete digni memoria, dominus Balduinus ejus frater uterinus; dominus Balduinus de Montibus, Hamaucorum comes; dominus Hugo, comes de Sancto Paulo, et Engelramus filius ejus, egregiae indolis adolescens; dominus Garnerus comes, cognomento de Gres; dominus Renardus comes Tullensis, et Petrus frater ejus; dominus Balduinus de Burgo, ejusdem ducis consanguineus; dominus Henricus de Ascha, et Godefridus frater ejus; Dodo de Cons; Cono de Monte acuto, et alii plures, quorum nomina non tenemus, vel numerum. Hi omnes uno et individuo comitatu pariter incedentes, vicesima Septembris die in provinciam quae dicitur Osterich, ad locum qui dicitur Tollenburch, cum omni tranquillitate sani et incolumes pervenerunt.

And in the same year, which was from the Incarnation of the Lord 1096, in the month of August, on the fifteenth day of the month, the magnificent and illustrious man Godfrey, duke of Lotharingia, after the departure of Peter the Hermit and the lamentable downfall of his army, as we have foretold; after the slaughter of the legions of Godescalc sent ahead; after also that kind of misfortune which, as we premised, is said to have befallen the subsequent multitude on this side of Hungary: having called together companions of the way and, as was customary, having arranged the baggage, set out on the march. Now there were those who joined themselves to his camp, noble and renowned men and worthy of perpetual memory: Lord Baldwin his uterine brother; Lord Baldwin of the Mountains, count of Hainaut; Lord Hugh, count of Saint-Pol, and Enguerrand his son, a youth of excellent disposition; Lord Garner, count, by surname of Gres; Lord Renard, count of Toul, and Peter his brother; Lord Baldwin of Bourcq, the same duke’s kinsman; Lord Henry of Ascha, and Godfrey his brother; Dodo of Cons; Cono of Monte Acuto; and many others, whose names we do not hold, nor the number. All these, advancing together in one and indivisible company, on the twentieth day of September came, safe and unharmed with all tranquility, into the province which is called Osterich, to the place which is called Tollenburch.

Est autem is locus, ubi Lintax fluvius imperii fines a regno disterminat Hungariae. Quo pervenientes, solliciti valde super his quae Godescalco et suis legionibus dicebantur accidisse, deliberant quomodo cum salute in opere incepto possint incedere. Tandemque de communi placuit consilio, ut missa legatione ad regem Hungariae instruantur plenius, quaenam causa fuerit, quare fratrum praecedentium apud eos ita deperierit exercitus; et ut opportunitate inventa dominum regem de pace conveniant, et omissis querelis veteribus, elaborent quomodo eis liber per Hungariam indulgeatur transitus.

Now that is the place where the river Lintax separates the borders of the Empire from the Kingdom of Hungary. Arriving there, very anxious about the things said to have happened to Godescalc and his legions, they deliberate how they might proceed with safety in the work undertaken. And at length, by common counsel, it was agreed that, a legation having been sent to the king of Hungary, they should be instructed more fully what the cause had been, why the army of the preceding brethren had so perished among them; and that, opportunity found, they should convene with the lord king concerning peace, and, old quarrels set aside, work out how free transit through Hungary might be granted to them.

Nam alias inire vias, itineris coepti videbatur dispendium. Missus est ergo vir nobilis Godefridus de Ascha, Henrici frater, eo quod ejusdem regis a multis retro temporibus familiaritatem habuerat, cum quibusdam honestis viris et nobilibus, ut ejusdem legationis fungatur officio: qui ad regem perveniens, depenso debitae salutationis affatu, quod ei fuerat injunctum fideliter exsequens, regi locutus est in haec verba:

For to enter other ways seemed a detriment of the commenced journey. Therefore a noble man, Godfrey of Ascha, brother of Henry, was sent—because he had had familiarity with that same king for many times past—together with certain honorable and noble men, to perform the office of that same legation: who, arriving to the king, the due address of salutation having been paid, faithfully executing what had been enjoined upon him, spoke to the king in these words:

CAPUT II. Legatio ejusdem ducis ad Calemanum regem Hungariae, per Godefridum de Asca, et responsum ejusdem regis ad eumdem ducem.

CHAPTER 2. The legation of the same duke to Caleman, king of Hungary, through Godfrey of Asca, and the response of the same king to that same duke.

Vir illustris et magnificus, dominus Godefridus, Lotharingiae dux, et alii Dei cultores, qui cum eo sunt principes, divinis obsequiis mancipati, ad vestram nos direxerunt eminentiam, scire per nos cupientes: quare fidelium populus, quorum reliquias in via reperimus nobis occurrentes, tantam apud vos, qui de numero fidelium dicimini, repererunt inhumanitatem, ut tutius ad hostes quoslibet declinare potuissent. Quod si praedicti populi tanta fuit culpa, ut extremis suppliciis digna fuerit flagellari; qui me miserunt, parati sunt eorum interitum aequanimiter tolerare. Nam quaecunque ex merito poena infligitur, minus ad iram provocat, et majore sustinenda est patientia.

The illustrious and magnificent lord Godfrey, duke of Lotharingia, and the other worshipers of God, who with him are princes, bound to divine services, have directed us to your eminence, desiring to know through us: why the people of the faithful, whose remnants we found on the road meeting us, found such inhumanity with you, who are said to be of the number of the faithful, that they could more safely have turned aside to any enemies whatsoever. But if so great was the fault of the aforesaid peoples that it was worthy to be scourged with extreme punishments; those who sent me are ready to endure their destruction with equanimity. For whatever punishment is inflicted according to merit provokes less to anger, and must be borne with greater patience.

Quod si secus est, et absque ulla causa calumniati estis innocentes, ut eos morti traderetis, non possunt illatam servis Dei dissimulare injuriam; sed parati sunt fratrum sanguinem vindicare. Super his ergo vestra per nostrum ministerium exspectant responsa, pro eorum forma animos habituri. His dictis orandi finem fecit. Cui rex suorum satellitum stipatus comitatu, in haec verba respondit: Placet, vir amicitiarum, Godefride, cui meritis exigentibus jam pridem nostram contulimus gratiam, quod ad nos ingressus es, tum ut veterem renovemus amicitiam, tum ut apud tam discretum judicem nostram astruamus innocentiam.

But if it is otherwise, and without any cause you have calumniated the innocents, so as to hand them over to death, they cannot dissemble the injury inflicted upon the servants of God; rather, they are prepared to vindicate the blood of their brothers. Therefore concerning these matters they await your answers through our ministry, and will dispose their spirits according to their tenor. With these things said, he made an end of his plea. To him the king, hedged about by a retinue of his satellites, replied in these words: It is pleasing, man of friendships, Godefrid, to whom, your merits requiring it, we long ago conferred our favor, that you have come in to us, both that we may renew the old friendship, and that before so discreet a judge we may establish our innocence.

Sumus equidem et de numero, ut dicis, fidelium: et utinam opere possimus implere hujus nominis virtutem! Sed qui vos praecesserunt, tam Petrum Eremitam sequentes, quam adhaerentes Godescalco, quam qui in regni nostri limitibus castrum nostrum expugnare, et ad nos violenter ingredi nitebantur, nec re, nec nomine Christi fuerunt sectatores. Nam cum primo Petrum et suos exercitus suscepissemus hospitio, bona quae apud nos erant tam gratis, quam pretio illis communicantes justo, more serpentis in gremio, et muris in pera, male remuneraverunt hospites suos.

Indeed we are also, as you say, of the number of the faithful; and would that by deed we might be able to fulfill the virtue of this name! But those who went before you, both those following Peter the Hermit, and those adhering to Godescalcus, and those who within the borders of our kingdom were striving to storm our castle and to enter upon us violently, were followers of Christ neither in fact nor in name. For when at first we had received Peter and his armies with hospitality, sharing with them the goods which were with us both gratis and at a just price, in the manner of a serpent in the bosom, and of mice in a scrip, they ill-remunerated their hosts.

Nam in extremis regni nostri finibus, cum jam pro collatis beneficiis grates tenerentur rependere, unam de urbibus nostris confringentes, et populum qui in ea erat delentes penitus, cum eorum spoliis, gregibus et armentis, tanquam violenti praedones abierunt. Godescalci vero expeditiones, tanquam a prioribus nihil omnino pertulissemus injuriae, sine molestia et difficultate admissae, in medio regni hujus rapinas exercere, inferre violentiam, incendia procurare, et causis levibus stragem operari non verentes, delictorum suorum enormitate Dominum ad iracundiam provocaverunt. Nos quoque subditorum ferre non valentes molestias, manum adhibuimus, rei periclitanti remedium providentes.

For on the extreme borders of our kingdom, when now they were bound to repay thanks for benefits conferred, by breaking open one of our cities, and utterly destroying the people who were in it, with their spoils, flocks, and herds, they went away like violent plunderers. But the expeditions of Godescalc, as though we had endured no injury at all from the former, being admitted without annoyance and difficulty, not fearing to exercise rapine in the midst of this kingdom, to bring in violence, to procure conflagrations, and for slight causes to work slaughter, by the enormity of their delicts provoked the Lord to wrath. We also, not being able to bear the molestations of our subjects, laid on our hand, providing a remedy for a matter in peril.

Unde et priorum exemplo deterriti, ne tertio jam detestabilium turmarum experiremur injurias, consultius fore visum est, a regni nostri limitibus, Deo plane odibiles, arcere hujusmodi impiorum manipulos hominum, quam injurias ab eis et damna pati enormia, aut cum eis hostiliter decertare. Haec igitur apud te virum prudentem et industrium, pro nostra excusatione sufficiat allegasse. Nam (vivit Dominus, puram, sicut est, edisseruimus veritatem.) His dictis, eosdem legatos praecipit hospitaliter, et multa honestate haberi, quousque habito cum suis colloquio, ad praedictos principes nuntios dirigat, responsa convenientia delaturos.

Whence also, deterred by the example of the former, lest for a third time we should undergo the injuries of the now detestable squadrons, it seemed more advisable to ward from the borders of our kingdom maniples of such impious men, plainly odious to God, than to suffer injuries and enormous damages from them, or to contend with them in hostile fashion. Let this, therefore, with you, a prudent and industrious man, suffice to have been alleged for our excuse. For (the Lord lives, we have expounded the pure truth, just as it is.) With these things said, he orders those same envoys to be received hospitably and with much honor, until, after holding a colloquy with his own, he may dispatch messengers to the aforesaid princes, who will carry fitting replies.

Tandem missis de familiaribus suis aliquot cum legatis qui ad se venerant, duci et principibus in haec verba rescripsit: Audivimus sane, et fama referente jamdudum cognovimus, quod princeps magnus, illustris et egregius merito apud tuos habearis: et quod fidei tuae sinceritatem, et commendabilem animi constantiam etiam longe positi viri prudentes admirentur. Nos quoque nominis tui bono odore, et operum tracti flagrantia, te licet absentem colere proposuimus, et promptius honorare. Sed et viros nobiles qui tecum sunt, zelo fidei Christianae accensos, credimus pium habere propositum.

At length, having sent some of his household along with the envoys who had come to him, he wrote back to the duke and the princes in these words: We have indeed heard, and long since learned from report, that you are held among your own as a great prince, illustrious and outstanding by merit; and that prudent men, even those placed far off, admire the sincerity of your faith and the commendable constancy of your mind. We also, drawn by the good odor of your name and the fervor of your works, have purposed to honor you, though absent, and to honor you the more readily. And we believe that the noble men who are with you, inflamed with the zeal of the Christian faith, have a pious purpose.

Unde et ea merita, quibus solent amici comparari, nolumus in nobis otiosa torpescere; sed omnibus debitam impendere charitatem, et fraternae dilectionis erga eos operibus abundare parati sumus. Unde quoniam ita se offert occasio, rogamus ut ad castrum nostrum, Ciperon nomine, praesens adesse velis, ut tecum possimus optata diu miscere colloquia, et tuis desideriis congruum adhibere consensum.

Whence also the merits by which friends are wont to be acquired, we do not wish to lie idle and torpid in us; but we are ready to expend upon all the due charity, and to abound in works of fraternal dilection toward them. Wherefore, since the occasion thus offers itself, we ask that you be willing to be present at our castle, by the name Ciperon, so that with you we may mingle colloquies long desired, and apply a fitting consent to your desires.

CAPUT III. Colliguntur adinvicem rex et nostri principes, et datur Balduinus ducis frater regi obses; transcursaque Hungaria, et fratre recepto, dux a rege multis muneribus honoratur.

CHAPTER 3. The king and our princes are gathered mutually together, and Baldwin, the duke’s brother, is given to the king as a hostage; and Hungary having been traversed, and the brother received back, the duke is honored by the king with many gifts.

Dux igitur, audita regis legatione habitoque suorum consilio, cum trecentis equitibus ex omni comitatu electis, die praefixa, ad locum pervenit destinatum. Ubi ponte transito, regem inveniens, ab eo benignissime, et cum multa susceptus est honorificentia. Tandem post multam hinc inde sibi mutuo familiaritatem exhibitam, placuit ut datis obsidibus de numero nobilium electis, omni rancore deposito, et pace plenius reformata, regni aditus duci et suis legionibus panderetur.

Therefore the duke, the king’s legation having been heard and counsel of his own men taken, with three hundred horsemen chosen from the whole retinue, on the appointed day came to the destined place. There, the bridge having been crossed, finding the king, he was received by him most benignly and with much honorificence. At length, after much familiarity mutually shown on both sides, it was agreed that, hostages having been given, chosen from the number of the nobles, all rancor being laid aside and peace more fully reformed, the approaches of the kingdom should be laid open to the duke and to his legions.

Rex ergo ut tantorum virorum legionibus intromissis fidem haberet pleniorem, ne forte occasione qualibet, de virtute sua et numero confisi regnum turbare praesumerent, dominum Balduinum ducis fratrem cum uxore et familia obsidem petit. Cui dux grato concurrens assensu, fratrem legibus complacitis obsidem tradit; et immissis legionibus, regnum ingressus est. Porro rex fideliter adimplens quod promiserat, per universas regiones ad quas perventurus erat exercitus, lege praecepit edictali, quatenus justo pretio, aequo pondere, victui necessaria legionibus exhibeantur; et rerum venalium turbas proficiscentes forum perpetuo comitetur.

Therefore the king, that he might have fuller confidence with the legions of such great men admitted, lest perchance on any occasion, trusting in their own valor and their number, they should presume to disturb the kingdom, asked for Lord Baldwin, the duke’s brother, with his wife and household, as a hostage. To this the duke, running together with grateful assent, delivered his brother as a hostage under the agreed terms; and, the legions having been let in, he entered the kingdom. Furthermore, the king, faithfully fulfilling what he had promised, by edictal law ordered through all the regions to which the army was about to come, that at a just price and with equal weight the things necessary for victual be furnished to the legions; and that a forum, with throngs of wares for sale, should perpetually accompany those setting out.

Dux vero per castra universa, et seorsum et publice voce praecepit edici praeconia, sub poena mortis et omnium publicationis bonorum, ne quis rapinam, vim aut injuriam accedentibus ad exercitum audeat irrogare; sed fraterna charitate emptionum venditionumque contractus celebrent, in vinculo pacis. Factumque est ita, praevia Domini misericordia, quod Hungariam transcurrentes universam, nec in levi verbo mutuo se offenderunt. Rex vero proficiscentem exercitum, aequis pene passibus, cum ingentibus suorum copiis, obsides secum deducens, ex latere sinistro comitabatur paratus, ut si quid forte seditionis emergeret, per ejus praesentiam continuo sedaretur.

The Duke, moreover, throughout the whole camp, both privately and publicly, ordered proclamations to be issued by voice, under penalty of death and of the publication (confiscation) of all goods, that no one should dare to inflict rapine, violence, or injury upon those approaching the army; but that, with fraternal charity, contracts of purchases and sales should be transacted, in the bond of peace. And so it came to pass, the Lord’s mercy going before, that, traversing all Hungary, they did not offend one another even in a light word. The King, however, accompanying the departing army with almost equal steps, with vast forces of his own, leading the hostages with him, was attending on the left flank, prepared, so that if perchance any sedition should arise, it might be immediately quelled by his presence.

Tandem vero ad Malevillam, de qua superius frequenter fecimus mentionem, pervenientes, in ripa fluminis Savoa, quousque exercitui transitus pararetur, consederunt. Compositis igitur ratibus, quia naves paucas, et ad tantum transferendum populum minus sufficientes invenerant: trajectis mille loricatis equitibus, qui contra quaslibet hostium insidias ripam ulteriorem communirent, ut translatus populus sedem inveniret quietam, certatim in partem oppositam se transferunt. Vixque plebs enavigaverat, et de principibus nonnulli; et ecce rex cum ingenti suorum comitatu subito adfuit, dominum Balduinum et uxorem ejus, et alios simul obsides in manu domini ducis, sicut ab initio condictum fuerat, resignavit; et donis uberibus tam dominum ducem, quam reliquos honorans principes, reversus est.

At length, indeed, arriving at Malevilla, of which above we have frequently made mention, they sat down on the bank of the river Savoa, until a passage for the army might be prepared. Therefore, rafts having been composed, because they had found few ships, and less than sufficient for transferring so great a people: after a thousand mail-clad horsemen had been ferried across, who might fortify the further bank against whatever ambushes of the enemy, so that the transferred people might find a quiet seat, they vied eagerly to pass themselves over to the opposite side. And scarcely had the plebs sailed across, and some of the princes; and behold, the king, with an enormous retinue of his men, suddenly was present, and he handed back lord Baldwin and his wife, and the other hostages together, into the hand of the lord duke, just as had been stipulated from the beginning; and, honoring both the lord duke and the remaining princes with bountiful gifts, he returned.

Dux vero trajectas secutus expeditiones, in ulteriorem ripam, cum residuo principum et populi se contulit consequenter; veniensque ad Bellegravam Bulgariae oppidum, de quo superius fecimus mentionem, ibi castrametatus est. Inde compositis sarcinis et legionibus ad iter expeditis, Bulgariae silvas, et late patentia nemora transcurrens, primum Niz, deinde Straliciam pervenit.

The Duke, indeed, following the expeditions that had been ferried across, betook himself, with the residue of the princes and the people, in due order, to the further bank; and, coming to Bellegrava, a town of Bulgaria, of which we have made mention above, he encamped there. Thence, the packs arranged and the legions readied for the journey, traversing Bulgaria’s forests and the groves lying open far and wide, he reached first Niz, then Stralicia.

CAPUT IV. In terram imperatoris nostrae legiones ingrediuntur: describitur introitus, et Graecorum miseria significatur.

CHAPTER 4. Into the land of the emperor our legions enter: the entrance is described, and the misery of the Greeks is signified.

Conjicere est ex his locis, qui aliquando uberiores et omnimodis commoditatibus refertae fuerunt provinciae, quanta sit Graecorum miseria, et eorum debilitas imperii. Nam postquam deficientibus apud Constantinopolim Latinis principibus, in eorum potestatem sub primo Nicephoro, peccatis exigentibus, descendit imperium, statim barbarae nationes de Graecorum imbecillitate confisi, in eorum provincias irruentes, pro arbitrio suo regionis coeperunt tractare habitatores. Inter quas Bulgarorum gens inculta, a tractu septentrionali egressa, a Danubio usque ad urbem regiam, et iterum ab eodem flumine ad mare Adriaticum, universas occupaverat regiones; ita ut confusis provinciarum nominibus et terminis.

From these places—provinces which once were more fertile and in every way filled with commodities—one may conjecture how great is the misery of the Greeks, and the weakness of their empire. For after, the Latin princes at Constantinople failing, the empire, sins requiring it, descended into their power under the first Nicephorus, straightway the barbarian nations, confident in the feebleness of the Greeks, rushing into their provinces, began to treat the inhabitants at their own arbitrium. Among these, the uncultivated nation of the Bulgars, having come forth from the northern tract, from the Danube as far as the royal city, and again from the same river to the Adriatic Sea, had occupied all the regions; such that the names and boundaries of the provinces were thrown into confusion.

totus iste tractus, qui in longitudine habere dicitur iter dierum triginta, in latitudine vero decem, vel amplius, Bulgaria dicatur: miseris Graecis ignorantibus quod hoc ipsum nomen eorum protestetur ignominiam. Super Adriaticum enim mare erat utraque Epirus, cujus alterius metropolis est Durachium, regnum olim viri strenui et admirabilis, Pyrrhi Epirotarum regis. Unde autem dux cum suo comitatu transiturus erat, duae fuerant Daciae, Ripensis videlicet, quam a laeva super ripas Danubii transeuntes reliquerunt; et Mediterranea, per quam iter agentes, et per urbes olim eximias, Niz et Straliciam, transeuntes percurrerunt.

the whole tract, which in length is said to have a journey of thirty days, but in breadth ten, or more, is called Bulgaria: the wretched Greeks not knowing that this very name proclaims their ignominy. For on the Adriatic Sea lay both Epiruses, of which the metropolis of the one is Durachium, once the realm of a strenuous and admirable man, Pyrrhus, king of the Epirotes. But where the duke with his comitatus was about to pass, there had been two Dacias, namely the Riparian, which on the left, as they went along the banks of the Danube, they left behind; and the Mediterranean, through which, making their journey, and through the once exceptional cities Niz and Stralicia, passing through they traversed.

Erant et aliae in eodem tractu provinciae, Arcadia, Thessalia, Macedonia, et Thraciae tres, quae pari cum aliis involutae sunt calamitate. Nec solum has praedictas provincias sua Graeci amiserant mollitie; sed etiam postmodum eodem Bulgarorum subjugato populo, per Basilium, eorum imperatorem, in ulterioribus provinciis, et maxime quae regnis exteris collimitant, et per quas ad eos acceditur, in utraque videlicet Dacia, etiam hodie non permittunt habitatores introire, vel excoli regionem; ut silvis et frutetis loca late occupantibus, nullam praestent introire volentibus habilitatem, majorem habentes in viarum difficultate, et veprium armatura, quam in propriis viribus resistendi fiduciam. Eodem modo et Epirum primam, quae a Durachio habet initium, et usque ad montem qui cognominatur Bagularius, itinere dierum quatuor protenditur, per quam omnes alii transitum habuerunt principes, desertam et habitatoribus vacuam relinquunt; ut accedere volentibus, nemora deserta et invia, et alimentis carentia, repagulorum vice praebeant impedimentum.

There were also other provinces in the same tract, Arcadia, Thessaly, Macedonia, and the three Thracias, which were involved in a calamity equal to the others. Nor had the Greeks lost only these aforesaid provinces through their mollity; but even afterward, with that same people of the Bulgars subjugated by Basil, their emperor, in the further provinces, and especially those which border on foreign kingdoms, and through which one approaches them, namely in both Dacias, even today they do not permit inhabitants to enter, nor the region to be cultivated; so that, with woods and thickets widely occupying the places, they present no facility to those wishing to enter, having greater confidence in the difficulty of the roads and the armature of briars than in their own strength for resisting. In the same way they leave First Epirus— which has its beginning from Durachium and extends as far as the mountain called Bagularius, a journey of 4 days—through which all the other princes had their passage, deserted and empty of inhabitants; so that for those wishing to approach, the deserted and pathless groves, lacking in provisions, supply an impediment in the stead of bars.

Praedictam ergo Daciam mediterraneam, quae alio nomine Mesia dicitur, dominus dux cum suis percurrens legionibus, et exsuperatis claustris quae vulgo dicuntur Sancti Basilii, ad loca planiora et alimentorum copiam ministrantia, descendens, Philippopolim usque ad nobilem et copiosissimam urbem pervenit. Ubi cognito quod dominus Hugo Magnus, domini Philippi Francorum regis frater, cum quibusdam aliis nobilibus, ab imperatore detinerentur in vinculis, missis sub omni celeritate nuntiis, litteris et viva voce monet, et rogat diligentius, quatenus praedictos viros, ejusdem peregrinationis votum habentes, et sine culpa vinculis mancipatos, solutos abire permittat. Praedictus enim vir illustris, quasi primus omnium iter aggressus, transcursis Alpibus, in Italiam descenderat, et inde in Apuliam perveniens, cum exiguo comitatu mare transiens, apud Durachium substiterat, eos qui subsequebantur exspectans: non veritus quod in regno Graecorum, qui Christiana professione censeri dicebantur, sibi suisque aliquid sinistri occurreret; ubi a praeside regionis vinctus et catenatus, imperatori traderetur pro arbitrio tractandus, translatus est.

Therefore the aforesaid Dacia Mediterranea, which by another name is called Moesia, the lord duke, traversing with his legions, and, the passes which in the vernacular are called of Saint Basil having been overpassed, descending to leveler places that furnish an abundance of provisions, he came as far as Philippopolis, a noble and most copious city. There, having learned that Lord Hugh the Great, brother of Lord Philip king of the Franks, together with certain other nobles, were being detained in chains by the emperor, he, messengers sent with all speed, by letters and by viva voce admonishes and more diligently entreats that he allow the aforesaid men, having the vow of the same pilgrimage, and consigned to chains without fault, to depart released. For the aforesaid illustrious man, as almost the first of all to have undertaken the journey, the Alps traversed, had descended into Italy, and thence, coming into Apulia, crossing the sea with a scant retinue, had halted at Durachium, awaiting those who were following: not fearing that in the realm of the Greeks, who were said to be reckoned by Christian profession, anything sinister would befall himself and his; where, bound and chained by the governor of the region, he was conveyed to be delivered to the emperor, to be dealt with at his discretion.

Sic ergo eum apud se tanquam praedonem, aut homicidii reum imperator detinebat in carcere, principum qui subsequi dicebantur exspectans adventum, quatenus si prospere accederent, eorum gratia eum solvisse videretur; sin autem, perpetuis eum compedibus manciparet.

Thus then the emperor was detaining him in prison with himself as though a brigand, or a defendant on a homicide charge, awaiting the arrival of the princes who were said to be following, so that, if they should come prosperously, he might seem to have released him for their sake; but if not, he would consign him to perpetual fetters.

CAPUT V. Dux legatos ad imperatorem dirigit, ut Hugonem Magnum, et alios nobiles solvat, quos detinebat in vinculis: universa regio praedae exponitur, et tandem nostri Constantinopolim perveniunt.

CHAPTER 5. The duke dispatches envoys to the emperor, that he may release Hugh the Great, and other nobles, whom he was detaining in chains: the whole region is exposed to depredation, and at length our men reach Constantinople.

Praeerat autem per idem tempus Graecorum imperio vir nequam et subdolus, Alexius nomine, agnomine dictus Connino. Qui cum esset in imperiali palatio a domino Nicephoro, cognomento Botoniath, qui tunc in sceptris agens principabatur, plurimum honoratus; et megadomestici dignitate, quem nos majorem senescalcum appellare consuevimus, fungeretur officio, ab imperatore secundus, contra dominum et benefactorem suum malitiose recalcitrans, quinto vel sexto anno, antequam populus noster accederet, depulso domino imperium invaserat; et detinere praesumebat violenter occupatum. Missi ergo domini ducis legati ad imperatorem accedentes, praedictum nobilem virum cum sociis suis, sicut eis fuerat injunctum, instantissime postulant absolvi.

But at that same time there presided over the empire of the Greeks a wicked and underhanded man, Alexius by name, by agnomen called Connenus. He, though in the imperial palace by lord Nicephorus, by cognomen Botoniath, who then, wielding the scepters, was reigning, was held in very great honor; and, discharging the office with the dignity of megadomesticus, which we are accustomed to call the greater seneschal, second to the emperor—maliciously kicking back against his lord and benefactor—had, in the fifth or sixth year before our people approached, with his lord deposed, invaded the empire, and was presuming to detain what he had seized by violence. Therefore, the envoys of the lord duke, having been sent, approaching the emperor, most insistently demand that the aforesaid noble man with his companions, as had been enjoined upon them, be released.

Quod cum eis ab eodem imperatore praecise negaretur, ad nostras expeditiones, quae jam Adrianopolim pertransierant, ibi residentes in pascuis, reversi sunt. Postquam vero, eisdem referentibus nuntiis, dux et alii principes, quod nequaquam praedictos nobiles vellet imperator absolvere, cognoverunt, de communi consilio universam illam regionem legionibus suis exponunt ad praedam. Cumque per octo dies ibi moram fecissent continuam, universa depopulati sunt.

When this was flatly denied them by that same emperor, they returned to our expeditions, which had already passed beyond Adrianople, there residing in the pastures. But after the duke and the other princes, with the same envoys reporting, learned that the emperor by no means wished to absolve the aforesaid nobles, by common counsel they exposed that whole region to their legions for plunder. And when they had made a continuous stay there for eight days, they ravaged everything.

Quod audiens imperator, nuntios ad eumdem ducem dirigit, rogans ut a praeda desistat ejus exercitus, et nobiles quos repetierat, recipiat expeditos. Cui verbo dux libenter acquiescens, praeda suis inhibita, pacatis legionibus, Constantinopolim pervenit: ubi ante urbem, in manu robusta et copioso exercitu, fixis tentoriis castrametatus est. Occurrentes autem praedicti nobiles viri, dominus videlicet Hugo Magnus, Drogo de Neella, Willelmus Carpentarius, Clarembaldus de Vendoliolo, extra urbem in castra ducis se contulerunt, gratias pro sua liberatione soluturi: quos cum multa charitate et debita honorificentia susceptos benigne habuit secum aliquandiu, eorum molestiis, quas pertulerant praeter merita, fraterne compatiens.

Hearing this, the emperor dispatches envoys to that same duke, requesting that his army desist from plunder, and that he receive, set free, the nobles whom he had demanded back. To which word the duke gladly acceding, with plunder inhibited to his men, and his legions pacified, he arrived at Constantinople; where, before the city, with a strong hand and a copious army, he pitched tents and encamped. And the aforesaid noble men—namely Lord Hugh the Great, Drogo of Nesle, William the Carpenter, Clarembald of Vendôme—coming out to meet him, betook themselves outside the city into the duke’s camp, to render thanks for their liberation; whom, received with much charity and due honor, he benignly kept with him for some while, fraternally sympathizing with the troubles they had endured beyond their deserts.

CAPUT VI. Imperator ad se ducem invitat, ille renuit introire; graves oriuntur inter eos inimicitiae: fraude imperatoris, ducis exercitus transfertur ad locum angustiorem.

CHAPTER 6. The emperor invites the duke to himself; he refuses to enter; grave enmities arise between them: by the emperor’s fraud, the duke’s army is transferred to a narrower place.

Interea vix mutuos dissolverant amplexus et alternis erant confabulationibus recreati, cum ecce imperatoris adsunt nuntii, monentes ut ad dominum imperatorem cum paucis dux introire festinet. Dux vero, habito consilio, illuc ire distulit; unde indignationem plurimam concipiens imperator, forum rerum venalium legionibus quae cum duce advenerant interdixit. Porro principes populi videntes indigentiam et alimentorum defectum, rursum de communi consilio per suburbana longe lateque cum ingentibus armatorum copiis discurrentes, greges et armenta undique contrahunt; et alimentorum omnimodam in castra referunt opulentiam; ita ut usque ad satietatem minores etiam abundarent.

Meanwhile they had scarcely dissolved their mutual embraces and had been refreshed by conversations in turn, when behold the emperor’s messengers are present, advising that the duke hasten to enter to the lord emperor with a few. The duke, however, having held counsel, deferred going thither; wherefore the emperor, conceiving very great indignation, interdicted the market of saleable things to the legions which had come with the duke. Moreover the princes of the people, seeing indigence and a defect of provisions, again by common counsel, running through the suburbs far and wide with huge companies of armed men, gather flocks and herds from everywhere; and they bring back into the camp an all‑mannered opulence of provisions; so that even the lesser ranks abounded up to satiety.

Videns ergo imperator regionem universam praedae et incendiis expositam, timens ne deterius etiam aliquid contingeret, iterato commercium restitui praecepit. Cumque Nativitatis Dominicae dies immineret solemnis, decreverunt apud se, religionis intuitu, per illos dies quatuor nostri principes ab omni praeda et qualibet injuria manus cohibere. Quibus in omni quiete et tranquillitate peractis, adfuit imperatoris nuntius, monens verbis pacificis, et tamen in dolo, ut ponte transito, qui est juxta palatium, quod appellatur Blaquernas, legiones suas transferant, in palatiis quae super littora Bosphori erant plurima hospitaturi.

Therefore, seeing the whole region exposed to plunder and conflagrations, fearing lest something even worse might befall, he ordered commerce to be restored again. And when the solemn day of the Lord’s Nativity was impending, our leaders, out of regard for religion, decreed among themselves to restrain their hands from all booty and from any injury through those four days. When these had been accomplished in complete quiet and tranquility, a messenger of the emperor was present, admonishing with pacific words, and yet in guile, that, the bridge having been crossed, which is next to the palace that is called Blaquernas, they should transfer their legions, to lodge in the many palaces which were upon the shores of the Bosphorus.

Potuit autem facile persuadere; nam instantis maxima erat importunitas hiemis et pluviarum intemperies inaudita, ita ut eorum papiliones vix possent cohibere stillicidia: unde et victus et supellex omnimoda de madore jugis aquae corrumperentur et putrescerent. Sed nec homines, nec jumenta, nec caeterorum quaelibet animantium, vim algoris penetrabilem et nivium crebram, imo pene continuam, poterant tolerare diutius asperginem importunam, quibus omnibus supra vires angebantur incessanter. His autem, etsi verbo compati videretur imperator, longe tamen alia mens ejus erat: et eo tota ejus properabat intentio, ut legionibus in locis angustioribus collocatis, minorem evagandi haberent licentiam; et ipse eas pro arbitrio cohibendi majorem reciperet potestatem.

He could, however, easily persuade; for the greatest importunity of the pressing winter and an unheard-of intemperance of rains prevailed, so that their pavilions could scarcely keep back the drippings: whence both provisions and every kind of equipment, from the dampness of continual water, were corrupted and became putrid. But neither men, nor beasts of burden, nor any whatever of the other animals, were able any longer to tolerate the penetrating force of cold and the frequent, nay almost continuous, sprinkling of snows, by all which they were tormented beyond their powers without cease. In these matters, although the emperor seemed in word to sympathize, yet his mind was far otherwise: and to this his whole intention hastened, that, the legions having been stationed in narrower places, they might have less license of roaming; and he himself might receive a greater power of restraining them at his discretion.

Quod ut plenius intelligatur, de situ praedictae urbis aliquid est interserendum.

In order that this may be understood more fully, something is to be inserted concerning the site of the aforesaid city.

CAPUT VII. Descriptio situs urbis Constantinopolitanae. Dux legatos ad imperatorem dirigit; exercitus noster a Graecis ex improviso sustinet insidias.

CHAPTER 7. Description of the situation of the city of Constantinople. The Duke dispatches legates to the emperor; our army is unexpectedly subjected to an ambush by the Greeks.

Mare Ponticum (quod ab adjacente regione nomen accepit) praedictae civitati a parte septentrionali positum est, ab eadem triginta distans milliaribus, a quo in modum fluminis, per quasdam angustias in austrum descendit quaedam ejus portio, quae spatio ducentorum triginta milliarum decurrens in directum inter Seston et Abidon urbes antiquissimas, quarum altera in Europa est, altera in Asia, in nostrum mare labitur Mediterraneum. Quae influxio a praedicto mari transfusa, postquam triginta milliariis a primis faucibus, unde habet introitum, continuo tractu descendit, sinum facit in partem occidentalem, cujus longitudo est ad millia quinque, vel sex; latitudo vero quasi unius. Hoc autem ita angustum mare, quod a Pontico in Mediterraneum per ducenta triginta milliaria protenditur, Bosphorus Propontidis sive Hellespontus appellatur.

The Pontic Sea (which from the adjacent region has received its name) is situated on the northern side of the aforesaid city, at a distance of thirty miles from it; from which, in the manner of a river, through certain narrows a certain portion of it descends to the south, and, running for a space of two hundred and thirty miles in a straight line between Sestos and Abydos, most ancient cities—of which the one is in Europe, the other in Asia—flows into our sea, the Mediterranean. This inflow, poured from the aforementioned sea, after it descends in a continuous course for thirty miles from the first jaws where it has its entrance, makes a bay on the western side, whose length is five or six miles; the breadth, indeed, about one. But this so narrow sea, which is stretched from the Pontic into the Mediterranean for two hundred and thirty miles, is called the Bosporus of the Propontis or the Hellespont.

Quod autem ita sit, Solinus in septimo decimo De memorabilibus testatur, ita dicens: Quantus Europae sinus Hellesponto incipit, Maeotis ostio terminatur, atque omnis haec latitudo, quae Europam Asiamque dividit, in septem stadiorum angustias stringitur. Hic est Hellespontus, quem Xerxes ponte navibus facto permeavit tenus deinde. Europus porrigitur ad Asiae urbem Priapum, qua Magnus Alexander potiundi orbis amore transcendit, et pontus est inde diffusus, aequore patentissimo rursus stringitur in Propontidem, mox in quingentos passus coarctatur, fitque Bosphorus Thracius, qua Darius copias transportavit. Horum autem causae nominum a veteribus poetarum fabulis videntur deductae.

But that it is so, Solinus in the seventeenth On Memorabilia bears witness, saying thus: As great a gulf of Europe as begins at the Hellespont is terminated at the mouth of the Maeotis, and all this breadth, which divides Europe and Asia, is tightened into a narrowness of seven stadia. This is the Hellespont, which Xerxes traversed by a bridge made of ships. Europe then stretches toward the Asian city Priapus, where Alexander the Great, from love of mastering the world, crossed over; and the sea, spread out thence with a very open expanse, is again narrowed into the Propontis; soon it is compressed to five hundred paces and becomes the Thracian Bosporus, where Darius transported his forces. Moreover, the reasons for these names seem to have been derived from the ancient fables of the poets.

Nam Bosphorus ideo dicitur quod Jupiter Europam Agenoris filiam in bovis effigie assumpta, trans illud mare legitur deportasse; Hellespontus autem ab Helle Phryxi sorore; quae super arietem cum eodem fratre suo nihilominus dicitur transfretasse. Verbo autem vulgari dicitur Brachium Sancti Georgii, Europae Asiaeque limes, cujus illa est longitudo, quam diximus. Verum latitudinis non est usquequaque modus idem; nam pro adjacentium situ et dispositione regionum, nunc ad unius contrahitur milliarii spatium; nunc per triginta vel amplius diffunditur.

For the Bosphorus is so called because Jupiter, having assumed the effigy of a bull, is read to have carried off Europa, the daughter of Agenor, across that sea; but the Hellespont from Helle, the sister of Phrixus, who upon a ram with that same brother of hers is likewise said to have crossed the strait. In common speech, however, it is called the Arm of Saint George, the boundary of Europe and Asia, whose length is that which we have said. But as to breadth there is not everywhere the same measure; for according to the situation and disposition of the adjacent regions, now it is contracted to the space of a single mile; now it spreads out for 30 or more.

Sinus autem praedictus tendens, ut praemisimus, in Occidentem, portus est inter eos quos orbis habet, commoda statione famosissimus: infra quem et Bosphorum, in angulo quodam, sita est praedicta civitas, olim dicta Byzantium: locus ignobilis, et inter Thraciarum urbes quasi novissima; nunc ampliatoris Augusti feliciore insignita vocabulo, princeps provinciarum facta est, et imperii familiare domicilium: Romae senioris et nomen invidens, et dignitatis praerogativam. A Pausania Spartiatarum rege prius condita, juxta id quod in tertio libro Pauli Orosii continetur, formam habens trianguli, trium inaequalium laterum, cujus primum latus ab eo angulo, qui inter portum Hellespontum continetur, ubi est ecclesia Sancti Georgii, quae dicitur Mangana, usque ad palatium novum, cui nomen Blaquernas, secus portum directe protenditur; alterum vero ab eodem Sancti Georgii monasterio, usque ad Auream portam, secus Hellespontum ducitur; tertium vero ab eadem porta usque ad praedictum palatium Blaquernas, per campestria, muris, turribus et antemuralibus insigne protenditur. Portum autem fluvius quidam ingreditur, aestate quidem modicus; sed hieme aquis pluvialibus solet fieri torrentior, pontem habens supra se positum, quem pertransiens nostrorum exercitus, inter Ponticum mare et Bosphorum, et portum in aedificiis quae in ipso Bosphori littore erant plurima hospitandi gratia se contulerant.

The aforesaid gulf, however, tending, as we premised, toward the West, is a port among those which the world has, most famous for its convenient station: beneath which and the Bosphorus, in a certain corner, is situated the aforesaid city, formerly called Byzantium: an ignoble place, and, among the cities of Thrace, as it were the last; now, marked with the happier appellation of the Enlarger Augustus, it has been made the chief of the provinces and the familiar domicile of the empire: begrudging both the name of elder Rome and its prerogative of dignity. First founded by Pausanias, king of the Spartans, according to what is contained in the third book of Paulus Orosius, having the form of a triangle, of three unequal sides, whose first side from that angle which is contained between the harbor and the Hellespont, where is the church of Saint George, which is called Mangana, as far as the new palace, whose name is Blaquernas, is stretched straight along the port; but the second, from that same monastery of Saint George as far as the Golden Gate, is led along the Hellespont; while the third, from that same gate as far as the aforesaid palace Blaquernas, across the fields, distinguished with walls, towers, and outworks, is extended. Moreover, a certain river enters the harbor, modest indeed in summer; but in winter it is wont to become more torrent-like by reason of the rain-waters, having a bridge set over it, which, our army crossing, between the Pontic Sea and the Bosphorus and the harbor, betook themselves into the many buildings which were on the very shore of the Bosphorus for the sake of lodging.

Dumque ibi moram facerent, reliquorum principum exspectantes adventum, dux frequentibus imperatoris sollicitabatur legationibus, ut ad eum introiret. Qui suspectam habens ejus familiaritatem, et colloquium reformidans, ad ejus vocationem accedere verebatur. Videns tamen quod omnino esset indecens et contra disciplinam honestatis, si non aut in persona propria veniret, aut saltem pro se idoneos mitteret responsales: nobiles viros dominum Cononem de Monte acuto, dominum quoque Balduinum de Burgo, et Henricum de Ascha, ut se excusatum haberent, ad eumdem dirigit imperatorem.

And while they were making a stay there, awaiting the arrival of the remaining princes, the duke was solicited by frequent embassies of the emperor, to come in to him. He, holding his familiarity in suspicion and dreading a colloquy, was afraid to accede to his summons. Nevertheless, seeing that it would be altogether indecent and against the discipline of honesty, if he did not either come in his own person or at least send suitable responsals on his behalf: he dispatches noble men, Lord Conon of Montacute, and likewise Lord Baldwin of the Borough, and Henry of Ascha, to that same emperor, that they might have him excused.

Qui videns domini ducis constantiam, et quod eum ad se nullatenus posset evocare, iterum venalia interdicit. Sed neque sic constantis viri animum potuit emollire: unde manum aggravans, misit occulte sagittarios qui, navibus invecti ad eam partem in qua dux castra locaverat, pervenientes, summo mane in ipso diei crepusculo multos ex nostris qui ad mare exierant, et qui de fenestris speculabantur, sagittis confoderunt, plurimis interficientes.

He, seeing the constancy of the lord duke, and that he could by no means summon him to himself, again interdicted the sale of provisions. But not even thus could he soften the spirit of the constant man; wherefore, aggravating his hand, he secretly sent archers who, conveyed by ships to that part in which the duke had pitched his camp, upon arriving, at earliest morning, in the very crepuscule of day, transfixed with arrows many of our men who had gone out to the sea, and those who were watching from the windows, killing a great many.

CAPUT VIII. Ad urbem revertitur exercitus, et ingens pugna committitur. Graecorum fit strages maxima.

CHAPTER 8. The army returns to the city, and an immense battle is joined. A very great slaughter of the Greeks takes place.

Quod postquam duci nuntiatum est, convocatis populi principibus, de communi consilio fratri praecepit, ut assumpta parte militiae properet pontem occupare, per quem transierant, ne in illis angustiis intercepti, gentis suae dispendia patiantur. Ille vero impiger, quingentos sibi assumens loricatos, ad praedictum pontem properans festinat, et occupat violenter. Jam enim non solum illi, qui in navibus descenderant, hostes se exhibebant, verum universa civitas contra eos hostiliter armabatur.

When this was reported to the duke, having convoked the chiefs of the people, by common counsel he instructed his brother that, having taken a part of the soldiery, he should hasten to occupy the bridge by which they had crossed, lest, intercepted in those narrows, they suffer losses of their people. He, indeed, untiring, taking to himself five hundred mail‑clad men, hurrying to the aforesaid bridge, hastens, and seizes it by force. For now not only those who had disembarked from the ships were exhibiting themselves as enemies, but the whole city was arming itself in hostile fashion against them.

Nostri vero cognoscentes studiose et ex industria paratos sibi adversarios, etiam cives universos in eorum perniciem ad arma convolare, igne supposito universa palatia in quibus hospitati erant, tractu continuo per sex aut septem milliaria, tam privatorum quam imperialia succenderunt. Deinde strepentibus lituis, cornicinum admonitione ex diversis partibus ad quas gratia hospitandi se contulerant, conglobati, ducem, qui jam dispositis aciebus, ad pontem maturabat, armis correptis praecipites sequebantur. Verebantur enim plurimum, qui rei militaris majorem habebant experientiam, ne ponte ab hostibus occupato, in locis angustioribus reperti, facilius gravarentur; unde cum tanta instantia vix exspectatis peditum manipulis, omnis illuc equitum manus convenerat.

Our men, indeed, perceiving that their adversaries were studiously and by design prepared against them, and that even all the citizens were rushing to arms for their destruction, having applied fire beneath, set ablaze all the palaces in which they had been lodged, in an unbroken stretch for six or seven miles, both private and imperial. Then, with the lituus-trumpets blaring, at the admonition of the cornicines from the various quarters to which for the sake of lodging they had betaken themselves, massed together, and, snatching up arms, they headlong followed the leader, who, the battle-lines already arrayed, was hastening to the bridge. For those who had greater experience of the military art greatly feared that, if the bridge were occupied by the enemies, being found in narrower places, they would be more easily burdened; wherefore, with such urgency, scarcely having awaited the maniples of foot, the whole band of cavalry had assembled thither.

Sed praecurrens dominus Balduinus ducis frater, ut praediximus, pontem invitis hostibus violenter occupaverat; et eis abactis et in fugam conversis, ulteriorem ripam fluminis nostris vindicaverat. Dux ergo et universus exercitus, cum sarcinis et omnimoda supellectile sua, sine difficultate transeuntes, rursus ante urbem in locis liberis et late patentibus constiterunt. Ubi habito conflictu inter ecclesiam sanctorum martyrum Cosmae et Damiani, quae hodie vulgari appellatione dicitur Castellum Boamundi, et palatium novum, quod dicitur Blaquernas, quod in angulo civitatis juxta portum situm est, circa horam vespertinam, interfectis innumeris, nostri Graecos pondus belli amplius sustinere non valentes, infra urbem se recipere compulerunt.

But running ahead, Lord Baldwin, the duke’s brother, as we have aforesaid, had violently occupied the bridge, the enemies being unwilling; and with them driven off and turned to flight, he had vindicated the farther bank of the river for our men. Therefore the duke and the whole army, with their packs and all manner of household gear, crossing without difficulty, again took their stand before the city in places free and broadly lying open. Where, a conflict being held between the church of the holy martyrs Cosmas and Damian, which today in vulgar appellation is called the Castle of Bohemond, and the new palace, which is called Blachernae, which is situated in a corner of the city next to the port, around the vespertine hour, with countless slain, our men, the Greeks being no longer able to sustain the weight of the war, compelled them to withdraw within the city.

Nostri vero campo viriliter obtento, tanquam victores, in loco ad id congruo castrametati sunt. Et fortasse rursum irruentibus civibus, congressio periculosior, et strages amplior subsecuta foret, odio ministrante fervorem, nisi nox irruens mutuis finem imposuisset certaminibus. Hic primum patuit, et sine haesitatione factum est manifestum, qua intentione praedictus nequam imperator castra transferri praeceperat: videlicet ut suspectum populum in illa locorum angustia, quasi infra quaedam repagula coerceret.

But our men, the field manfully obtained, as victors encamped in a place suitable to that purpose. And perhaps, with the citizens rushing in again, a more perilous engagement and a larger slaughter would have followed, hatred ministering fervor, had not night, rushing on, imposed an end to the mutual combats. Here for the first time it lay open, and without hesitation it became manifest, with what intention the aforesaid wicked emperor had ordered the camp to be transferred: namely, that he might restrain the suspected people in that constriction of places, as if within certain barriers.

CAPUT IX. Populus ad arma convolat, regionem depopulatur universam: ingens fit in castris victualium opulentia.

CHAPTER 9. The people rush to arms, depopulate the entire region: an immense opulence of victuals arises in the camp.

Postea demum luce reddita, edictum est publice, ut ad arma populus consurgeret: et pars sub certis ducibus deputatis, universam perlustraret regionem; et alimentorum, quorum imperator commercium interdixerat, copias, vel violenter, vel cum pretio comportaret, gregibus et armentis, frugibus et universis alimentorum generibus non parcentes; pars vero cum duce et quibusdam aliis magnatibus, ad tutelam castrorum in exercitu remaneret. Fraudem imperatoris et suorum compertam habentes, contra ejus muscipulas, quanta poterant, se armabant cautela. Factum est igitur, ut qui pabulatum egressi sunt, sex diebus continuis cum ingenti, tam equitum quam peditum multitudine, suburbana per circuitum usque sd sexaginta milliaria confringentes, tantam alimentorum in castra die octava contulerunt copiam, ut amplius esset opinione hominum; et vix gregum et armentorum, vehiculorum quoque et jumentorum turbas ante se trahere possent.

Afterwards at length, when light was restored, it was publicly edicted that the people should rise to arms: and that a part, under certain appointed leaders, should traverse the whole region; and should bring in supplies of provisions, the commerce of which the emperor had interdicted, either by force or for a price, sparing neither flocks and herds, grains and all kinds of provisions; but that a part, indeed, with the leader and certain other magnates, should remain in the army for the protection of the camp. Having discovered the fraud of the emperor and his men, they armed themselves, against his snares, with as much caution as they could. It came to pass, therefore, that those who went out to forage, for six continuous days, with an enormous multitude of both horsemen and foot-soldiers, devastating the suburban areas in a circuit up to sixty miles, on the eighth day brought into the camp so great a supply of provisions that it exceeded the opinion of men; and they could scarcely drag before them the crowds of flocks and herds, and likewise of vehicles and beasts of burden.

CAPUT X. Nuntius Boamundi ad ducem accedit, ne cum imperatore conveniat deposcit: responsio ducis.

CHAPTER 10. Bohemond’s envoy approaches the duke, demands that he not meet with the emperor: the duke’s response.

Dum haec vero in castris aguntur, ecce domini Boamundi nuntius praesens ante ducem astitit, praedicti principis litteras deferens in haec verba: Noveris, virorum optime, quod tibi contra feram pessimam et cum homine nequam incumbit negotium, cujus propositum est semper fallere et omnem Latinorum nationem usque ad mortem modis omnibus persequi; et quod de eo recte sentiam, tuo quoque aliquando approbabitur judicio. Novi enim Graecorum malitiam et odium adversus Latinorum nomen pertinax et obstinatum. Cede ergo, si placet, urbe relicta, ad partes Adrianopolitanas vel circa Philipoppolim, et legiones tibi a Domino commissas, in locis uberibus, alimentis et otio praecipe recreari.

But while these things are being transacted in the camp, behold, the messenger of lord Boamund stood present before the duke, bearing the letters of the aforesaid prince in these words: Know, best of men, that there presses upon you an affair against a most savage beast and with a wicked man, whose purpose is always to deceive and to persecute by all means the whole nation of the Latins even unto death; and that I judge rightly about him will also at some time be approved by your judgment. For I know the malice of the Greeks and the hatred against the Latin name, pertinacious and obstinate. Withdraw therefore, if it pleases, the city left behind, to the parts of Adrianople or around Philippopolis, and the legions entrusted to you by the Lord command to be refreshed, in fertile places, with provisions and with leisure.

Ego autem, auctore Domino, circa veris initium festinus adero, consilium et auxilium fraterna charitate, tanquam domino meo, contra impium Graecorum principem ministraturus. Perlectis igitur litteris, et earum tenore plenius intellecto, de communi principum consilio litteris et viva voce respondit in haec verba: Novi, dilectissime frater, et fama referente pridem edoctus sum quod odio inexorabili Graecorum astutiae populum semper nostrum persequi ardentissime studuerunt, et si quid mihi defuit prius ad scientiam, quotidie per experimentum addisco plenius; nec dubito quin justo zelo adversus eos movearis, et de eorum nequitia recte sentias. Sed Dei timorem habens prae oculis, et propositum meum considerans, arma infidelibus debita in populum convertere Christianum reformido. Adventum tamen tuum nobis desiderabilem, et aliorum principum Deo devotorum praesentiam avidissime, Deo amabilis, qui nobiscum est, exspectat exereitus.

I, however, with the Lord as author, around the beginning of spring will hasten to be present, to minister counsel and aid, in fraternal charity, as to my lord, against the impious prince of the Greeks. Therefore, the letters having been read through, and their tenor more fully understood, by the common counsel of the princes he replied by letters and by living voice in these words: I know, most beloved brother, and I have long since been taught by report that, with inexorable hatred, the Greeks’ astuteness has most ardently endeavored always to persecute our people; and if anything was lacking to my knowledge before, I learn it more fully every day by experience; nor do I doubt that you are moved by just zeal against them, and that you judge rightly of their iniquity. But, having the fear of God before my eyes, and considering my purpose, I shrink from turning arms owed to the infidels upon the Christian people. Your coming, however, desirable to us, and the presence of other princes devoted to God, the army, beloved of God—who is with us—awaits most eagerly.

CAPUT XI. Imperator misso filio Joanne Profiro genito et dato obside, ducem ad se invitat. Dux ad eum ingreditur; eum imperator adoptat; pax inter eos reformatur.

CHAPTER 11. The emperor, having sent his son John Porphyrogenitus and with a hostage given, invites the duke to himself. The duke goes in to him; the emperor adopts him; peace between them is re-formed.

Imperator ergo cum suis familiaribus et domesticis anxius plurimum, tum quia totam regionem praedae videt expositam, suorum gemitus et lamenta non perferens; tum quia domini Boamundi adfuisse legationem, eumque in proximo venturum cognoverat, iterum nuntiis suis dominum ducem, ut ad se ingrediatur, sollicitat: timens, ne si conveniat, qui venturi erant principes, antequam ducem sibi reddat placabilem, in ejus ruinam unanimiter consentiant. Instat ergo propensius, ut sibi ducis prius reconciliet animum, monens et exhortans attentius, ut recepto filio suo Joanne Porfiro genito, quem ei pro obside dirigebat, ad se sine aliquo mentis scrupulo ingrediatur. Placuit ergo verbum principibus, et recepto per Cononem de Monteacuto et Balduinum de Burgo, viros nobilissimos, qui ad hoc missi erant, imperatoris filio, et diligenti custodiae in manu fratris deputato, ipse assumptis reliquis principibus, fratre super exercitum, ut ejus curam haberet, relicto, in urbem ingressus, imperatori diu desideratam suam obtulit praesentiam.

Therefore the emperor, with his familiars and domestics exceedingly anxious—both because he sees the whole region exposed to plunder, and, not bearing the groans and lamentations of his own; and because he had learned that an embassy of lord Bohemond had been present and that he would come shortly—again by his messengers urges the lord duke to come in to him, fearing lest, if the princes who were to come should convene, before he renders the duke placable to himself, they might unanimously consent to his ruin. He presses, then, the more earnestly, to reconcile first to himself the mind of the duke, warning and exhorting more attentively that, on receiving his son John Porphyrogenitus, whom he was sending to him as a hostage, he should enter to him without any scruple of mind. The proposal pleased the princes; and, the emperor’s son having been received by Conon of Montaigu and Baldwin of Bourg, most noble men who had been sent for this, and having been assigned to diligent custody in the hand of the brother, he himself, taking along the remaining princes, with his brother left over the army, that he might have its care, entered the city and offered to the emperor his long-desired presence.

Quo cum multa honorificentia, astantibus illustribus, et virum unde multa audiverant, et ex parte cognoverant intueri volentibus, recepto, et principibus qui cum eo advenerant, prout eorum dignitas deposcebat, et honoratis salutatione, et ad pacis osculum similiter admissis, de eorum incolumitate quaerit diligentius; et nomina singulorum percurrens, ut eorum sibi gratiam comparet, singulis affabilem se praebuit et benignum. Tandem vero ducem conveniens, his eum verbis alloquitur: Audivit imperium nostrum, dux dilectissime, quod apud principes tuos sis potentissimus; et pietatis propositum, quod studiose persequeris, devotionis fervore armatus commendabili, non habet incognitum; quodque potius est, constantis animi et sincerae fidei virum te fama celebris longe lateque praedicat. Unde et multorum, qui te praesentem non viderunt, morum elegantia id exigente, gratiam meruisti.

Where, with much honor, illustrious men standing by and wishing to gaze upon the man about whom they had heard much and had in part come to know, having been received, and the princes who had come with him, as their dignity demanded, both honored with a salutation and likewise admitted to the kiss of peace, he inquires more carefully about their safety; and running through the names of each, that he might win their favor for himself, he showed himself to each affable and benign. At last, however, meeting the duke, he addresses him with these words: Our empire has heard, dearest duke, that among your princes you are most powerful; and the purpose of piety, which you zealously pursue, armed with a commendable fervor of devotion, is not unknown; and what is more, celebrated fame proclaims far and wide that you are a man of constant spirit and sincere faith. Whence even with many who have not seen you in person, the elegance of your manners requiring it, you have merited favor.

Quapropter nos etiam te totis charitatis visceribus amplecti volentes, et honorare propensius, in filium hodie praesentibus sacri palatii nostri magnatibus, te adoptare decrevimus; imperium nostrum in tua potestate ponentes, ut per te in facie praesentis et adfuturae multitudinis illaesum manere possit et incolume. His dictis, eum vestibus indutum imperialibus, adhibita juxta morem curiae solemnitate quadam, quae in hujusmodi arrogationibus fieri solet, secundum regionis morem adoptavit in filium, pace et gratia utrinque plenius reformata.

Wherefore we also, wishing to embrace you with all the bowels of charity, and to honor you more earnestly, have decreed today, in the presence of the magnates of our sacred palace, to adopt you as a son; placing our empire in your power, so that through you, in the face of the present and the future multitude, it may be able to remain unharmed and intact. With these things said, him clothed in imperial garments, with a certain solemnity applied according to the custom of the court, which is wont to be done in arrogations of this kind, he adopted as a son according to the custom of the region, peace and grace on both sides being more fully reformed.

CAPUT XII Dux muneribus cumulatus sumpta ad tempus licentia egreditur: rerum venalium forum exhibetur; ducis legiones Bosphorum transeunt et in pago Chalcedonensi castrametantur.

CHAPTER 12 The duke, heaped with gifts, having taken temporary leave, goes forth: a marketplace of things for sale is exhibited; the duke’s legions cross the Bosphorus and encamp in the Chalcedonian district.

Quo facto, apertis thesauris suis tam domino duci, quam ejus consortibus, dona ingentia in auro, gemmis et holosericis, et vasis pretiosis, hominum aestimationem tam operis elegantia quam dignitate materiae penitus excedentia, pro sua liberalitate contulit; ita ut usque ad supremum muneribus cumulati, et divitiarum incomparabiles copias, et principis admirarentur munificentiam. Nec semel tantum erga ducem tanta functus est liberalitate; sed ab Epiphaniorum die usque ad Ascensionem Domini singulis hebdomadibus, quantum duo viri fortes aureae monetae poterant humeris sustinere; de aereis vero denariis, decem modii, de imperiali palatio ei ministrabantur. Qui tamen omnia, nihil sibi faciens residui, nobilibus et populo, prout cuique videbatur necessarium, liberaliter erogabat.

This done, with his treasures opened he bestowed, both upon the lord duke and upon his companions, enormous gifts in gold, gems, and holoserics, and in precious vessels, utterly exceeding human estimation as much by the elegance of the workmanship as by the dignity of the material, according to his liberality; so that, heaped with gifts up to the very brim, they marveled both at the incomparable supplies of riches and at the prince’s munificence. Nor did he exercise so great liberality toward the duke only once; but from the day of the Epiphany up to the Ascension of the Lord, each week as much in gold coin as two stout men could bear upon their shoulders, and, as for bronze denarii, ten modii, were supplied to him from the imperial palace. He, however, distributing all liberally to the nobles and to the people, as to each seemed necessary, made nothing remain over for himself.

Egressi ergo a domino imperatore, sumpta ad tempus licentia, in castra reversi sunt. Unde Joannem imperatoris filium, quem usque ad domini ducis reditum obsidem in castris detinuerant, cum honesto comitatu ad patrem remiserunt. Imperator vero, edicto publice manifestato, poena mortis ejus violatoribus infligenda, praecepit, ut justo pretio et aequo pondere ducis exercitui quaelibet necessaria venderentur.

Egressing therefore from the lord emperor, having taken leave for the time, they returned to the camp. Whence they sent back John, the emperor’s son, whom they had detained in the camp as a hostage until the lord duke’s return, to his father with an honorable retinue. The emperor, moreover, with an edict publicly manifested, the penalty of death to be inflicted upon its violators, ordered that to the duke’s army whatever necessities should be sold at a just price and with equal weight.

Dux etiam nihilominus in castris voce praeconia sub poena mortis inhibuit, ne hominibus imperatoris aut vis inferretur, aut injuria. Sicque satis convenienter se supportantes adinvicem, mutuis cum omni tranquillitate usi sunt commerciis. Tandem vero mense Martio mediante, audiens dux, quod alii principes in vicino constituti, cum suis exercitibus advenirent, suggerente imperatore; et id ipsum volentibus tam plebe sua, quam patribus, parato navigio transiens Hellespontum, exercitum suum in Bithynia, quae prima de Asianis provinciis occurrit, collocavit; inque pago Calcedonensi castrametatus est.

The duke likewise, nonetheless, in the camp by a herald’s voice forbade under penalty of death, lest either violence or injury be inflicted upon the emperor’s men. And thus, supporting one another quite suitably, they made use of mutual commerce with all tranquillity. At length, however, in mid-March, the duke, hearing that other princes, stationed nearby, were coming with their armies, at the emperor’s suggestion; and with that very course being desired both by his plebs and by the patres, with a ship made ready, crossing the Hellespont, stationed his army in Bithynia, which is the first of the Asiatic provinces to present itself; and he encamped in the Chalcedonian pagus.

Est autem Calcedon civitas in Bithynia, ubi sexcentorum Patrum et triginta sex, tempore domini Leonis papae senioris et domini Marciani Augusti, contra Eutychetis monachi et Dioscori patriarchae Alexandrini impietates, quarta synodus generalis convenit: locus videlicet Constantinopoli proximus, et sola Bosphori interpositione distans; unde et urbem in vicino constitutam, erat omnibus intueri; et qui negotiis urgentibus trahebantur, ter vel quater in die ad urbem ire regiam et ad castra redire sine difficultate poterant. Quod autem maturius ducis exercitum transfretare persuasionibus suis compulerat, non de fidei sinceritate processit; sed fraude solita ducem circumvenit, ne aliis advenientibus, ejus copiae possent admisceri. Nam et reliquos qui postea subsecuti sunt, eodem artificio singillatim transire compulit, ita ut nunquam duo simul ante urbem fuerint exercitus.

Now Chalcedon is a city in Bithynia, where, in the time of lord Leo the elder, the pope, and lord Marcian Augustus, the fourth general synod convened, of 636 Fathers, against the impieties of Eutyches the monk and of Dioscorus, patriarch of Alexandria: a place, namely, near to Constantinople and separated only by the interposition of the Bosporus; whence it was possible for all to gaze upon the city situated nearby; and those who were drawn by urgent affairs could go to the royal city three or even four times in a day and return to the camp without difficulty. But that he had, by his persuasions, compelled the duke’s army to cross over more quickly did not proceed from sincerity of faith; rather by his customary fraud he circumvented the duke, lest, with others arriving, his forces could be mingled with theirs. For he also compelled the rest who followed afterward to cross singly by the same artifice, so that never were there two armies at the same time before the city.

CAPUT XIII. Boamundus accelerat; describuntur nobiles qui eum sequuntur; imperator occulte ei parat insidias.

CHAPTER 13. Bohemond hastens; the nobles who follow him are described; the emperor secretly prepares ambushes for him.

Interea dum haec circa Constantinopolim per imperatorem et hominum ducem sic geruntur, dominus Boamundus, Roberti Guischardi filius, princeps Tarentinus, qui ante ingruentem hiemem cum suo exercitu Adriaticum mare transiens, Durachium usque pervenerat, per deserta Bulgariae suos, qui eum subsequebantur, operiens, pedetentim accedebat. Adhaeserant porro ei, et ejus castris se adjunxerant, tam de Italia, quam de aliis provinciis viri nobiles, et potentes plurimi: quorum ad perpetuam memoriam numerum et nomina ex parte comprehendimus. Tancredus, Willelmi marchionis filius; Richardus de Principatu, filius Guillelmi Ferrebrachia, fratris Roberti Guischart; Ranulfus, frater ejus; Robertus de Anxa, Hermannus de Carni, Robertus de Surdavalle, Robertus, filius Tristani; Hunfredus, filius Rodulfi; Richardus, filius comitis Ranulfi, et comes de Rosinolo cum fratribus suis, et Boelus Carnotensis; Alberedus de Cagnano; Hunfredus de Monte scabioso.

Meanwhile, while these things around Constantinople were thus being carried on by the emperor and the leader of men, lord Bohemund, son of Robert Guiscard, the Tarentine prince, who, before the oncoming winter, crossing the Adriatic Sea with his army, had come as far as Dyrrachium, through the wastes of Bulgaria, awaiting his own who were following him, was drawing near little by little. Moreover, there had adhered to him and had joined his camp, both from Italy and from other provinces, very many noble and powerful men: of whom, for perpetual memory, we in part set down the number and the names. Tancred, son of William the marquis; Richard of the Principate, son of William Iron-Arm, brother of Robert Guiscard; Ranulf, his brother; Robert of Anxa, Hermann of Carni, Robert of Surdavalle, Robert, son of Tristan; Humphrey, son of Ralph; Richard, son of Count Ranulf, and the count of Rosinol with his brothers, and Boel of Chartres; Albered of Cagnano; Humphrey of Monte Scabioso.

Hi ergo omnes domini Boamundi vexilla secuti, usque ad urbem Castoream, ubi Dominicae Nativitatis dies celebres egerunt, pervenerant. Ubi quoniam a civibus venalia populo praetereunti non exhibebantur, compulsi sunt greges et armenta, et caetera victui necessaria, rapere violenter; et damna locorum habitatoribus, qui eos tanquam hostes abominabantur, inferre. Inde progressi, in regione uberrima, cui nomen est Pelagonia, castrametati sunt.

These therefore all, having followed Lord Boamund’s standards, had come as far as the city Castorea, where they kept the festal days of the Lord’s Nativity. Since there the citizens did not offer wares for sale to the passing people, they were compelled to seize violently flocks and herds, and the other things necessary for victuals, and to inflict damages upon the inhabitants of the places, who abominated them as though enemies. Thence, having progressed, they encamped in a most fertile region, whose name is Pelagonia.

Ubi audientes quod in vicino erat municipium solis haereticis habitatoribus refertum, illuc sub omni celeritate contendunt, et castrum violenter occupantes, succensis aedificiis, oppidanis quoque partim gladio, partim consumptis incendio, praedam universam et opima inde retulerunt spolia. Imperator vero praedicti domini Boamundi audiens adventare legiones, primiceriis exercituum suorum, quos in iisdem regionibus gratia hicmandi collocaverat, clam praecipit ut usque ad Bardarium fluvium cum universis illarum regionum copiis ex latere sine intermissione prosequantur, ut si forte eis conveniens daretur occasio, et ita opportunitas se offerret nocte vel interdiu, clam sive aliter, exercitum procedentem tentarent fatigare. Suspectissimum enim domini Boamundi habebat introitum.

Where, hearing that nearby there was a municipality filled with inhabitants who were solely heretics, they hasten thither with all speed, and, violently seizing the stronghold, with the buildings set on fire and the townspeople partly by the sword, partly consumed by the blaze, they carried off from there all the booty and rich spoils. But the emperor, hearing that the legions of the aforesaid lord Boamund were approaching, secretly instructs the primicerii of his armies, whom he had stationed in those same regions for the purpose of remaining there, that with all the forces of those regions they should pursue them up to the river Bardarius from the flank, without intermission, so that, if perchance a suitable chance were given them, and thus an opportunity should offer itself by night or by day, secretly or otherwise, they might attempt to weary the army as it advanced. For he held the entry of lord Boamund most suspect.

Nam tam ab eo quam ab ejus patre, multas et saepius passus fuerat injurias. Verumtamen sicut vir erat subdolus, potens simulare et dissimulare propositum, missis quibusdam nobilibus ex suis domesticis ad eumdem virum egregium, verbis pacificis ei locutus est in dolo, tentans si quo modo eum posset decipere. Erat autem verborum quae tam viva voce quam litteris per nuntios porrexerat praedictos, tenor hujusmodi:

For both at his hands and at his father’s, he had suffered many and very frequent injuries. Nevertheless, as he was a crafty man, able to simulate and dissimulate his purpose, having sent certain nobles from among his household to that same distinguished man, he addressed him with pacific words in guile, trying whether by any means he could deceive him. Now the tenor of the words which he had put forth both viva voce and by letters through the aforesaid messengers was of this kind:

CAPUT XIV. Epistola imperatoris Alexii ad Boamundum. Irruit clam exercitus imperatoris in castra Boamundi. Capiuntur quidam, qui malitiam imperatoris detegunt

CHAPTER 14. Epistle of Emperor Alexius to Boamund. The emperor’s army rushes in stealthily into Boamund’s camp. Certain men are captured, who uncover the malice of the emperor

Compertum habet, et nullatenus dubitat nostrum imperium, a Deo protectum, quod magnus et potens sis princeps, et egregius, magnifici quoque, et praepotentis, et industrii principis filius: teque hactenus, meritis tuis id exigentibus, charum semper habuimus et acceptum, licet te praesentem non inspexerimus. Et nunc, quoniam ad servitutem Dei et pietatis obsequia accinctum te et ejusdem peregrinationis cum caeteris Deo devotis principibus consortium iniisse audivimus, fortius amare et honorare propensius, cordi nobis est, et in prompta fixum gerimus voluntate. Quapropter, dilectissime noster, populis praecipe, qui te sequuntur, subjectis nostris parcere; violentiam, rapinas et incendia fac cessare, ad nostram quantocius accedens praesentiam, securus de multiplici honore et gratia nostra, qua multipliciter te proposuimus praevenire.

Our empire, protected by God, holds it as ascertained and by no means doubts that you are a great and potent prince, and an egregious one, the son also of a magnificent, prepotent, and industrious prince: and you we have hitherto, your merits requiring it, always held dear and acceptable, although we have not beheld you in person. And now, since we have heard that you are girt for the service of God and the offices of piety, and that you have entered the consortium of that same pilgrimage with the other princes devoted to God, it is at our heart to love you more strongly and to honor you more readily, and we bear this fixed in a prompt will. Wherefore, our most beloved, command the peoples who follow you to spare our subjects; cause violence, rapines, and burnings to cease; drawing near to our presence as soon as possible, secure of manifold honor and of our grace, with which we have purposed manifoldly to go before you.

Praesentium quoque latoribus dedimus in mandatis, ut exercitibus tuis justo pretio necessaria procurent, ut sine intermissione, rerum venalium eos copia prosequatur. Haec imperatoris verba, etsi in superficie multam videbantur habere humanitatem, intrinsecus tamen virus occultabant admistum. Verum Boamundus, tanquam vir solers et argutus, imperatoris compertam habens malitiam, propositum dissimulans, cautius se habebat, gratias referens imperatori pro eo quod de statu suo dignaretur esse sollicitus. His igitur ducibus usque ad Bardarium fluvium perveniens, cum jam ex parte, enavigato amne in ulteriore ripa consisteret exercitus, pars vero adhuc transeundi urgeret propositum, ecce imperatoris satellites, qui cum infinita manu exercitus nostri vestigia sequebantur, rati opportunitatem se invenisse, in eam partem exercitus, quae adhuc in transeundi erat procinctu, hostiliter irruunt, quanta poterant importunitate instantes.

We have also given in mandates to the bearers of the present [letters], that they procure for your armies the necessaries at a just price, so that without interruption a plenty of things for sale may attend them. These words of the emperor, although on the surface they seemed to have much humanity, yet within hid a poison admixed. But Boamund, as a man skillful and shrewd, having the emperor’s malice ascertained, dissembling his own purpose, bore himself more cautiously, returning thanks to the emperor for that he deigned to be solicitous about his condition. With these guides, therefore, reaching as far as the river Bardarius, when already, the stream having been sailed across in part, the army was standing on the farther bank, while a part still was pressing the plan of crossing, lo, the emperor’s satellites, who with an innumerable host were following the footsteps of our army, thinking that they had found an opportunity, rush hostilely upon that part of the army which was still in the array for crossing, pressing them with as much importunity as they could.

Quod Tancredus intelligens, sicut vir erat expeditissimus, fulmineus advolat; et fluvium, qui medius erat, enatans, partem fluminis attigit ulteriorem. Quem secuti equites, quasi ad duo millia, primo eorum statim adventu, praedictorum cohortes dissolvunt gladiis; et conversos in fugam, caedendo aliquantulum sunt prosecuti, interfectisque ex eis quampluribus, nonnullos etiam comprehendentes, ante dominum Boamundum eos statuerunt. Qui cum diligentius interrogarentur, quare Christianum persequerentur exercitum, responderunt, quod homines imperatoris essent, et merendo stipendia ad ejus praeceptum militare eos oporteret. Hic demum plenius cunctis innotuit, quod quidquid eis imperator loquebatur, fraus erat et circumventio; tamen quia per eum transituri erant, invitis aliis Boamundus dissimulare potius volebat injurias, quam eum inutiliter ad iracundiam provocare.

Which when Tancred understood, as he was a most expeditious man, he flies thunderbolt-like; and swimming across the river which was between, he reached the further bank. Him the knights followed, about two thousand, and at their very first arrival they dissolve with swords the cohorts aforesaid; and, turning them to flight, by cutting down they pursued them a little, and with very many of them slain, also seizing some, they set them before lord Bohemond. When they were more diligently interrogated, why they were persecuting the Christian army, they answered that they were the emperor’s men, and that, earning stipends, it behooved them to soldier at his command. Here at last it became more fully known to all that whatever the emperor spoke to them was fraud and circumvention; yet because they had to pass through him, while others were unwilling, Bohemond preferred rather to dissemble the injuries than to provoke him uselessly to wrath.

CAPUT XV Occurrit dux domino Boamundo, et invitum quasi ad imperatorem introducit; ubi plurimum honoratur. Tancredus interim legiones transfert in Bithyniam, ubi ducis cohortibus sociantur.

CHAPTER 15 The duke meets lord Bohemond, and, as it were unwilling, introduces him to the emperor; where he is honored very greatly. Tancred meanwhile transfers the legions into Bithynia, where they are associated with the duke’s cohorts.

Transcursa igitur Macedonia et universa Illyrico, competendi moderamine itinere maturato, ad urbem coepit appropinquare. Cumque in vicino esset constitutus, quinta feria ante Paschalem solemnitatem, suscepta iterum imperatoris legatione, persuadente ut dimisso exercitu ad se cum paucis et familiaribus suis ingrederetur, substitit aliquantulum; et effectui mancipare quod praecipiebatur, distulit, suspectam illius habens malitiam. Dumque sic fluctuaret in incerto, ecce vir illustris dux Godefridus, ab imperatore multa precum victus instantia, ut domino Boamundo exiret obviam, et eum ad se nihil dubitantem introduceret, cum honesto principum comitatu praedicto viro occurrit magnifice.

Macedonia therefore and all Illyricum having been traversed, with the march hastened under the governance of pressing-on, he began to approach the city. And when he was positioned nearby, on the Thursday before the Paschal solemnity, having again received the emperor’s legation, which was persuading that, the army having been dismissed, he should come in to him with a few and with his familiars, he halted for a little; and he deferred to consign to effect what was being enjoined, holding his malice suspect. And while he was thus wavering in uncertainty, behold, the illustrious man Duke Godfrey, overcome by the emperor’s much urgency of entreaties that he should go out to meet lord Bohemond and should introduce him to himself doubting nothing, with an honorable company of princes met the aforesaid man magnificently.

Ubi mutuis complexibus et sincerae charitatis osculo se suscipientes ad invicem, post grata colloquia et mutuas de statu singulorum interrogationes, Boamundus a domino duce commonitus, ut ad imperatorem, sicut vocatus fuerat, ingrederetur, licet primum se difficilem exhiberet, et ducis non satis exaudiret monita, imperatoris suspecta, ut praediximus, habens colloquia, postmodum tamen honesta evictus persuasione, duce praevio, ad imperatorem confidenter ingressus est. Ubi ab eodem in osculo pacis et multimoda gratia, et honore praeventus multiplici, post multa familiariter cum utroque habita consilia, factus est, ut dicitur, dominus Boamundus imperatoris homo, fidelitate manualiter exhibita, et juramento praestito corporaliter, qualiter solent fideles dominis suis exhibere. Quo facto, ex imperialibus vestiariis oblata sunt praedicto viro munera in auro, vestibus, vasis et pretiosis lapidibus, tam pretio quam dignitate incomparabilia.

Where, receiving one another with mutual embraces and with the kiss of sincere charity, after pleasing conversations and mutual inquiries about each one’s condition, Boamund, admonished by the lord duke to go in to the emperor as he had been summoned, although at first he showed himself hard to move and did not sufficiently heed the duke’s admonitions, holding, as we said above, the emperor’s colloquies suspect, afterwards, however, overcome by honorable persuasion, with the duke going before, went in confidently to the emperor. There he was received by the same in the kiss of peace and with manifold grace and with multiple honor; and after many counsels held familiarly with them both, Lord Boamund was made, as it is said, the emperor’s man, fealty being rendered by hand, and an oath being sworn corporally, in the manner that the faithful are wont to render to their lords. This done, from the imperial wardrobes there were offered to the aforesaid man gifts in gold, garments, vessels, and precious stones, incomparable both in price and in dignity.

His igitur ita pacificatis, dum adhuc in palatio moram faceret dominus Boamundus, Tancredus vir per omnia commendabilis, ejusdem ex sorore nepos, imperatoris praesentiam studiose declinans, et colloquia universum interim exercitum in Bithyniam transtulerat, ultra Bosphorum in pago Chalcedonensi (ubi et domini ducis translatus dudum residebat exercitus, subsequentium exspectans adventum), castrametatus. Quod postquam imperatori plenius innotuit, quod dominus Tancredus ejus ita declinaverat praesentiam, aegre tulit plurimum. Sed more prudentis, injuriam dissimulans, praesentes principes iterum atque iterum muneribus cumulans immensis, cum multo honore ad castra trans Bosphorum remisit propria, ubi junctis agminibus, et plena charitate sociatis, in conspectu urbis uterque residebat exercitus, exspectantes subsequentium adventum principum, ut sociatis legionibus, iter quod assumpserant, unanimiter prosequerentur.

Therefore, with these matters thus pacified, while lord Bohemond was still making delay in the palace, Tancred, a man commendable in all respects, his nephew by a sister, diligently declining the emperor’s presence and colloquies, had meanwhile transferred the whole army into Bithynia, beyond the Bosporus in the Chalcedonian pagus (where also the army of the lord duke, having been ferried across, had for some time been residing, awaiting the arrival of those following), and he encamped. When this had become more fully known to the emperor, that lord Tancred had thus shunned his presence, he took it very hard. But after the manner of a prudent man, dissembling the injury, again and again heaping the present princes with immense gifts, he sent them back with much honor to their own camp across the Bosporus, where, their columns joined and united in full charity, each army was residing in sight of the city, awaiting the coming of the subsequent princes, so that, their legions joined, they might with one mind pursue the journey which they had undertaken.

Ministrabatur autem tam ex urbe regia, quam ex adjacentibus suburbanis, populo illic posito, ad sufficientiam, victus necessarius, ita ut pro voto copiosius abundarent.

Moreover, both from the royal city and from the adjacent suburbs, necessary victuals were supplied to the people stationed there to sufficiency, such that, according to their wish, they abounded more copiously.

CAPUT XVI. Comes Flandrensium Robertus cum suis adest, ab imperatore vocatus introducitur, et muneribus ingentibus susceptis mare transit, et praedictis sociatur principibus.

CHAPTER 16. Count Robert of Flanders arrives with his own men, is introduced when summoned by the emperor, and, having received immense gifts, crosses the sea and is joined to the aforesaid princes.

Interea vir illustris Flandrensium comes Robertus, qui a principio ineuntis hiemis cum suo comitatu mare transiens, a Baro Apuliae civitate maritima Durachium descenderat, in locis fertilibus, silvis, pascuis et omnimoda commoditate refertis, instantis brumae declinaverat importunitatem: tandemque circa veris initium iter arripiens, reliquos principes, qui jam mare transierant, ut eis adjungeretur, multa prosecutus est instantia. Qui antequam Constantinopolim perveniret, sicuti et aliis acciderat, legatos suscepit imperiales, per quos ei mandabatur, quatenus relicto exercitu, ad ejus praesentiam paucis comitatus, accederet. Ipse autem, quomodo qui eum praecesserant cum domino imperatore se habuissent, plenius edoctus, Constantinopolim perveniens, palatium cum paucis consortibus ingressus est.

Meanwhile the illustrious man Robert, Count of the Flemings, who from the beginning of the incipient winter, crossing the sea with his retinue, had from Bari, the maritime city of Apulia, put in at Durachium, in regions fertile and filled with woods, pastures, and every manner of convenience, had avoided the importunity of the impending winter: and at length, around the beginning of spring, taking up the journey, he pressed with much urgency to be joined to the other princes who had already crossed the sea. He, before he should arrive at Constantinople, just as had happened also to the others, received imperial legates, through whom it was enjoined upon him that, leaving the army behind, he should approach his presence accompanied by a few. He himself, moreover, being more fully instructed how those who had preceded him had borne themselves with the lord emperor, arriving at Constantinople, entered the palace with a few companions.

Ubi ab imperatore cum multa receptus honorificentia et benigne tractatus, exactam fidelitatem, aliorum sequens vestigia, corporaliter impendit. Unde et majorem consecutus gratiam, dona suscepit ingentia, sociis ejus etiam juxta modum suum pari liberalitate honoratis. Postquam vero diebus aliquot, ejus exercitus ibi juxta urbem et alimentis et otio recreatus est; ipseque ad imperatorem saepius ingressus, de his quae necessaria videbantur, cum eo sufficienter contulit, sumpta licentia, cohortes transferens, ad viae consortes navigavit, a quibus benigne et plena charitate susceptus, eorum exercitibus cum suo comitatu sociatus est.

Where, having been received by the emperor with much honor and treated benignly, he rendered exact fidelity, following the footsteps of the others, in person. Whence also, having obtained greater favor, he received enormous gifts, his associates likewise being honored with equal liberality according to their station. After, in fact, when for several days his army there near the city had been refreshed both with provisions and with leisure; and he himself, having gone in to the emperor repeatedly, had conferred sufficiently with him about the things which seemed necessary, leave having been taken, transferring his cohorts, he sailed to the companions of the way, by whom he was received kindly and with full charity, and he was joined to their armies with his own retinue.

Ubi cum diebus singulis mutuis confabulationibus de variis rerum eventibus, qui singulis eorum in itinere acciderant, se recrearent ad invicem; et labores suos grata quadam revolverent memoria, ad id quod instabat novissime recurrebat tractatus, ut diligentius inter se quaererent quando et quomodo ad operis coepti consummationem intenderent. Dumque circa hoc essent solliciti, et moram subsequentium arguerent sociorum, eis imputantes, quod sine fructu tempora praeterirent, ecce nuntius comitis Tolosani et episcopi Podiensis, utrumque adesse et in proximo urbem ingressuros, edocet.

Where, as day by day by mutual confabulations about the various events of things which had befallen each of them on the journey, they refreshed themselves one with another; and rolled back their labors with a certain grateful memory, the discussion at last would return to that which was pressing, that they should more diligently inquire among themselves when and how they might aim at the consummation of the work begun. And while they were anxious about this, and were charging their companions who were following with delay, imputing to them that the times were passing without fruit, lo, a messenger of the Count of Toulouse and the Bishop of Le Puy informs that both are present and will shortly enter the city.

CAPUT XVII. Comes Tolosanus, et episcopus Podiensis cum suis agminibus per Dalmatiam properant, multam difficultatem itineris in ea regione perpessi.

CHAPTER 17. The Count of Toulouse, and the Bishop of Le Puy, with their marching columns, hasten through Dalmatia, having endured much difficulty of the journey in that region.

Porro hi duo magni et illustres viri, ab initio suscepti itineris cum suis expeditionibus, comites sibi perpetuo adhaeserunt indivisi. Erantque cum eis viri nobiles et apud suos tam nobilitate quam morum elegantia clarissimi: dominus videlicet Willelmus Aurasiensis episcopus et Rambaldus ejusdem civitatis comes, Gaustus de Bederz, Girardus de Rosseilon, Guillelmus de Montepessulano, Guillelmus comes Forensis, Raimundus Pelez, Centonius de Bear, Guillelmus Amaneu; et alii multi, quorum etsi nomina non tenemus, certum est tamen ea in libro vitae conscripta esse. Quippe qui patriam cognationem et amicos, et late diffusa patrimonia relinquentes, Christum secuti sunt, voluntariam amplexi paupertatem.

Moreover, these two great and illustrious men, from the beginning of the undertaken journey, with their expeditions, adhered to one another as inseparable companions continually. And with them were noble men and, among their own, most renowned both for nobility and for elegance of manners: namely Lord William, bishop of Orange, and Rambaud, count of the same city, Gaustus of Bederz, Gerard of Roussillon, William of Montpellier, William, count of Forez, Raymond Pelez, Centonius of Béarn, William Amanieu; and many others, whose names, even if we do not retain them, it is certain nevertheless that they are inscribed in the book of life. For they, leaving fatherland, kin, and friends, and patrimonies spread far and wide, followed Christ, having embraced voluntary poverty.

Hi omnes, praedictos venerabiles viros cum omni reverentia secuti, in Italiam descenderunt, transcursaque Lombardia, per eam regionem quae forum Julii appellatur, juxta Aquileiam transeuntes in Istriam, inde tandem in Dalmatiam descenderunt. Est autem Dalmatia longe patens regio inter Hungariam et Adriaticum mare sita, quatuor habens metropoles, Iazaram et Salonam, quae alio nomine dicitur Spaletum, Antibarim et Ragusam; populo ferocissimo, rapinis et caedibus assueto inhabitata: montibus et silvis, magnis quoque fluminibus, pascuis etiam longe lateque diffusis occupata penitus, ita ut raram habeat agrorum culturam, locorum incolis in gregibus et armentis omnem vivendi habentibus fiduciam: exceptis paucis, qui in oris maritimis habitant, qui ab aliis et moribus et lingua dissimiles, Latinum habent idioma; reliquis Sclavonico sermone utentibus et habitu barbarorum. Hanc igitur ingressi provinciam, multam invenerunt itineris difficultatem, maxime propter hiemis instantiam et locorum nimiam inaequalitatem; sed et victus et alimentorum sustinentes gravem defectum, periculose satis per dies aliquot laboraverunt inedia.

All these, following the aforesaid venerable men with all reverence, descended into Italy; and, Lombardy having been traversed, through that region which is called Forum Julii, passing near Aquileia into Istria, thence at length they descended into Dalmatia. Now Dalmatia is a far‑extending region situated between Hungary and the Adriatic Sea, having four metropolises, Iazara and Salona, which by another name is called Spaletum, Antibarium and Ragusa; inhabited by a most ferocious people, accustomed to rapine and slaughters: wholly occupied by mountains and woods, and also by great rivers, and by pastures too spread far and wide, so that it has but rare cultivation of the fields, the inhabitants of the places placing all their confidence of living in flocks and herds—except a few who dwell on the maritime shores, who, unlike the others in manners and in language, have the Latin idiom; the rest using the Slavonic speech and the garb of barbarians. Therefore, having entered this province, they found much difficulty of the journey, chiefly on account of the imminence of winter and the excessive inequality of the places; and, moreover, enduring a grievous lack of victuals and aliments, for several days they labored in dangerous wise under hunger.

Locorum sane habitatores relictis urbibus et praesidiis, ad montes et silvarum condensa cum uxoribus et liberis, et cum omni substantia, quasi agrestes ferae fugientes, nostrorum formidabant aspectum. Occulte tamen, et de remoto, proficiscentis exercitus vestigia sequentes, senes valetudinarios, anus quoque grandaevas, quae lento gradiebantur itinere, seorsum reperientes occidebant. Comes vero totius multitudinis debitam gerens sollicitudinem, praemissis de principibus aliquot, qui agmina praeirent, ipse cum maxima loricatorum manu postremus semper incedebat, novissimus hospitabatur.

The inhabitants of the places, indeed, abandoning the cities and garrisons, to the mountains and the dense thickets of the woods, with wives and children, and with all their substance, fleeing like rustic wild beasts, dreaded the sight of our men. Secretly, however, and from afar, following the tracks of the departing army, they would, finding apart infirm elders, and also very aged old women who were proceeding with a slow pace on the way, kill them. But the count, bearing the due solicitude for the whole multitude, having sent ahead several of the chiefs to go before the columns, he himself, with a very large band of mail‑clad men, always advanced as the rearmost, and took lodging last of all.

Erat praeterea aer caliginosus et tenebrae continuae, pene palpabiles, ita ut qui sequebantur, praecedentium vix tenerent vestigia; et qui praeibant, vix per jactum lapidis ante se loca possent discernere. Terra enim, ut praediximus, rivis fluminibusque abundans, et pene tota palustris, tantam diebus singulis ex se dabat uliginem et tantam crassitudinem nebularum, ut aerem redderent pene suffocatorium. Ad haec, Sclavi Dalmatae, tanquam indigenae, locorum habentes peritiam, per abrupta montium et nemorum condensa, exercitum ex latere sequentes, frequentibus irruptionibus inermem populum, e silvis prodeuntes opprimebant.

Moreover, the air was caliginous and the darkness continual, almost palpable, so that those who were following could scarcely keep the tracks of those going before; and those who went ahead could scarcely discern the places before them for a stone’s throw before them. For the land, as we have said above, abounding in streams and rivers, and almost wholly marshy, gave off each day so much dampness from itself and such a thickness of mists, that they rendered the air almost suffocatory. Besides, the Dalmatian Slavs, as natives, having expertise of the places, through the steep places of the mountains and the dense parts of the groves, following the army on the flank, with frequent irruptions, coming forth from the woods, were overwhelming the unarmed people.

Comes vero, et alii magnates in ipsos tales saepissime facientes impetus, multos ex eis lanceis confossos et obtruncatos gladiis perimebant; pluresque saepius occidissent, nisi quia silvas habentes vicinas et ad eas confugientes, praesens captabant remedium. Accidit tamen quadam die, quod ex praedictis malefactoribus captis quibusdam, comes manus et pedes praecepit amputari, ut eorum consortes saltem hac poena deterriti, exercitum persequi formidarent. Cumque tribus hebdomadibus continuis tam laborioso itinere regionis partem transcurrissent, pervenientes ad locum, cui Scodra nomen, Sclavorum regem ibi repererunt.

But the count, and other magnates, making very frequent onsets upon such men themselves, were slaying many of them, stabbed through with lances and hewn down with swords; and they would have killed more, and more often, if not because, having woods nearby and fleeing to them, they were grasping an immediate remedy. It happened, however, on a certain day, that, of the aforesaid malefactors, when some were captured, the count ordered hands and feet to be amputated, so that their associates, at least deterred by this penalty, might dread to pursue the army. And when for three continuous weeks, with so toilsome a journey, they had run through part of the region, arriving at a place whose name is Scodra, they found there the king of the Slavs.

Cumque dominus comes, sicut vir benignus erat, affabilis et misericors, multa munerum liberalitate amicitiam contrahens, sperabat populo suo indigenarum gratiam obtinere, ut saltem commercii et rerum venalium copiam consequeretur: tandem nec hac via praedictae gentis ferocitatem emollire potuit, quos deinceps multo saeviores invenit. Cumque per dies quasi quadraginta omnem Dalmatiam multo pertransissent labore, tandem pervenerunt Durachium.

And since the lord Count, as he was a kindly man, affable and merciful, by much liberality of gifts contracting friendship, hoped to obtain for his people the favor of the natives, so that at least he might secure an abundance of commerce and of vendible goods: yet not even by this way could he soften the ferocity of the aforesaid nation, whom thereafter he found much more savage. And when for nearly forty days they had traversed all Dalmatia with much labor, at length they arrived at Dyrrhachium.

CAPUT XVIII. Apud Durachium eidem comiti imperialis occurrit legatus; episcopus Podiensis a Bulgaris capitur; sed Domino miserante liberatur. Iterum apud Rodestum tam imperatoris quam principum nostrorum eidem occurrit legatio.

CHAPTER 18. At Durachium an imperial legate meets the same count; the Bishop of Le Puy is captured by the Bulgars; but, the Lord having mercy, he is liberated. Again at Rodestus both the emperor’s legation and that of our princes meet the same man.

Imperator vero comitis suspectum habens adventum, eo quod vir prudens et magnificus esset, et majores secum traheret copias, missa multo ante legatione honestorum virorum, qui ei apud Durachium occurrerent, praecepit, ut advenientem ex parte ejus officiosissime salutatum, honeste tractarent. Qui dicto parentes, in ejus praesentia constituti, viva voce et litteris eum blande allocuti sunt, imperatoris porrigentes epistolam, cujus hic tenor erat: Jamdudum, comes dilectissime, tuae prudentiae opinio celebris et probitatis late diffusa fragrantia ad nostri pervenit aures imperii; et meritis exigentibus, nos ad tui dilectionem invitavit, propositum habentes personam tuam amare et honorare propensius. Unde et tuum adventum cum multo desiderio exspectavimus, multa de publicis negotiis cum tua nobilitate imperio nostro charissima, tractare cupientes.

The emperor, however, holding the count’s arrival in suspicion, because he was a prudent and magnificent man, and was drawing larger forces with him, having sent long before a legation of honorable men to meet him at Durachium, ordered that, the one arriving, on his behalf they should most dutifully greet him and treat him honorably. They, obeying the command, once set in his presence, addressed him blandly by living voice and by letters, presenting the emperor’s epistle, whose tenor was this: Long since, most beloved count, the celebrated report of your prudence and the widely diffused fragrance of your probity has reached the ears of our empire; and, the merits demanding it, has invited us to love for you, having the purpose to love and honor your person more earnestly. Whence also we have awaited your arrival with much desire, wishing to treat many matters of public business with your nobility, most dear to our empire.

Unde monemus attentius, ut sine tumultu et scandalis terras nostras pertransiens, ad nos festinus accedas, securus de gratia nostra et honore multiplici, quo te proposuimus praevenire. Praesentium autem latoribus dedimus in mandatis, ut rerum venalium copiam et juge commercium populo tuo bonis conditionibus faciant exhiberi. His litteris tam comes quam ejus exercitus exhilaratus admodum, rursus iter arripiens, transcursis silvis et montibus, et universa Epirotarum regione, multorum labore dierum, demum in pagum, cui Pelagonia nomen est, omnibus redundantem copiis descendentes, castrametati sunt. Ubi cum vir vitae venerabilis dominus Podiensis Episcopus longius a castris aliquantulum, hospitandi commoditatem secutus, seorsum locasset tentoria, a Bulgaris irruentibus captus est.

Whence we admonish more attentively, that, passing through our lands without tumult and scandals, you hasten to come to us, secure of our favor and manifold honor, with which we have proposed to anticipate you. Moreover, to the bearers of these presents we have given in mandates, that an abundance of things for sale and a continual commerce be made to be exhibited to your people on good terms. By these letters both the count and his army were very much exhilarated, and, taking up the journey again, after running across forests and mountains, and the whole region of the Epirotes, by the toil of many days, at length they descended into a district whose name is Pelagonia, overflowing with all supplies, and pitched camp. There, when the man of venerable life, the lord Bishop of Le Puy, having followed the convenience of lodging, had placed his tents a little farther from the camp, apart, he was seized by Bulgars rushing in.

Sed quia tantus pontifex adhuc populo Dei erat necessarius, casu, per ejus misericordiam vitae est reservatus. Nam dum unus de praedonibus aurum ab eo quaereret, eum contra caeteros tuebatur: inter quos excitato tumultu ad vocem concertantium, exercitus commotus est universus; et armis correptis in praedictos irruentes maleficos, dominum episcopum cum suis expedierunt. Tandem resumpto itinere Thessalonicam transeuntes, et omnem Macedoniam, continuatis per multos dies laboribus, apud Rodostum urbem maritimam, super Hellespontum sitam, a Constantinopoli itinere dierum quatuor distantem pervenerunt.

But because so great a pontiff was still necessary for the people of God, by chance, through his mercy he was preserved alive. For while one of the marauders was seeking gold from him, he was defending him against the rest: among whom, a tumult having been aroused at the voice of those contending, the whole army was stirred; and, seizing arms and rushing upon the aforesaid malefactors, they freed the lord bishop with his followers. At length, the journey being resumed, passing through Thessalonica and all Macedonia, with labors continued through many days, they arrived at Rodostum, a maritime city, situated upon the Hellespont, at a distance of a journey of 4 days from Constantinople.

Ubi iterum imperatoris comiti occurrit legatio et principum etiam, qui praecesserant nuntii nonnulli, monentes et exhortantes obnixius, quatenus exercitu relicto et paulatim subsequente, ipse cum paucis veniat expeditus, ut peractis apud imperatorem negotiis. accedente ejus exercitu, possit reliquos subsequi maturius; et populis properare volentibus, nullum ministret impedimentum. Praemiserat autem et ipse nuntios, qui et ipsi reversi, eum ad idem animabant.

Where again the emperor’s legation met the count, and also some nuncios of the princes who had gone before, admonishing and exhorting more strenuously, that, the army being left behind and following little by little, he himself might come unencumbered with a few, so that, the negotiations with the emperor having been transacted. with his army approaching, he might be able to follow up the rest more quickly; and that, for the peoples wishing to hasten, he should furnish no impediment. Moreover, he too had sent messengers ahead, who, having themselves returned, likewise encouraged him to the same.

CAPUT XIX. Comes relicto exercitu, ad imperatorem properat; cum eo non convenit. Imperator fraudulenter praecipit, ut in ejus irruatur exercitum.

CHAPTER 19. The Count, the army having been left behind, hastens to the Emperor; he does not come to an agreement with him. The Emperor fraudulently commands that his army be rushed upon.

Evictus igitur comes tam imperialium legatorum instantia quam verbo principum, qui eum maturare hortabantur, relicto exercitu sub cura et sollicitudine episcoporum et aliorum nobilium, qui in castris erant, ipse cum paucis Constantinopolim ingressus, saepius citatus, praecedentibus eum imperialibus apocrisiariis, suam imperatori praesentiam exhibuit. Ibi tam ab eo quam a suis illustribus et inclytis, qui ei assistebant, honorifice susceptus, et benigne plurimum, plena humanitate tractatus est. Ubi postmodum blandis persuasionibus et multa instantia pulsatus, ut imperatori fidelitatem et juramentum secundum formam aliorum principum, qui eum praecesserant, exhiberet, negavit constantissime.

Overcome, therefore, as much by the insistence of the imperial legates as by the word of the princes, who urged him to make haste, the Count, leaving the army under the care and solicitude of the bishops and other nobles who were in the camp, he himself, having entered Constantinople with a few, being often summoned, with imperial apocrisiaries going before him, presented his presence to the emperor. There, both by him and by his illustrious and renowned men who stood by him, he was honorably received, and very kindly, treated with full humanity. Where afterwards, pressed by smooth persuasions and much urgency, that he should exhibit to the emperor fealty and an oath according to the form of the other princes who had preceded him, he very steadfastly refused.

Interea vero dum haec apud Constantinopolim agerentur, indignatus imperator, quod ei comes more aliorum, hominium facere detrectaret, clam praecipit legionum suarum primiceriis, quae in partibus illis erant constitutae, ut repente in exercitum comitis irruentes, modis quibus possent, molestare attentarent, ita etiam, ut in eis caedem operari non vererentur. Hoc autem attentare ausus est, ea fretus fiducia, quod principes omnes data sibi fidelitate obligaverat; quodque eorum exercitus omnis mare illud transierant, unde non facile erat retransire. Nam quotquot illuc naves aut gratia commercii, aut transferendae plebis causa accedebant, omnes statim ulteriorem ripam deserere tenebantur, ut illis navium deesset copia, et de redeundo frustra cogitarent.

Meanwhile, indeed, while these things were being transacted at Constantinople, the emperor, indignant that the count refused to do homage to him after the manner of the others, secretly commands the primicerii of his legions, which were stationed in those parts, that, suddenly rushing upon the count’s army, they should attempt to harass it by whatever means they could, even so far as not to fear to work slaughter among them. He dared to attempt this, relying on that confidence, that he had bound all the princes by fidelity given to himself; and that all their army had crossed that sea, whence it was not easy to cross back. For as many ships as came thither either for the sake of commerce or for the transferring of the populace, all were at once constrained to leave the further shore, so that for them there might be a lack of a supply of ships, and they might think in vain about returning.

Ad hoc enim singillatim eos, ut praediximus, transire blanditiis et callidis persuasionibus compulerat, ne simul junctis agminibus ante urbem possent convenire. Suspectum enim, ut praediximus, nostrorum habebat adventum et conventum multo amplius formidabilem. Quodque principibus quasi liberaliter contulerat, nec liberalitatis erat, nec gratiae; sed timoris desperati et fraudulentae versutiae.

For indeed to this end he had compelled them, as we have said before, to cross singly, by blandishments and crafty persuasions, lest, with their ranks joined together, they might be able to convene before the city. For he regarded our men’s arrival as suspect, and their gathering as far more formidable. And what he had conferred upon the princes as if liberally was neither of liberality nor of grace, but of desperate fear and fraudulent cunning.

Nostris autem in simplicitate spiritus et sincera fide incedentibus, vix persuaderi poterat Graecorum malitia, et nequam illorum principis fraus et circumventio pertinax, maxime cum erga eos tanta liberalitate et simulata gratia redundaret.

But as our men were proceeding in simplicity of spirit and sincere faith, the malice of the Greeks, and the wicked fraud and pertinacious circumvention of their prince, could scarcely be believed—especially since toward them there redounded such liberality and simulated grace.

CAPUT XX. Comitis absentis clam a Graecis impugnatur exercitus. Comes indignatur; imperator facti poenitens, et sibi timens, principum interventionem postulat, suam allegans innocentiam.

CHAPTER 20. The army of the absent Count is secretly assailed by the Greeks. The Count is indignant; the emperor, repenting of the deed and fearing for himself, requests the intervention of the princes, alleging his own innocence.

Igitur qui imperatoris mandatum susceperant, centuriones, et quinquagenarii, et numeris militaribus praepositi, regiam exsequentes jussionem, praemonitis agminibus, clam et de nocte in domini comitis irruunt expeditiones; dum incautos reperiunt, et nihil tale verentes, plurimos ex eis interficiunt: ita ut antequam expergefacti arma corriperent, et fuga foeda et strages miserabilis intercederet. Tandem vero honestioribus viris admonentibus ad cor redeuntes, resumptis animis ac viribus, praedictae imperatoris latrocinanti familiae multa suae gentis intulerunt dispendia. Et licet pro tempore et loco satis viriliter nostri restitissent, viae tamen considerantes difficultatem, et crebra quae ex insperato diebus pene singulis occurrebant discrimina, liquefiebant in se ipsis, quasi assumpti poenitentes itineris; et minus minusque fervebant in eo quod erant aggressi, taedio laborum fatigati vehementius, ita ut multos non solum de plebeiis, verum et de majoribus incepti poeniteret; et diffidentes de consummatione propositi, votorum immemores, redire disponerent.

Therefore those who had received the emperor’s mandate—the centurions, the officers of fifty, and those set over the military numeri—executing the royal injunction, after their columns had been forewarned, secretly and by night rush upon the lord count’s expeditions; and while they find them off their guard and fearing nothing of the sort, they slay very many of them: so that, before they, awakened, might seize their arms, there intervened both foul flight and a wretched massacre. At length, however, being admonished by more honorable men, returning to their senses, with spirit and strength resumed, they inflicted many losses upon the plundering household of the aforesaid emperor. And although, considering the time and place, our men had stood their ground quite manfully, yet, considering the difficulty of the way and the frequent dangers which, unexpectedly, occurred almost every day, they were melting within themselves, as though repenting of the journey undertaken; and they burned less and less hot for that which they had engaged in, being more vehemently wearied by the tedium of labors, so that many, not only of the plebeians but even of the greater men, repented of the enterprise; and, distrusting the completion of the purpose, forgetful of their vows, they resolved to return.

Quod nisi monitis et exhortationibus ab episcopis et clero fuissent revocati, et ad voti prosecutionem reaccensi, parati erant agmina deserere et ad propria quocunque tentare reditum periculo. Quod postquam domino comiti nuntiatum est, dolore cordis tactus intrinsecus, proditum se clamat; et missis de fidelibus suis viris aliquot nobilibus, imperatori proditionis infamem objicit titulum, asserens quod dum per ejus vocationem et multiplicatas legationes in ejus esset obsequio, contra bonos mores in ejus exercitum suos praecepisset armari. Sed et principibus, quorum prece et instantia dimisso exercitu properaverat, casum lamentabilem, qui suis acciderat, et imperatoris fraudem apertissimam notam facit, super his ultionem tanquam a fratribus reposcens.

But unless they had been called back by admonitions and exhortations from the bishops and the clergy, and rekindled to the prosecution of their vow, they were ready to desert the ranks and to attempt a return to their own homes, at whatever peril. When this was reported to the lord count, touched inwardly with grief of heart, he cries out that he has been betrayed; and, having sent several nobles from among his faithful men, he imputes to the emperor the infamous charge of treachery, asserting that while by the emperor’s summons and repeated legations he was in his service, he had, contrary to good morals, ordered his own men to be armed against his (the count’s) army. But also to the princes, at whose prayer and urgency he had hastened after the army was dismissed, he makes known the lamentable mishap that had befallen his men and the emperor’s most manifest fraud, demanding vengeance for these things as from brothers.

Quod si comiti, par affectibus et voluntati esset suorum injuriam ulciscendi facultas, procul omni dubio a motu animi, quem conceperat, nec minis, nec terroribus, nec aliquorum interventu principum potuisset convelli. Dicebatur enim vir animosus et injuriarum perpetuo memor, quique in suo sensu plurimum abundaret. Imperator igitur rem videns nimium processisse et facti poenitens, principes, dominum videlicet ducem, dominum Boamundum, dominum Flandriae comitem, qui adhuc in ulteriore maris littore cum suis legionibus residebant, ad se facit evocari, ut per eorum interventum domini comitis sibi possit animum reconciliare.

But if the count had had a faculty, equal to his passions and will, of avenging the wrong done to his own, beyond all doubt he could not have been torn from the emotion of mind which he had conceived, neither by threats, nor by terrors, nor by the intervention of certain princes. For he was said to be a spirited man and perpetually mindful of injuries, and one who abounded exceedingly in his own sense. The emperor, therefore, seeing the matter had gone too far and repenting of the deed, has the princes—namely lord the Duke, lord Bohemond, lord the Count of Flanders, who were still lingering on the farther shore of the sea with their legions—summoned to himself, that through their intervention he might be able to reconcile to himself the mind of lord the Count.

Qui ad ejus vocationem convenientes, et si multum displiceret quod acciderat, tamen videntes quod non esset reposcendae ultionis locus, dominum comitem seorsum admonent et honestis persuasionibus hortantur, ut injuriam, quam communem reputant, dissimulare velit; ne vindictam prosequens, multorum dierum operam aggrediatur; et volentibus in via Domini procedere, ministret impedimentum. Factumque est tandem, ut ad piam principum intercessionem, comes tanquam vir discretus, exacerbatum mitigans animum, principum cesserit consilio, eorum dispositioni se committens. Illi autem imperatorem familiariter convenientes, quam moleste ferant quod acciderat, unanimiter protestantur.

Who, convening at his summons, and although what had happened displeased them much, yet seeing that there was no place for reclaiming vengeance, admonish the lord count apart and with honest persuasions exhort him to be willing to dissemble the injury, which they reckon common; lest, prosecuting vengeance, he undertake a labor of many days, and furnish an impediment to those willing to proceed on the way of the Lord. And it came to pass at length that, at the pious intercession of the princes, the count, as a discreet man, softening his exasperated spirit, yielded to the counsel of the princes, committing himself to their disposition. But they, meeting the emperor familiarly, unanimously protest how grievously they bear what had happened.

Quorum imperator intelligens indignationem et unanimitatis constantiam, coram comite et universa tam exterorum quam suorum domesticorum curia, in excusationem descendit, jurans et obtestans quod, neque de conscientia ejus neque de mandato, quod accidisse dicebatur, evenerat. Tamen juxta hanc innocentiam suam, comiti satisfacere paratum se dicebat. Sicque quotidie, magis et magis Graecorum dolus, et fraus imperatoris detegebatur, ita ut jam nemo esset de principibus cui non esset manifestum et luce meridiana clarius, quanto odio populum prosequebatur nostrum et omne Latinorum genus haberet invisum.

Understanding their indignation and the steadfastness of their unanimity, the emperor, before the count and the whole court, both of foreigners and of his own domestics, descended into an excuse, swearing and calling to witness that neither with his knowledge nor by his mandate had what was said to have happened come to pass. Nevertheless, in keeping with this his innocence, he said he was prepared to satisfy the count. And so, day by day, more and more the guile of the Greeks and the emperor’s fraud were being uncovered, so that now there was no one among the princes to whom it was not manifest, and clearer than the noonday light, with how great a hatred he pursued our people and held the whole race of the Latins in aversion.

Verumtamen, quoniam ad alia eorum properabat intentio et ad Deo magis placitum propositum anhelabant, tutius judicabant illatas dissimulare injurias, quam se a tam pio revocare concepto aut assumpto labori impedimentum ministrare.

Nevertheless, since their intention was hastening to other things and they were panting after a purpose more pleasing to God, they judged it safer to dissimulate the injuries inflicted than to furnish an impediment that would recall them from so pious a labor, conceived or assumed.

CAPUT XXI. Comes intervenientibus principibus imperatori reconciliatur. Invitat imperatorem, ut cum reliquis principibus proficiscatur.

CHAPTER 21. The Count, the princes intervening, is reconciled to the emperor. He invites the emperor to set out with the remaining princes.

Qui mare transierant, versus Nicaeam contendunt. Comes eos protinus insequitur.

Those who had crossed the sea press toward Nicaea. The Count immediately follows them.

Comes igitur juxta principum exhortationem, imperatori reconciliatur; et secundum tenorem juramentorum, quem alii praebuerant, et ipse juramentum fidelitatis exhibens, in plenam gratiam reversus, donis ingentibus et cumulatae liberalitatis, quae et numerum et pondus excederet, honoratus est. Accipientes porro et alii principes iterata dona et sumentes licentiam, ipsumque comitem specialiter rogantes, ne moram post eos faceret, ad suas in Bithynia, transito Hellesponto, se conferunt legiones. Interim quoque et domini comitis exercitus Constantinopolim pervenit, qui statim de mandato ipsius, ad eos, qui se praecesserant, transiens, reliquis exercitibus est adjunctus.

Accordingly the count, in keeping with the exhortation of the princes, is reconciled to the emperor; and, according to the tenor of the oaths which the others had proffered, he too, exhibiting an oath of fealty, having returned into full favor, was honored with vast gifts and with a heaped-up liberality, which exceeded both number and weight. Moreover, the other princes, receiving repeated gifts and taking leave, and specially requesting the count himself that he make no delay after them, have their legions betake themselves to their own [quarters] in Bithynia, the Hellespont having been crossed. Meanwhile the lord count’s army also reached Constantinople, which, immediately at his command, crossing over to those who had gone before, was adjoined to the remaining armies.

Comes vero gratia rei familiaris in urbe moram faciens, per dies aliquot, simul et domestica tractabat negotia, et pro publicis, more prudentis viri, non desinebat esse sollicitus. Nam sicut ab aliis rogatus erat principibus, imperatorem frequenter honestis persuasionibus invitabat, sicut et alii ante eum sigillatim fecerant, ut proficiscentes comitaretur, et exercitus Dominici esse vellet dux et moderator. Commonitus autem saepe et saepius praedictus imperator a singulis nostrorum principum, et maxime a domino comite Tolosano, ut Dominici exercitus dux et comes esse dignaretur, et populorum, qui se divinis obsequiis mancipaverant, vellet obtinere primatum: excusabat se, dicens quod hostes circa se haberet ferocissimos, Bulgaros, Commanos, et Pincenates, qui fines imperii sine intermissione circuibant, quaerentes opportunitatem, ut subito possent irruere et ejus turbare tranquillitatem.

But the Count, indeed, making a stay in the city for the sake of household affairs, for several days at once both handled domestic business, and, on behalf of public matters, in the manner of a prudent man, did not cease to be solicitous. For, as he had been entreated by the other princes, he frequently, with honorable persuasions, invited the emperor, as also the others before him had severally done, to accompany those setting out, and to be willing to be the leader and moderator of the Lord’s army. But the aforesaid emperor, often and more often admonished by each one of our princes, and especially by the lord Count of Toulouse, to deign to be the leader and companion of the Lord’s army, and to be willing to obtain the primacy of the peoples who had bound themselves to divine services: excused himself, saying that he had very fierce enemies around him—the Bulgars, the Cumans, and the Pechenegs—who without intermission were circling the borders of the empire, seeking an opportunity, so that they might suddenly be able to rush in and disturb its tranquility.

Ideoque, licet votis plurimum conveniret tantae peregrinationis habere consortium et futurae retributionis exspectare participium, non posse regni curam deserere et hostibus circumpositis malignandi praestare occasionem. Quidquid autem loquebatur, dolus erat et circumventio, nec ob aliud haec pro se allegabat, nisi quod nostrorum profectibus invidens, sub aliquo quaesito colore, nostris suam subtraheret operam, et processum, quantum ei liceret, modis omnibus impediret. Qui vero mare jam transierant, dominus videlicet Godefridus, dominus Boamundus, dominus quoque Robertus Flandrensium comes et dominus Podiensis episcopus, compositis sarcinis, ad iter rursus accinguntur, propositum habentes versus Nicaeam pedetentim incedere; et ita suos, qui subsequebantur, operiri.

Therefore, although it would very much accord with his vows to have a consortium in so great a peregrination and to expect a participation in the future retribution, he could not, he said, abandon the care of the realm and provide to the enemies set around an occasion for maligning. But whatever he was saying was guile and circumvention, nor did he allege these things on his own behalf for any other cause, except that, envying our advances, under some sought-for color (pretext), he might withdraw his help from our people, and hinder the process, so far as it was permitted him, by all modes. But those who had already crossed the sea—namely lord Godefridus, lord Boamundus, and lord Robert, count of the Flemings, and the lord Bishop of Le Puy—having their packs arranged, gird themselves again for the journey, having the plan to proceed toward Nicaea little by little, and thus to wait for their own men who were following.

Cumque per diem versus Nicomediam, quae illius provinciae, Bithyniae videlicet, metropolis est maxima, processissent, venerabilis sacerdos Petrus Eremita de locis illis finitimis, in quibus hiemis asperitatem declinaverat, cum paucis, qui de suo comitatu erant residui, proficiscentibus occurrens legionibus et principibus salutatis, eorum coetibus adjunctus est. Ubi ab omnibus benigne susceptus et de suorum casu diligenter interrogatus, rem eis seriatim aperuit; quomodo durae cervicis, incredulus, et omnino indomabilis esset populus, qui cum eo praecesserat; quodque magis culpa propria, quam facto alterius, illis occurrens infortunium accidisset. Unde compatientes ei et suorum afflictioni principes, multa illi et his, qui eum sequebantur, liberaliter contulerunt.

And when through the day they had advanced toward Nicomedia, which is the greatest metropolis of that province, namely Bithynia, the venerable priest Peter the Hermit, from those bordering places in which he had avoided the harshness of winter, with the few remaining of his retinue, meeting the legions as they were setting out and, the legions and princes having been greeted, was joined to their companies. There, kindly received by all and diligently questioned about the lot of his people, he laid the matter open to them in detail: how the people who had gone before with him were stiff-necked, incredulous, and altogether indomitable; and that the misfortune befalling them had happened more by their own fault than by another’s deed. Wherefore the princes, sympathizing with him and with the affliction of his people, generously bestowed many things upon him and upon those who were following him.

Multiplicato igitur exercitu, et ex diversis copiis in unum convenientibus facto per Dei gratiam numerosiore, competenti moderamine iter conficientes, Nicaeam pervenerunt. Ubi castris per gyrum dispositis, loca tamen venturis principibus deputantes, urbem mense Maio quintadecima die mensis, obsederunt. Comes autem Tolosanus, pertractatis apud urbem regiam negotiis, sumpta ab imperatore licentia, et ingenti rursus munerum liberalitate honoratus, cum suis, quos secum detinuerat, castra cum omni celeritate secutus, ad urbem praedictam velox pervenit.

Therefore, the army having been multiplied, and, as diverse forces came together into one, made more numerous by the grace of God, completing the journey with appropriate moderation, they reached Nicaea. There, with the camps arranged around in a ring, yet assigning places for the princes who were to come, they besieged the city in the month of May, on the fifteenth day of the month. But the Count of Toulouse, the business at the royal city having been handled, having taken leave from the emperor, and honored again with an immense liberality of gifts, with his own men, whom he had detained with him, having followed the camp with all speed, swiftly arrived at the aforesaid city.

CAPUT XXII. Robertus Normannorum comes, et dominus Eustachius ducis frater, cum suis legionibus Constantinopolim perveniunt, ab imperatore ingentibus donis, et multa praeventi honorificentia. Deinde transeuntes Hellespontum, reliquis principibus se associant.

CHAPTER 22. Robert, count of the Normans, and lord Eustace, the duke's brother, with their legions arrive at Constantinople, being met in advance by the emperor with immense gifts and much honor. Then, crossing the Hellespont, they associate themselves with the remaining princes.

Interea vir illustris dominus Robertus Normannorum comes et alii in eodem comitatu viri clarissimi: dominus videlicet Stephanus Carnotensium comes et Blesensium, dominus quoque Eustachius, domini Godefridi ducis frater, missa iterum legatione, tam domino imperatori quam fratribus, adventum suum in proximo futurum denuntiant. Erat autem cum eis, Stephanus comes de Albamarla, Alanus Fergandus et Conanus, ambo de Britannia, magni viri; sed et comes Perchensis Rotholdus, Rogerus de Barnevilla. Hi omnes cum aliis multis viris praeclaris et nobilibus, cum Flandrensium comite et domino Hugone Magno, anno praeterito, circa hiemis ingruentis initia, in Apuliam descenderant; aliisque Durachium transeuntibus, ipsi temporis abhorrentes asperitatem, tam in Apulia quam in Calabrorum finibus in locis commodis hiemem transegerunt.

Meanwhile the illustrious man Lord Robert, count of the Normans, and others in the same comitatus, most renowned men: namely Lord Stephen, count of the Carnotenses and of the Blesenses, and likewise Lord Eustace, brother of Lord Duke Godfrey, sending a legation again, announce both to the lord emperor and to the brothers that their arrival would be at hand. There was moreover with them Stephen, count of Albemarle, Alan Fergant and Conan, both of Brittany, great men; and also Rotrou, count of Perche, and Roger of Barneville. All these, with many other most illustrious and noble men, together with the count of the Flemings and Lord Hugh the Great, in the previous year, about the beginnings of the encroaching winter, had descended into Apulia; and while others were crossing to Dyrrachium, they themselves, abhorring the asperity of the season, both in Apulia and in the borders of the Calabrians, passed the winter in convenient places.

Tandem vero circa veris initium convocatis viae consortibus et compositis ad iter sarcinis ad mare descendentes, aliorum secuti vestigia, Durachium pervenerunt. Unde continuato itinere, moram quam fecerant in Apulia, redimere cupientes, cum omni instantia iter peragunt. Tandemque, Domino opitulante, optata usi tranquillitate, decursis mediis provinciis, Illyrico videlicet, Macedonia et utraque Thracia, Constantinopolim pervenerunt: ubi vocati a domino imperatore, et more aliorum palatium ingressi, ab eodem et suis qui ei assistebant illustribus, cum multa honestate suscepti sunt.

At length indeed, about the beginning of spring, their companions of the way having been convoked and the packs arranged for the journey, descending to the sea, and following the footsteps of the others, they arrived at Dyrrhachium. Whence, the journey being continued, desiring to redeem the delay which they had made in Apulia, they prosecute the march with all urgency. And at length, the Lord assisting, having enjoyed the desired tranquillity, the intervening provinces traversed—namely Illyricum, Macedonia, and both Thraces—they reached Constantinople: where, summoned by the lord emperor, and, after the manner of the others, having entered the palace, they were received by him and by the illustrious men who attended him with much honor.

Tandem post multa consilia, et cum illis tribus communiter, et cum eorum quolibet seorsum habita, id ipsum quod ab aliis obtinuerant, blandis persuasionibus et multa pollicitatione ab eis instanter postulant. Hi vero aliorum prae oculis habentes exemplum (nam sufficienter de omnibus, antequam ad imperatorem accederent, instructi fuerant, dicentes apud se: Nec enim majores sumus quam patres nostri) exactam fidelitatem, et secundum formam juramentorum a praecedentibus exhibitorum sacramenta praestantes, imperatori se obligaverunt. Unde in ampliorem recepti gratiam digni habiti sunt, ut majora munera reportarent.

At length, after many consultations, held both in common with those three and separately with each of them, they urgently request from them, with bland persuasions and many pollicitations, that same thing which they had obtained from the others. But these, having the example of the others before their eyes (for they had been sufficiently instructed about everything before they approached the emperor, saying to themselves: For neither are we greater than our fathers), rendering exact fidelity, and, according to the form of the juraments exhibited by those who had gone before, tendering the solemn pledges, bound themselves to the emperor. Whence, received into ampler favor, they were deemed worthy to carry back greater gifts.

Apertis ergo aerariis, in auro, vestibus pretiosis, vasis quoque tam materia quam artificio admiratione dignis, holosericis quoque, mirae et inauditae aestimationis dona susceperunt, qualia prius non viderant; quae ipsis etiam in quos transferebatur liberalitas, stuporem mentis inferrent, nostrarum rerum modum et dignitatem excedentia. Tantis igitur muneribus cumulati, ne viae consortibus morae causas viderentur innectere, sumpta ab imperatore licentia, transmisso Hellesponto, cum suis legionibus iter accelerantes Nicaeam, ubi universus Christianorum resistebat exercitus, pervenerunt; a principibus, qui praecesserant, multo charitatis amplexu, et omnium concurrente suscepti desiderio, locum sibi deputatum obtinentes castrametati sunt.

With the treasuries opened, therefore, they received gifts in gold, in precious garments, and in vessels too, worthy of admiration both for material and for workmanship, and also in all-silk fabrics, of wonderful and unheard-of valuation, such as they had not previously seen; which even for those themselves upon whom the liberality was being conferred brought stupefaction of mind, exceeding the measure and dignity of our affairs. Laden, therefore, with such great gifts, lest they might seem to fasten causes of delay upon their companions of the way, having taken leave from the emperor, with the Hellespont crossed, hastening the march with their legions they arrived at Nicaea, where the whole army of the Christians was standing fast; received by the princes who had gone before with much embrace of charity, and with the desire of all running together to welcome them, obtaining the place deputed to them, they pitched camp.

CAPUT XXIII. Tatinus quidam imperatori familiaris, nostris associatur principibus, vir subdolus nimium, et iniquitate notabilis.

CHAPTER 23. A certain Tatinus, familiar to the emperor, is associated with our princes, a man exceedingly crafty, and notable for iniquity.

Adjunxerat se etiam nostrorum castris quidam Graecus, Tatinus nomine, imperatoris familiaris admodum, vir nequam et perfidus, nares habens mutilas in signum mentis perversae. Hic ex imperiali jussione, nostris ducem viae ad ampliorem cautelam postulantibus, designatus fuerat dux itineris et comes futurus. Electus ob hoc quod et locorum plenam habere dicebatur experientiam; et de ejus malitia et perplexa dolositate plurimum praesumebat imperator.

To our camp there had also attached himself a certain Greek, by name Tatinus, very much a familiar of the emperor, a vile and perfidious man, having his nostrils mutilated as a sign of a perverse mind. By imperial injunction, when our men were asking for a guide of the way for ampler caution, he had been designated guide of the march and to be a companion. He was chosen for this, because he was said to have full experience of the places; and the emperor presumed much upon his malice and intricate guile.

Hic etiam cum manu suorum nonnulla nostris principibus associatus erat, ut non deesset anser, qui inter olores perstreperet, et perversus coluber inter anguillas. Cuncta enim quae in expeditione fiebant, cunctaque quae a singulis dicebantur, sinistra pervertens interpretatione, imperatori significabat; ab eo versa vice commentorum et fraudis per frequentes internuntios formam recipiens. Hic primum ex diversis exercitibus, qui varios, et per loca diversa variisque temporibus secuti fuerunt principes, unus factus est Dei viventis exercitus, ex multiplicitate partium advenientium ad invicem, suam recipiens integritatem. Nam ex quo relictis domibus iter aggressi fuerant praedicti Deo amabiles exercituum duces et capitanei, nusquam eis datum est datum est mutuo se videre, et de negotiis publicis colloqui ad invicem et disserere; nisi postquam ante praedictam urbem convenientes, castrametati sunt.

This man also, with a small band of his own, had attached himself to our princes, so that there might not be lacking the goose, to make a din among swans, and the perverse serpent among eels. For all the things that were being done on the expedition, and all the things that were said by individuals, he reported to the emperor, twisting them by a sinister, subversive interpretation; and in turn from him, through frequent go-betweens, he was receiving the pattern of contrivance and fraud. Here for the first time, from diverse armies which had followed the princes in various ways, and through different places and at various times, there was made one army of the living God, from the multiplicity of parts coming together mutually, recovering its integrity. For from the time when the aforesaid, God-beloved leaders and captains of the armies had set out, their homes left behind, nowhere had it been granted them to see one another mutually, and to confer and discourse among themselves about public business, unless after they, gathering before the aforesaid city, pitched camp.

Ubi recensito legionum numero, inventi sunt habere peditum promiscui sexus sexcenta millia; equitum vero loricatorum centum millia, qui omnes ante praedictam urbem consistentes, ad ejus expugnationem omnimodam dabant operam; laborum suorum primitias cum omni devotione Domino consecrantes.

When the number of the legions had been reviewed, they were found to have six hundred thousand foot-soldiers of mixed sex; and indeed one hundred thousand mail-clad horsemen, all of whom, standing before the aforesaid city, were giving every effort to its expugnation, consecrating to the Lord with all devotion the first-fruits of their labors.