William of Tyre: HISTORIA RERUM IN PARTIBUS TRANSMARINIS GESTARUM

CHAPTER 1. The Antiochene citizens call for and obtain aid from their neighbors: they place their auxiliaries and pitch tents around the castle Harenc.

Interea cives Antiocheni, simul et eorum dominus, pro statu suo valde solliciti, videntes nostrorum longanimitatem et in laboribus perseverantiam, quodque nec fame nec frigoris inclementia ab incepto poterant revocari; sed inter tot molestias propositum continuare satagebant, missis epistolis et crebris legationibus, principes finitimos in sui subsidium evocare contendunt, orantes et persuadere nitentes attentius, quatenus fratrum compassione moti, eis opem maturare non differant. Modum etiam, quo sibi subveniri possit commodius, insinuant talem; ut ad urbem accedentes, occulte in insidiis lateant, exspectantes ut cives more solito cum hostibus, secus pontem congrediantur, et circa eos detineantur occupati; dumque circa id tam interiores quam exteriores plurimum fuerint negotiosi, tunc irruant subito et incautos opprimant; futurumque esse, ut et ante et retro eis occurrentibus, nec uni ex eis liceat mortem evadere. Factum est igitur per eorum jugem instantiam, quod ab Halapia, Caesarea, Hama, Emissa, Hierapoli, et aliis conterminis civitatibus ad ingentem numerum congregata militia, clam et sine tumultu, sicut in mandatis acceperant, accedentes, circa castrum cui nomen Harenc, quod ab Antiochia vix quatuor decim distat milliaribus, castra taciti locaverant: propositum habentes, sicut ab Antiochenis formam receperant, nostris circa urbis assultum occupatis, ex improviso irruere.

Meanwhile the citizens of Antioch, together with their lord, greatly anxious for their state, seeing our longanimity and perseverance in hardships, and that neither famine nor the severity of cold could recall us from the undertaking, yet amid so many troubles strove to continue their purpose; having sent letters and frequent legations, they endeavored to summon the neighboring princes to their aid, praying and persuasively urging, so that, moved by the compassion of brethren, they would not delay to bring timely help. They even suggested a method by which assistance might be rendered more commodiously: that, approaching the city, they should lie hidden secretly in ambushes, waiting until the citizens, as was their custom with the enemies, should assemble on the far side of the bridge and be detained about them engaged; and while on that account both the inner and outer forces were most busy, then they would rush in suddenly and overwhelm the unwary; and it would be that none of those meeting them before or behind would be able to escape death. It came to pass, therefore, by their perpetual insistence, that a militia gathered to a great number from Halapia, Caesarea, Hama, Emissa, Hierapoli, and other neighboring towns, approaching secretly and without tumult, as they had been commanded, and silently pitched camp about the fortress called Harenc, which is scarcely 14 miles from Antioch: having the design, as they had received the plan from the Antiochenes, when our men were occupied with the assault of the city, to burst in unexpectedly.

Verum fidelibus locorum incolis, qui nostris multo usui saepius fuisse noscuntur, statum eorum et adventum significantibus, principes praemoniti conveniunt ad invicem, super eo negotio deliberaturi. Placuit itaque demum, ut omnes quotquot in exercitu erant equites, equos quibus uti possent habentes, circa primum noctis crepusculum armis instructi, clam et sine tumultu vexilla suorum sequentes principum, in silentio castris egrediantur; pedites autem in castris remaneant, pro tuitione castrorum solliciti, quousque majores proficiscentes, auctore Domino revertantur.

But when the faithful inhabitants of the places, who were known to have oft been of great use to our men, reported the state and approach of those forces, the princes, forewarned, met one another to deliberate about this matter. It was finally resolved that all the horsemen in the army, as many as there were, having horses they could use, being armed about the first dusk of night, should silently and without tumult leave the camp with the standards of their leaders following; the foot soldiers, however, should remain in the camp, anxious for the defense of the tents, until the greater ones, setting out, might return by the Lord’s aid.

CAPUT II. Nostri principes, peditibus ad castrorum tuitionem relictis, cum equestri manu hostibus praecedunt obviam, victores in castra redeuntes.

CHAPTER 2. Our princes, the infantry left for the guarding of the camps, with a cavalry hand go forward to meet the enemies, and, victorious, return into the camp.

Sub primo igitur noctis crepusculo, sicuti condictum fuerat, a castris egressi per pontem navium, vix septingentos secum eduxerunt equites, ad eum proficiscentes locum, qui medius inter lacum, de de quo superius fecimus mentionem, dum de urbis situ loqueremur, et Orontem fluvium, qui a se quasi unius milliarii distant spatio: ibi ea nocte quieverunt. Hostes vero nihilominus eadem nocte, eumdem fluvium per pontem superiorem transierant, de nostrorum adventu ignari penitus. Mane autem facto, ubi lux prima terris se intulit, nostri cum omni celeritate arma corripientes, in sex acies suum ordinant exercitum, certis ducibus praesignatis.

At the first dusk of night, therefore, as had been agreed, having departed from the camp and crossed by the bridge of ships, the cavalry led out with them scarcely seven hundred, proceeding to that place which lies midway between the lake — of which above we made mention when speaking of the city’s situation — and the river Orontes, which is distant from it by about the space of one mile: there they rested that night. The enemies, nevertheless, that same night, had crossed the same river by the upper bridge, wholly ignorant of the arrival of our men. But when morning came, as the first light appeared over the land, our men, seizing arms with all speed, marshalled their force into six ranks, their leaders preappointed.

Turci vero, jam in vicino constituti, habentes compertum per exploratores, quod nostri eis occurrebant, ipsi etiam de suis copiis duas acies praemiserant, reliquarum copiarum majore turba subsequente. Factum est autem divinitus, ut nostri, qui vix erant, ut praediximus, septingenti, per turmas, juxta rei militaris disciplinam dispositi, quasi suscepto de supernis incremento, infinita millia viderentur. Procedentibus itaque paulatim contra se legionibus, coeperunt eorum primae acies in nostros cum impetu irruere maximo; et immissa sagittarum grandine, ad suos habere recursum.

The Turci, however, now stationed nearby, having learned through scouts that our men were advancing to meet them, had themselves likewise sent forward two lines of their own troops, the greater throng of the remaining forces following behind. It happened moreover divinely, that our men, who were scarcely, as we said, seven hundred, arranged by turmas according to the discipline of military art, as if by a bestowed increase from above, seemed like countless thousands. And so, as the legions slowly advanced against them, their first ranks began to rush upon our men with the greatest fury; and, having sent in a hail of arrows, they made retreat to their own lines.

Nostri autem eorum neglecto impetu, sed quominus accedentes, vibratis solito vigore lanceis et gladiis incumbentes, eos in unam compellunt turbam solidari; comprimentibus autem eos locorum angustiis, hinc lacu, inde fluvio evagandi licentiam inhibente; videntes quod ad consuetas discurrendi artes et sagittandi habilitatem recurrere non dabatur, nostrorum non valentes sustinere instantiam, et se prae timore gladiorum comprimentes, in sola fuga spem salutis constituunt; dantes ergo terga, fugam arripiunt. Nostri vero certatim insectantes, usque ad praedictum eorum castrum, Harenc nomine, quod a loco pugnae decem distabat milliaribus, eos occidendo et stragem infinitam operando, persecuti sunt. Videntes autem oppidani, suos in fugam versos, hostium gladiis pene omnes occubuisse, timentes post eorum casum in praesidio remanere, succenso oppido, ipsi quoque in fugam versi sunt.

Our men, however, neglecting their onset but so as to prevent them from drawing near, with their spears and swords brandished in their accustomed vigour and leaning in, forced them together into one crowd; and with the narrowness of the place compressing them, here the lake, there the river restraining licence to roam; seeing that they were not permitted to have recourse to their customary dispersing arts and skill in archery, unable to withstand the pressure of our men, and themselves pressed by fear of swords, they placed hope of safety in flight alone; therefore turning their backs, they snatched up flight. Our men, eagerly pursuing, as far as their aforesaid camp called Harenc, which was distant ten miles from the place of the fight, slew them and wrought an infinite slaughter, pursuing. The townsfolk, however, seeing their own turned to flight and almost all fallen by the enemy’s swords, fearing to remain as a garrison after their fall, set the town on fire and themselves likewise turned to flight.

At vero regionis incolae Armenii et alii fideles, quorum illic multa erat copia, praedictum occupant municipium, illud statim nostris principibus antequam redirent ad castra, resignantes. Ceciderunt illa die de hostibus quasi ad duo millia: ex quibus quingenta capita reportantes, erecti in spem bonam, et de gemino qui eis acciderat triumpho, laetantes, cum mille validis equis, qui eis plurimum erant necessarii, et spoliis ingentibus ad castra reversi sunt, Domino maximas persolventes gratiarum actiones.

But the inhabitants of the region, the Armenii and other faithful men, of whom there was a great abundance there, took possession of the aforesaid municipium, immediately surrendering it to our chiefs before they returned to camp. That day about two thousand of the enemy fell; from whom, bringing back five hundred heads, they were raised into good hope, and rejoicing in the double triumph that had happened to them, with one thousand strong horses, which were very necessary to them, and with great spoils they returned to the camp, rendering to the Lord the greatest acts of thanksgiving.

CAPUT III. Cives cognito auxiliarium suorum casu graviter consternantur.

CHAPTER 3. Citizens, the fate of their auxiliaries having been learned, are grievously distraught.

At vero cives interim tota nocte promissum exspectantes subsidium, votis ardentibus lucem adfore praeoptabant, ut videlicet hostibus exterius irruentibus, ipsi quoque nihilominus ab interius prodeuntes, nostros harum rerum ignaros et repertos incautius, possent opprimere. Videntes autem circa noctis novissima jam illucescente aurora; quod adventus illorum nulla comparebant argumenta; et cognito per exploratores, quod nostri principes eis obviam processissent, congregati adinvicem et per portas civitatis certatim egredientes, pene tota die nostris gravissima intulerunt cortamina, quousque de superioribus civitatis significantibus excubiis nostrorum adventum, in urbem se receperunt: ubi super turres et moenia, et loca eminentiora constituti, adventare quidem considerant legiones, ignari tamen nostrorum an suorum essent castra, quae accederent. Tandem vero nostris propius accedentibus, ubi eorum coeperunt arma cognoscere, eosque praedam et manubias trahere conspexerunt; et eos redire victores, attritis suorum copiis compertum habuerunt, in gravia se dederunt, tanta spe frustrati, lamenta.

Meanwhile the citizens, waiting the promised relief throughout the whole night, with ardent prayers preferred that light would come, so that, the enemies rushing in from outside, they themselves nevertheless issuing forth from within, might be able to overwhelm our men, ignorant of these matters and discovered unawares. But when, about the very end of the night, dawn was already dawning; and since no signs appeared of their arrival; and when it was learned by scouts that our commanders had gone out to meet them, gathered together and eagerly issuing through the city gates, they inflicted very severe burdens on our tents for nearly the whole day, until from the higher parts of the city, by sentinels announcing the coming of our men, they withdrew into the city: where, having taken up position on towers and walls and more eminent places, they indeed observed the legions approaching, yet ignorant whether the camps that drew near were ours or theirs. At last, however, our men drawing closer, when they began to recognize their arms and saw them dragging off prey and plunder; and finding that they returned victorious, their own forces having been worn down, they gave themselves over to grief, so frustrated in so great a hope, with lamentations.

Nostri vero ad urbem accedentes, et castris illati, in victoriae signum, et doloris eorum incrementum, ducenta Turcorum capita machinis jaculatoriis in urbem contorqueri fecerunt; reliqua vero ante urbem in palis praeceperunt conservari suspensa, ut tam haec quam illa, tanquam spina in oculo, eorum augerent et multiplicarent molestias. Dicitur autem numerus fuisse eorum qui ad praedictum Antiochenorum subsidium venire decreverant, ad viginti octo millia, sicut ex relatione captivorum plenius compertum est. Factum est autem hoc mense Februario, septima die mensis, anno ab Incarnatione Domini 1097.

Our men, however, approaching the city and thrown into the camps, as a sign of victory and an increase of their sorrow, caused two hundred heads of Turks to be hurled into the city by hurling machines; the rest, moreover, they ordered to be kept suspended on palis before the city, so that both these and those, like a thorn in the eye, might augment and multiply their torments. It is said, moreover, that the number of those who had resolved to come to the aforesaid aid of the Antiochenes was about 28,000, as was more fully learned from the report of captives. This was done in the month of February, on the 7th day of the month, in the year of the Incarnation of the Lord 1097.

CAPUT IV Nostri castrum aedificant. Naves Januensium in portu applicant. Populus ad mare descendit, et insidias passus, ex parte corruit.

CHAPTER 4 Our men build a camp. The ships of the Genoese lie at anchor in the harbor. The people descend to the sea, and, having suffered an ambush, in part collapse.

Eodem tempore visum est nostris principibus, ut in colle quodam qui supra domini Boamundi erat tentoria, castrum aedificaretur; ut si aliquando in nostras expeditiones Turci tentarent irrumpere, eis nova munitio impedimentum praestaret, et nostrorum castris esset quasi antemurale. Quod postquam factum est et diligenti custodiae deputatum, totus exercitus ita collocatus est in tuto, tanquam si urbis moenibus essent per circuitum vallati. Erat enim eis ab oriente haec nova munitio; ab austro murus civitatis, et palus muris adjacens; ab occasu vero solis et septentrione, fluvius in civitatem se obliquans.

At the same time it seemed good to our principes that upon a certain hill above the tents of Lord Boamund a castrum should be built; so that if ever the Turks tried to force an entry into our expeditions, this new munitio would provide them an impediment, and would serve as it were an outwork to our camps. When this had been made and assigned to careful guard, the whole exercitus was so placed in safety, as if enclosed all around by the walls of a city. For to them on the east was this new fortification; on the south the wall of the city and a palus adjoining the walls; on the west and north a fluvius bending into the city.

Cumque jam in mensem quintum se protraxisset obsidio, naves quaedam Januensium, peregrinos et victualia deferentes, infra fauces fluminis egressae a pelago, se contulerant; exspectantes et id ipsum nuntiis frequentibus exigentes, ut missis de principibus aliquot, qui eos secure conducerent, ad castra proficiscerentur. Hostes enim scientes, quod eorum qui in expeditione erant, frequens erat ad mare discursus, et eorum iterum qui in navibus erant, recurrendi ad castra votum non remissius, vias obsidebant et itinera; et frequentes transeuntibus porrigebant insidias et stragem in eis operabantur: unde non nisi in maximo comitatu ad castra praesumebant accedere. Decreverant autem per eosdem dies in capite pontis, ubi erat quoddam eorum superstitionis oratorium, munitionem quamdam nostri principes erigere, ut minus liber hostibus per pontem pateret exitus.

And when the siege had already been prolonged into the fifth month, certain ships of the Genoese, bearing foreigners and victuals, having put in from the sea below the mouth of the river, had come in; waiting and pressing for that very purpose by frequent messengers, that, with some of the chiefs sent who might safely conduct them, they might set out for the camp. For the enemy, knowing that those of ours who were on the expedition made frequent descents to the sea, and that those again who were on the ships retained a not lessened desire to return to the camp, were watching the roads and ways; and they frequently extended ambushes to those passing and wrought slaughter among them: whence they undertook to approach the camp only in the largest escort. Moreover, in those same days our leaders had resolved to raise a certain fortification at the head of the bridge, where there was a small oratory of their superstition, so that the egress over the bridge might be less freely open to the enemy.

Sed quoniam infiniti de exercitu ad mare descenderant, qui, peractis negotiis, ad castra redire proposuerant, eliguntur de principibus dominus Boamundus, et comes Tolosanus, et cum eis dominus Evrardus de Pusato et comes Garnerus de Gres, qui Aegyptiorum nuntios redire cupientes, usque ad mare prosequerentur; et eos qui in portu erant, tam qui recentes advenerant quam qui de castris ad eos descenderant, ad castra reducerent. Audientes vero Antiocheni, quod praedicti principes ad mare descenderant, missis quatuor millibus expeditorum militum illis obviam, praecipiunt ut eis parent insidias; et incaute redeuntibus, si ita contigerit, viriliter occurrere non formident. Factum est autem, ut post diem quartum, cum in redeundo essent, secum traherent inermis populi et jumentorum victualibus, et omnimoda supellectile onustorum multitudinem, hostes eis in quibusdam locorum angustiis repente ex insidiis occurrerent.

But since an infinite number from the army had gone down to the sea, who, their business concluded, proposed to return to the camp, the princes selected lord Boamund and the Count of Toulouse, and with them lord Evrardus of Pusato and Count Garnerus of Gres, who, desiring to escort back the envoys of the Egyptians as far as the sea, should bring those who were in the harbor—both those newly arrived and those who had descended from the camp—to the camp. The Antiochenes, however, hearing that the aforesaid princes had gone down to the sea, sent forth four thousand light troops to meet them and ordered that ambushes be prepared against them; and that, if they should return unwary, they should not be afraid to meet them manfully. It happened, however, that on the fourth day, when they were returning, dragging with them unarmed crowds of people and beasts laden with victuals and a great multitude of all manner of household goods, the enemies suddenly fell upon them from ambushes in certain narrow places of the country.

Praeibat autem dominus comes Tolosanus, dominus vero Boamundus posteriora tuebatur agmina; qui, licet viri strenui essent, et per omnia commendabiles, plebem tamen inconsultam pro voluntate regere non valentes, nec vires addere, vel alios, quibus natura negabat, postquam diu, tum pro sua honestate, tum pro illorum arcendo periculo restiterunt, videntes quod mora ad se traheret periculum, nec eos amplius inutiliter laborare oporteret, sibi providentes, imparem nimis conflictum reliquerunt, ad castra cum suis qui eos sequi poterant, se conferentes. At vero vulgus, relictis sarcinis et impedimentis, partim ad silvas, partim ad montes fugit; qui vero fugere nequiverunt, hostium gladiis ceciderunt interempti. Facta est ibi nostrorum strages maxima; sed de numero occisorum quidam aliter et aliter nobis retulerunt: tamen plurium opinio est, promiscui sexus et aetatis usque ad trecentos cecidisse.

The lord Count of Toulouse was marching in front, while Lord Boamund guarded the rear ranks; who, although they were stalwart men and commendable in every respect, yet, being unable to govern the unconsulted populace according to their will, nor to add forces or others whom nature denied them, after long resisting — both for the sake of their own honour and to avert the danger to those men — seeing that delay would draw peril upon them, and that it was no longer fitting that they labour on in vain, provident for themselves, abandoned a conflict far too unequal, withdrawing to the camp with those of their followers who could follow them. But the crowd, having left behind their packs and impedimenta, fled partly to the woods, partly to the mountains; and those who could not flee fell, cut down by the swords of the enemies. There was a very great slaughter of our men there; yet concerning the number of the slain some reported one thing and some another to us: nevertheless the opinion of many is that up to 300 of mixed sexes and ages fell.

CAPUT V. Consilium ducis, et opus admirabile, contra sinistrum casum qui acciderat.

CHAPTER 5. The leader’s counsel, and a wondrous deed, against the unlucky mishap that had happened.

Rumor interea ad castra pervenerat, eos qui a mari ascendebant, omnes in via hostium insidiis et congressione improvisa, penitus corruisse; de principum autem vita vel morte, non erat quispiam qui pro certo aliquid nuntiaret. Intereavero dominus Godefridus, sicuti vir erat impiger et ad arma promptissimus, tantam pro Dei populo, quantam pro liberis gerens sollicitudinem, convocatis principibus et legionibus universis, arma eos incunctanter jubet arripere; et emissa voce praeconia, sub poena mortis interdicitur, ne quis tantae necessitatis articulo se audeat subtrahere; sed omnes ad arma convolent, fratrum sanguinem vindicaturi. Nec mora, quasi vir unus convenerunt universae legiones; quibus in unum redactis, pontem transit navium; et per acies diviso exercitu, principes ei praeficit, dominum Robertum Normanniae comitem, dominum quoque Flandrensem, dominum Hugonem Magnum dominumque Eustachium fratrem suum, singulis singulas acies distribuens, congruis locat stationibus; verbis infundens animos, ad virtutem invitat, et tanquam viris prudentibus propositum aperit, dicens: Si ita, ut nobis nuntiatum est, peccatis nostris exigentibus, Domino permittente, de dominis et fratribus nostris hostes nominis et fidei Christianae triumphaverunt, nihil aliud restare video, viri illustres, quam ut cum eis moriamur, aut tantam Domino Jesu Christo illatam ulciscamur injuriam.

Rumor meanwhile had reached the camp that those who had disembarked from the sea had entirely fallen on the road by the ambushes of the enemies and by an unforeseen clash; concerning the life or death of the princes, there was no one who could announce anything for certain. Meanwhile Lord Godfrey, just as he was an energetic man and most ready for arms, bearing as much solicitude for the people of God as for his own children, having summoned the princes and all the legions, orders them without delay to take up arms; and, with heralds sent forth by voice, under penalty of death it is forbidden that anyone in so great a crisis dare to withdraw himself; but all rush to arms, to avenge the blood of their brothers. Nor was there delay: as one man the whole legions assembled; these, brought together into one, he crosses the bridge of ships; and with the army divided into ranks, he puts princes over them, Lord Robert, Count of Normandy, also the Lord of Flanders, Lord Hugh the Great and Lord Eustace his brother, assigning to each whole ranks and placing them in suitable stations; pouring spirits into words, he exhorts to valor, and, as to prudent men, lays open the plan, saying: If thus, as has been reported to us, with our sins demanding, God permitting, the enemies of the name and faith of Christ have triumphed over our lords and brothers, I see nothing else remaining, illustrious men, than that we die with them, or that we avenge such an injury inflicted upon the Lord Jesus Christ.

Mihi, credite, quia nec vita, nec salus, morte vel quolibet aegritudinis genere, charior est, si tantorum principum sanguis impune effusus est super terram, aut tanta Deo devoti populi strages maturam non invenerit ultionem. Videtur ergo mihi quod hostes de praesenti aliquantulum elati victoria, imprudentius se habebunt; et de sua virtute praesumentes, per nos ad urbem redire, praedam et manubias inferre non verebuntur. Solet enim prosperitas eos, quibus praesens arridet, reddere incautiores; sicuti versa vice, miseris et afflictis rebus, solet solertia major accedere. Nos ergo, si tamen ita vobis videtur, hic simus parati, et justam causam foventes, de obtinenda victoria, in eo cui militare nos credimus, spem certam habeamus; et hostes, si per nos redire voluerint, in ore gladii, hostium more suscipiamus, injuriae memores illatae, et a paternis virtutibus non degeneres. Placuit itaque sermo iste, et in oculis omnium visus est bonus; dumque in eo adhuc consisterent verbo, ecce dominus Boamundus a mari rediens, in castra se contulit; et post modicum intervallum, comes est subsecutus: quos revertentes, cum lacrymis et plena charitate suscepit populus, tantorum principum pene solatio destitutus.

Believe me, for neither life nor safety, by death or any kind of sickness, is dearer, if the blood of so many princes has been poured out upon the earth with impunity, or if so great a slaughter of a people devoted to God has not found timely vengeance. It therefore seems to me that the enemies, somewhat elated by present victory, will behave more imprudently; and presuming on their own prowess, they will not fear to return through us to the city to bring in plunder and spoils. For prosperity usually makes those to whom it smiles at the moment more incautious; and conversely, to the wretched and afflicted affairs, greater prudence tends to be added. Therefore we, if it seems so to you, should be ready here, fostering a just cause, having a certain hope in him in whom we believe we serve, for obtaining victory; and if the enemies wish to return through us, let us receive them on the point of the sword, in the manner of enemies, mindful of the injury inflicted, and not degenerate from our ancestral virtues. This speech therefore pleased, and seemed good in the eyes of all; and while they still lingered in that speech, behold Lord Boamund returning from the sea brought himself into the camp; and after a short interval, the count followed him: whom returning, the people received with tears and full charity, nearly bereft of consolation for so many princes.

Intellecto itaque domini ducis consilio, verbum approbant, et ita fieri oportere protestantur. Axcianus itaque cognoscens quia sui vicerant, timensque redeuntibus, maxime propter egressas de castris praeter solitum legiones, quotquot erant in civitate armorum usus habentes, sub edicto publico ad portam Pontis, praecipit convenire, ut suis redeuntibus, opem impendere, si opus fuerit, non morentur. Nostri vero, missis exploratoribus, diligenter percunctari faciunt, quo accedant itinere, de obtinenda victoria spem habentes in Domino.

Having learned, then, the plan of the lord duke, they approve the word and declare that it ought to be done thus. Axcianus therefore, knowing that his men had prevailed, and fearing for those returning—especially because the legions had gone forth from the camp beyond the usual, as many as in the city had experience with arms—by public edict orders them to assemble at the Gate of the Bridge, so that they may not delay to lend aid to their returning comrades, if need be. Our men, however, having sent out scouts, make diligent inquiry by which road they will approach, having their sure hope of obtaining victory in the Lord.

CAPUT VI. Hostes redeuntes cum victoria, ante portam civitatis nostrorum gladiis obtruncantur; cadunt ex eis duo millia. Dux loricatum per medium dividit.

CHAPTER 6. Enemies returning with victory are cut down before the gate of our city with swords; two thousand of them fall. The leader cleaves the cuirassed through the middle.

Nec mora, dum ordinatis aciebus et erectis vexillis, hostium praestolantur adventum, ecce advolant, qui eos in vicino constitutos denuntiant, et nostros armari, et hostibus exire obviam, multa vociferatione hortantur. Illis vero appropinquantibus et eatenus vicinis, quo nostris progrediendum esse videretur, invocato de supernis auxilio, mutuo se exhortantes, vibratis hastis, pristinae virtutis memores, in eos unanimiter irruunt, gladiis instantes cominus. Dumque solita eis incumbunt instantia, et injuriae memores, quam pertulerant, nec respirandi permittunt ferias, emarcuit virtus eorum, et prae timoris angustia renibus dissolutis, in fugam versi, versus pontem civitatis certatim contendunt.

No delay: while the ranks were drawn up and the standards uplifted, they wait for the enemy’s coming, when lo! they fly up who report that those standing near them, and exhort loudly that our men arm themselves and go forth to meet the enemy. As these approach and so far as they are neighboring, where it seemed our men ought to advance, invoking aid from on high, exhorting one another, with spears shaken and remembering their former valour, they rush upon them with one mind, pressing with swords at close quarters. And while they fall upon them with their accustomed vigour and mindful of the wrongs they had borne, permitting no respite for blows, their valour wasted away, and, the anguish of fear having relaxed their loins, they turned to flight and strove eagerly toward the city’s bridge.

Sed praevenerat eorum molimina, in hujusmodi assuetus negotiis, Lotharingiae dux illustris; et locum, qui ante pontem eorum erat aliquantulum eminentior, cum suis occupat; et eos quos venerabiles principes gladiis insectabantur, ad pontem volentes effugere, aut gladiis obtruncat, aut in agonem unde fugerant violenter redire compellit perituros. Instat comes Flandrensium, tanquam vir strenuus; et armorum usum habens familiarem, cum suis sequacibus hostium prosternit agmina, objiciens animosius et frequenter quae in nostros mala commiserant, exaggerat. Normannorum vero nihilominus comes, a paterna virtute non degener, strenue nimis in eodem desudat opere.

But the machinations of those men had been anticipated by the illustrious duke of Lotharingia, accustomed to such affairs; and he seized the place, which was somewhat elevated before their bridge, with his men; and those whom the venerable princes were pursuing with swords, desiring to flee to the bridge, he either cut down with his swords, or drove violently back into the contest from which they had fled, to perish. The Count of the Flemings presses on, like a valiant man; and, being familiar with the use of arms, he with his followers lays low the enemy ranks, throwing forward more boldly and again and again the harms they had committed against our men. The Norman count nevertheless, not degenerate from paternal valour, labours exceedingly strenuously in the same work.

Comes quoque Tolosanus, zelo Dei succensus; Hugo etiam Magnus, regii memor sanguinis et a tantae dignitatis culmine non recedens; comes Eustachius, domini ducis frater; Balduinus quoque, Hermancorum comes, et Hugo de Sancto Paulo, cum aliis nobilibus, tanta hostes animositate insequuntur, tanta in eos virtute desaeviunt, ut contritis eorum viribus, more pecudum impune caederentur. Acxianus autem urbis portas post suos, quos inde ad pugnam emiserat, claudi praecipiens, ut eis animos ampliores infunderet, et pro desperatione reditus, magis animaret ad praelia, dum sibi credit consulere, suos inconsulte trahit in ruinam; dum enim nostrorum impetus et armorum instantiam sustinere non valerent diutius, salutis unicum erat fuga remedium, cujus spe frustrati penitus, passim gladiis caeduntur et pereunt, qui ea via mortem poterant evasisse. Erat autem in castris tantus armorum fragor, et gladiorum tinnitus et coruscatio, equorum fremitus et populi vociferantis clamor, quod nisi armorum genus manifestam inter eos praeberet differentiam, multos potuisset error indiscretus imminentibus subjecisse periculis aut sinistris casibus exemisse.

The count of Toulouse also, inflamed with zeal for God; Hugo the Great likewise, mindful of royal blood and not withdrawing from the summit of so great dignity; Count Eustachius, brother of the lord duke; Baldwin too, count of the Hermans, and Hugo of Saint Paul, with other nobles, pursue the enemies with such daring, rage against them with such valour, that with their strength broken they were being slaughtered like flocks without penalty. Acxianus, however, ordering the gates of the city to be closed behind his men whom he had sent forth to battle, in order to infuse them with bolder spirits and, because he despaired of return, to urge them more to the fight, while he trusted that he was providing for his own safety, rashly draws his people into ruin; for when they could no longer long withstand the onsets of our men and the pressure of arms, flight was the only remedy of salvation, and those wholly deprived of hope of escape are cut down and perish everywhere by the sword — who by that route might have escaped death. There was moreover in the camp such a din of arms, and ringing and flashing of swords, neighing of horses and the clamour of shouting people, that if the kind of arms did not clearly show a distinction between them, much error, unskilled, might have led many to expose themselves to the imminent dangers or to exempt them from unlucky disasters.

Matronae autem civitatis cum filiabus et parvulis, senes quoque et imbellis populus, de turribus et muro suorum stragem contuentes, gemitibus et lacrymis suorum deplorant exterminium: Felicia judicantes quae praeterierant tempora; eos felices nihilominus, quibus mors amica pridem contulerat, ne istis involverentur calamitatibus. Quaecunque fecundas, beatas prius matres reputaverant, nunc mutato cantico, faustas esse steriles, et matribus multo praedicant feliciores. Acxianus interea populum suum videns penitus defecisse, quodque residuum erat gladiis expositum, strage vicina consumendum, portas praecipit sub omni celeritate aperiri, ut populi reliquias in tuto permitteret collocari. Reserato autem aditu tanta per pontem fugientium facta est turba et tumultus, ut hostibus insectantibus, et prae timore se invicem comprimentibus, infiniti praecipitarentur in fluvium.

Meanwhile the matrons of the city with their daughters and little ones, also the elders and the unwarlike populace, from the towers and wall beholding the slaughter of their own, with groans and tears bewailed the extermination: They judged the times that had passed happy; nevertheless happy were those to whom friendly death long before had been granted, so that they might not be involved in these calamities. Those whom they had formerly reckoned fertile and blessed mothers, now with the song changed deem sterile fortunate, and pronounce other mothers far more blessed. Acxianus meanwhile, seeing his people utterly collapsed, and that the remainder was exposed to swords and destined to be consumed by a nearby slaughter, commanded the gates to be opened with all speed, that the remnants of the people might be placed in safety. But with the approach opened there was such a crowd and tumult on the bridge of those fleeing, that, the enemies attacking and through fear pressing one upon another, countless were hurled into the river.

Dux vero Lotharingiae, etsi in toto conflictu optime se habuerat, tamen circa pontem jam advesperascente die, tantum tamque insigne virtutis, qua singulariter praeeminebat, dedit argumentum, ut perpetua dignum judicetur memoria factum ejus celebre, quo se universo exercitui reddidit insignem. Nam, postquam multorum capita loricatorum, sine ictus repetitione, solita virtute amputavit, unum de hostibus protervius instantem, licet lorica indutum, per medium divisit, ita ut pars ab umbilico superior, ad terram decideret; reliqua parte super equum cui insederat infra urbem introducta. Obstupuit populus, visa facti novitate; nec latere patitur, quod ubique praedicat, factum tam mirabile.

The duke, moreover, of Lotharingia, although he had comported himself excellently throughout the whole conflict, nevertheless, about the bridge with the day already darkening, gave such and so distinguished a proof of virtue, in which he singularly excelled, that the deed by which he rendered himself remarkable to the whole army may be judged worthy of perpetual memory and celebrated. For, after he severed the heads of many mail-clad men, without repeating his strokes, with his accustomed valor, he cleft in two one of the foes pressing forward more boldly, although clad in lorica, through the middle, so that the upper part from the navel fell to the ground; the remaining part, still upon the horse on which he had sat, was led into the city below. The people were astonished at the novelty of the sight; and it cannot be hidden, for everywhere they proclaim that so marvelous a deed was done.

Cecidisse ea die dicuntur de hostibus, quasi ad duo millia: quod nisi nox importuna, nostrorum titulis et palmae invidens, se intulisset immatura, finem ea die procul dubio Antiochenorum habuisset negotium. Tanta autem circa pontem et in flumine perpetratae caedis exstabant vestigia, ut mutato colore fluvius totus ad mare sanguineus descenderet. Fama est etiam, et ita per quosdam fideles, qui ab urbe egressi ad nostros se contulerunt, plenius innotuit, quod duodecim de majoribus eorum satrapis, in ea congressione gladiis obtruncati, irreparabile civitati damnum intulerunt.

They are said to have fallen that day from the enemy, as many as 2,000: which, had not an untimely troublesome night, begrudging our standards and palm, come upon them prematurely, without doubt that day would have brought the Antiochenes’ business to an end. So great, moreover, were the traces of slaughter committed about the bridge and in the river, that with its color changed the whole stream flowed down to the sea blood-red. It is also reported, and this more fully made known by certain faithful men who went out from the city and joined our men, that 12 of their principal satraps, cut down by swords in that engagement, inflicted irreparable damage on the city.

CAPUT VII. Nostri in capite pontis praesidium construunt, victoriae signum ad naves dirigunt.

CHAPTER 7. Our men erect a praesidium at the head of the bridge, and direct the sign of victory toward the ships.

Luce demum postera solito cursu terris restituta, iterum convenerunt principes adinvicem, gratias Omnipotenti pro collata exhibentes victoria, ut de instantibus deliberarent negotiis. Visumque est omnibus expedire, ut ad id quod prius conceperant redeuntes, munitionem quamdam in capite pontis erigerent, ut et civibus praepediretur exitus et nostris securior discurrendi ministraretur facultas. Erat autem ibi, ut praedixisse nos meminimus, superstitionis eorum oratorium; ubi etiam sepulturae suorum, locum deputaverant.

At last, with the following morning’s light returned to the lands in its accustomed course, the chiefs again met together, offering thanks to the Omnipotent for the victory bestowed, so that they might deliberate about pressing affairs. And it seemed expedient to all that, on returning to that which they had previously devised, they should raise a certain fortification at the head of the bridge, so that the exit might be impeded to the citizens and a safer facility for our men’s moving about might be provided. Moreover there was there, as we remember to have said, an oratory of their superstition; where also they had appointed a place for their burials.

Illuc ergo tam nocte praeterita, quam diei parte sequentis jam exacta, defunctorum suorum transtulerant et sepelierant corpora. Quod ut plebi nostrae plenius, et pro certo compertum est, illuc violenter irruentes, occasione spoliorum, quae cum ipsis tradita fuerant sepulturae, sepulcra violant; sepultos effodiunt, aurum et argentum, et vestes pretiosas cum ipsorum funeribus de monumentis extrahentes. Factum est autem, ut qui prius de numero interemptorum, eo quod de nocte consummatum erat praelium, dubitarent, per hanc talem revelationem facti doctiores, pleniorem de hesterno negotio laetitiam conceperint.

Thither, therefore, both during the night just past and with the portion of the following day now spent, they had carried and buried the bodies of their dead. But, as was learned more fully and for certain by our people, they, violently rushing upon that place, under the pretext of spoils which had been delivered with the burials themselves, violated the tombs; they dug up the interred, extracting gold and silver and precious garments from the monuments together with their funerary goods. It happened moreover that those who earlier doubted concerning the number of the slain, because the battle had been completed by night, being made more instructed by this sort of revelation of the fact, conceived a fuller joy about yesterday’s business.

Nam praeter eos qui in flumine variis casibus submersi sunt, et qui in urbe sepulti, quique lethaliter saucii, mortem adhuc praestolabantur imminentem, mille quingenti in praedicto loco reperti sunt. Ex quibus trecenta vel ampliora capita ad portum dirigentes, nostros qui illuc ab hesterno conflictu redierant, laetificaverunt admodum: Aegyptiorum quoque legatos, qui nondum a portu discesserant, plurimum in eo facto deterrentes: unde factum est, ut qui in montibus et speluncis, et silvis et frutectis, ab hesterno elapsi periculo, latebant, audita nostrorum victoria, ad castra se contulerunt; multique milites, quos in praelio cecidisse crediderant, sani et incolumes, auctore Domino, reversi sunt. Unde recepto populo, qui ad varia loca se contulerant, castrum circa pontis initium, ex ipsis lapidibus, quos de monumentis effoderant, unanimiter et ferventi studio muro erigunt solido, et erectum vallo profundo communiunt.

For besides those who were drowned in the river by various mishaps, and those buried in the city, and those grievously wounded who still awaited imminent death, fifteen hundred were found in the aforesaid place. Of these, by directing three hundred or thereabouts of heads to the harbor, they greatly heartened our men who had returned there from yesterday’s conflict; and they greatly dismayed the Egyptian delegates, who had not yet departed the port: whence it came to pass that those who, having escaped yesterday’s danger, were hiding in the mountains and caves and in woods and thickets, on hearing of our victory, made their way to the camp; and many soldiers, whom they had believed to have fallen in the battle, healthy and unharmed, by the Lord’s agency, returned. Whereupon, having received the populace who had withdrawn to various places, they with one mind and fervent zeal built a wall around the bridge-head out of the very stones they had dug from the monuments, and secured it with a raised deep rampart.

Dumque inter principes de ejus custodia esset deliberatio, et nemo esset eorum, qui tanto oneri se vellet subjicere; et causas quisque pro sua excusatione varias allegaret, vir Deo amabilis, dominus comes Tolosanus, ultro se obtulit; et publicae utilitatis gratia novum praesidium in suam suscepit curam. Unde et universarum expeditionum gratiam, quam toto anno valde demeruisse videbatur, sibi reconciliavit in integrum. Nam ab aestate praeterita, per totam insequentem hiemem, occasione cujusdam aegritudinis, ita remissus jacuerat, et pene inutilis, ut curam exercitus, quam principum aliorum quisque pro viribus et studio supportabant indefesso, ipse solus videretur negligere, nemini se exhibens munificum, nemini affabilitatis gratiam indulgens; eratque id in eo notabilius, eo quod omnibus aliis amplius posse et habere plura diceretur.

And while among the princes there was deliberation about his custody, and there was none of them who would subject himself to so great a burden; and each one alleged various causes for his excuse, a man beloved of God, the lord Count of Toulouse, of his own accord offered himself; and for the sake of the public good he took upon his care a new garrison. Whence he also restored to himself in full the favour of all the expeditions, which had seemed to have greatly diminished over the whole year. For from the past summer, through the whole ensuing winter, by reason of a certain sickness, he had lain so remiss and almost useless, that he alone seemed to neglect the care of the army, which the other princes each in their strength and zeal supported with indefatigable care, showing himself munificent to no one, indulging the grace of affability to none; and this was the more notable in him because he was said to be able to do and to have more than all the others.

Ut igitur et desidiam simul et avaritiam excusaret, onus praedictum gratanter assumpsit. Praeterea in manu domini Podiensis et quorumdam nobilium quingentas dicitur marcas argenti examinati, ad restaurationem equorum, quos in conflictu amisisse contigerat, dedisse. Unde ejus facti animosiores domestici, de damno equorum resarciendo habentes fiduciam, hostibus solito fortius instabant; et domini comitis, quam passus fuerat, lenita est invidia, ita ut ab omnibus pater et conservator exercitus appellaretur.

Therefore, that he might excuse both sloth and avarice at once, he willingly undertook the aforesaid burden. Moreover he is said to have given into the hand of Lord Podiensis and certain nobles five hundred marks of silver, assayed, for the restoration of the horses which had been lost in the conflict. Whence his domestics, heartened by the making-good of the loss of horses and having confidence, pressed the enemies more vigorously than usual; and the envy toward the lord count was softened from what it had been, so that by all he was called father and preserver of the army.

CAPUT VIII. Civitas subito amplius angustatur, munitione nova super Occidentalem constituta.

CHAPTER 8. The city is suddenly further constricted, a new fortification erected above the western one.

Porta igitur pontis per praedictum novum praesidium, in quo quingentos viros fortes dominus comes locaverat, sic obsessa, ut civibus per eam non nisi cum maximo periculo pateret exitus, nostri ad necessaria prosequenda discurrebant liberius. Hostes vero jam non nisi per portam Occidentalem, quae inter radicem montis et fluvium erat, exire poterant. Et licet nostris, quorum castra omnia trans fluvium posita erant, non multum eorum exitus per eam portam posset esse periculosus, quia tamen nimis liberam evagandi videbantur habere licentiam; et vitae necessaria per eam solam adhuc inferebantur obsessis, convenientes iterum, ut super hujusmodi necessarium haberent tractatum, viri virtutum et immortalis memoriae principes, decernunt praesenti plurimum expedire negotio, ut trans fluvium in loco ad id idoneo aliqua constitueretur munitio, ubi aliquo ex principibus locato, illa talis evagandi amputaretur licentia.

The gate of the bridge, therefore, through the aforesaid new garrison in which the lord count had stationed five hundred brave men, was so beset that an exit through it lay open to the citizens only with the greatest danger; our men ran about more freely to carry out necessities. The enemies, however, could now go out only through the Western gate, which lay between the root of the mountain and the river. And although for our men, whose camps were all placed across the river, their going out by that gate might not have been very dangerous, yet because they appeared to have too free a licence to range about, and the necessities of life were still being conveyed to the besieged by that gate alone, the men of virtue and princes of immortal memory, having met again to treat about such a necessity, decided that it was most expedient for the present business that some fortification be established across the river in a place suitable for that purpose, where, with one of the chiefs stationed, that licence to range about would be cut off.

Cumque de constituenda munitione apud omnes constaret, nemo tamen se obtulit, qui ejus praesumeret tuitionem sibi assumere. Dumque sic haererent, et factum non procederet, dominus Tancredus, vir insignis et industrius, ad id muneris eligitur; sed cum de rei familiaris tenuitate excusationem vellet intexere, praedictus comes Tolosanus ad opus aedificii centum ei marcas argenti contulit; et ut laboris consortibus honestum non deesset salarium, quadraginta eis marcae per menses singulos ex publico sunt deputatae. Sicque factum est, ut in colle quodam eidem portae contermino, ubi pridem monasterium fuerat, praesidio locato, et viris prudentibus et robustis ad ejus deputatis custodiam, dominus Tancredus tam strenue quam feliciter, usque ad consummationem negotii, debita sollicitudine conservavit illaesum.

And when it was agreed among all about establishing the fortification, yet no one offered himself who would presume to undertake its defence. And while they thus lingered, and the work did not advance, lord Tancred, a man distinguished and industrious, was chosen for that duty; but since he wished to weave an excuse from the slenderness of his private estate, the aforesaid Count of Toulouse contributed to the building work to him one hundred marks of silver; and so that an honest wage should not be lacking to the companions of the labour, forty marks per each month were allotted to them from the public. Thus it came to pass that on a certain hill adjacent to that gate, where formerly there had been a monastery, a garrison being placed, and prudent and robust men deputed to its custody, lord Tancred, as strenuously as happily, kept it uninjured with due solicitude until the completion of the business.

Erat autem inferius, secus fluminis decursum, secessus quidam inter montes et eumdem amnem, herbidus, et pascuorum amoenitate simul et ubertate commendabilis, tribus aut quatuor vix ab urbe distans milliaribus; in hunc ob defectum in urbe pabulorum, Antiocheni equos ex parte plurima transtulerant suos, quod ubi nostris compertum est, clam convocatis equitum cohortibus, quaedam secuti viarum dispendia, ut propositum occultarent, ad locum praedictum conveniunt: ubi occisis qui armentis praeerant nonnullis equitibus, exceptis mulis et mulabus, duo millia nobilium ad castra deduxerunt equorum. Nec erat praeda vel manubiarum genus aliud eo tempore, quod magis exercitui foret necessarium; nam suos tum in acie, tum fame, tum frigore, aliisque casibus innumeris pene omnes amiserant.

There was, moreover, below, along the course of the river, a certain secessus between the mountains and the same stream, grassy and commendable both for the amenity of its pastures and for its fertility, scarcely three or four miles distant from the city; and on account of this lack of fodder in the city the Antiocheni had removed most of their horses thither, which when discovered by our men, cohorts of horsemen having been secretly summoned, they, having followed certain road losses so as to conceal the purpose, assembled at the aforesaid place: where, after killing some of those who had been in charge of the droves and a few horsemen, excepting the mules and muleteers, they led two thousand noble horses to the camp. Nor was there at that time any sort of booty or spoils more necessary for the army; for they had lost almost all their own, now in the line of battle, now by famine, now by cold, and by innumerable other mishaps.

CAPUT IX. Dispersi ad exercitum redeunt. Balduinus ab Edessa singulis principibus munera dirigit.

CHAPTER 9. Dispersed men return to the army. Baldwin at Edessa directs gifts to the several princes.

Sic igitur civitate ex omni parte obsidione vallata, ut jam civibus ad procuranda exterius negotia, nec liber exitus, nec sine difficultate daretur introitus, coeperunt multa difficultate laborare, et multis aggravari molestiis. Victus enim deficiens et subito exorta inopia, cives plurimum molestabat; imminuta quoque equorum usibus alimonia, eos inedia tabescere, et omnino sua negare officia compellebat. Nostris autem solito liberior tum ad mare, tum ad alia loca ad quae eos sua trahebat necessitas, progrediendi data erat facultas: unde et in castris ex parte plurima relevata erat illa victus inopia, qua periculose nimis per totam hiemem laboraverat exercitus.

Thus therefore with the city walled about on every side by a siege, so that now to the citizens for procuring affairs abroad there was neither free exit nor entrance given without difficulty, they began to labor under many hardships and to be burdened with many troubles. For failing victuals and a suddenly arisen scarcity afflicted the citizens very greatly; and the food, diminished for the service of the horses, forced them to pine away with hunger and altogether to refuse their duties. But to our men a rather freer opportunity than usual was given both to the sea and to other places to which necessity drew them: whence also in the camp for the most part that lack of victuals was relieved, by which the army had suffered too perilously throughout the whole winter.

Nam decursa hiemis asperitate, et veris jam adulti temperie restituta, sedato pelago, classis quae in portu erat, ire et redire poterat tranquillius; et viarum difficultate temporis incalescentis beneficio deposita exire poterant, qui cura domestica et familiari sollicitudine ad procuranda negotia trahebantur. Et jam etiam qui in castris et in urbibus finitimis, castrorum fugientes asperitatem, latuerant, reddito favore temporis clementioris, iterum ad castra revertebantur, arma reparantes; et redintegratis viribus iterum se accingebant ad praelia. Sed et dominus Balduinus, ducis frater, de quo supra fecimus mentionem, de suarum cumulo divitiarum, quas ei, ut praediximus, multa liberalitate contulerat Dominus, audiens quod tanta inopia laboraret exercitus, illorum decrevit de sua plenitudine piae compassionis affectu, relevare paupertatem: et missis ingentibus donis, in auro, argento, sericis, equis nobilibus et pretiosis, singulorum principum rem domesticam reddidit ampliorem.

For with the harshness of winter having run its course, and with spring’s temper now grown and restored, and the sea calmed, the fleet that was in the harbor could go and return more tranquilly; and the difficulty of roads, laid aside by the favor of the warming season, allowed those who were held back by domestic care and familial solicitude in procuring affairs to depart. And now even those who, fleeing the asperity of the camps, had lain hidden in the neighboring towns and villages, with the return of the kinder favor of the weather, were coming back again to the camp, repairing their arms; and with their strengths renewed they girded themselves once more for battles. But Lord Baldwin, the duke’s brother, of whom we made mention above, hearing that the army was suffering such want, decreed, out of a pious compassion, to relieve the poverty from his own store of riches which, as we said, the Lord had bestowed upon him with abundant liberality; and having sent vast gifts in gold, silver, silks, and noble and precious horses, he made each of the princes’ household revenues the larger.

Nec solum majoribus, verum et multis de plebe munificum se exhibens et liberalem, propensius omnium sibi reconciliavit gratiam, universos in suam excitans charitatem. Insuper autem ne domino suo et fratri primogenito aliquid minus fecisse videretur, in terra quam citra Euphratem possidebat, omnes reditus quos circa Turbessel, et in suburbanis ei adjacentibus, in frumento, hordeo, vino et oleo habebat, nec non et aureorum quinquaginta millia fratri designavit persolvenda. Praeterea quidam Armeniorum potens satrapa, domini Balduini familiaris, Nichossus nomine, tentorium miri operis, maximae capacitatis, gratia domini Balduini, per nuntios suos direxit ad dominum ducem; sed positis in itinere a Pancratio insidiis, ablatum est praedictum tentorium a pueris deferentibus; et ex parte praedicti Pancratii, ad dominum Boamundum dono delatum est: quod postquam domino duci innotuit, et per pueros praedicti Nichosii ita rem processisse cognovit, adjuncto, sibi Flandrensium comite, cujus amicitia specialiter in tota expeditione usus fuerat, dominum Boamundum convenit, ut munus sibi destinatum et ablatum violenter, restituat; ille vero licet donationis nobilis viri Pancratii titulum praetenderet, seque juste possidere, quod dux petebat, allegaret; tamen, ne tumultus fieret in populo aut inter principes scandalum oriretur, multa precum reliquorum principum victus instantia, munus quod sibi oblatum fuerat, restituit, gratia inter eos plenius reformata.

Not only toward the great ones, but also showing himself munificent and liberal to many of the commons, he more readily won the goodwill of all, stirring everyone to his charity. Moreover, lest he seem to have done anything less for his lord and eldest brother, he assigned to his brother, to be paid, all the revenues which he held in the land possessed on this side of the Euphrates, namely around Turbessel and in its adjoining suburbs, in grain, barley, wine, and oil, and also fifty thousand gold pieces. Furthermore a certain powerful satrap of the Armenians, a familiar of lord Balduinus named Nichossus, sent by his messengers to the lord duke a tent of wondrous workmanship and very great capacity, as a favor to lord Balduinus; but, an ambush having been set on the road by Pancratius, the said tent was taken from the boys who were carrying it, and on Pancratius’s part it was delivered as a gift to lord Boamund. When this became known to the lord duke, and he learned that the matter had so transpired through the boys of the aforesaid Nichossius, he met lord Boamund, with the Count of Flanders joined to him, whose friendship he had especially enjoyed throughout the whole expedition, that Boamund should restore to him the gift that had been destined and forcibly taken; and Boamund, although he pleaded the title of donation from the noble man Pancratius and alleged that he justly possessed what the duke demanded, yet, lest a tumult arise among the people or scandal spring up among the princes, by many prayers and the insistence of the other princes he restored the gift that had been offered to him, fuller goodwill being reestablished between them.

Unde miramur plurimum, quod vir tanta modestia insignis, tantaque morum dignitate conspicuus, rem modicam et contemnendam facile, tanta importunitate repetiit; nec aliquid nobis pro solutione occurrit, nisi quia scriptum est: Nihil ex omni parte beatum; et illud: Quandoque bonus dormitat Homerus; HORAT., Ars poet., V. 359. illud quoque tertium: . . . Opere in longo fas est obrepere somnum. HORAT. Ut enim in nobis saepius a bono sentiamus defectum, humanae leges conditionis habent.

Whence we marvel greatly that a man marked by such modesty, and conspicuous for so great a dignity of manners, so readily demanded a small and contemptible thing with such importunity; nor does anything occur to us for repayment, save that which is written: Nothing is blessed in every part; and that: Sometimes even the good Homer nods; HORAT., Ars poet., V. 359. and that third also: . . . In a long work it is right that sleep steal upon one. HORAT. For that we more often feel a failing of goodness in ourselves belongs to the laws of the human condition.

CAPUT X. Nuntiatur in castris, hostilium copiarum adventus. Stephanus Blesensium comes, simulata aegritudine, ad mare descendit, non rediturus.

CHAPTER 10. It is reported in the camp the arrival of enemy forces. Stephen, count of the Blesensians, having feigned illness, went down to the sea, not to return.

Interea fama celebri vulgabatur, Persarum principem potentissimum, ad Antiochenorum instantiam et suorum etiam postulationes assiduas, ex universo imperio suo in eorum subsidium innumerabiles dirigere copias; et infinitam Turcorum multitudinem in Syriam ascendere, sub deputatis magistratibus, lege edictali praecepisse. Nec solum ab exterioribus rumor hic originem habebat et incrementum; verum etiam qui de urbe egrediebantur, ad castra nostra habentes refugium, id ipsum consone protestabantur. Cumque per dies singulos magis et magis rumor hic ampliaretur et jam pro foribus dicerentur imminere, timor nostrum concussit exercitum; ita etiam ut dominus Stephanus Carnotensium comes, vir potentissimus et princeps illustris, quem ob meritum singularis prudentiae principes suis consiliis quasi patrem praefecerant, simulata aegritudine, sumpta a fratribus licentia, cum domesticis et familiaribus universis et omnimoda qua plurimum abundabat substantia ad mare descenderet, dicens se apud Alexandriam minorem, quae non longe a portu in littore maris sita, initium praestabat Ciliciae, moram velle facere, quousque recepta plena convalescentia et viribus resumptis, iterum redire valeat: quo discedente, secuti sunt eum, qui in ejus comitatu advenerant, viri quasi ad quatuor millia, qui ad mare perveniens, ad praedictam secessit Alexandriam, rei eventum praestolans: habens apud se propositum quod, si nostris in bello, quod sperabatur futurum, prospere succederet, rediret ad exercitum, quasi de aegritudine convalescens; sin autem, in navibus quas sibi paraverat, cum probro perpetuo et existimationis jactura, redire in patriam tentaret.

Meanwhile a rumor was being widely spread: that the most powerful prince of the Persians, at the instigation of the Antiochenes and by the persistent demands of his own, was directing countless troops from his entire empire to their aid; and that an infinite multitude of Turks was ascending into Syria, having been ordered by appointed magistrates in an edictal law. And this rumor did not spring up and grow only from outside; indeed even those who left the city and took refuge at our camp bore witness to the same thing. And as day by day this rumor grew ever larger and they already said it threatened the gates, our fear shook the army; so much so that Lord Stephanus, Count of the Carnotenses, a very powerful man and a distinguished prince, whom the princes had set over their counsels as a father on account of his singular prudence, feigning sickness and having taken leave from his brothers, descended to the sea with all his household and familiars and with every sort of substance in which he was most abundantly provided, saying that he would make a stay at Alexandria Minor, which is not far from the port on the seashore and provides the entrance to Cilicia, until, his convalescence having been fully recovered and his strength resumed, he might be able to return again: and when he departed, those who had come in his retinue followed him, men to the number of about four thousand, who, upon reaching the sea, withdrew to the aforesaid Alexandria, awaiting the event of affairs; having resolved with himself that if the war we hoped for should turn out prosperously for our side, he would return to the army, as if recovering from sickness; but if not, he would attempt to return to his country in ships which he had prepared, with perpetual reproach and loss of reputation.

Quo facto tam notabili et perennem irrogante infamiam, principes qui in castris erant consternati, nobili viro compatientes, qui et decus generis et honestatem propriam tanta culpa funestaverat, coeperunt anxie deliberare quomodo huic tanto malo possent occurrere: ne qui residui erant, pernicioso illius provocati exemplo, simile aliquid auderent attentare. Placuitque tandem de communi consilio ut missa voce praeconia, omnibus generaliter ab exercitu discessus interdiceretur: adhibita poena, quod si aliquis, cujuscunque conditionis officio fungeretur, aut cujuscunque dignitatis cingulo praeemineret, furtim et sine principum licentia, se a castris subtraheret, tanquam sacrilegus aut homicida, perpetuae subjaceret infamiae et ultimum praeterea supplicium cogeretur subire. Factumque est ita, ut tum virtutis amore, tum poenae formidine, nemo jam de caetero, nisi a principibus impetrata licentia, vel ad modicum auderet se a castris subtrahere; sed omnes unanimiter, tanquam viri claustrales, principibus suis sine difficultate et molestia se obedientes exhibebant.

After this had been done, inflicting so notable and enduring an infamy, the princes who were in the camp were stunned, sympathizing with the noble man, who had so blemished both the honour of his lineage and his own personal honesty by so great a fault, and they began anxiously to deliberate how they might meet so great an evil: lest those who remained, provoked by his pernicious example, should dare to attempt something similar. At length it was resolved by common counsel that, by a proclamation sent forth with trumpets, a general departure from the army should be forbidden to all: with this penalty attached, that if anyone, whatever his condition or discharging any office, or distinguished by the cincture of any dignity, should furtively and without the princes’ licence withdraw himself from the camp, he should be subject to perpetual infamy as if a sacrilegist or murderer, and moreover be compelled to undergo the ultimate punishment. And it came to pass that, partly by love of virtue and partly by fear of the penalty, no one thenceforth, except with licence obtained from the princes, or only for a short while, dared to withdraw himself from the camp; but all unanimously, like cloistered men, presented themselves obedient to their princes without difficulty or molestation.

CAPUT XI. De statu civitatis dicitur. Boamundi cum quodam fideli de civitate, gratia contracta describitur.

CHAPTER 11. On the condition of the city. The pact contracted between Boamundus and a certain faithful concerning the city is described.

Porro haec civitas Deo amabilis, a tempore apostolorum, ut praediximus, Christi doctrinam et jugum suave, praedicante ei apostolorum principe, suscepit, et usque in praesentem diem fideliter et devote portavit. Dumque totus concuteretur Oriens, successoribus Mahumet ad impietatem superstitionis et perversorum dogmatum universas violenter subjugantibus provincias, haec et eorum languorem respuit; et gentis incredulae dominationem, quam diu potuit, ferre detrectavit. Nam, cum omnes a sinu Persico usque ad Hellespontum, et ab India usque ad Hispanias, haereses illius seductoris, universas occupassent regiones, haec in medio perversarum nationum, quasi sola et singularis, fidei conservavit integritatem, et pro sua stetit viriliter libertate.

Furthermore this city, beloved of God, from the time of the apostles, as we have said, received the doctrine of Christ and the sweet yoke, preached to it by the prince of the apostles, and has borne them faithfully and devoutly to the present day. And while the whole East was shaken, the successors of Mahumet violently subjecting the provinces to the impiety of superstition and perverse dogmata, this city spurned their decline; and it refused to bear the domination of the unbelieving nation as long as it could. For when all the regions from the Persian Gulf even to the Hellespont, and from India even to the Spains, had been occupied by the heresies of that seducer, this city, in the midst of perverse peoples, as if alone and singular, preserved the integrity of the faith, and stood manfully for its liberty.

Nam vix annorum quatuordecim elapsa erant curricula, ex quo perurgente eam intolerabili hostium procella, longis obsidionibus fatigati ejus cives inclyti, et jam diutius resistere non valentes, urbem hostibus nominis et fidei Christianae resignare coacti sunt. Unde factum est quod etiam, adveniente nostrorum exercitu, pene omnes civitatis habitatores fideles erant, sed nullam in civitate habentes potestatem; nam eis negotiationi et aliis mechanicarum artium officiis vacantibus, solis Turcis et infidelibus militare licebat, et majores civitatis administrare dignitates, unde nec arma eis licebat tractare, nec ad curam rei militaris admittebantur: et maxime postquam de adventu Occidentalium Christianorum rumor ad principem civitatis pervenerat, ita suspecti habebantur, et praesertim postquam urbem vallaverat obsidio, ut etiam non nisi certis horis de domibus exire et prodire in publicum liceret. Erant autem ex eis in civitate familiae valde nobiles, antiquam ducentes ex generosis proavis sanguinis dignitatem; inter quas erat tribus una generositate insignis, quae dicebatur Beni Zerra, quod in lingua Latina interpretatur filii loricatoris. Hi enim sive a primo eorum parente, qui hanc artem exercuit; sive ab eo quod ipsi hanc professionem exercerent, ut loricas intexerent, dicebantur filii loricatoris. Probabilius tamen est et videtur, quod quidam ex eis adhuc eidem arti darent operam, ut sicut nomen habebant haereditarium, ita et per successionem traditam artem non desererent.

For scarcely fourteen years had the course elapsed since, the city being overwhelmed by an intolerable storm of enemies, its illustrious citizens, wearied by long sieges and no longer able to resist, were compelled to resign the city to the enemies of its name and of the Christian faith. Hence it came about that also, when our army arrived, almost all the inhabitants of the city were faithful, yet held no power within the city; for, they being occupied with commerce and other mechanical arts and trades, only the Turks and infidels were permitted to serve as soldiers and to administer the higher dignities of the city, so that they were neither allowed to handle arms nor admitted to the care of military affairs: and especially after the rumor of the coming of the Western Christians had reached the prince of the city, they were held in suspicion, and above all after the city had been surrounded by siegeworks, so that it was permitted to leave their houses and go forth into public only at certain hours. There were among them, however, families in the city very noble, tracing their ancient dignity from noble ancestors; among these was one tribe notable for its gentility, which was called Beni Zerra, which in the Latin tongue is interpreted filii loricatoris. For these were called sons of the cuirassier either from their first ancestor who practiced that craft, or from the fact that they themselves practiced that profession, weaving loricae; yet it is more probable and seems likely that some of them still gave their labor to the same art, so that, as they bore the name hereditarily, they also by transmitted succession did not abandon the art.

Unde et in parte civitatis occidentali secus portam, quae hodie dicitur S. Georgii, turris una quae vulgari appellatione dicitur duarum sororum, ut in ea artis suae, quae domino et civitati plurimum videbatur utilis, quieti convacarent, erat eis deputata. Erantque in ea familia duo fratres, quorum major et qui contribulium suorum et familiae princeps erat, dicebatur Emirfeirus, vir potens plurimum et urbis domino multa familiaritate conjunctus, ita ut in ejus palatio notarii fungeretur officio et plurima esset insignis dignitate. Hic autem, quoniam vir erat valde industrius et vafer, audiens quod dominus Boamundus princeps magnificus esset et illustris, et in omnibus quae exterius gerebantur, primas haberet partes; statim post urbem obsidione vallatam, per fideles internuntios ejus sibi conciliavit gratiam, totoque obsidionis tempore, fideliter et devote se continuaverat in proposito, ita ut diebus pene singulis de statu civitatis et Acxiani proposito eum redderet doctiorem.

Hence, on the western part of the city beside the gate now called St. George, one tower, commonly called “of the Two Sisters,” was assigned to them so that in it they might quietly be occupied with their craft, which seemed very useful both to the lord and to the city. And in that family were two brothers, whose elder, who was the head and paterfamilias of his fellow-citizens and household, was called Emirfeirus, a man very powerful and much connected by familiarity with the city’s lord, so that in his palace he performed the office of notary and was conspicuous in many dignities. Now this man, being very industrious and crafty, hearing that Lord Boamund was a magnificent and illustrious prince and took the foremost parts in all matters conducted abroad, straightway after the city was surrounded by a siege, by faithful intermediaries he won his favour, and throughout the whole time of the siege he continued faithfully and devoutly in his purpose, so that almost daily he made him more informed concerning the state of the city and Acxiani’s design.

Dissimulabat enim quantum poterat, sicuti vir discretus erat et prudens, hanc quam cum domino Boamundo contraxerat familiaritatem, ne forte aliis cognita, sibi et suis posset esse in periculum. Dominus quoque Boamundus versa vice hanc boni viri occultabat amicitiam, et arcanum penes se quasi sepultum comprimebat; ita ut nec eorum familiaritatis et discurrentis internuntii, etiam utriusque domestici et contectales, nullum vel leve possent intelligere argumentum.

He dissembled as much as he could, being a discreet and prudent man, this familiarity which he had contracted with Lord Boamundus, lest, if known to others, it might be a danger to him and his. Lord Boamundus likewise, in turn, concealed this friendship of the good man and kept the secret within himself as if buried; so that neither their familiarities nor the running messages, even those of each one's domestics and contectales, could discover any or even slight proof.

CAPUT XII. Consilium per internuntios inter Boamundum, et praedictum fidelem virum.

CHAPTER 12. Plan by intermediaries between Boamundus and the aforesaid faithful man.

Dumque jam quasi mensibus septem haec inter eos se continuasset gratia, ita occulte, ut diximus, plerumque de eo, quomodo civitas Christianae restitueretur libertati, sermo inter eos habitus est familiaris; cumque super eo a domino Boamundo saepius esset commonitus, semel eidem per filium, qui secretorum erat bajulus, respondisse dicitur: Nosti, virorum optime et mea mihi luce charior, quam sincere te dilexerim, ex quo, auctore Domino, in hanc communem gratiam descendimus; teneoque nihilominus memoriter quod, in verbo tuo firmam et bono viro condignam reperi usquequaque stabilitatem: unde factum est ut, per dies singulos, mihi magis et magis insinueris et multo charior occurras. Super eo autem, unde me commonuisti saepius, nonnunquam sollicitus deliberavi, partes congruo pensans libramine. Nam, si patriam pristinae restituere libertati, et exclusis immundis canibus, quorum violenta dominatione premimur, Dei cultorem populum possem introducere, certus sum aeterna mihi non defutura praemia et cum sanctis animabus aeternae beatitudinis non defuturum consortium.

And while this grace had continued between them now for about seven months, so secretly as we have said, mostly concerning how the city might be restored to Christian liberty, familiar talk was held between them; and since on this matter Lord Boamundus had often admonished him, he is said once to have answered him through his son, who was the bearer of secrets: You know, most excellent of men and dearer to me than my very light, how sincerely I have loved you, since, by the Lord’s authoring, we have descended into this common grace; and yet I hold in memory that in your word I have always found a firmness and a stability fitting a good man: whence it came about that, day by day, you insinuate yourself to me more and more and meet me much more dear. Moreover, concerning that of which you admonished me often, I have sometimes deliberated anxiously, weighing the parts with a suitable balance. For if I could restore the fatherland to its former liberty, and, with the unclean dogs excluded — by whose violent domination we are oppressed — could introduce a people who are worshippers of God, I am certain that eternal rewards will not fail me and that companionship with holy souls of eternal blessedness will not be denied.

Si vero rem, semel aggressus, difficilem et arduam consummare nequivero, certum est et nulli venit in dubium quin domus mea et praeclarae nomen familiae penitus deleatur, ita ut non memoretur nomen illius ultra. Verumtamen quoniam consuevit emolumentorum spes mortalium mentes ad similia saepius invitare, si hoc posses apud tuos consortes obtinere quod nostro studio traditam tibi, propriam vindicares civitatem; ego, tui gratia, (cui omne bonum, tanquam liberis meis, cupio) ad praedictum opus, licet difficile videatur, auctore Domino, cujus glutino mihi conjunctus es, me accingam; et turrim hanc munitissimam, ut vides, cujus plenam habeo potestatem sine difficultate tibi tradam, unde vestris omnibus liber in civitatem esse poterit introitus. Si vero, sicut pares estis, ita urbem captam aequis inter vos portionibus proposuistis dividere, ego gratia illorum, ad quos nulla mihi est proportio, in hoc periculum non descendo.

But if, having once undertaken the matter, I am unable to accomplish the difficult and arduous thing, it is certain and none will doubt that my house and the illustrious name of my family will be utterly erased, so that that name will be mentioned no more. However, since the hope of mortal gains is accustomed often to invite minds to such things, if you could obtain among your fellows that which, by our zeal, was handed over to you — that you should make the city your own — I, for your sake (for whom I wish every good as for my own children), would put myself, by the Lord the Author, whose glue has joined me to you, to the aforesaid work, though it seem difficult; and I will hand over to you, without difficulty, this very strongly fortified tower, as you see, of which I have full power, whereby the entrance for all your people to the city may be free. But if, since you are equals, you propose to divide the captured city among you in equal portions, I, for the sake of those to whom I bear no proportion, will not enter into that risk.

Unde tu diligenter elabora et enitere, publicae utilitatis et salutis gratia, ut apud tuos conprincipes id obtineas: sciturus procul omni dubio quod, quacunque die te id obtinuisse cognovero, urbis tibi aditum, sicut persuadere niteris, aperire non differam. Ad haec, noveris quod, nisi hoc in proximo fiat, differetur fortasse in perpetuum; nam diebus pene singulis civitatis domino, et nuntii diriguntur et epistolae, quod qui in subsidium ejus ex omni Oriente convenerunt, circa Euphratem castrametati sunt, equitum ducenta trahentes secum millia. Quod si vos extra urbem repererint, difficile est, ut et civium et advenientium multitudinem hostium, tolerare possitis.

Therefore labor and strive diligently, for the sake of public utility and safety, that you may obtain this among your fellow‑princes: knowing, beyond any doubt, that on whatever day I learn you have obtained it I will not delay to open the city’s access to you, as you will endeavor to persuade. Moreover, know that, unless this is done in the near future, it may perhaps be deferred forever; for almost every day messengers and letters are being sent to the lord of the city, since those who have gathered to his aid from all the East have encamped about the Euphrates, bringing with them two hundred thousand horsemen. If they find you outside the city, it will be difficult for you to withstand the multitude of citizens and the throng of arriving enemies.

CAPUT XIII. Laborat Boamundus ut ei civitas concredatur; solus Tolosanus comes contradicit.

CHAPTER 13. Boamund labors that the city be entrusted to him; only the Count of Toulouse opposes.

Ab ea igitur die dominus Boamundus praetentare coepit sollicitus et singulorum principum corda percunctari diligenter, quidnam haberent in animo; et quid si urbs obsessa caperetur, de ea disponerent, celans tamen propositum, nisi apud eos de quibus certum habebat, suis grato assensu obtemperaturos desideriis. Cumque intelligeret se apud quosdam illorum non multum posse proficere, rem distulit usque in tempus magis opportunum. Dux tamen Godefridus et Normannorum comes, et comes simul Flandrensium, nec non et dominus Hugo Magnus, ejus acquieverant postulationi, et grato concurrebant assensu; secretum nobilis viri approbantes, et admirantes prudentiam, et apud se occultum, et nemini unquam publicandum comprimentes.

From that day therefore Lord Boamund began to put forward pretenses and to inquire diligently into the hearts of the several princes what they bore in mind; and what they would do with the city if the besieged place were taken, yet concealing the purpose, unless among those whom he certainly knew would, with willing assent, obey his desires. And when he understood that with some of them he could not profit much, he deferred the matter until a more opportune time. The duke Godefridus and the count of the Normans, and likewise the count of the Flemings, and also Lord Hugh Magnus, had acceded to his petition, and concurred with grateful assent; approving the noble man’s secret, and admiring his prudence, and keeping it hidden among themselves, compressing it so that it should never be made public to anyone.

Solus vero Tolosanus comes in eo ab aliis erat dissonus. Unde factum est quod res in periculosam pene descendit dilationem; nam nec ille, domini Boamundi familiaris, tantum sibi aliorum gratia laborem volebat assumere, nec tantis se mancipare periculis; nec ipse dominus Boamundus tanta pro utilitate communi, quanta pro domestica et familiari laborabat instantia; familiaritatem tamen cum viro praedicto, muneribus et obsequiis prosequebatur, legibus sincerae impletis amicitiae; missisque frequentibus et receptis pariter nuntiis, utrinque semel concepto vires et fomitem ministrabant amori.

But the Count of Toulouse alone was in this at variance with the others. Whence it came about that the matter almost descended into a perilous delay; for neither did he, a familiaris of Lord Boamund, wish to assume so great a labour for the sake of others, nor to subject himself to so great dangers; nor did Lord Boamund himself labour with as much urgency for the common utility as for the domestic and familial. Nevertheless he cultivated a familiarity with the aforesaid man by gifts and courtesies, the laws of sincere friendship being fulfilled; and with frequent messengers both sent and received alike, once the feeling had been conceived on both sides they ministered strength and tinder to the love.

CAPUT XIV. Qui in subsidium Antiochenis properabant, Edessam obsident; sed resistente viriliter Balduino, vacui recedentes Euphraten transeunt.

CHAPTER 14. Those who hastened to the succor of the Antiochenes besiege Edessa; but with Baldwin resisting manfully, the departing, empty-handed, pass over the Euphrates.

Interea qui ab Acxiano et civibus subsidium postulaturi missi fuerant in Persidem, consummato pro votis negotio et impetrata postulatione quam praetulerant, revertebantur ad propria. Princeps enim ille magnificus, Antiochenorum molestiis, quas audierat compatiens, et occurrere volens nostrorum conatibus et vires praecidere, ne regnorum ejus aliquas partes sua violentia possent comprimere; infinitas Persarum, Turcorum, Curdinorumque copias in Syriam dirigit, quemdam familiarem suum, de cujus virtute, fide et industria plurimum praesumebat, illis praeficiens; et sub eo centuriones, quinquagenarios et inferiores constituens magistratus, qui omnes ejus et parerent et regerentur imperio. Epistolas praeterea ad universarum sibi subjectarum praesides regionum, vim legis obtinentes, ei delegat, praecipiens populis et nationibus, tribubus et linguis, ut omnes sine excusatione dilectum filium suum Corbagath, quem exercitibus suis de meriti electione praefecerat, sequantur; et ejus omnes subjiciantur potestati, parentes in omnibus quaecunque pro liberae voluntatis arbitrio ipse imperare decrevisset. Assumptis igitur de mandato domini praedictis legionibus et quae toto itinere occurrebant, cum ducentis millibus Mesopotamiam ingressus, circaque partes Edessanorum castrametatus est.

Meanwhile those who had been sent from Acxianus and the citizens to request succor from Persis, their business for their vows accomplished and the petition they had preferred obtained, were returning to their homes. For that magnificent prince, sympathizing with the sufferings of the Antiochenes which he had heard of, and wishing to meet our efforts and cut off their strength so that by his violence they could not oppress any parts of his realms, directed countless forces of Persians, Turks, and Kurds into Syria, placing over them a certain familiar of his, about whose virtue, fidelity, and industry he greatly trusted; and under him appointing centurions, cinquagenaries and lower magistrates, who should both obey and be ruled by his command. He furthermore delegated letters to the governors of all the regions subject to him, holding the force of law, enjoining the peoples and nations, tribes and tongues, that all without excuse should follow his beloved son Corbagath, whom he had set over his armies by election for merit; and that all should be subject to his power, parents in all things obeying whatever he should have decreed to command for the sake of free will. Having therefore taken up the aforementioned legions by the lord’s mandate and those that happened along the whole route, he entered Mesopotamia with two hundred thousand and encamped around the parts of Edessa.

Hic cum eidem multorum relatione cognitum esset, quod unus de Francorum principibus, contra quos dirigebatur, tam civitatem quam universam adjacentem obtineret provinciam, decrevit antequam Euphraten pertransiret, praedictam impugnare et violenter occupare civitatem. Dominus autem Balduinus, praecognito ejus adventu, urbem suam victualibus, armis et viris strenuis undique corrogatis, diligenter communierat, ita quod de ejus minis et terroribus modicum quid erat sollicitus. Cumque voce praeconia publice mandatum esset cohortibus ut urbem obsidione vallarent et obsessam tota impugnarent instantia, videntes quod, resistentibus strenue civibus, non multum in eo facto possent proficere, qui sensus habebant magis exercitatos, ad illum accedentes principem suum, post multa tandem persuaserunt ut, relictis incidentibus causis, principale propositum exsequeretur; et, Euphrate transmisso, Antiochiam, quo principaliter dirigebatur, obsidionem dissoluturus maturaret.

When it was learned by the same report of many that one of the Frankish princes, against whom he was being directed, held both the city and the entire adjacent province, he resolved, before he crossed the Euphrates, to attack and violently seize the said city. Lord Baldwin, having foreknown his coming, had diligently fortified his city with victuals, weapons, and vigorous men gathered from every quarter, so that he was but little troubled by his threats and terrors. And when publicly a proclamation had commanded the cohorts to invest the city with siegeworks and to assault the besieged with all urgency, those who had keener military sense, seeing that, with the townsmen resisting stoutly, they could not achieve much by that enterprise, approached the prince and after much persuasion at last prevailed upon him that, leaving aside incidental causes, he should pursue the principal purpose; and, once the Euphrates had been crossed, hasten to Antioch, to which the main effort was directed, to dissolve the siege there.

Nam in reditu suo, obtenta victoria, vix unius opus esset diei, et praedictam occupare civitatem, et Balduinum vinculis mancipare. Cumque per tres septimanas continuas ibi operam consumpsisset et impensam, praecepit legionibus ut transirent fluvium; et ipse nihilominus transiens, proposito coepit instare diligentius. Haec autem ejus circa partes Edessanas mora causa fuit quod dominus Balduinus praedictae obsidioni se praesentem dare non potuit; causa fuit etiam et nostrorum salutis.

For on his return, victory obtained, scarcely would one day’s work have been needed both to occupy the aforesaid city and to fetter Balduinus in chains. And when he had there consumed labour and expense for three continuous weeks, he ordered the legions to cross the river; and he himself, nevertheless crossing, began to press more diligently upon the purpose he had proposed. This, however, was the cause of delay about the regions of Edessa, because Lord Balduinus could not present himself to the aforesaid siege; it was also a cause of our safety.

Nam si directo ad eos pervenisset itinere, sicuti et domino Boamundo ab ejus amico praedictum fuerat, antequam urbem obtinerent, in gravi esset res eorum constituta discrimine; nam etiam, urbe prius per Dei gratiam obtenta, vix ejus potuerunt adventum sustinere.

For if he had reached them by a direct route, just as had been told to Lord Boamund by his friend, before they took the city, their matter would have been placed in grave jeopardy; for indeed, the city having first been obtained by God’s grace, they could scarcely withstand his arrival.

CAPUT XV. Nostri exploratores dirigunt de adventu hostium solliciti.

CHAPTER 15. Our scouts, worried about the arrival of the enemy, are sent forth.

Rumor interea adventum tantorum exercituum praecurrens castra repleverat, et multis id ipsum referentibus, quasi pro certo habebatur quod in vicino essent constituti. Super quo principes valde solliciti, viros experientissimos, de quorum fide et industria merito possent praesumere, ad loca dirigunt diversa, ut, quanta possint diligentia, per suos de quibus dubitare non erat licitum, percontarentur et fierent prudentiores, an ita foret sicuti vulgo dicebatur. Eliguntur ergo ad id muneris viri nobiles et in armis strenui, Drogo de Neella, Clarenbaldus de Vendoil, Girardus de Cerisiaco, Rainardus comes Tullensis, et alii nonnulli, quorum nomina non tenemus: qui ad varias partes dispersi cum suis comitatibus, sedulitate quanta possunt diligenter investigant; et, missis iterum suis exploratoribus ad loca ulteriora, ex omni parte expeditiones confluere et convenire in unum exercitus, sicut solent flumina in mare decurrere, pro certo colligunt: tandemque mature reversi, principes qui eos miserant, super eo plenius instruunt, jam non de caetero dubitantes.

Meanwhile rumor, running ahead of the arrival of so great armies, had filled the camp, and with many reporting the same, it was held for certain that they had been drawn up in the neighborhood. Whereupon the princes, greatly anxious, sent forth very experienced men, whose fidelity and industry they could rightly trust, to various places, that with whatever diligence they could, by their own men — of whom it was not lawful to doubt — they might make enquiries and become more prudent, whether things were indeed as commonly reported. Therefore were chosen for this duty noble and warlike men, Drogo de Neella, Clarenbaldus de Vendoil, Girardus de Cerisiaco, Rainardus, count of Tulle, and several others whose names we do not retain: who, scattered to different quarters with their retinues, diligently investigated with all the zeal they could; and, having again sent their scouts onward to more remote places, they gathered for certain that forces from every quarter were converging and meeting into one host, as rivers are wont to run into the sea. At length, having returned in good season, they fully informed the princes who had sent them, now no longer doubting thereafter.

Septem itaque diebus, antequam praedictus princeps cum suis adveniret legionibus, praemoniti sunt nostri majores exercitus, exploratoribus injungentes, ne id populo notum fieret; ne forte plebs famis angustia et laboris diuturnitate fatigata, timore concuteretur nimio et de fuga cogitaret; quod quibusdam etiam de majoribus nuper acciderat.

Therefore for seven days, before the aforesaid prince with his legions should arrive, our senior officers of the army were forewarned, enjoining the scouts that this not be made known to the people; lest the common folk, worn down by the distress of famine and by the long continuance of toil, be shaken by excessive fear and think of flight; which had, in fact, recently happened even to some of the elders.

CAPUT XVI. Convenientes adinvicem deliberant. Boamundus secretum refert quod ei commiserat amicus.

CHAPTER 16. Meeting together they deliberate with one another. Boamundus reports the secret which a friend had entrusted to him.

Convenientes igitur adinvicem super facto in quo totius negotii videbatur summa consistere, in spiritu humilitatis et in animo contrito coeperunt adinvicem deliberare quid in tanta necessitate fieri oporteret; tandemque placuit quibusdam ut omnes quotquot erant in obsidione, exterius advenienti multitudini urbe relicta procedant obviam ad duo vel tria milliaria: ibique cum superbo principe et de viribus suis nimium praesumente, invocato de coelis auxilio, belli fortunam experiantur. Aliis autem videbatur expedientius ut partem exercitus in castris deserant, qui cives egredi et hostibus admisceri volentes, infra moenia cohibeant; pars vero potior et armis magis instructa, juxta consilium priorum, advenientibus hostibus in virtute Omnipotentis occurrant ad tria milliaria; ibique si ita est a Domino provisum, congrediantur. Dumque in hac deliberatione studiosius disceptarent adinvicem et quisque suam pro arbitrio daret sententiam, dominus Boamundus majores principes, dominum ducem Godefridum, et dominum Flandrensium comitem Robertum, dominum item Robertum comitem Normannorum, dominum quoque Raymundum comitem Tolosanum, seorsum a turba secretius convocat, et in loco familiari constitutos alloquitur, dicens: Video vos, fratres dilectissimi et divinae servitutis consortes, de adventu istius principis qui venturus esse dicitur, multa sollicitudine macerari; et in deliberatione praemissa variis affectos desideriis, varia sensisse; sed tamen neutram partium illuc se dirigere, ubi totius negotii summa consistit.

Therefore, having met together about the deed on which the whole business seemed to hinge, in a spirit of humility and with contrite heart they began to deliberate with one another what ought to be done in so great a necessity; and at last it pleased some that all, as many as were in the siege, leaving the city, should go out to meet the externally arriving multitude at two or three miles: and there, with the proud prince and one too confident in his forces, invoking help from the heavens, they should try the fortune of war. But to others it seemed more expedient that part of the army abandon the camps, those who, desiring to go out and mingle with the citizens and the enemies, should be contained within the walls; the better and more fully armed part, however, according to the counsel of the elders, should, in the strength of the Omnipotent, go out to meet the approaching enemies at three miles; and there, if thus it is provided by the Lord, engage. And while in this deliberation they disputed more eagerly among themselves and each gave his opinion according to his judgment, lord Boamund privately summoned the chief princes, lord duke Godefrid, and lord Robert the count of Flanders, likewise lord Robert the count of the Normans, and lord Raymond the count of Toulouse, apart from the crowd more secretly, and, having set them in a familiar place, addressed them, saying: I see you, most beloved brothers and partners in divine service, to be consumed by much solicitude about the coming of that prince who is said to be coming, and moved by various desires in the foregoing deliberation you have felt diverse things; yet neither of the parties directs itself to that point, where the sum of the whole business consists.

Nam sive omnes egrediamur, ut volunt ex vobis quidam, sive pars in castris remaneat; videmur operam et studium, et impensas per tam longa tempora inutiliter expendisse; nam egredientibus universis solvetur obsidio et nostrum evacuabitur propositum, civibus in suam se libertatem recipientibus, aut dum hostibus egressu libero se adjungent, aut dum urbi auxiliares introducunt cohortes. Si vero pars legionum in castris remanserit, id ipsum video de necessitate contingere. Nam quomodo poterit pars una, praesente eorum subsidio, cives infra urbem cohibere, cum nos omnes, viribus communibus et indivisis, absque ulla spe subsidii dejectos, vix poteramus cohibere?

For whether we all sally forth, as some of you desire, or whether a part remain in the camps, it seems we have spent our labour and exertion and disbursements in vain over such long seasons; for if all go out the siege will be lifted and our design will be undone, the citizens recovering their liberty — either, with a free sortie, joining themselves to the enemies present, or while they introduce auxiliary cohorts into the city. If, on the other hand, a portion of the legions remain in the camps, I see the same necessity will follow. For how will one part, with the succour of those present, be able to restrain the citizens within the walls, when we all, with our common and undivided strength and without any hope of relief, could scarcely restrain them?

Alterutrum horum mihi videor videre profecto futurum ut, vel suis conjuncti auxiliis, mistis viribus in nos irruant fortiores; aut saltem introductis auxiliariis copiis, urbem victu et armis diligenter communiant: ita ut etiamsi, auctore Domino, exteriores viterimus, de obtinenda tamen urbe nulla nobis fiducia reservetur. Unde mihi videtur, Patres reverendissimi, quod illuc omnis nostra deberet festinare intentio et circa id sollicitudo versari, ut ante hujus tanti principis adventum civitas in nostram prius descenderet ditionem. Quod si modum quaeritis quo hoc nostrum tale consilium effectui valeat mancipari, ne impossibilia videamur suggerere, in promptu est nobis viam aperire compendiosam et qua facile ad finem perveniatur optatum.

I indeed seem to foresee one or the other of these outcomes: that either, joined with their own auxiliaries and with mixed forces, the stronger will break in upon us; or at least, with auxiliary troops brought in, they will diligently supply the city with victuals and arms—so that even if, by the Lord’s aid, we repel the outsiders, no confidence will remain to us about holding the city. Whence it seems to me, most reverend Fathers, that all our intent should hurry thither and our solicitude be turned about that, before the coming of this great prince, the city should first descend into our rule. And if you seek a method by which such a plan of ours may be brought to effect, lest we seem to propose the impossible, there is at hand a short way to open to us by which the wished-for end may easily be attained.

Amicum habeo in civitate fidelem, quantum humanus dijudicare valet oculus, et prudentem plurimum: hic, secundum quod aliquibus ex vobis jam me retulisse memini, turrim habet in sua potestate munitissimam, quam sub certis conditionibus, quoties id ab eo exegero, fide media obligatus, mihi resignare tenetur. Pro quo facto multam illi pactus sum dare pecuniam; sibique et haeredibus ejus in perpetuum non modica praedia et libertatem omnimodam, quasi pro labore salarium, si res optatum sortiri poterit eventum, fide interposita, compromisi. Si ergo vestrae videtur amplitudini ut nostra sollicitudine et studio capta civitas in nostram jure haereditario possidenda transeat jurisdictionem, paratus sum cum praedicto familiari meo pacta complere.

I have a friend in the city faithful, as far as the human eye can judge, and most prudent: he, as I remember I have already reported to some of you, has a very strongly fortified tower in his power, which, under certain conditions, whenever I require it of him, being bound by a collateral pledge (fide media), is obliged to resign to me. For this act I have agreed to give him much money; and to him and his heirs in perpetuity not inconsiderable estates and full liberty, as it were a salary for the labour, if the matter should attain the desired outcome, the pledge having been interposed. If therefore it seems to your magnitudes that the city, taken by our solicitude and zeal, should pass into our jurisdiction to be possessed by our hereditary right, I am prepared to fulfil the pacts with the aforesaid familiar of mine.

Sin autem, elaboret vestrum quilibet et quocunque studio urbem poterit obtinere, habeat eam sibi in omni pace quietam; ego illi inpraesentiarum meas cedo actiones et juri meo renuntio.

But if, however, any one of yours should strive and by whatever zeal be able to obtain the city, let him hold it to himself in all peace and quiet; I at present cede to him my actions and renounce my right.

CAPUT XVII. Gavisi principes Boamundo urbem concedunt; ipse cum amico de urbe tradenda tractat secretius.

CHAPTER 17. Having rejoiced, the princes grant the city to Boamund; he himself, with a friend, treats more secretly concerning the handing-over of the city.

His dictis, principes gavisi sunt gaudio magno; et petitioni oblatae grato concurrentes assensu (excepto comite Tolosano, qui partes suas se nemini cedere, proterve nimis asseverabat) urbem cum suis pertinentiis jure haereditario possidendam concedunt in perpetuum; et compromittentes adinvicem et datis dextris se obligantes, quod sibi creditum nemini revelarent arcanum; dominumque Boamundum monent et hortantur attentius, quatenus ad rei consummationem tota incumbat sollicitudine, ne periculosam intercedere patiatur moram. Soluto itaque conventu, ille sicut vir erat morae impatiens et ardenter urgens propositum, amicum solitis convenit internuntiis; et significans quod apud principes cuncta pro votis impetraverat, amici animum solito reddidit laetiorem. Monet ergo et per fidem invitat mediam ut, nocte proxime subsequente, auctore Domino, res effectui mancipetur.

Having said these things, the princes, rejoicing with great joy, and running together with grateful assent to the petition offered (except the Count of Toulouse, who too arrogantly declared that he would yield his shares to no one), concede that the city with its appurtenances be possessed by hereditary right in perpetuity; and mutually pledging and giving right hands to bind themselves that they would reveal the secret entrusted to them to no one, they warn and exhort Lord Boamund more earnestly that he apply his whole solicitude to the consummation of the affair, lest he allow a perilous delay to intervene. The assembly therefore being dissolved, he, as a man impatient of delay and ardently urging his purpose, met his friend with the customary messengers; and declaring that he had obtained from the princes all things according to his wishes, he made his friend's mind the more cheerful than usual. He therefore admonishes and, by oath inviting him, that on the next ensuing night, with the Lord as author, the matter be brought to effect.

Acciderat autem medio, ut dicitur, tempore quiddam, quod ad conceptum prius opus eum nihilominus animaverat. Nam, dum circa frequens ministerium et curam, quam in domo domini sui et urbe universa habebat amplissimam, detineretur occupatus, casu filium quem habebat, jam puberem, ex causa urgente, sed nobis occulta, domum direxisse dicitur, qui illuc perveniens rem invenit detestabilem. Unum enim de majoribus Turcorum principibus cum matre reperit puer, illicita carnis copula commisceri; quod abhorrens et dolore cordis tactus intrinsecus, ad patrem properus rediit, rem nefandam seriatim pandens.

Now it happened, in a certain mid-time, as is said, something which nevertheless stirred him toward his former design. For, while he was detained and occupied with frequent ministerial duties and the very great care which he bore in his lord’s house and throughout the city, by chance it is said that the son he had, now pubescent, had returned home for an urgent cause, though hidden from us; who, arriving there, found a detestable thing. For the boy discovered one of the senior princes of the Turcs with his mother, engaged in an illicit carnal intercourse; which, abhorring it and inwardly touched by the pain of his heart, he hastened back to his father, unfolding the nefarious matter bit by bit.

Ille vero facti acerbitate permotus et zelo maritali succensus, dixisse fertur: Non sufficit canibus immundis quod nos indebite jugo premunt servitutis et nostra quotidianis exactionibus debilitant patrimonia; nisi et tori leges violent et jura dissolvant conjugalia. Ego, si vixero, hanc eorum, auctore Domino, abbreviabo insolentiam, dignam pro meritis compensationem retribuens. His dictis, injuriam dissimulans, filium secreti conscium et de illata matri turpitudine confusum, solito itinere ad dominum dirigit Boamundum, monens attentius ut ad opus praedictum universa praepararet necessaria; in se vero nullam esse moram, quo minus nocte proxima promissum impleatur. Significabat nihilominus ut circa horam nonam omnes principes, singuli cum suo comitatu, tanquam hostibus obviam profecturi de castris egrediantur; circa primam vero noctis vigiliam, clam et cum silentio revertentes, parati sint circa noctis medium, juxta ejus monita se habere.

He, however, moved by the bitterness of the deed and inflamed with marital zeal, is said to have spoken: It is not enough that unclean dogs unjustly press us under the yoke of servitude and enfeeble our patrimonies with daily exactions; unless they also violently break the laws of the bed and dissolve conjugal rights. I, if I live, by the Lord’s authority will abridge their insolence, rendering a fitting recompense for their merits. Having said these things, concealing the injury, with his son made privy to the secret and confounded about the shame inflicted on the mother, he directs Boamund as usual to the lord, warning him attentively that he prepare all things necessary for the afore‑said enterprise; and that there be no delay in himself, so that the promise may be fulfilled the next night. He nevertheless signified that about the ninth hour all the princes, each with his own retinue, should leave the camp as though to meet the enemy; but about the first watch of the night, returning secretly and in silence, they should be ready about midnight, to act in accordance with his counsels.

Susceptum ergo adolescentem ad principes secreti conscios occulte secum deducit; et consilii formam, quam per eumdem a patre susceperat ordinatam, pandit ex ordine. Illi vero viri argumentum et fidei stupentes sinceritatem, consilium approbant; et ita fieri oportere consentiunt.

He therefore secretly led the young man with him to the princes, privy and aware; and he unfolds, in order, the form of the plan which he had received from his father through that same man and had arranged. Those men, astonished at the evidence and the sincerity of his fidelity, approve the counsel; and they consent that it ought to be done thus.

CAPUT XVIII. Cives praedictum virum suspectum habent; ipse coram principe suam declarat innocentiam.

CHAPTER 18. The citizens hold the aforesaid man suspect; he himself before the prince declares his innocence.

Accidit autem per eosdem dies quiddam, quod in majoribus negotiis solet contingere frequentius. Civium enim et eorum maxime qui curam urbis gerebant propensiorem, coepit animus praesagire, non ex aliquibus evidentibus indiciis, sed magis ex suspicione, quod de urbe tradenda occulte haberetur tractatus; coepitque sermo iste in omnium ore pene versari. Unde convenientes adinvicem majores civitatis, principem adeunt, super eo verbo consilium habituri; videbatur enim verisimile, et multae ad id concurrebant praesumptiones.

It happened, moreover, in those same days something that is more wont to occur in greater affairs. For the minds of the citizens — and especially of those who bore the care of the city — began to be predisposed to presage, not from any evident signs, but rather from suspicion, that a secret negotiation was afoot about handing over the city; and this talk began to be on almost everyone’s lips. Whereupon the elders of the city, meeting together, approached the prince to hold counsel on that matter; for it seemed probable, and many conjectures concurred to that end.

Erant enim in eadem civitate, ut praediximus, multi fideles qui, etsi omnino hujus reatus erant immunes, tamen suspecti habebantur: inter quos praedictus nobilis homo, et si de ejus fidei sinceritate Acxianus non modice praesumeret, a reliquis magnatibus in eadem habebatur suspicione. Verum et coram Acxiano positi, dum super eo facto deliberationem haberent sollicitam, inter alios qui videbantur suspecti, hujus habuerunt mentionem; ideoque majorem videbantur de ejus suspicione habere rationem, quod et vir erat industrius et prae caeteris fidelibus in urbe potentior. Quibus praedictus princeps quodammodo persuasus, eum ad se praecipit evocari, quo in ejus praesentia constituto, de eodem verbo coram eo coepit studiose idem continuari tractatus, ut ejus super hoc consilium audiretur; et deprehenderetur ex ejus verbo manifeste, utrum merito suspectus esset vel non.

For in that same city, as we said before, there were many faithful men who, although entirely free from this crime, were nevertheless held suspect: among whom the aforesaid noble man, and although Acxianus did not scantily presume regarding the sincerity of his faith, was held in suspicion by the other magnates of the same city. But even placed before Acxianus, while they were holding anxious deliberation about that affair, this man was mentioned among others who seemed suspect; and therefore they seemed to have greater reason to suspect him, because he was an industrious man and more powerful in the city than the other faithful. These things having in a way persuaded the aforesaid prince, he ordered him to be summoned to his presence, and when he had been set before him, the same business was diligently continued in his presence, that a council might be heard concerning it; and that it might be clearly caught from his word whether he was justly suspect or not.

Contingit autem, sicut vir industrius erat, et celeris valde perspicacitatis, quod protinus cognovit quod ejus gratia ille talis haberetur conventus, quod apud eos suspectus haberetur; unde, ut artificiose celaret propositum et se apud eos assereret innocentem, fertur dixisse his qui convenerant ut tentarent eum: Sollicitudinem geritis, viri venerabiles et hujus civitatis principes maximi, valde commendabilem, et quae nonnisi in prudente locum potest habere. Prudenter enim timetur, quod accidere potest; et abundans in re capitali cautela non nocet. Unde non levi motu inducti esse videmini, ut pro libertate, vita, uxoribus et liberis hanc geratis sollicitudinem. Est tamen, si nostro vultis acquiescere consilio, via compendiosa satis, qua huic morbo quem venturum formidatis, possit conveniens aptari remedium, et cura competens adhiberi.

Now it happened, since he was an industrious man and of very swift perspicacity, that he immediately learned that on his account such an assembly was being held, that he was regarded as suspect among them; whence, that he might artfully conceal his purpose and assert himself innocent among them, he is said to have spoken to those who had assembled to try him: You bear a solicitude, venerable men and the chief princes of this city, most commendable, and one which can have place only in a prudent person. For prudently one fears what can happen; and abundant caution in a capital matter does no harm. Wherefore you seem to have been moved not lightly to carry this solicitude for liberty, life, wives and children. Yet if you will assent to my counsel, there is a sufficiently brief way whereby to this malady which you fear will come a fitting remedy may be applied, and a competent care employed.

Hoc negotium tam detestabile quod ita prudenter veremini posse accidere, nullatenus potest effectui mancipari, nisi per eorum operam, qui turribus et muris sunt praefecti et ad portarum deputati custodiam. Quod si de eorum sinceritate diffiditis, mutentur frequentius, ne in aliquo certo loco moram facientes diuturnam, perniciosam cum hostibus possint contrahere familiaritatem. Hujusmodi enim negotium non facile absolvitur, sed temporis indiget diuturnitate; nec penes privatam personam tantae rei potest consistere momentum, nisi et de majoribus civitatis pari factionis scelere corrupti muneribus, involvantur.

This affair, so detestable, which you so prudently fear may occur, can in no way be brought to effect except through the agency of those who are prefects over towers and walls and deputed to the custody of the gates. But if you distrust their sincerity, let them be changed more frequently, lest, by lingering for a long time in any fixed place, they contract a pernicious familiarity with the enemies. For a matter of this kind is not easily accomplished, but requires the length of time; nor can the weight of so great a thing rest with a private person alone, unless the leading men of the city of the same faction, corrupted by gifts, become involved.

Mutatio vero haec repentina et frequens, omnem hujusmodi periculosae negotiationis amputabit opportunitatem. Haec cum dixisset, innocentiam visus est astruxisse suam, et suspicionem quam de eo conceperant, aliquatenus mitigasse. Placuit itaque ejus sermo et in oculis omnium visus est bonus; fuissetque statim effectui mancipatum ejus consilium, nisi quia nocte irruente dies jam declinaverat ita ut nequaquam circa urbis statum tanta posset fieri mutatio. Cura tamen vigili et exacta diligentia urbem praecipiunt custodiri, eorum quae a praedicto viro tractabantur occulte, penitus ignari.

This sudden and frequent change will cut off every opportunity for such a dangerous negotiation. When he had said these things, he seemed to have feigned his innocence, and to have somewhat mitigated the suspicion they had conceived of him. Therefore his speech pleased, and he was seen good in the eyes of all; and his plan would have been immediately carried into effect, had not, with night falling in, the day already declined so that by no means could so great a change be effected concerning the state of the city. Yet with vigilant care and exact diligence they command the city to be guarded, wholly ignorant of the things which were being secretly handled by the aforesaid man.

Ipse autem sciens quod in proximo res esset maximam mutationem subitura, sedulum se gerit quomodo interim propositum impleretur, antequam aliquid occurreret impedimenti.

He himself, however, knowing that in the near future the matter was about to undergo a very great change, applies himself diligently to how, in the meantime, the purpose might be accomplished before any impediment should arise.

CAPUT XIX. Quantis angustiis fidelium populus, qui in urbe erat, premeretur: et quomodo strages eis destinata quievit.

CHAPTER 19. By what great constraints the faithful people who were in the city were oppressed: and how the slaughter destined for them was stayed.

Porro cives ab ipso primo nostrorum introitu, ex quo circa urbem locata est obsidio, suspectos habuerunt Graecos, Syros et Armenios, et alios cujuscunque generis, Christianae fidei professores. Unde statim eos qui tenuiores erant, nec sibi et familiolis suis poterant sufficere, victum penes se habentes necessarium extra urbem fecerant, ne urbi essent oneri; solis divitibus, et qui ampla habebant patrimonia, et alimenta penes se domibus suis sufficientia, retentis. Hos etiam tantis angariis affligebant et parangariis, ut melius esse videretur his quos ab urbe depulerant, quam quibus pro summo beneficio urbis indulserant habitationem.

Furthermore, from the very first entrance of our men, when a siege was set around the city, the citizens held Greeks, Syrians and Armenians, and others of whatever kind, professing the Christian faith, to be suspicious. Wherefore at once they made those who were poorer, and could not provide for themselves and their little families, who had necessary sustenance with them, depart outside the city, so that they might not be a burden to the city; only the rich, and those who had ample patrimonies, and food sufficient at their homes, were retained. These they also afflicted with such exactions and requisitions that it seemed better to be among those whom they had driven from the city than among those to whom, as a supreme favor of the city, they had allowed habitation.

Nam et pecuniarias eis saepius infligebant multas, id quod habere videbantur violenter extorquentes; et ad quaelibet sordida munera et onera civilia rapiebant invitos. Nam si erigendae erant machinae aut immensi ponderis transferendae trabes, statim id eis muneris injungebatur. Hi lapides et caementa et quamcunque materiam ad opus aedificiorum necessariam circumferre compellebantur; hi jaculatoriis etiam machinis, molares qui extra mitterentur tenebantur ministrare; et funibus quibus extra contorquebantur inservire, pro arbitrio praefectorum sine intermissione, nulla data requie, cogebantur.

For they also oftentimes laid pecuniary multas upon them, as if violently extorting what they possessed; and they pressed them, unwilling, into all manner of sordid munera and civil onera. For if machines had to be erected or beams of immense weight transferred, that service was immediately imposed on them. These were compelled to convey stones and caementa and whatever material was necessary for the work of buildings; these were kept to tend the jaculatory machines and the millstones that were sent outside; and to attend the ropes by which those outside were worked, to serve at the prefects’ arbitrament without intermission, no rest being granted, they were forced.

Demum vero, postquam injuncta sibi obsequia fideliter et devote compleverant, colaphos et verbera reportabant, pro mercede indignis affecti contumeliis. Nec sufficiebat hoc immundis canibus quorum violenta dominatione premebantur; sed ut inauditam complerent malitiam, octo diebus, antequam supradictum virum, ut praediximus, tanquam suspectum convenirent, consilio secretius habito, universos quotquot in urbe habitabant fideles, subito et de nocte occidere decreverunt; quod nisi per quemdam magnum et prudentem civitatis principem, qui semper Christianis se amicum exhibuerat, octo dierum ad id complendum, invitis aliis, datae fuissent induciae, procul omni dubio, missis spiculatoribus, illius tam perniciosi exsecutoribus consilii, eadem nocte universa fidelium turba gladio cecidisset. Recepta autem fuerat eo intuitu octo dierum praedicta dilatio, ut interim considerarent utrum solveretur obsidio; quod si nostri in obsidendo perseverassent, tunc quod decretum fuerat exsecutioni mandaretur; sin autem, parceretur civibus, qui ad mortem erant deputati.

Finally indeed, after they had faithfully and devoutly fulfilled the imposed services, they bore punches and lashes, afflicted with insults unworthy of their reward. Nor was this enough for those filthy dogs by whose violent domination they were pressed; but, that they might complete an unheard-of malice, eight days before they should assemble the aforesaid man, as we have said, they, a secret council having been held, suddenly resolved to murder all the faithful dwelling in the city by night; which, had it not been for a certain great and prudent chief of the city, who had always shown himself a friend to the Christians, an eight-day delay given to carry it out, others unwilling being sent, beyond all doubt, with spear-bearers sent as the pernicious executors of that design, the entire throng of the faithful would have fallen by the sword that same night. Now that eight-day postponement had been obtained with this intent, that in the meantime they might consider whether the siege should be raised; for if our men had persevered in the besieging, then that which had been decreed would have been committed to execution; but if, on the other hand, they should spare the citizens who had been appointed to death,

Effluxerant porro feriae, eaque nox erat novissima; jamque secretius exierat edictum, ut praedicta exsecutioni mandaretur sententia: cum de complendo eadem nocte nostris proposito, inter dominum Boamundum et praedictum Emirfeirum convenerat; et pro fixo fuerat statutum ut, quod multum ante inter eos conceptum fuerat, adimpleretur; quod, auctore Domino, factum est. Unde accidit quod eadem nocte nostris urbem occupantibus, pro excito tumultu, majores civitatis minus facti sunt solliciti; nihil aliud arbitrantes urbis strepitum significare, quam id quod in Christianos concives praeceperant exerceri. Unde et urbe violenter effracta, in domibus fidelium reperti sunt de hostibus quamplures, qui ad hoc convenerant ut, sicuti eis injunctum fuerat, incautos repente occiderent.

Moreover the holidays had run their course, and that night was the last; and an edict had gone out more secretly, that the aforesaid sentence should be committed to execution: when, concerning the carrying out that same night against our men proposed, there had been an agreement between Lord Boamund and the aforesaid Emirfeirus; and it had been decreed as fixed that what had long before been conceived between them should be fulfilled; which, by the Lord’s authority, was done. Whence it came about that on that very night, to those occupying the city against us, by reason of the raised tumult the city’s magistrates were made less solicitous; thinking that the clamour of the city signified nothing other than that which they had ordered their fellow-citizens to exercise against the Christians. Wherefore, with the city violently forced open, there were found in the houses of the faithful by the enemies many men who had assembled for this purpose, so that, as had been commanded them, they might suddenly slay the unsuspecting.

CAPUT XX. Juxta consilium praedicti viri, exercitus de castris egreditur, circa noctem reversurus.

CHAPTER 20. According to the counsel of the aforesaid man, the army issues forth from the camp, about to return by night.

Igitur circa horam nonam, missa voce praeconia per castrorum ambitum, edicitur publice universis de equestri ordine, quatenus armati omnes, majores sequantur principes, id quod eis injunctum fuerit, sine mora exsecuturi. Erat autem non solum plebs hujus ignara secreti, verum etiam paucis ex majoribus revelatum erat hoc mysterium. Factum est igitur ut, juxta prudentis viri consilium, egressae a castris universae equitum copiae, principum secutae vexilla, longius se abire finxerunt, quousque nox irruens terris solitam induxit caliginem; qua occultati, clam et in silentio ad castra sunt reversi.

Therefore, about the ninth hour, the trumpets having been sent through the camp, it is publicly proclaimed to all of the equestrian order that, insofar as armed men are concerned, the elders should follow the leaders, and that they are to execute without delay whatever has been enjoined on them. Nor was this secret unknown only to the common people; on the contrary, it had been revealed to a few of the leaders. It happened, then, that according to the prudent man's counsel the whole body of cavalry having sallied forth from the camp, the standards following the leaders, feigned to go further away until night, rushing over the lands, brought on its accustomed darkness; and concealed by this, they returned to the camp secretly and in silence.

Huic autem viro Dei, qui tantum nostris favorem contulerat, frater erat uterinus, longe alterius mentis et disparis propositi; cui frater, quoniam de ejus non multum praesumebat sinceritate, nihil secreti sui communicaverat; sed, suspectum habens eum, quantum poterat, propositum occultabat suum. Accidit autem eadem die, dum nostrae circa horam nonam egrederentur legiones, quod ambo fratres juncti adinvicem per cancellos murorum, castra prospicerent et egredientia contuerentur agmina; laborabat autem frater senior junioris nosse propositum et ejus voluntatem diligenter indagare; unde exorsus, ad fratrem dixit: Misereor, frater mi, populo huic nostrae professionis gratiam et fidem consecuto, cui tam subitus paratur interitus; ignarus enim quid crastina pariat dies, securus egreditur, et quasi rebus in tuto locatis, nihil timere videtur; verum si sciret quantae illae praestruantur insidiae, et quanta in proximo eorum paretur ruina, forte aliter sibi provideret. Cui frater: Stulta, inquit, sollicitudine consumeris et indiscreta compassione fatigaris: utinam Turcorum gladiis jam occubuissent universi: a die enim introitus eorum primo, multo deterior facta est nostra conditio: vixque esse poterit, ut tantum nobis per eos utilitatis accedat, quantum molestiarum eorum occasione passi sumus. Sic ergo qui prius dubitaverat an fratri suo communicaret propositum, nunc tanquam pestem de clinans, abhorret animo, exsecratur in conscientia, et, ne Christi obsequium per eum praepediretur, de ejus coepit morte (charitati fraternae publicam fidelium praeponens salutem) tractare.

To this man of God, who had shown such favor to ours, there was a uterine brother, of a very different mind and divergent purpose; to whom the brother had communicated nothing of his secret, since he did not hold much confidence in his sincerity; but, having him under suspicion, he concealed his purpose as much as he could. It happened, moreover, on that same day, while our legions were leaving about the ninth hour, that both brothers, joined together, looked out through the palings of the walls, and watched the camp and the departing columns; the elder brother strove to learn the younger’s plan and to search diligently for his intention; whence he began and said to his brother: I pity, my brother, this people, having won favor and faith by our profession, to whom so sudden a ruin is prepared; for the ignorant man sets out, not knowing what the morrow will bring, secure, and as if his affairs were placed in safety he seems to fear nothing; but if he knew how great the ambushes being set up are, and what ruin is being prepared against them nearby, perhaps he would provide otherwise for himself. To whom the brother replied: You are consumed by foolish anxiety and wearied by indiscriminate compassion: would that all had already fallen by the Turks’ swords; for from the very day of their entry our condition has become much worse: and it will hardly be possible that so much advantage come to us from them as the troubles we have suffered on their account. Thus he who had before hesitated whether to communicate the plan to his brother now, as one shrinking from a pestilence, recoils in spirit, execrates it in conscience, and, lest the service of Christ be obstructed through him, begins to plot his death (preferring the common safety of the faithful to brotherly charity).

CAPUT XXI. Boamundus amicum sollicitat, ut opus compleatur: ille fratrem non consentientem perimit; Christianos per scalam demissam in urbem recipit.

CHAPTER 21. Boamundus urges a friend that the work be completed: the latter puts to death a brother who does not consent; he admits Christians into the city by a ladder let down.

Interea dominus Boamundus tota mente anhelus, quomodo votis satisfaceret, ne de ejus desidia res optata susciperet dilationem, principes circuit, tota instantia monet esse sollicitos, scalam in funibus cannabinis satis artificiose intextam, paratam habens prae manibus, quae uncis inferius ferreis, superius vero ad murorum propugnacula debeat alligari. Jam vero nocte media, cum se universa quieti dedisset civitas, continuis vigiliis et labore immenso vires sopori ministrantibus, interpretem domesticum et valde familiarem ad praedictum amicum dirigit, ut ab eodem sciscitetur diligentius, utrum adhuc sibi velit adesse domini sui familiam. Adveniens autem ille, virum in cancellis reperit vigilantem.

Meanwhile Lord Boamund, panting with his whole mind as to how he might satisfy his vows, lest by his sloth the desired affair suffer delay, went about the chiefs, admonishing them with all urgency to be solicitous, having at hand a ladder woven fairly artfully of hempen ropes prepared, which was to be bound below with iron hooks, above to the battlements of the walls. Now indeed at midnight, when the whole city had given itself to sleep, with unbroken watches and immense toil supplying strength to slumber, he directs a domestic interpreter, very familiar, to the aforesaid friend, that he might more diligently inquire from him whether the household of his lord still wished to be present for him. The man, however, on arriving found him keeping watch at the lattices.

Cumque ei interpres voce submissa, verba domini sui exposuisset, respondit ei: Sede quietus et tace, quousque praefectus vigilum, qui cum multo accedit comitatu, et fulgore lampadarum, locum istum pertranseat. Erat enim in civitate consuetudo, quod praeter vigiles, qui singulis turribus erant deputati, eorum superior magistratus, ter vel quater in nocte, muros cum ingenti circuiret comitatu, faculas ardentes gestando prae manibus, ut si quos inveniret aut somno gravatos, aut negligentius se habentes, debitae animadversioni subjiceret. Pertransiens autem hic, cujus tanta erat jurisdictio, et praedictum virum vigilantem reperiens, ejus commendavit diligentiam, ad ulteriora deproperans loca securus. Videns autem vir praedictus horam se obtulisse rebus agendis opportunam, interpretem sepositum alloquitur, dicens: Vade citus, et dic domino tuo ut cum viris electis festinus adveniat. Qui dicto citius recurrens ad dominum et paratum reperiens, convocatis clam aliis principibus, et in ictu oculi, sicut praemoniti erant, subsequentibus, quisque cum suo domestico comitatu, subito ante turrim diu ante praenotatam, quasi vir unus astiterunt, ita ut nec clamor, nec strepitus ex eis audiretur.

And when the interpreter, in a subdued voice, had set forth his lord’s words to him, he answered him: “Sit still and be silent, until the prefect of the vigiles, who comes with a great retinue and the brightness of torches, passes through that place.” For it was the custom in the city that besides the watchmen assigned to each tower, their superior magistrate would traverse the walls three or four times in the night with a large retinue, carrying burning torches in his hands, so that if he found any either heavy with sleep or behaving more negligently, he might subject them to due discipline. Now as this man was passing by, whose jurisdiction was so great, and finding the aforesaid man vigilant, he commended his diligence and hastened on, secure, to more remote stations. The aforesaid man, seeing that the hour had offered itself fit for action, spoke to the put-aside interpreter, saying: “Go quickly, and tell your lord that he should hasten to come with chosen men.” He, running back more swiftly at the word and finding his lord ready, having secretly summoned other chiefs, and in the blink of an eye, as they had been pre-advised, with followers each according to his household retinue, suddenly stood before the tower long before the appointed hour, as if they were one man, so that neither shouting nor noise could be heard from them.

Interea ille vir praedictus turrim eamdem ingressus, fratrem reperit somno gravatum, cujus quia mentem noverat alienam a suo proposito, timens ne per eum rei jam pene consummatae ministraretur impedimentum, gladio transverberat, facto pius et sceleratus eodem. Post haec rediens ad cancellos, et quos evocari praeceperat praesentes conspiciens, dato et resumpto mutuae salvationis affatu, funem demittit inferius, quo scalam ad se pertrahat sublevatam. Erecta igitur scala, et tam a superiore parte, quam ab inferiore firmius annexa, nemo repertus est qui ad vocem superioris vel domini Boamundi mandatum praesumeret ascendere et in se hujusmodi experimentum facere.

Meanwhile that aforesaid man, having entered the same tower, found his brother weighed down by sleep; and because he knew his mind to be alien to his purpose, fearing that through him a hindrance might be ministered to the matter now nearly consummated, he transfixed him with a sword, becoming both pious and wicked in the same deed. After this, returning to the lattices, and seeing present those whom he had ordered to be summoned, having given and received the mutual pledge of salvation, he lowered a rope beneath by which he might draw the ladder up to himself once it was raised. The ladder therefore being set up, and more firmly fastened both above and below, no one was found who would presume to ascend at the voice of his superior or at the command of Lord Boamund and put such an experiment upon himself.

Quod dominus Boamundus videns, conscendit ipse prior intrepidus. Cumque jam muri propugnaculo, transcursa scala, manum adhibuisset, comprehendens eam qui erat interior, sciens quia Boamundi esset manus, dixisse fertur: Vivat haec manus. Et ut ejus et omnium fidelium sibi majorem conciliaret gratiam, eo quod fratrem uterinum in opere tam sancto non consentientem transverberaverat, inducit eum in turrim; et fratrem ostendit exanimem proprio sanguine cruentatum. Deosculatus igitur dominus Boamundus viri constantiam et fidei sinceritatem, ad murum rediens, emisso paulisper per cancellum capite, voce suppressa suos ad ascensum coepit invitare: cumque adhuc dubitarent, nec erat aliquis ausus ascendere, totum reputantes sophisticum, quidquid de muro dicebatur: quo cognito, ad suos per eamdem scalam rediens, suae incolumitatis evidens dedit argumentum.

Which Lord Boamund seeing, he himself first intrepidly mounted. And when now on the battlement of the wall, having crossed the ladder, he had put forth his hand, seizing him who was within, that he knew to be Boamundus’ hand, is said to have cried: Vivat haec manus. And that he might win greater favor for himself and for all the faithful, because he had transfixed his uterine brother who had not consented in so holy a work, he led him into the tower; and he showed the brother lifeless, bedewed with his own blood. Having kissed therefore the man’s constancy and the sincerity of his faith, Lord Boamund, returning to the wall, having thrust his head briefly through the grating, with a suppressed voice began to invite his men to the ascent: and while they still hesitated, and there was not one bold enough to climb, altogether counting whatever was said about the wall sophistical, when this became known, returning to his men by the same ladder he gave evident proof of his safety.

Unde factum est, ut certatim ascendentes, in momento murum replerent; et non solum turrim illam, verum et de collateralibus nonnullas occuparent. Audivimus quod inter alios dominus Flandrensium comes et dominus Tancredus ascenderint, quorum doctrina caeteri regebantur.

Whence it came about that, striving to climb, they in an instant filled the wall; and not only that tower, but also seized some of the collateral (flanking) ones. We heard that among others the lord, the Count of Flanders, and lord Tancred had climbed up, by whose doctrina the rest were governed.

CAPUT XXII. Intromissi aperiunt portam; exercitus, jam facti conscius, in urbem irruit. Civitas expugnatur.

CHAPTER 22. The intruders open the gate; the army, now conscious of the fact, rushes into the city. The city is taken.

Videntes vero principes, quod sufficiebat numerus et prudentia eorum qui jam ascenderant, ut una vel plures portae aperirentur, sub omni velocitate reversi sunt ad castra, ut suas praeparent copias, et dato signo ab interioribus, urbem ingredi non morentur. Qui vero supra murum ascenderant, virtute induti ex alto, duce praedicto viro qui eos introduxerat, jam decem turres, in eodem sine interpolatione tractu, occisis earum custodibus occupaverant: et tamen adhuc universa quiescebat civitas, ita ut nec rumor aliquis audiretur. Erat autem secus eam partem muri, unde nostri ascenderant, porta adulterina; ad quam descendentes, confractis ejus vectibus et seris, eam violenter aperiunt; et admittentes eos qui de foris exspectabant, crevit eorum numerus qui intus erant in immensum, ita ut ad portam, quae Pontis dicitur, facto impetu concurrentes, caesis gladio ejus custodibus, eam violenter aperirent.

Seeing, however, that the number and the prudence of those who had already ascended were sufficient that one or more gates would be opened, the princes hurried back to the camp with all speed to prepare their forces, and, a signal having been given by those within, they would not delay to enter the city. But those who had climbed upon the wall, clothed with valour from the height, under the aforesaid man who had led them in, had already, in one uninterrupted stretch, occupied ten towers, after killing their guards: and yet the whole city still lay quiet, so that not even a rumour was heard. On that side of the wall from which our men had ascended there was an adulterine gate; descending to it, they broke its crossbars and bolts and violently opened it; and admitting those who had been waiting without, their number within grew to an immense size, so that at the gate called Pontis, charging with a made-onslaught, and after slaying its warders with the sword, they violently forced it open.

Interea quidam de familia domini Boamundi, ejus vexillum super eum contulerant montem qui urbi praeeminebat; et juxta praesidium superius in arce quadam, loco eminentissimo collocaverant. Cognoscentes autem quod aurora rutilans solis ortum nuntiaret, dato signo cornibus et lituis, coeperunt perstrepere ad urbis ingressum, eos qui in castris erant, animantes. Principes vero, signi quod condixerant intelligentes argumentum, raptis armis, subito sua secum trahentes agmina, in urbem irruunt, aditus et portas occupantes.

Meanwhile certain members of the household of Lord Boamund had set his standard upon a hill that overlooked the city; and beside the garrison above, in a certain citadel in a very eminent place, they had placed it. But when they perceived that the rosy dawn announced the rising of the sun, having given the signal with horns and curved trumpets, they began to make a clamor at the city’s entrance, encouraging those who were in the camps. The leaders, however, understanding the meaning of the signal which they had agreed upon, seized their arms, and suddenly, drawing their cohorts with them, rushed into the city, occupying the approaches and the gates.

Interea populares exciti, quos hactenus secretum latuerat, videntes jam castra pene vacua, alios secuti, in urbem certatim se ingerunt. Cives autem tanto tumultu expergefacti, primum dubitant quidnam sibi velit clamor iste insolitus; deinde videntes discursus per urbem loricatorum insuetos et stragem quae passim per vicos fiebat et plateas, rem prout erat, arbitrati sunt. Relictis ergo domibus, cum uxoribus et liberis tentabant effugere; dumque armatorum declinant acies, latebras quaerentes et salutis viam, attoniti quid faciant, armatis se ingerunt imprudenter.

Meanwhile the populace, roused, in whom the secret had hitherto lain hidden, seeing now the camp nearly empty, following others, eagerly rushed into the city. The citizens, awakened by so great a tumult, first doubted what this unusual clamor might mean for them; then, seeing the unusual running to and fro through the city of cuirassed men and the slaughter that was being made everywhere through the streets and plazas, judged the affair as it was. Leaving therefore their houses, with wives and children they tried to flee; and while they turned aside from the ranks of the armed, seeking hiding-places and a way of safety, astonished what to do, they rashly threw themselves upon the armed.

Qui autem erant urbis habitatores, Syri, Armenii et aliarum nationum fideles, hi de eventu qui acciderat congratulantes plurimum, correptis armis, nostrorum se adjungebant coetibus; et sicuti majorem habebant locorum peritiam, ita alios post se trahentes urbis docebant diverticula; et portas, si quae adhuc clausae tenebantur, obtruncatis eorum custodibus, confractis seris aperientes, reliquum exercitus intromittebant. Videbatur eis haec a Domino egressa vicissitudo, ut qui canibus immundis, indebitae servitutis jugo subjecti fuerant, angariis et parangariis et cruciatibus immisericorditer fatigati, nunc versa vice, aequipollentes refunderent calumnias, et eis procurarent interitum. Et jam universus nostrorum introductus erat exercitus; jam libere portas turresque sibi vindicaverant, et moenia; jam principum vexilla, et omnibus nota in locis sublimioribus constituta insignia, victoriae dabant argumentum.

But those who were inhabitants of the city — Syrians, Armenians, and fidelis of other nations — rejoicing greatly at the event that had occurred, seizing arms, joined our cohorts; and just as they had greater peritia of the places, so, drawing others after them, they showed the city’s diverticula; and the gates, if any were still held closed, with their guards slaughtered and the bars broken open, they opened, admitting the remainder of the army. It seemed to them that this vicissitude had proceeded from the Lord, so that those who like unclean dogs had been subject to the yoke of undeserved servitude, mercilessly galled by angariae and parangariae and tortures, now in turn would repay equivalent calumnies and bring about their destruction. And now the whole of our exercitus had been brought in; now they had freely vindicated to themselves the portas, turres, and moenia; now the princes’ vexilla, and the insignia set up in places lofty and known to all, gave proof of victory.

Erant ergo ubique strages, ubique luctus, ubique mulierum ejulatus; et, interfectis patribus familias, passim obtruncabatur familia; et, effractis domibus, vasa diripiebantur; et, universa illarum substantia his qui primi accedebant, concedebatur ad praedam. Discurrebant victores per loca prius inaccessa; et, tracti caedis cupidine et lucri desiderio, nec sexui parcunt, nec conditioni; aetatis etiam apud eos nulla erat differentia. Occurrentes autem sibi per vicos et plateas civitatis, quaerunt diligentius ubi potentum sint domicilia et ubi habitaverant locupletiores; illucque junctis concurrentes agminibus, interfectisque domesticis, effringentes penetralia, nobilium liberos, matres quoque familias gladiis transverberantes, domus supellectilem, aurum, argentum, et vestes pretiosas aequa sorte invicem partientes.

There were therefore slaughter everywhere, everywhere mourning, everywhere the shrieks of women; and with the paterfamilias slain, households were everywhere cut down; and, with houses broken open, vessels were plundered; and the whole substance of those houses was conceded as spoil to those who came first. The victors ran about places previously inaccessible; and, driven by a desire for slaughter and the lust of gain, they spared neither sex nor condition; there was also no distinction of age among them. Meeting people in the streets and squares of the city, they more carefully sought where the powerful had their domiciles and where the wealthier had lived; and there, joining together in companies, they fell upon them, the household servants being slain, the penetralia broken open, the noble children and the mothers likewise transfixed with swords, the houses’ supellectile, gold, silver, and precious garments dividing among themselves by equal lot.

Caesa fuisse dicuntur ea die de civium numero plus quam decem millia, quorum corpora passim et sine delectu per vias jacebant insepulta.

It is said that on that day more than ten thousand of the citizens were cut down, whose bodies lay here and there and without selection along the streets, unburied.

CAPUT XXIII. Cives in praesidium se receptant; Acxianus extra urbem fugiens occiditur; multi de monte praecipites prosternuntur.

CHAPTER 23. Citizens take refuge in the praesidium; Acxianus, fleeing outside the city, is killed; many are hurled headlong from the mountain.

Acxianus vero videns, quod hostibus erat tradita civitas, et quod turres et moenia et urbem sibi vindicaverant universam; vidensque quod populus, qui stragem evaserat, in praesidium certatim se conferebat, timens ne Christianus exercitus illuc eos prosequens, praesidium vellet obsidione vallare, solus absque comite per posticum egressus, amens, vitae tamen et salutis quaerens compendium, fugam iniit; dumque solus prae doloris angustia, sine certo proposito errabundus vagaretur, casu habuit obviam quosdam Armenios, qui statim eum cognoscentes, accesserunt, quasi solitam exhibituri reverentiam; dumque ille, quasi extra se factus, hos passus esset ad se pervenire, cognoscentes ex eo quod solus ita aufugerat urbem esse devictam, violenter eum ad terram dejecerunt; et educto ejusdem gladio, caput ei praecidentes, in urbem intulerant, coram universo populo illud principibus offerentes. Erant autem in civitate quidam nobiles, qui de remotis partibus ad Antiochenorum, gratia exercendae virtutis, venerant subsidium: hi locorum ignari, cognito quod civitas in nostrorum devenerat ditionem, dubii quid facerent et pro vita solliciti, in praesidium superius se recipere decreverant; dumque illuc tota properarent intentione, casu accidit quod nostros a parte superiori habentes obviam, et inter locorum intercepti angustias, ita ut neque ascendere, neque descendere, propter montis devexitatem liceret, instantibus nostris desuper, dum quocunque modo fugere nituntur, praecipitati sunt cum equis et armis, quibus erant insigniti, quasi trecenti; qui, confractis cervicibus et membris contritis, vix de seipsis reliquerunt aliquam memoriam. Qui autem aut de urbe aut de adjacente provincia locorum habentes peritiam, inventi sunt expeditiores, hi summo diluculo, postquam cognoverunt urbem effractam, per portas, quae jam incipiebant reserari, junctis agminibus egrediebantur, ut confugerent ad montana; quos nostri cominus insectantes, partem reduxerunt, violenter eos compedibus alligantes; pars equorum erepta beneficio, ad montana confugiens, vitae consuluit et saluti.

Acxianus, however, seeing that the city had been surrendered to the enemies, and that the towers and walls and the whole city had been claimed for themselves; and seeing that the populace, which had escaped the slaughter, was hastening by turns into the stronghold, fearing that the Christian army pursuing them might wish to invest the stronghold with siege, slipped out alone by a back gate, distraught, yet seeking a shortcut to life and safety, and took to flight; and while he, alone and wandering without a fixed purpose through the anguish of grief, met by chance some Armenians, who at once recognizing him approached, as if to show their accustomed reverence; and while he, as though beside himself, suffered them to come up to him, they, recognizing from the fact that he alone had thus fled that the city had been captured by our men, violently threw him to the ground; and, drawing his very sword and cutting off his head, carried it into the city, offering it to their leaders before the whole people. There were moreover in the city certain nobles who had come from distant parts to the Antiochenes, to display prowess by rendering aid: these, ignorant of the region, when they learned that the city had come into our dominion, uncertain what to do and anxious for their lives, had resolved to withdraw themselves to the upper stronghold; and while they hurried thither with all speed, it happened by chance that our men holding the upper approaches met them, and, intercepted in the straits of the place, so that because of the steepness of the mountain they could neither climb nor descend, with our men pressing down upon them from above, they were cast headlong with their horses and arms with which they were distinguished, about three hundred as it were; who, with necks broken and limbs crushed, barely left any trace of themselves. But those who either from the city or from the neighboring province had local experience and were found more lightly equipped, at first light, after learning that the city had been broken into, sallied forth through the gates which were already beginning to be opened, with their bands joined, to flee to the mountains; whom our men pursuing at close quarters brought back in part, binding them violently with fetters; some horses, snatched away by good fortune, fleeing to the mountains, sought life and safety.

Circa horam vero diei quintam, redeuntibus nostris, qui egressi fuerant; et qui per urbem dispersi fuerant recollectis adinvicem, quaesitum est diligentius et pro certo cognitum, quod nihil prorsus alimentorum in urbe repertum fuerat: nec mirum, cum jam pene mensibus novem continua obsidione vallata fuisset. Sed tamen in auro, argento, gemmis, vasis pretiosis, tapetibus et holosericis, tot et tantae repertae sunt copiae, ut qui prius mendicabat esuriens, nunc factus locupletior, omnibus affluenter abundaret. Reperti sunt autem in tota urbe qui ad arma facerent, equi vix quingenti; et hi etiam confecti macie et inedia tabescentes.

About the fifth hour of the day, as our men who had gone forth were returning, and those who had been scattered through the city were recollected together, a more diligent inquiry was made and it was ascertained for certain that absolutely no alimentary supplies were to be found in the city; not surprising, since it had been enclosed by a continuous siege for nearly nine months. Yet in gold, silver, gems, precious vessels, tapestries and silks so many and such great stores were discovered that he who had before begged, hungry, now made more affluent, abounded plentifully to all. Moreover throughout the whole city those fit for arms were found, and horses scarcely five hundred; and these likewise were worn out by emaciation and wasting from starvation.

Capta est ergo Antiochia, anno ab Incarnatione Domini 1098, mense Junio tertia die mensis.

Antiochia was therefore captured, in the year from the Incarnation of the Lord 1098, in the month of June, on the third day of the month.