The enemy renewed their onslaught so fiercely that they drove the Franks who were nearest to them back on the battalion of Tliierri of Tenremonde, the constable. Nor was it long before they drove them back still further on to the battalions led by Charles of the Frene. And now the Franks had retreated, sore harassed, till they were within half a mile of Rusium. And the others ever pressed upon them more hardily; and the battle went sore against them, and many were wounded, and of their horses. So, as God will suffer misadventures, theycould endure no further, Jjjrt were discomfited; for they were heavily armed, and their, enemies lightly; and the latter began to slaughter them.
’”Alas! “well might Christendom rue that dayi For of all those six score knights did not more than ten escape who were not killed or taken; and those who escaped came flying into Rusium. and rejoined their own people. There was slain Thierri of Tenremonde, the constable, Orri of l’lsle, who was a good knight and highly esteemed, and John of Pompone, Andrew of Urboise, John of Choisy, Guy of Con- flans, Charles of the Frene, Villain the brother of Thierri the seneschal. Nor can this book tell the names of all who were then killed or taken. On that day happened one of the greatest mishaps, and the most grievous that ever befell to the Christendom of the land of Roumania, and one of the most pitiful.
The Comans and Greeks and Wallachians retired, having done according to their will in the land, and won many good horses and good hawberks. And this misadventure happened on the day before the eve of our Lad}- St. Mary Candlemas (31st January 1206). And the remnant who had escaped from the discomfiture, together with those who had been in Rusium, escaped from the city’, so soon as it was night, and went all night flying, and came on the morrow to the ; city of Rodosto.
NEW INVASION OF JOHANNIZZA J RUIN OF NAPOLI
This dolorous news came to Henry the Regent of the empire, while he was going in procession to the shrine of our Lady of Blachemce, on the day of the feast of our Lady St. Mary Candlemas. And you must know that many were then dismayed in Constantinople, and they thought of a truth that the land was but lost. And Henry, the Regent of the empire, decided that he would place a garrison in Salymbria, which was a two days’ journey from Constantinople, and he sent thither Macaire of Sainte-Menehould, with fifty knights to garrison the city.
Now- when tidings came to Johannizza, King of Wallachia, as to how his people had fared, he was very greatly rejoiced; for they had lolled or taken a very great part of the best men in the French host. So he sent throughout all his lands to collect as many people as he could, and raised a great host of Comans, and Greeks and Wallachians, and entered into Roumania. And the greater part ot the cities held for him, and all the castles; and he had so large a host that it was a marvel.
When the Venetians heard tell that he was coming with so great a force, they abandoned Arcadiopolis. And Johannizza rode with all his hosts till he came to Napoli, which was garrisoned by Greeks and Latina, and belonged to Vernas, who had to wife the empress, the sister of the King of France; and of the Latins was chief Budge of Fransures, a knight of the land of the Beauvaisais. And Johannizza, the King of Wallachia, caused the city to be assaulted, and took it by force.
There was so great a slaughter of people killed, that it was a ^marvel; And B6grrS of Fransures was taEen~T5efore~’ Johannizza, who had him, together with all, whether Greek or Latin, who were of any account; and all the meaner folk, and women and children, he caused to he cause all the city which was very good and very rich, and in a good land, to be cast down and utterly destroyed. Thus was the city of Napoli rased to the ground as you have heard guided istanbul tour.
DESTRUCTION OF RODOSTO
Twelve leagues thence lay the city of Rodosto, on the sea. It was very strong, and rich, and large, and very well garri – soned by Venetians. And besides all this, there had come thither a body of sergeants, some two thousand strong, and they had also come to guard the city. When they heard that Napoli had been taken by force, and that Johannizza had caused all the people that were therein to be put to death, -they fell into such terror that they were utterly confounded and foredone. As God suffers misadventures to fall upon men, so the Venetians rushed to their ships, helter-skelter, pell-mell, and in such sort that they almost drowned one another; and s the mounted sergeants, who came from France and Flanders, and other countries, went flying through the land.
–Now listen and hear how little this served them, and what a misadventure was their flight; for the city was so strong, and so well enclosed by good walls and good towers, that no one would ever have ventured to assault it, and that Johannizza had no thought of going thither. But when Johannizza, who was full half a day’s journey distant, heard tell that they had fled, he rode thither. The Greeks who had remained in the city, surrendered, and he incontinently caused them to be taken, small and great save those who escaped and led captive into Wallachia; and the city he ordered to be destroyed and rased to the ground. Ah! the loss and damage! for the city was one of the best in Roumania, and of the best situated.
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