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Villehardouin, Geoffroi de, 1150-1213

"Memoirs or Chronicle of the Fourth Crusade and the Conquest of Constantinople"

Nor could they forage for provisions more than four
bow-shots' distance from the camp. And their stores were but scanty,
save of flour and bacon, and of those they had a little; and of fresh
meat none at all, save what they got from the horses that were killed.
And be it known to you that there was only food generally in the host
for three weeks. Thus were they in very perilous case, for never did
so few people besiege so many people in any city.
FIRST INCIDENTS OF THE ASSAULT
Then did they bethink themselves of a very good device; for they
enclosed the whole camp with good lists, and good palisades, and good
barriers, and were thus far stronger and much more secure. The Greeks
meanwhile came on to the attack so frequently that they gave them no
rest, and those of the host drove them back with great force; and
every time that the Greeks issued forth they lost heavily.
One day the Burgundians were on guard, and the Greeks made an attack
upon them, with part of the best forces that they had. And the
Burgundians ran upon the Greeks and drove them in very fiercely, and
followed so close to the gate that stones of great weight were hurled
upon them. There was taken one of the best Greeks of the city, whose
name was Constantine Lascaris; William of Neuilly took him all
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mounted upon his horse. And there did William of Champlitte have his
arm broken with a stone, and great pity it was, for he was very brave
and very valiant.


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