FLIGHT OF MOURZUPHLES - SECOND FIRE IN CONSTANTINOPLE
As they had settled, so was it done, and they encamped before the
walls and before the towers by their ships. Count Baldwin of Flanders
and Hainault quartered himself in the scarlet tents that the Emperor
Mourzuphles had left standing, and Henry his brother before the palace
of Blachernae; and Boniface, Marquis of Montferrat, he and his men,
towards the thickest part of the city. So were the host encamped as
you have heard, and Constantinople taken on the Monday after Palm
Sunday (12th April 1204).
Now Count Louis of Blois and Chartres had languished all the winter
with a q ' uartan fever, and could not bear his armour. And you must
know that this was a great misfor-
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tune to the host, seeing he was a good knight of his body; and he lay
in one of the transports.
Thus did those of the host, who were very weary, rest that night. But
the Emperor Mourzuphles rested not, for he assembled all his people,
and said he would go and attack the Franks. Nevertheless he did not do
as he had said, for he rode along other streets, as far as he could
from those held by the host, and came to a gate which is called the
Golden Gate, whereby he escaped, and avoided the city; and afterwards
all who could fled also. And of all this those of the host knew
nothing.
During that night, towards the quarters of Boniface Marquis of
Montfcrrat, certain people, whose names are unknown to me, being in
fear lest the Greeks should attack them, set fire to the buildings
between themselves and the Greeks.
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