MESSAGE OF THE CRUSADERS TO BALDWIN - DEATH OF SEVERAL KNIGHTS
The envoys returned to Constantinople, and told what they had done.
Greatly did the Doge of Venice, and Count Louis
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of Blois, and all besides, then rejoice that to these envoys had been
committed the negotiations for a peace; and they chose good
messengers, and wrote a letter, and sent it to the Emperor Baldwin,
tellin- him that the marquis had referred himself to them, with
assurances that he would accept their arbitration, and that he (the
emperor) was even more strongly bound to do the same, and that they
besought him to do so-for they would in no wise countenance war-and
promise to accept their arbitration, as the marquis had done.
While this was in progress the Emperor Baldwin had settled matters at
Salonika and departed thence, garrisoning it with his people, and had
left there as chief Renier of Mons, who was a good knight and a
valiant. And tidings had come to him that the marquis had taken
Demotica, and established himself therein, an(f conquered a great part
of the land lying round about, and besieged the emperor's people in
Adrianople. Greatly enraged was the Emperor Baldwin when these tidings
came to him, and much did he hasten so as to raise the siege of
Adrianople, and do to the marquis all the -harm that he could. Ah God!
what mischief their discord might have caused! If God had not seen to
it, Christendom would have been undone.
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