109
NEW INVASION OF JOHANNIZZA; 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 Blachemae, 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 Selymbria, 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 killed
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 of 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
Latins, and belonged to Vemas, who had to wife the empress, the sister
of the King of France; and of the Latins was chief B?gue of Fransures,
a knight of the land of the Beauvaisais.
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