So they did as they had devised, and came to Bizye, and
encamped before the city on the eve of the feast of our Lord St. John
the Baptist, in June (23rd June 1206). And on the day that they so
encamped came messengers from Adrianople, and said to Henry, the
brother of the Emperor Baldwin: "Sire, be it known to thee that if
thou dost not relieve the city of Demotica, it cannot hold out more
than eight days, for Johannizza's petraries have breached the walls in
four places, and his men have twice got on to the walls."
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Then he asked for counsel as to what he should do. Many were the words
spoken, to and fro; but in the end they said: " Lord, we have come so
far that we shall be for ever shamed if we do not succour Demotica.
Let every man now confess and receive the communion; and then let us
set our forces in array." And it was reckoned that they had with them
about four hundred knights, and of a certainty no more. So they
summoned the messengers who had come from Adrianople, and asked them
how matters stood, and what number of men Johannizza had with him. And
the messengers answered that he had with him at least forty thousand
men-at-arms, not reckoning those on foot, of whom they had no count.
Ah God! what a perilous battle-so few against so many 1 In the
morning, on the day of the feast of our Lord St. John the Baptist, all
confessed and received the communion, and on the following day they
marched forward.
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