When Theodore Lascaris heard tidings that Adrianople was besieged, and
that the Emperor Henry, through utter need, was recalling his people,
and did not know which way to tum-whether to this side or to that-so
heavily was he oppressed by the war, then did Lascaris with the
greater zeal gather together all the people he could,, and pitched his
tents and pavilions before the gates of Skiza; and many were the
battles fought before Skiza, some lost and some won. And when Theodore
Lascaris saw that there were few people remaining in the city, he took
a great part of his host, and such ships as he could collect on the
sea, and sent them to the castle of Cibotos, which William of Sains
was fortifying; and they set siege to the castle by sea and land, on
the Saturday in mid-Lent (31st March 1207).
Within were forty knights, very good men, and Macaire of
Sainte-Menehould was their chief; and their castle was as yet but
little fortified, so that their foes could come at them with swords
and lances. The enemy attacked them by land and by sea very fiercely;
and the assault lasted during the whole of Saturday, and our people
defended themselves very well. And this book bears witness that never
did fifty knights defend themselves at greater disadvantage against
such odds. And well may this appear, for of the knights that were
there, all were wounded save five only; and one was killed, who was
nephew to Miles the Brabant, and his name was Giles.
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