The emperor was much distraught; for when he wished to
go and succour his people at Adrianople on the one side, then Theodore
Lascaris pressed upon him so straitly on the other side, that of
necessity he was forced to draw back.
So Johannizza remained during the whole month of April (1207) before
Adrianople; and he came so near to taking it that in two places he
beat down the walls and towers to the ground, and his men fought hand
to hand, with swords and lances, against those who were within. Also
he made assaults in force, and the besieged defended themselves well;
and there were many killed and wounded on one side and on the other.
As it pleases God that adventures should be ordered, so it befell that
the Comans who had overrun the land, and gained much booty, and
returned to the camp before Adrianople, with all their spoils, now
said they would remain with Johannizza no longer, but go back to their
own land. Thus the Comans abandoned Johannizza. And without them he
dared not remain before Adrianople. So he departed from before the
city, and left it.
And you must know that this was held to be a great miracle: that the
siege of a city so near to the taking should be abandoned, and by a
man possessed of such power. But as God wills, so do events befall.
Those in Adrianople made no delay in begging the emperor, for the love
of God, to come to them as soon as he could; for sooth it was that if
Johannizza, the King of Wallachia returned, they would all be killed
or taken.
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