Thus did the Emperor Henry put
into all these galleys the best people that he had; and when they left
the port of Constantinople, well did all say that never had galleys
been better armed, nor manned with better men. And thus, for this
time, the march on Adrianople was again put off.
Those who were in the galleys sailed down the straits, right towards
Skiza. How Escurion, the admiral of Theodore Lascaris' galleys, heard
of it, I know not; but he abandoned Skiza, and went away, and fled
down the straits. And the others chased him two days and two nights,
beyond the straits of Abydos, forty miles. And when they saw they
could not come up with him, they turned back, and came to Skiza, and
found there Peter of Bracieux and Payen of Orl?ans; and Theodore
Lascaris had dislodged from before the city and repaired to his own
land. Thus was Skiza relieved, as you have just heard; and those in
the galleys turned back to Constantinople, and prepared once more to
march on Adrianople.
128
THE EMPEROR TWICE DELIVERS NICOMEDIA, BESIEGED BY THEODORE LASCARIS
Theodore Lascaris sent the most part of his force into the land of
Nicomedia. And the people of Thierri of Loos, who had fortified the
church of St. Sophia, and were therein, besought their lord and the
emperor to come to their relief; for if they received no help they
could not hold out, especially as they had no provisions. Through
sheer distress and sore need, the Emperor Henry and his people agreed
that they must once more abandon thought of going to Adrianople, and
cross the straits of St.
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