Deeds Of the Franks, Book Two, Chapter Seven

Tancred and Richard of the Principality, because they had sworn to the emperor, were ferried across the strait in secret and just about all the people of Bohemond in close proximity to them. And soon the army of the Count of St. Giles approached Constantinople. The count remained there with his own people. Bohemond remained with the emperor so that he could take counsel from him. In this way, they were able to order a market from the people who lived outside the city of Nicea. Duke Godfrey who had gone before to Nicomedia together with Tancred and others, had been there for three days. The duke, seeing that there was no road open along which one could lead these people all the way to the city of Nicea, since so great a group of people are not able to pass along that road that the others had travelled along before, sent three thousand men ahead with axes and sword to carve and open up this road, so that our pilgrims would be able to travel all the way to Nicea. This road was opened up through a narrow and immense mountain and they made their way back along the road with iron and wooden crosses, which they were placing on stakes so that our pilgrims would know the way. Meanwhile, we came to Nicea, which is the capital of Romania, in fourth day, (not sure what II is) on the Nones of May (May 7, usually it is the 5th but in May, Nones is on the 7th), There we set up a camp. Bohemond had arrived before us and there was such a lack of bread to share among us that one loaf was being sold for 20 or 30 denaries. After this, that cautious man Bohemond ordered the largest market to be conducted by the sea and merchants came likewise by both land and sea and there was the greatest abundance of provisions for the whole Christian army.