Deeds Of the Franks, Book Two, Chapter Six

Phew! This passage had some difficult sentences!

When the emperor dared to allow that most honorable of men, Bohemond, to come before him, he ordered him to be received honorably and cautiously offered him to be his guest outside the city. The emperor send some with Bohemond to this guest house, so that he could come and speak with him in secret. Then Duke Godfrey came to that place with his brother and also the Count of Saint Giles approached near to the city. Then the emperor, worrying and boiling with anger, was thinking in what way he could cunningly and treacherously arrest those soldiers of Christ. But by revelation of divine grace, neither a place or an opportunity for harming them had been devised by him or his men. Very recently a meeting had been held with all the upper nobility who were born in Constantinople by Alexius, fearing that they would not be able to save their country, they were let in on his plans and clever schemes by which our dukes and counts or all our nobles ought to swear an oath of fidelity to the emperor.

Which our men had altogether hindered(refused at first to do), they had said "Certainly we are not deserving of this and it seems no justice to us to swear fealty to him." Perhaps from this we will often be lead astray by our nobles. To what end are these deeds done? Since they say they are compelled by necessity, unwilling and willing, they have humbled themselves before the will of the most wicked emperor.

However, he gave from Antioch and, as an extension, fifteen days travel and eight days wide to Bohemond, whom he feared greatly since it is said Bohemond before had often sent him from the field with his army, in return seeing that he would gladly swear to him. Bohemond had sworn so much to him that if Alexius held this oath faithfully, never would that notorious Alexius depart from his own oath. Such brave and hardy soldiers, why do they do such things? Perhaps they are forced by much necessity.

The emperor also gave assurances of faith and security to all of our men, he even swore that he would come with us together with his own army across the land and sea; and he would faithfully give a market to us by land and sea, and he would restore all of our lost things, he had not permitted and had not wanted any of our foreigners(travellers/pilgrims) to be disturbed or be distressed on the road to the Sacred Sepulcher.

However the Count of Saint Giles was housed in a castle outside the city, and he had remained behind with his people. Therefore the emperor ordered the count that he and his men swear faith just as the others had done. And after the emperor had ordered this, the Count was reflecting on how he might be able to have revenge against the army of the emperor. But Duke Godfrey and Count Robert of Flanders and other noblemen said to him, it would be an injustice to fight against Christians. Also that wise man Bohemond said, if anyone should do an injustice to the emperor, even refuse to made faith with the emperor, he himself would become on the side of the emperor. Therefore the count having accepted this plan from his men, pledged life and honor to Alexius that neither he nor through others would he consent these to be destroyed and with the count being called to pay homage, he would not do this in spite of the danger to his head/life. Then the people of the Lord Bohemond approached Constantinople