On Language

I have been translating this text literally as much as possible and have it make sense. It is interesting to see how people expressed themselves back then, because it is different than how we express ourselves today. As an example of this we have Margery Kempe referring to herself in the third person as a creature, that is 'a being created by God'. Most translators will clean up the language and render it into modern English which involves a bit of interpretation.

There is a line in Gesta Francorum that I translated as "We are subject to the emperor". In reality it read, "In roga imperatoris locati sumus". It does not translate well into English but it basically means how I translated it.

This is what it is literally in English "On the funeral pyre of the emperor, placed we are". This is not how a modern slave would explain their slavery.

Deeds of the Franks, Book One, Chapter Four, cont.

Note that Anonymous has shifted to 'we' since this is where he joins Bohemond.

Then exiting from that place, they traveled through extraordinary abundance from farm to farm, from state to state, from castle to castle, until we came to Castoria. There we solemnly celebrated the Nativity of the Lord. We were there for many days and we tried to obtain a market but they had been unwilling to approve this for us because they were so afraid of us, not reckoning us to be strangers but they thought we wished to take their land and kill them. Wherefore we seized cows, horses and asses and everything that we were finding. Having left Castoria, we entered Pelagonia, which was what one might call a fortified town of heretics. Because we attacked them from all sides, they soon fell under our rule. Thus by starting a fire, we burned the town with its inhabitants. Afterwards we came to the river of Vardar. Then Lord Bohemond made his way beyond with his people but not with all of them. For the Count of Russignolo remained there with his brothers. The army of the emperor came and attacked him and his brothers and everyone who was with them. Hearing this, Tancred turned back, threw himself into the river to swim across and came to the others, and two thousand men threw themselves into the river following. Then they found the Turcopoles and Patzinaks fighting with our men. Those strongly regretted having attacked. Our men skillfully vanquished them and seized many of those men, tied them up, and led them to present to Lord Bohemond. He said these words to those men, " Why , wretched men, do you seek to kill men of Christ and my men? I have no quarrel with you emperor." To which they responded, "We are unable to do otherwise. We are subject to the emperor and whatever he orders us, it is proper to compel us." Bohemond allowed those men to go away unpunished. This battle had taken place in the fourth day of the week(Thursday), which is the beginning of fasting. On behalf of all, blessed is God. Amen.

End of Book 1, Book 2 to follow.

Deeds of the Franks, Book One, Chapter Four

But valiant Bohemond, who was at the blockade of Malfi, at Scafardi Bridge(or sea the word pontis could be either and I can't figure out where Scafardi is), hearing that innumerable people of Christians from France had arrived and were about to go to the Sepulcher of the Lord and prepared to fight against the pagan people, he began carefully to inquire as to what weapons for fighting these people were carrying and how they carried indications of being Christians along the way or what signal would they sound in battle. To which these words were spoken through the ranks, 'They carry suitable weapons to war, on either the right or in between both shoulders, they bear the cross of Christ, they cry out loud "God wills it! God wills it! God wills it!" with one voice." Soon having been aroused by the Holy Spirit, he ordered his most precious cloth/cloak which he had near him to be cut up and immediately the whole cloth was laid out in crosses. Then a greater part of the soldiers who were at that siege began to flock eagerly towards him so much so that count Roger (his half brother) nearly remained alone, and he returned to Sicily grieving since he was deserving to lose his men.

Then returning for a second time to his own land, Lord Bohemond carefully steeled himself for the purpose of beginning the journey to the Sacred Sepulcher. Then he was ferried across the sea with his army, and with him went Tancred, son of the Marquis, Captain Richard, his brother Ranulf, Robert de Ansa, Herman of Cannes, Robert de Surda Valle, Robert son of Toustan, Humphrey son of Ralph, Richard son of Count Ranulf and the Count of Russignolo with his brothers, Boel of Chartres, Alberedus de Cagnano, Humphrey de Monte Scabioso. These men all crossed the sea in service to Bohemond and they landed in parts of Bulgaria; where they found a great abundance of grain, wine and other provisions. Then marching down into the Valley of Andronopoli; they awaited their men until all had crossed the sea the same. Then Bohemond arranged an assembly with his men, strengthening them much and warning all that they be good and humble; and that they not prey upon this land because it was Christian and he would welcome no man unless that he was up to the task.

cont. ....

Deeds of the Franks, Book One, Chapter Three

The second group entered the Slavic regions, that is to say the Count of Saint Gilles, Raymond, and the Bishop of Le Puy (Adhemar). However the third group came along the ancient road of Rome. In this group was Bohemond, Richard the Principate, Robert the Count of Flanders, Robert the Norman, Hugo the Great (Vermandois, brother of the king of France), Everard de Puisset(Viscount of Chartres), Achard de Montmerle, Isard de Mouzon and many others besides. Then they came to the port of Brandisi, or Bari, or Otranto. Hugo the Great and Wilhelm, son of the Marquis, entered the sea at the port of Bari and having been ferried across came to Durachium. The leader of these parts, hearing that these most prudent of men had been steered towards this place, his heart was soon touched with bad thinking and he seized them and he ordered that they be cautiously taken to Constantinople and the emperor and they should pledge faith to him.

Then Duke Godfrey, who was the first of all the nobles to arrive in Constantinople, arrived with a great army two days before the birthday of our Lord and was as a guest outside the city. Then the prejudiced emperor ordered that he be housed in a castle of the city as a guest. And when the Duke was made comfortable, he sent his soldiers out securely one day so that they could carry away straw and other necessities for the horses. And when they reckoned they could confidently go where they wished, the wrong headed emperor Alexius commanded his Turcopoles and Patzinaks to attack and kill them. Baldwin, brother of the duke, hearing this, sent himself to verify these plots and found those men killing his people. He attacked them with great spirit and, with God aiding him, he overcame them. Seizing sixty of those men, Baldwin killed some of them and others he presented to his brother, the duke. When the emperor had heard of this, he was very angry. After that, seeing the anger of the emperor, the Duke left the castle with his men and set up camp outside the city. Now after this last action, the destructive emperor ordered his own army to attack the Duke and the Christians. At this, the Duke, unbeaten, killed seven of these men with his Christian soldiers and pursued the rest all the way to the gate of the city. Returning to his own tents, the Duke remained there for five days, then he entered into a pact with the emperor and said the emperor would ferry them across the Strait of Saint George and would allow them to have a market there just as in Constantinople and to bequeath alms to the poor so that they would be able to live.