Deeds Of the Franks, Book Two, Chapter Eight

However, on the day of the Ascension of the Lord, we began to attack around the city (Nicea) and to build wooden siege equipment and towers, with which we would be able to flatten towers of the wall of the city. We attacked the city with such strength and enthusiasm for two days. We had even dug out under the wall of the city. Since the Turks, who were in the city, had sent out messengers to others who came to give help to the city. In this way, they would boldly and confidently draw near. They would enter the city through the south gate because no one will rush out to meet them from the city nor did any darken their path. This was the very gate at which the Count of St. Giles and the Bishop of Puy were encamped on the sabbath after the Ascension of the Lord. The Count, coming from other parts, was defended by divine virtue and was flashing his earthly weapons with his very strong army. And thus here he found Turks, coming to fight against us. Armed with the sign of the cross on all sides, he impetuously rushed out against the Turks and vanquished them. They had given flight and there was a very great number of dead on the part of those. Who, rejoicing with the aid of others and exulting, came back to unwavering battle, dragging ropes with them, with which they would have lead us bound to Corosanus. However, arriving and killing, they began gradually to descend from the peak of the mountain. However many would descend, the heads of these men stayed behind, yielded to the hands of our men. Moreover they were flinging the heads of the slain men as pebbles into the city so that the Turks would be more frightened from this.

Then the Count of St. Giles and the Bishop of Le Puy were one in agreement how they would dig under the walls of a certain turret, which was in front of their tents. They arranged for men who would dig under this wall and men who would defend them with projectiles and arrows on all sides. They dug all the way to the foundations of the wall and had placed posts and wood, and then they set fire to them. Moreover by this late deed, the tower fell in the night, but since it was night, they were not able to engage the Turks in battle. The Turks were roused quickly that night and had rebuilt the wall so strongly that with the coming day, no one was able to break them from that part.

The Count of Normandy, Count Stephan, and many others came and in succession Roger of Barneville. Then Bohemond besieged the city on the main front and next to him was Tancred, and after him Duke Godfrey, and then Count of Flanders, next to whom was Robert of Normandy, and next to him was the Count of St. Giles, next to whom was the Bishop of Puy. Thus the city was blockaded across the land, so that no one dared to leave or enter. There all men were united as one. And who would be able to count so great an army of Christ? I reckon that no one saw so many most skillful soldiers before or will be able to see again.

second half tomorrow.........

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.

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

Deeds of the Franks, Book Two, Chapter Five

The ill-omened emperor sent a messenger, whom he esteemed greatly and who was called the 'Master of the Imperial Household' (Corpalatius), at the same time with our messengers, so that he could lead us safely through his land until we arrived at Constantinople. Since we came before his cities, he ordered the locals to carry on a market for us just as those men we spoke of had done. Certainly they feared the very many, very powerful people of the Lord Bohemond that they allowed none of our men to pass beyond the walls of their city. Our men were wanting to attack a certain fort and seize it, for the reason that it was full of good booty. But Bohemond, who was a prudent man, was unwilling to agree to this, as much for the law of the land as for the trust of the emperor. For this, he was very angry with Tancred and others. This happened in the evening. In the morning, the inhabitants came out of the fort and with a procession, bearing crosses in their hands, they came into the presence of Bohemond. He was in truth rejoicing to receive those men and with joy permitted them to go away. Then they came to a city called Serra where we set up our tents and had a large enough market that was meeting those days. There Bohemond came to an agreement with two masters of the imperial palace and on behalf of their friendship and on behalf of the law of the land, he ordered all animals to be returned that had been seized by our men. Then we came to the city Rusa. Now the Greeks came out and came rejoicing and running to meet Lord Bohemond, bringing to us a very great market and there we set up camp in the fourth day of the week before the Supper of the Lord. There also Bohemond sent away all of his people and went on ahead to Constantinople to speak with the emperor, however he took a few soldiers with him. Tancred remained behind as the head of the Christian military, and seeing men buy foreign foods, he said to himself that he would go outside the road and lead his people to where they could happily live. Then he came into a valley where there was plenty of all good things brought together that nourish the body, in which we celebrated Easter most devoutly.