The discouraged army of Christ sailed back across the Golden Horn, having left numerous bodies in the mud, unburied and unblessed. It seemed they had been chastised by God. Yet the clergy declared they had performed a righteous deed, since at one time Constantinople was obedient to the laws of Rome but now had become disobedient. The bishop of Troyes, the bishop of Soissons, the bishop of Halberstadt, the abbot of Loos, Chancellor John Faicette who was most eloquent, and others preached throughout camp on the following Sunday. They proved how the Greeks were disloyal traitors who murdered their sovereign, hence more accountable and reprehensible than Jews. By authority of God and in the name of His Holiness, they declared, those who fought the Greeks would be absolved. They ordered pilgrims to confess, to receive communion, to renew the assault. They sought out light women who infested the camp, ordered them put aboard ship and sent away.
Doge Enrico assembled the barons to devise another plan. Some argued for attacking close to the harbor mouth because Murzuphulus had not fortified those walls. But the Venetians understood why he had not. Because at that point the current swept dangerously over rocks and shoals and the walls rose sheer, without purchase, so they could not hope to land. Anchors would not hold. Ships would break loose and be carried off. They explained that Franks, Lombards, and Belgians might be excellent horsemen, but the sea was different. With such logic they convinced the others. According to Villehardouin, some would have been happy to go sweeping down the straits to anyplace on earth if it meant escaping this country.
Those who climbed scaling ladders during the first assault were forced back on account of so many Greeks. Now the barons thought to put twice as many Franks ashore by lashing two vessels abreast. And while they debated such ideas the living host rested. Clerics went about reminding all that Greeks were heretics who denied the authority of Rome.
Once more Venetian ships came sliding across the harbor. Church bells warned of their approach so thousands of Greeks hurried to the walls. Greek catapults flung stones at the fleet, stones so heavy that no man on earth could lift one, but each vessel was protected by grapevine, hides, and planks. Murzuphulus was seen outside his tent encouraging his officers, directing them. Timbrels shook and silver trumpets rang before the monastery of Christ Pantepoptos. The Greeks, puffed with conceit, thought they would be victorious. Yet all events are decided by God. Here was a strong wind Boreas hurtling down from the north, which lifted the vessels. Two that were lashed abreast struck a tower. These were Peregrina, which belonged to the bishop of Troyes, and Paradisus, which belonged to the bishop of Soissons. For a moment the flying bridge of Peregrina touched the wall and some Venetian laid hold of the tower with hands and feet, clung, and pulled himself up but straightway got hacked apart with battle axes, so it is thought Varangians killed him. Here came another gust of wind and a huge wave, allowing André d’Ureboise to climb in the tower. Greeks struck at him and were amazed because he withstood their blows. He drew his sword and drove them back enough for other pilgrims to secure the bridge. They could be heard shouting praise of the Holy Sepulcher.
Now those on the beach understood what happened and lifted scaling ladders. Some assaulted the gate with rams or pickaxes even as boiling pitch fell on them. Other servants of Christ hastily disembarked, each wishing to take the van. Pierre de Bracieux, wounded, leaking blood, brought a company to force an old postern that had been walled up. They battered it with pikes, rods, axes and swords, and broke through. But when they looked inside they saw half the Greeks on earth. Now here was a doughty cleric pressing forward, Aleaume, brother to Robert de Clari. Robert contested him, saying that he should not go through the opening or he would be killed. Aleaume vowed to his brother that he would and dropped down on hands and knees to wriggle through. Robert got him by one foot, but Aleaume kicked loose and crawled inside. Greeks came rushing toward him. This cleric pulled a dagger and ran at them and the Greeks scurried away quicker than geese. Aleaume shouted to those outside, so Lord Pierre urged his people to scramble through the opening. Now there were ten knights and sixty footmen inside Constantinople. Murzuphulus came riding down from his tent on the hill and made a show of spurring toward them.
Lord Pierre cried out to encourage his men. We shall have battle enough! Here is the emperor! Let us acquit ourselves!
Murzuphulus, observing that the Franks had no wish to escape, decided he would do better commanding his army and galloped away.
Lord Pierre despatched sergeants to force the gate. They hacked and struck with axes and swords at iron bolts until they contrived to swing it open. At once a column of knights rode in and galloped toward the emperor’s vermilion tent. When Murzuphulus saw them he ordered his gongs and trumpets to sound, which made a huge clarion noise, after which he ran through the streets to join a crowd of merchants driving wagons out of the city. They say Murzuphulus escaped westward to Thrace. Documents assert that raging pilgrims butchered camels, horses, mules, whatever lived, whatever moved. Almighty God knows how many Byzantines gave up the ghost. By reason of perfidious
