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Itinerary
128
vaulted by the aid of a lance, placed behind the saddle, and rode on with
cords for stirrups. The king thus hastily pressed after the emperor, crying
out, ÒMy lord the emperor, I challenge you to single combat;Ó but, as
though he were deaf, he fled swiftly away. The king, having thus taken the
city, caused the two queens to be landed from the buss and lodged in
Limozin, where, after the fatigues and perils of their voyage, they recruited
themselves in security.
Chapter XXXIII. Ñ Further of the fight between the king and the emperor, and of
the victory of the king and the flight of the emperor to Nicosia.
The same night the king lodged in his pavilion, and caused his horses
to be landed by the Esneckars. But the emperor, not thinking he had any
horses, feared him the less, and passed the night encamped within a
distance of two leagues. On the morrow, about two oÕclock, the king
mounted his horse, and discovered some Greeks standing not far off in an
olive-yard with their gorgeous banners, and on their taking to flight, he
pursued them. But forasmuch as our horses had been injured by being
tossed about on the sea, standing for a whole month, our men spared them
and went at a moderate pace, until they saw the army of the emperor,
which had spent the night in a valley, and then they stopped in their
pursuit. The Greeks, crying out with a horrible clamour, began to insult our
men; on which the emperor, aroused from his sleep, mounted his horse,
and marched with his men towards ours gradually, as far as a
neighbouring hill, where be took his station to overlook the engagement.
The Greeks making use only of their bows and slings, cried out that our
men were immoveable. Then there came to the king a certain clerk, by
name Hugo de Mara, in arms, and said to the king, ÒMy lord the king, it
appears to be a wise plan to decline for a time so large and so powerful a
multitude.Ó To whom the king answered, ÒSir clerk, as for our profession,
you had better employ yourself in writing, and leave war to us, and take
good care to keep out of the crowd.Ó Others likewise dissuaded the king
from fighting against so mighty a host: indeed he had not with him at that
time more than fifty men; but taking courage from the enemyÕs wavering,

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Itinerary
129
he put spurs to his horse, and was suddenly carried against the enemy, and
piercing through their line, scattered them, and attacking first one and then
the other, he instantly dispersed them. For when their army perceived that
their adversaries were collecting together, their valour gave way, and they
took to flight; those who had swift and nimble horses escaped, but the foot-
soldiers and common people, who were less fitted for flight, were slain in
all directions without distinction, and could not fly further, on account of
the arrival of the king. And while the emperor was encouraging and
animating his men to fight, the king coming suddenly upon him at full
speed, knocked him off his horse with his lance; but he quickly procured
another, and escaped in the crowd: some of his companions, however,
were lost. Oh! how many noble horses might you have seen slain there,
and coats of mail, and helmets, and swords, and lances, and pennons fallen
down, and standards of various shapes, and the bodies of dead men
weltering in their blood, and some yet breathing their last, in countless
numbers. The emperor, perceiving the boldness of our men, and the flight
of his own, and not forgetting his spurs, which he saw were the only thing
that remained, fled with the utmost swiftness to the mountains. The king
struck down his banner-bearer, and gave orders that the splendid and
beautiful banner should be kept for him. Then our horsemen pursued the
fugitives as fast as they could for two miles; after which, coming back at a
moderate pace, they quietly returned. The people then turning to the booty,
took much spoil, viz. arms, and costly woven vestments, and the tent of the
emperor, with all the vessels of gold and silver which were found therein,
and all his splendid apparel and household stuff: besides coats of mail,
helmets, choice swords, horses and mules, and also very much plunder in
sheep and cattle, and goats, noble mares and mules, swine, fowls, and
hens; and they also found choice wines and provisions of all sorts, and
carried off a host of captives; so that from the immense quantity of plunder
they became fastidious, Ñ in a word, every mind was satiated with booty,
nor would they regard any thing that was precious when offered them, for
they were amply laden. After these things were done, the king proclaimed
an edict by herald, that whoever of the inhabitants were disposed for
peace, might go and return as they liked without harm from his men, and

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