MESSAGE OF THE CRUSADERS TO BONIFACE - HE SUSPENDS THE SIEGE OF ADRIANOPLE

While the Emperor Baldwin was thus at Salonika, and the land
surrendering to his good pleasure and commandment, the Marquis
Boniface of Montferrat, with all his people and a great quantity of
Greeks who held to his side, marched to Adrianople and besieged it,
and pitched his tents and pavilions round about. Now Eustace of
Saubruic was therein, with the people whom the emperor had left there,
and they mounted the walls and towers and made ready to defend
themselves.

Then took Eustace of Saubruic two messengers and sent them, riding
night and day, to Constantinople. And they came to the Doge of Venice,
and to Count Louis, and to those who had been left in the city by the
Emperor Baldwin, and told them that Eustace of Saubruic would have
them know that the emperor and the marquis were embroiled together,
and that the marquis had seized Demotica, which was one of the
strongest castles in Roumania, and one of the richest, and that he was
besieging them in Adrianople. And when those in Constantinople heard
this they were moved with anger, for they thought most surely that all
their conquests would be lost.

Then assembled in the palace of Blachernae the Doge of Venice, and
Count Louis of Blois and Chartres, and the other barons that were in
Constantinople; and much were they distraught, and greatly were they
angered, and fiercely did they complain of those who had put enmity
between the emperor and the marquis. At the prayer of the Doge of
Venice and of Count Louis, Geoffry of Villehardouin, the Marshal of
Champagne, was enjoined to go to the siege of Adrianople, and appease
the war, if he could, because he was well in favour with the marquis,