All the Latins, to whatever land they might belong, who were lodged in
Constantinople, dared no longer to remain therein; but they took their
wives and their children, and such of their possessions as they could
save from the fire, and entered into boats and vessels, and passed
over the port and came to the camp of the pilgrims. Nor were they few
in number, for there were of them some fifteen thousand, small

52

and great; and afterwards it proved to be of advantage to the pilgrims
that these should have crossed over to them. Thus was there division
between the Greeks and the Franks; nor were they ever again as much at
one as they had been before, for neither side knew on whom to cast the
blame for the fire; and this rankled in men's hearts upon either side.

At that time did a thing befall whereby the barons and those of the
host were greatly saddened; for the Abbot of Loos died, who was a holy
man and a worthy, and had wished well to the host. He was a monk of
the order of the Cistercians.

THE YOUNG ALEXIUS RETURNS TO CONSTANTINOPLIZHE FAILS IN HIS PROMISES TO THE
CRUSADERS

The Emperor Alexius remained for a long time on progress, till St.
Martin's Day, and then he returned to Constantinople. Great was the
joy at his home-coming, and the Greeks and ladies of Constantinople
went out to meet their friends in great cavalcades, and the pilgrims
went out to meet their friends, and had great joy of them. So did the
emperor re-enter Constantinople and the palace of Blachernae; and the