Dire was the war between the Franks and the Greeks, for it abated not,
but rather increased and waxed fiercer, so that few were the days on
which there was not fighting by sea or land. Then Henry, the brother
of Count Baldwin of Flanders rode forth, and took with him a great
part of the good men in the host. With him went James of Avesnes, and
Baldwin of Beauvoir, Odo of Champagne of Champlitte,

57

William his brother, and the people of their country. They started at
vesper time and rode all night, and on the morrow, when it was full
day, they came to a good city, called Phile, and took it; and they had
great gain, beasts, and prisoners, and clothing, and food, which they
sent in boats down the straits to the camp, for the city lies on the
sea of Russia.

So they sojoumed two days in that city, with food in great plenty,
enough and to spare. The third day they departed with the beasts and
the booty, and rode back towards the camp. Now the Emperor Mourzuphles
heard tell how they had issued from the camp, and he left
Constantinople by night, with a great part of his people, and set
himself in ambush at a place by which they must needs pass. And he
watched them pass with their beasts and their booty, each division,
the one after the other, till it came to the rearguard. The rear-guard
was under the command of Henry, the brother of Count Baldwin of
Flanders, and formed of his people, and the Emperor Mourzuphles fell
upon them at the entrance to a wood; whereupon they turned against
him. Very fiercely did the battle rage there.