The transports soon advanced to the
front, and were able to get so near the walls that the attacking
parties on the gangways or platforms, flung out once more from the
ships' tops, were able to cross lances with the defenders of the walls
and towers.
The attack took place at upward of a hundred points until noon, or,
according to Nicetas,[41] until evening. Both parties fought well. The
invaders were repulsed. Those who had landed were driven back, and
amid the shower of stones were unable to remain on shore. The invaders
lost more than the defenders. Before night a portion of the vessels
had retired out of range of the mangonels,[42] while another portion
remained at anchor and continued to keep up a continual fire against
those on the walls. The first day's attack had failed.
The leaders of both crusaders and Venetians withdrew their forces to
the Galata side. The assault had failed, and it became necessary at
once to determine upon their next step. The same evening a parliament
was hastily called together. Some advised that the next attack should
be made on the walls on the Marmora side, which were not so strong as
those facing the Golden Horn.
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