like good men, for the which thing the besiegers took
heart and courage, and each one entered the city as he best could.
The besieged, when they saw the standards of their enemies upon the
walls, and the gate taken, fled in great numbers, and few of them
remained to defend the town; wherefore King Charles's followers took
the town of San Germano by assault, on the 10th day of February, 1265,
and it was held to be a very great marvel, by reason of the strength
of the town, and rather the work of God than of human strength,
forasmuch as there were more than 1,000 horsemen within, and more than
5,000 footmen, among which there were many Saracen archers from
Nocera; but by reason of a scuffle which arose the night before, as it
pleased God, between the Christians and the Saracens, in the which the
Saracens were vanquished, the next day they were not faithful in the
defence of the city, and this among others was truly one of the causes
why they lost the town of San Germano. Of Manfred's troops many were
slain and taken, and the city was all overrun and robbed by the
French; and there the king and his host abode some time to take repose
and to learn the movements of Manfred.

Sec. 7.--_How King Manfred went to Benivento, and how he arrayed his
troops to fight against King Charles._

[Sidenote: 1265 A.D.]

King Manfred, having heard the news of the loss of San Germano, and
his discomfited troops having returned thence, he was much dismayed,
and took counsel what he should do, and he was counselled by the Count
Calvagno, and by the Count Giordano, and by the Count Bartolommeo, and
by the Count Chamberlain, and by his other barons, to withdraw with
all his forces to the city of Benivento, as a stronghold, in order
that he might give battle on his own ground, and to the end he might
withdraw towards Apulia if need were, and also to oppose the passage
of King Charles, forasmuch as by no other way could he enter into the
Principality and into Naples, or pass into Apulia save by the way of
Benivento; and thus it was done. King Charles, hearing of the going of
Manfred to Benivento, immediately departed from San Germano, to pursue
him with his host; and he did not take the direct way of Capua, and by
Terra di Lavoro, inasmuch as they could not have passed the bridge of
Capua by reason of the strength of the towers of the bridge over the
river, and the width of the river. But he determined to cross the
river Volturno near Tuliver