When the term appointed by the Doge was ended, the envoys returned to
the palace. Many were the words then spoken which I cannot now
rehearse. But this was the conclusion of that parliament: “Signors,”
said the Doge, “we will tell you the conclusions at which we have
arrived, if so be that we can induce our great council and the commons
of the land to allow of them; and you, on your part, must consult and
see if you can accept them and carry them through.
“We will build transports* to carry four thousand five hundred horses,
and nine thousand squires, and ships for four thousand five hundred
knights, and twenty thousand sergeants of foot. And we will agree also
to purvey food for these horses and people during nine months. This is
what we undertake to do at the least, on condition that you pay us for
each horse four marks, and for each man two marks.
[Note: The old French term is _Vuissiers_, and denotes a kind of
vessel, flat-bottomed, with large ports, specially constructed for the
transport of horses. T. Smith translates “palanders,” but I don’t know
that “palander” conveys any very clear idea to the English reader.]
“And the covenants we are now explaining to you, we undertake to keep,
wheresoever we may be, for a year, reckoning from the day on which we
sail from the port of Venice in the service of God and of Christendom.
Now the sum total of the expenses above named amounts to 85,000 marks.
“And this will we do moreover. For the love of God, we will add to the
fleet fifty armed galleys on condition that, so long as we act in
company, of all conquests in land or money, whether at sea or on dry
ground, we shall have the half, and you the other half. Now consult
together to see if you, on your parts, can accept and fulfil these
covenants.”
The envoys then departed, and said that they would consult together and
give their answer on the morrow. They consulted, and talked together
that night, and agreed to accept the terms offered. So the next day
they appeared before the Doge, and said: “Sire, we are ready to ratify
this covenant.” The Doge thereon said he would speak of the matter to
his people, and, as he found them affected, so would he let the envoys
know the issue.
On the morning of the third day, the Doge, who was very wise and
valiant, assembled his great council, and the council was of forty men
of the wisest that were in the land. And the Doge, by his wisdom and
wit, that were very clear and very good, brought them to agreement and
approval. Thus he wrought with them; and then with a hundred others,
then two hundred, then a thousand, so that at last all consented and
approved. Then he assembled well ten thousand of the people in the
church of St. Mark, the most beautiful church that there is, and bade
them hear a mass of the Holy Ghost, and pray to God for counsel on the
request and messages that had been addressed to them. And the people
did so right willingly.