Thus did Count Louis and the other barons wend their way to Venice; and
they were there received with feasting and joyfully, and took lodging
in the Island of St. Nicholas with those who had come before. Goodly
was the host, and right worthy were the men. Never did man see goodlier
or worthier. And the Venetians held a market, rich and abundant, of all
things needful for horses and men. And the fleet they had got ready was
so goodly and fine that never did Christian man see one goodlier or
finer; as well galleys as transports, and sufficient for at least three
times as many men as were in the host.
Ah! the grievous harm and loss when those who should have come thither
sailed instead from other ports! Right well if they had kept their
tryst, would Christendom have been exalted, and the land of the Turks
abased! The Venetians had fulfilled all their undertakings, and above
measure, and they now summoned the barons and counts to fulfil theirs
and make payment, since they were ready to start.
The cost of each man’s passage was now levied throughout the host; and
there were people enough who said they could not pay for their passage,
and the barons took from them such moneys as they had. So each man paid
what he could. When the barons had thus claimed the cost of the
passages, and when the payments had been collected, the moneys came to
less than the sum due-yea, by more than one half.
Then the barons met together and said: “Lords, the Venetians have well
fulfilled all their undertakings, and above measure. But we cannot
fulfil ours in paying for our passages, seeing we are too few in
number; and this is the fault of those who have journeyed by other
ports. For God’s sake therefore let each contribute all that he has, so
that we may fulfil our covenant; for better is it that we should give
all that we have, than lose what we have already paid, and prove false
to our covenants; for if this host remains here, the rescue of the land
overseas comes to naught.”
Great was then the dissension among the main part of the barons and the
other folk, and they said: “We have paid for our passages, and if they
will take us, we shall go willingly; but if not, we shall inquire and
look for other means of passage.” And they spoke thus because they
wished that the host should fall to pieces and each return to his own
land. But the other party said, “Much rather would we give all that we
have and go penniless with the host, than that the host should fall to
pieces and fail; for God will doubtless repay us when it so pleases
Him.”
Then the Count of Flanders began to give all that he had and all that
he could borrow, and so did Count Louis, and the Marquis, and the Count
of Saint-Paul, and those who were of their party. Then might you have
seen many a fine vessel of gold and silver borne in payment to the
palace of the Doge. And when all had been brought together, there was
still wanting, of the sum required, 34,000 marks of silver. Then those
who had kept back their possessions and not brought them into the
common stock, were right glad, for they thought now surely the host
must fail and go to pieces. But God, who advises those who have been
ill-advised, would not so suffer it.
THE CRUSADERS OBTAIN A RESPITE BY PROMISING TO HELP THE VENETIANS
AGAINST ZARA
Then the Doge spoke to his people, and said unto them:
Signors, these people cannot pay more; and in so far as they have paid
at all, we have benefited by an agreement which they cannot now fulfil.
But our right to keep this money would not everywhere be acknowledged;
and if we so kept it we should be greatly blamed, both us and our land.
Let us therefore offer them terms.
“The King of Hungary has taken from us Zara in Sclavonia, which is one
of the strongest places in the world; and never shall we recover it
with all the power that we possess, save with the help of these people.
Let us therefore ask them to help us to reconquer it, and we will remit
the payment of the debt of 34,000 marks of silver, until such time as
it shall please God to allow us to gain the moneys by conquest, we and
they together.” Thus was agreement made. Much was it contested by those
who wished that the host should be broken up. Nevertheless the
agreement was accepted and ratified.