Then, on a Sunday, was assemblage held in the church of St. Mark. It
was a very high festival, and the people of the land were there, and
the most part of the barons and pilgrims.
Before the beginning of High Mass, the Doge of Venice, who bore the
name of Henry Dandolo, went up into the reading-desk, and spoke to the
people, and said to them: “Signors, you are associated with the most
worthy people in the world, and for the highest enterprise ever
undertaken; and I am a man old and feeble, who should have need of
rest, and I am sick in body; but I see that no one could command and
lead you like myself, who am your lord. If you will consent that I take
the sign of the cross to guard and direct you, and that my son remain
in my place to guard the land, then shall I go to live or die with you
and with the pilgrims.”
And when they had heard him, they cried with one voice: “We pray you by
God that you consent, and do it, and that you come with us!”
Very great was then the pity and compassion on the part of the people
of the land and of the pilgrims; and many were the tears shed, because
that worthy and good man would have had so much reason to remain
behind, for he was an old man, and albeit his eyes were unclouded, yet
he saw naught, having lost his sight through a wound in the head. He
was of a great heart. Ah! how little like him were those who had gone
to other ports to escape the danger.
Thus he came down from the reading-desk, and went before the altar, and
knelt upon his knees greatly weeping. And they sewed the cross on to a
great cotton hat, which he wore, in front, because he wished that all
men should see it. And the Venetians began to take the cross in great
numbers, a great multitude, for up to that day very few had taken the
cross. Our pilgrims had much joy in the cross that the Doge took, and
were greatly moved, because of the wisdom and the valour that were in
him.
Thus did the Doge take the cross, as you have heard. Then the Venetians
began to deliver the ships, the galleys, and the transports to the
barons, for departure; but so much time had already been spent since
the appointed term, that September drew near (1202).
MESSAGE OF ALEXIUS, THE SON OF ISAAC, THE DETHRONED EMPEROR OF
CONSTANTINOPLE—DEATH OF FULK OF NEUILLY—ARRIVAL OF THE GERMANS
Now give ear to one of the greatest marvels, and most wonderful
adventures that you have ever heard tell of. At that time there was an
emperor in Constantinople, whose name was Isaac, and he had a brother,
Alexius by name, whom he had ransomed from captivity among the Turks.
This Alexius took his brother the emperor, tore the eyes out of his
head, and made himself emperor by the aforesaid treachery. He kept
Isaac a long time in prison, together with a son whose name was
Alexius. This son escaped from prison, and fled in a ship to a city on
the sea, which is called Ancona. Thence he departed to go to King
Philip of Germany, who had his sister for wife; and he came to Verona
in Lombardy, and lodged in the town, and found there a number of
pilgrims and other people who were on their way to join the host.
And those who had helped him to escape, and were with him, said: “Sire,
here is an army in Venice, quite near to us, the best and most valiant
people and knights that are in the world, and they are going overseass
Cry to them therefore for mercy, that they have pity on thee and on thy
father, who have been so wrongfully dispossessed. And if they be
willing to help thee, thou shalt be guided by them. Perchance they will
take pity on thy estate.” And Alexius said he would do this right
willingly, and that the advice was good.
Thus he appointed envoys, and sent them to the Marquis Boniface of
Montferrat, who was chief of the host, and to the other barons. And
when the barons saw them, they marvelled greatly, and said to the
envoys: “We understand right well what you tell us. We will send an
envoy with the prince to King Philip, whither he is going. If the
prince will help to recover the land overseass we will help him to
recover his own land, for we know that it has been wrested from him and
from his father wrongfully.” So were envoys sent into Germany, both to
the heir of Constantinople and to King Philip of Germany.
Before this happened, of which I have just told you, there came news to
the host which greatly saddened the barons and the other folk, viz.,
that Fulk, the good man, the holy man, who first preached the Crusade,
had made an end and was dead.
And after this adventure, there came to the host a company of very good
and worthy people from the empire of Germany, of whose arrival they of
the host were full fain. There came the Bishop of Halberstadt, Count
Berthold of Katzenelenbogen, Gamier of Borland, Thierri of Loos, Henry
of Orme, Thierri of Diest, Roger of Suitre, Alexander of Villers, Ulric
of Tone, and many other good folk, whose names are not recorded in this
book.