Then was it proclaimed throughout the host by the Marquis Boniface of
Montferrat, who was lord of the host, and by the barons, and by the
Doge of Venice, that all the booty should be collected and brought
together, as had been covenanted under oath and pain of
excommunication. Three churches were appointed for the receiving of the
spoils, and guards were set to have them in charge, both Franks and
Venetians, the most upright that could be found.
Then each began to bring in such booty as he had taken, and to collect
it together. And some brought in loyally, and some in evil sort,
because covetousness, which is the root of all evil, let and hindered
them. So from that time forth the covetous began to keep things back,
and our Lord began to love them less. Ah God! how loyally they had
borne themselves up to now! And well had the Lord God shown them that
in all things He was ready to honour and exalt them above all people.
But full oft do the good suffer for the sins of the wicked.
The spoils and booty were collected together, and you must know that
all was not brought into the common stock, for not a few kept thin-s
back, maugre the excommunication of the Pope. That which was brought to
the churches was collected together and divided, in equal parts,
between the Franks and the Venetians, according to the sworn covenant.
And you must know further that the pilgrims, after the division had
been made, paid out of their share fifty thousand marks of silver to
the Venetians, and then divided at least one hundred thousand marks
between themselves, among their own people. And shall I tell you in
what wise? Two sergeants on foot counted as one mounted, and two
sergeants mounted as one knight. And you must know that no man received
more, either on account of his rank or because of his deeds, than that
which had been so settled and ordered—save in so far as he may have
stolen it.
And as to theft, and those who were convicted thereof, you must know
that stem justice was meted out to such as were found guilty, and not a
few were hung. The Count of St. Paul hung one of his knights, who had
kept back certain spoils, with his shield to his neck; but many there
were, both great and small, who kept back part of the spoils, and it
was never known. Well may you be assured that the spoil was very great,
for if it had not been for what was stolen, and for the part given to
the Venetians, there would if have been at least four hundred thousand
marks of silver and at least ten thousand horses—one with another. Thus
were divided the spoils of Constantinople, as you have heard.