Page:Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire vol 6 (1897).djvu/411

 OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE 389 men, and, during his life, five hundred knights, for the service of the Holy Land. Tliese tempting conditions were accepted by the republic of Venice ; and the eloquence of the doge and mai-quis persuaded the counts of Flanders, Blois, and St. Pol, with eight barons of France, to join in the glorious enterprise. A treaty of offensive and defensive alliance was confirmed by their oaths and seals ; and each individual, according to his situation and character, was swayed by the hope of public or private advantage ; by the honour of restoring an exiled monarch ; or by the sincere and probable opinion that their efforts in Pales- tine would be fruitless and unavailing, and that the acquisition of Constantinople must precede and prepare the recovery of Jerusalem. But they were the chiefs or equals of a valiant band of freemen and volunteers, who thought and acted for themselves ; the soldiers and clerg}^ wei-e divided ; and, if a large majority subscribed to the alliance, the numbers and arguments of the dissidents were strong and respectable. "" The boldest hearts were appalled by the report of the naval power and impregnable strength of Constantinople ; and their apprehensions were disguised to the world, and perhaps to themselves, by the more decent objections of religion and duty. They alleged the sanctity of a vow, which had drawn them fi-om their families and homes to rescue the holy sepulchre ; nor should the dark and crooked counsels of human policy divert them fronci a pursuit, the event of which was in the hands of the Almighty. Their first offence, the attack of Zara, had been severely punished by the reproach of their conscience and the censures of the pope ; nor would they again imbrue their hands in the blood of their fellow-Christians. The apostle of Rome had pronounced ; nor would they usurp the right of avenging with the SAvord the schism of the Greeks and the doubtful usurpation of the Byzantine monarch. On these principles or pretences, many pilgrims, the most distinguished for their valour and piety, withdrew from the camp ; and their retreat Avas less pernicious than the open or secret opposition of a discontented party, that laboured, on every occasion, to separate the army and disappoint the enterprise. Notwithstanding this defection, the departure of the fleet and voya-e from army was vigorously pressed by the Venetians, whose zeal for ^^ntmopie. '"'' Villehardouin and Gunther represent the sentiments of the two parties. The ribbot Martin left the army at Zara, proceeded to Palestine, was sent ambassador !o Constantinople, and became a reluctant witness of the second siege. April 7— June 24