Page:The Fall of Constantinople.djvu/142

 124: THE FALL OF CONSTANTINOPLE. the subjects of the Emperor Manuel not less exacting than had Conrad. It must be said to his credit that he put down disorder in his camp with a stronger hand. Soldiers found plundering were severely punished. Some were sentenced to the loss of their hands and feet. Both king and nobles had about them much more of the religious spirit of the Crusaders than was to be found in the division under Conrad. Louis seems also to have prevented his army being encum- bered by so large a crowd of camp-followers and pilgrims as accompanied Conrad. In spite, however, of the more com- plete organization of his army, it was with difficulty that he made his way to Constantinople.* On his arrival an incident occurred which showed the bitter feeling of hostility towards the Greeks which had sprung up, and the intensity of the sentiment which had led the Crusaders to take up arms. While the army was encamped before the capital they learned that Manuel had concluded the treaty with the Sultan of Iconium, of which I have already spoken. The shock to the Christians of the West was severe. The alliance w^as treason to the cause of Christianity. If we assume that the sole cause in dispute between the northern and the se- ceding states of America was that of slavery, that the ^N'ortli fought with the sole object of setting the slaves free, and that England had made an alliance with the South, we may judge what the feelings of the French Crusaders were from what the feelings of every honest and righteous man would have been in our times. A council was held in the French camp. In- dignation was loudly expressed, and the Bishop of Langresi proposed that before attempting the deliverance of Christ's sepulchre they should punish Christ's enemies in Constanti- nople. Better counsels prevailed. All the invective, tho indignation, and the eloquence of the bishop and his party were in vain. The French nobles declared that the}^ had taken the cross to light against infidels and to defend Jeru- ^ Ileyd (" Gcschiclite dcs Levantcliandels," p. 243) observes with justice that it is remarkable, considering the annoyance ]Ianuel had received from the Latins, that he allowed the Crusaders to pass through the empire.