Page:The Fall of Constantinople.djvu/272

254 truth," says Gunther, " the proposal to attack Zara seemed to our princes cruel and iniquitous, both because the city was Christian and because it belonged to the King of Hungary, who, having himself taken the Cross, had placed himself and his, as the custom is, under the protection of the pope. While the Venetians were constantly urging us to accept the proposal, and we, on the other hand, were earnestly refusing, much time was lost." Why was time lost? The same writer answers, "Because our men thought it altogether detestable and a thing forbidden to Christian men that soldiers of the Cross of Christ should march to pillage Christian men with slaughter and rapine and fire, such as usually happen when a city is attacked, and therefore refused their consent."

There was no idea of abandoning the crusade. The expedition to Zara was probably, though by no means certainly, regarded even by the leaders who were in the secret merely as a means of payment, in order that when it had been captured the Crusaders might go about their proper business. The third great mistake of the campaign had, however, been made; the second being the failure to bring sufficient men to comply with the terms of the charter-party entered into with the Venetians. The third blunder was the more serious. The leaders of the first great crusade had declared under the walls of ancient Nicsea that it was no part of their business to fight Christian princes, that their work was to fight the infidel, and they had readily given that city into the hands of Alexis. The enthusiasts of the fourth crusade, who had left their homes in order to fight against Christ's enemies, had no heart for the new undertaking; and though they did not know all the adventures it would lead them into, we can see from Villehardouin himself that they would have preferred to return home rather than violate their vow.

Arrival of Peter Capuauo

On the 22d of July, Cardinal Peter Capuano, the pope's legate, arrived in Venice from Rome. Bishop Conrad, and probably others, required that the propositions of Dandolo should be referred to him. He at