Page:The Fall of Constantinople.djvu/273

 ARRIVAL IN VENICE. 255 first protested against the proposal/ because, as Gnntlier says, lie thought the attack upon Zara "a lesser evil than the abandonment of the crusade, the vow of the Cross unfulfilled, and the return liome ^vith ignominy and sin.'"" Cardinal Peter sent away all the sick, the useless hangers-on, and the women.' The dissatisfaction among the Crusaders was at that time daily increasing. Some were for abandoning the expedition altogether. Many poor men who had brought but little with them, and had nothing left for the journey, quitted the army and went home. *' Certain powerful and rich men, not influ- enced by poverty," says Gunther, '^ so much as frightened by the horror of committing such a crime (as attacking a Chris- tian city belonging to a crusading king), hesitated and, much against their will, turned back." Some of these went to Rome in order that they might be absolved from their vow or have its execution postponed. Others wished to leave Venice in order that they might embark for Alexandria or Syria from other ports. Cardinal Peter's protest was followed by an earnest request that the expedition should be sent off as early as possible to Alexandria. His mission as legate was to accompany the army, to urge it to leave for Alexandria, to prevent it from going to Zara, to settle the differences between the Crusaders and Venetians, and generally to represent Innocent the Third. The Venetians, however, received him coldly. The doge and the council told him that if he wished to accompany the Cru- saders in order to preach to them he could do so : if he wished to go as envoy of the pope he had better stay behind." News of what had been done in Venice reached the pil- grims who had not yet arrived in that city, and created con- sternation among them. Many of the German pilgrims in particular declared the expedition against Zara iniquitous and went home, and all further supply of Crusaders was thus cut off.^ ' " Gesta Inn." i. c. 86. ^ Gunther, c. 6. ^ ♦' Devastatio." ^"Ep."vii.303; " Gesta," p. 85. 'Gunther.