Page:The Fall of Constantinople.djvu/308

290 advanced a great step further by its acceptance in the parliament of the barons and knights. It had not, however, been submitted or even published to the army, whose approval was nevertheless necessary. Such particulars as had leaked out increased the number of deserters and raised a bitter opposition. Many of the people, says the author of the "Devastatio," assembled and conspired together and swore they would not go into Romania. The most notable opponent was again Simon de Montfort. He and his followers determined to refuse to follow Boniface, and when, a little later, the expedition left Zara, they went to Hungary, where they were well received by the king.

Attitude of Innocent the Third.

Meantime the leaders of the crusade had become anxious to make their peace with Innocent. They had allowed themselves to be persuaded by the Venetians into an attack upon a Christian army. They had violated their oaths, and had incurred the terrible penalties of excommunication. The strong party in the army which had protested against the attack upon Zara would naturally represent the facts in their own light to the pope, while the King of Hungary would claim restitution of his territory, compensation for the injury done to him, and the punishment of the offenders. Accordingly, during the last days of December, the leaders of the expedition sent Nivelon, Bishop of Soissons, and John de Noyon to Rome to represent their case to the Holy See, and to ask for absolution. They were authorized to speak on behalf of the Crusaders only — not on behalf of the Venetians. They were accompanied by the German abbot Martin, whose object was to obtain the pope's permission to return home.

Innocent had been put on his guard, and could not be unprepared for the tidings which they were charged to convey to him. He knew enough of what had gone on at Venice to suspect Dandolo. The propositions which had been submitted to him in November by Boniface had warned him that the leader of the army would be ready to play into the hands