Page:The Fall of Constantinople.djvu/313

 THE PLOT. 295 with letters from Innocent, in which the Crusaders were or- dered to swear to be obedient, and were again warned that, if they refused, the absolution granted to them for their attack upon Zara was de facto null. A special clause in the oath to be taken contained a pledge that those who took it would not attack Greece. Cardinal Peter Capuano was deprived of his post as papal representative with the expedition. The let- ters of the pope to the army were given into the charge of John Faicete and Jolin de Friaise. Among them was one ordering that the bull which had formally excommunicated the Venetians should at once be published. John Faicete persuaded some of the leaders to send their written promises under oath to Rome. The influence of Boniface appears, however, to have been sufficient to prevent these promises from being generally made. A few were forwarded in an incomplete form daring April. Innocent was yet sanguine that the crusade would soon leave for Egypt. Though he had abundant evidence which showed him that influences were at work to prevent the cru- sade accomplishing its legitimate object, he did not know how strong these influences were. Though he had a profound dis- trust of Venice, and would not grant the Venetians his absolu- tion, he could hardly have believed that she had become a traitor to Christendom. He had seen an army collected to- gether with the utmost care, its plan of action carefully con- sidered, submitted to himself, and adopted ; and he knew of no reason why this plan should be abandoned. ^Ve have now to see the last step which had to be taken in order to divert the expedition from its purpose.