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 CEAPTEE XYIL CONCLUSION. It remains to be told how the tidings of the conqnest of Constantinople and the overthrow of the Eastern How the news. ^ •tit mi t • • was received Jimpire was rcceived by Innocent, ihe deviation at Zara and again at Corfu for the imperial city had been in direct opposition to the pope's instructions. His ab- solution for the crime at Zara had been conditional upon no further attack being made upon the territory of any Chris- tian nation. If the condition were not observed the absolu- tion became ijpso facto null. The Crusaders had been anx- ious that their first offence should be absolved by Innocent, but the leaders, doubtless, did their best to keep him in igno- rance of the object of the expedition until it had been accom- plished. The absolution had been conveyed to Corfu by Kivelon de Quierzy towards the end of April. The means of conveyance, however, were then so slow that the pope only learned of what passed when it was too late to interfere with success. On the 20tli of June, Innocent wrote to Boniface under the impression that the expedition, which had left nearly a month before, was still on that island.' Nearly two months later he appears to have been in doubt whether the fleet had really left for Constantinople." It was not appar- ently until January, 1204, that Innocent learned what was the destination of the crusade, although at that time the city had been captured and young Alexis restored.^ By the end of 1 Inno. III. " Epist." vi. p. 102. 2 Inno. III. "Epist." vii. p. 130. "Exercitus crucesignatorum in Grre- ciam dicitur divertisse." ' VI. p. 209. Within the recollection of men still living it was not un- usual for ships to have to wait two months before being able to pass through the Dardanelles.