Memoirs | Page 2

Brienne, Geoffry of Joinville*, who
was seneschal of the land, Robert his brother, Walter of Vignory,
Walter of Montbéliard, Eustace of Conflans, Guy of Plessis his brother,
Henry of Arzilliéres, Oger of Saint-Chéron, Villain of Neuilly, Geoffry

of Villhardouin, Marshal of Champagne, Geoffry his nephew, William
of Nully, Walter of Fuligny, Everard of Montigny, Manasses of l'Isle,
Macaire of Sainte-Menehould, Miles the Brabant, Guy of Chappes,
Clerembaud his nephew, Renaud of Dampierre, John Foisnous, and
many other right worthy men whom this book does not here mention by
name.
[note: Geoffry de Joinville - the father of the chronicler Joinville.]
With Count Louis took the cross Gervais of Châtel Hervée his son John
of Virsin, Oliver of Rochefort, Henry of Mont-
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reuil, Payen of Orléans, Peter of Bracietix, Hugh his brother, William
of Sains, John of Frialze, Walter of Gaudonville, Hugh of Cormeray,
Geoffry his brother, Hervée of Beauvoir, Robert of Frouville, Peter his
brother, Orri of l'Isle, Robert of Quartier, and many more whom this
book does not here mention by name.
In the Isle-de-France took the cross Nevelon, Bishop of Soissons,
Matthew of Montmorency, Guy the Castellan of Coucy, his nephew,
Robert of Ronsoi, Ferri of Yerres, John his brother, Walter of
Saint-Denis, Henry his brother, William of Aunoi, Robert Mauvoisin,
Dreux of Crcssonsacq, Bernard of Moreuil, Enguerrand of Boves,
Robert his brother, and many more right worthy men with regard to
whose names this book is here silent.
At the beginning of the following Lent, on the day when folk are
marked with ashes (23rd February 1200), the cross was taken at Bruges
by Count Baldwin of Flanders and Hainault, and by the Countess Mary
his wife, who was sister to the Count Thibaut of Champagne.
Afterwards took the cross, Henry his brother, Thierri his nephew, who
was the son of Count Philip of Flanders, William the advocate of
Béthune, Conon his brother, John of Nê1e Castellan of Bruges, Renier
of Trit, Reginald his son, Matthew of Wallincourt, James of Avesnes,
Baldwin of Beauvoir, Hugh of Beaumetz, Gérard of Mancicourt, Odo
of Ham, William of Gommegnies, Dreux of Beaurain, Roger of Marck,
Eustace of Saubruic, Francis of Colemi, Walter of Bousies, Reginald of
Mons, Walter of Tombes, Bernard of Somergen, and many more right
worthy men in great number, with regard to whom this book does not
speak further.
Afterwards took the cross, Count Hugh of St. Paul. With him took the

cross, Peter of Amiens his nephew, Eustace of Canteleu, Nicholas of
Mailly, Anscau of Cayeaux, Guy of Houdain, Walter of Nê1e, Peter his
brother, and many other men who are unknown to us.
Directly afterwards took the cross Geoffry of Perche, Stephen his
brother, Rotrou of Montfort, Ives of La Jaille, Aimery of Villeroi,
Geoffry of Beaumont, and many others whose names I do not know.
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THE CRUSADERS SEND SIX ENVOYS TO VENICE
Afterwards the barons held a parliament at Soissons, to settle when
they should start, and whither they should wend. But they could come
to no agreement, because it did not seem to them that enough people
had taken the cross. So during all that year (1200) no two months
passed without assemblings in parliament at Compiègne. There met all
the counts and barons who had taken the cross. Many were the opinions
given and considered; but in the end it was agreed that envoys should
be sent, the best that could be found, with full powers, as if they were
the lords in person, to settle such matters as needed settlement.
Of these envoys, Thibaut, Count of Champagne and Brie, sent two;
Baldwin, Count of Flanders and Hainault, two; and Louis, Count of
Blois and Chartres, two. The envoys of the Count Thibaut were
Geoffry of Villehardouin, Marshal of Champagne, and Miles the
Brabant; the envoys of Count Baldwin were Conon of Béthune' and
Alard Maquereau, and the envoys of Count Louis were John of Friaise,
and Walter of Gaudonville.
To these six envoys the business in hand was fully committed, all the
barons delivering to them valid charters, with seals attached, to the
effect that they would undertake to maintain and carry out whatever
conventions and agreements the envoys might enter into, in all sea
ports, and whithersoever else the envoys might fare.
Thus were the six envoys despatched, as you have been told; and they
took counsel among themselves, and this was their conclusion: that in
Venice they might expect to find a greater number of vessels than in
any other port. So they journeyed day by day, till they came thither in
the first week of Lent (February 1201).
THE ENVOYS ARRIVE IN VENICE, AND PROFFER THEIR
REQUEST
The Doge of Venice, whose name was Henry Dandolo* and

[note: That Henry Dandolo was a very old man is certain, but