Memoirs | Page 8

proceeded by other
ways to Apulia. Among them were Villain of Neuilly, who was one of
the best knights in the world, Henry of Arzilliéres, Renaud of
Dampierre, Henry of Longchamp, and Giles of Trasegnies, liegeman to
Count Baldwin of Flanders and Hainault, who had given him, out of his
own purse, five hundred livres to accompany him on this journey. With
these went a great company of knights and sergeants, whose names are
not recorded.
Thus was the host of those who went by Venice greatly weakened; and
much evil befell them therefrom, as you shall shortly hear.
THE PILGRIMS LACK MONEY WHEREWITH TO PAY THE
VENETIANS
Thus did Count Louis and the other barons wend their way to Venice;
and they were there received with feasting and joyfully, and took

lodging in the Island of St. Nicholas with those who had come before.
Goodly was the host, and right worthy were the men. Never did man
see goodlier or worthier. And the Venetians held a market, rich and
abundant, of all things needful for horses and men. And the fleet they
had got ready was so goodly and fine that never did Christian man see
one goodlier or finer; as well galleys
15
as transports, and sufficient for at least three times as many men as
were in the host.
Ah ! the grievous harm and loss when those who should have come
thither sailed instead from other ports! Right well if they had kept their
tryst, would Christendom have been exalted, and the land of the Turks
abased! The Venetians had fulfilled all their undertakings, and above
measure, and they now summoned the barons and counts to fulfil theirs
and make payment, since they were ready to start.
The cost of each man's passage was now levied throughout the host;
and there were people enough who said they could not pay for their
passage, and the barons took from them such moneys as they had. So
each man paid what he could. When the barons had thus claimed the
cost of the passages, and when the payments had been collected, the
moneys came to less than the sum due-yea, by more than one half.
Then the barons met together and said: "Lords, the Venetians have well
fulfilled all their undertakings, and above measure. But we cannot fulfil
ours in paying for our passages, seeing we are too few in number; and
this is the fault of those who have journeyed by other ports. For God's
sake therefore let each contribute all that he has, so that we may fulfil
our covenant; for better is it that we should give all that we have, than
lose what we have already paid, and prove false to our covenants; for if
this host remains here, the rescue of the land overseas comes to
naught."
Great was then the dissension among the main part of the barons and
the other folk, and they said: " We have paid for our passages, and if
they will take us, we shall go willingly; but if not, we shall inquire and
look for other means of passage." And they spoke thus because they
wished that the host should fall to pieces and each return to his own
land. But the other party said, " Much rather would we give all that we
have and go penniless with the host, than that the host should fall to

pieces and fail; for God will doubtless repay us when it so pleases
Him."
Then the Count of Flanders began to give all that he had and all that he
could borrow, and so did Count Louis, and the Marquis, and the Count
of Saint-Paul, and those who were of their party. Then might you have
seen many a fine vessel of gold and silver borne in payment to the
palace of the Doge. And when all had been brought together, there
16
was still wanting, of the sum required, 34,000 marks of silver. Then
those who had kept back their possessions and not brought them into
the common stock, were right glad, for they thought now surely the
host must fail and go to pieces. But God, who advises those who have
been ill-advised, would not so suffer it.
THE CRUSADERS OBTAIN A RESPITE BY PROMISING TO
HELP THE VENETIANS AGAINST ZARA
Then the Doge spoke to his people, and said unto them:
Signors, these people cannot pay more; and in so far as they have paid
at all, we have benefited by an agreement which they cannot now fulfil.
But our right to keep this money would not everywhere be
acknowledged; and if we so kept it we should be greatly blamed, both
us and our land. Let us therefore offer them terms.
"The King of Hungary has