there so great a noise and tumult that it seemed as if the earth itself was falling to pieces.

And when this great tumult and passion of pity-greater did never any man see were appeased, the good doge of Venice, who was very wise and valiant, went up into the reading-desk and spoke to the people and said to them, "Signors, behold the honor that God has done you; for the best people in the world have chosen you to join them in so high an enterprise as the deliverance of our Lord!"

All the good and beautiful words that the doge then spoke, I cannot repeat to you. But the end of the matter was that the covenants were to be made on the following day; and made they were, and devised accordingly. When they were concluded, it was notified to the council that we should go to Babylon,1 because the Turks could better be destroyed in Babylon than in any other land; but to the folk at large it was only told that we were bound to go overseas. We were then in Lent (March, 1201), and by St. John's Day, in the following year

which would be twelve hundred and two years after the Incarnation of Jesus Christ- the barons and pilgrims were to be in Venice and the ships ready against their coming.

59. The Doge Assumes the Cross 2

Then, on a Sunday, was assemblage held in the church of St. Mark. It was a very high festival, and the people of the land were there, as well as most of the barons and pilgrims.

Before the beginning of High Mass, the doge of Venice went up into the reading-desk and spoke to the people and said to them, "Signors, you are associated with the most worthy people in the world, and for the highest enterprise ever undertaken; and I am a man old and feeble, who should have need of rest, and I am sick in body; but I see that no one could command and lead you like myself, who am your lord. If you will

1 By "Babylon" must be understood Cairo. It seems that Egypt, at this time the center of the Moslem power, was to be the first point of attack.

2 Villehardouin, La conquête de Constantinople, ch. xiv, secs. 64–69.

consent that I take the sign of the cross to guard and direct you, an I that my son remain in my place to guard the land, then shall I go to live or die with you and with the pilgrims."

And when they had heard him, they cried with one voice, "We pray you by God that you consent, and do it, and that you come with us!"

Very great was then the pity and compassion on the part of the people of the land and of the pilgrims; and many were the tears shed, because that worthy and good man would have had so much reason to remain behind, for he was an old man, and albeit his eyes were unclouded, yet he saw naught, having lost his sight through a wound in the head. He was of a great heart. . . .

Thus he came down from the reading-desk and went before the altar and knelt upon his knees, greatly weeping. And they sewed the cross upon a great cotton hat, which he wore in front, because he wished that all men should see it. And the Venetians began to take the cross in great numbers, a great multitude, for up to that day very few had taken the cross. Our pilgrims had much joy in the cross that the doge took, and were greatly moved, because of the wisdom and the valor that were in him.

Thus did the doge take the cross, as you have heard. Then the Venetians began to deliver the ships, the galleys, and the transports to the barons, for departure. . . .

But the crusaders were destined never to see Egypt and the Holy Land. Constantinople, not Cairo and Jerusalem, became their objective. According to Villehardouin's account, they were induced to change their plans because of the proposals made to them by Alexius, son of Isaac, the former eastern emperor. Alexius wished to secure their aid in restoring his father to the throne. In return for the services of the crusaders, Alexius promised to bring back the Greek Church into obedience to Rome, to pay them liberally, and to coöperate with

1 Villehardouin, La conquête de Constantinople, ch. xxxi, secs. 154-157; chs. XXXV-Xxxvii, secs. 171, 175, 177, 179-182.

them in future campaigns against the Moslems. The crusaders accepted these tempting offers and set sail for Constantinople to make war on the "Greeks." Their landing at the port of the city is vividly described.

The day was fixed on which the host should embark on the ships and transports to take the land by force, and either live or die. And be it known to you that the enterprise to be achieved was one of the most formidable ever attempted. Then did the bishops and clergy speak to the people, and tell them how they must confess, and make each one his testament, seeing that no one knew what might be the will of God concerning him. And this was done right willingly throughout the host and very piously.

The term fixed was now come; and the knights went on board the transports with their war-horses; and they were fully armed, with their helmets laced, and the horses covered with their housings, and saddled. All the other folk, who were of less consequence in battle, were on the great ships; and the galleys were fully armed and made ready.

The morning was fair after the rising of the sun; and the emperor Alexius 1 stood waiting for them on the other side, with great forces, and everything in order. The trumpets sounded and every galley took a transport in tow, so as to reach the other side more readily. None asked who should go first, but each made the land as soon as he could. The knights issued from the transports and leaped into the sea up to their waists, fully armed, with helmets laced, and lances in hand; and the good archers, and the good sergeants, and the good crossbowmen landed as soon as they touched ground.

The Greeks made a goodly show of resistance; but when it came to the lowering of the lances, they turned their backs, and went away flying, and abandoned the shore. And be it known to you that never was port more proudly taken. . . .

Having captured the port of Constantinople, the crusaders made ready to assault the city by land and sea.

1 The usurper, Alexius III. He had deposed and imprisoned his brother Isaac.

First they planted two ladders at a barbican near the sea; and the wall was well defended by Englishmen and Danes; 1 and the attack was stiff and good and fierce. By main strength certain knights and two sergeants got up the ladders and made themselves masters of the wall; and at least fifteen got upon the wall, and fought there, hand to hand, with axes and swords, and those within redoubled their efforts and cast them out in very ugly sort, keeping two as prisoners. And those of our people who had been taken were led before the emperor Alexius; much was he pleased thereat. Thus did the assault leave matters on the side of the French. Many were wounded and many had their bones broken, so that the barons were very wroth. Meanwhile the doge of Venice had not forgotten to do his share, but had ranged his ships and transports and vessels in line; and the Venetians began to draw near to the part of the shore that lay under the walls and the towers. Then might you have seen the mangonels 2 shooting from the ships and transports, and the crossbow bolts flying, and the bows letting fly their arrows deftly and well; and those within defending the walls and towers very fiercely; and the ladders on the ships coming so near that in many places swords and lances crossed; and the tumult and noise were so great that it seemed as if the very earth and sea were melting together. And be it known to you that the galleys did not dare to come to the shore.

Now may you hear of a strange deed of prowess; for the doge of Venice, who was an old man and saw naught, stood, fully armed, on the prow of his galley, and had the standard of St. Mark before him; and he cried to his people to put him on land, or else that he would do justice upon their bodies with his hands. And so they did, for the galley was run aground, and they leapt therefrom, and bore the standard of St. Mark before him on to the land.

And when the Venetians saw the standard of St. Mark or land, and the galley of their lord touching ground before them

1 Northmen in the service of the eastern emperor.

2 Engines for hurling stones and javelins.

each one felt ashamed, and they all got to the land; and those in the transports leapt forth, and landed; and those in the big ships got into barges, and made for the shore, each and all as best they could. Then might you have seen an assault, great and marvelous; and to this bears witness Geoffroy de Villehardouin, who makes this book, that more than forty people told him for truth that they saw the standard of St. Mark of Venice at the top of one of the towers, and that no man knew who bore it thither.

Now hear of a strange miracle: those who were within the city fled and abandoned the walls, and the Venetians entered in, each as fast and as best he could, and seized twenty-five of the towers, and manned them with their people. And the doge took a boat, and sent messengers to the barons of the host to tell them that he had taken twenty-five towers, and that they might know that such towers could not be retaken. The barons were so overjoyed that they could not believe their ears; and the Venetians began to send to the host in boats the horses and palfreys they had taken. . . .

Then the emperor Alexius issued from the city, with all his forces, by other gates which were at least a league from the camp; and so many began to issue forth that it seemed as if the whole world were there assembled. The emperor marshaled his troops in the plain, and they rode toward the camp; and when our Frenchmen saw them coming, they ran to arms from all sides. . . .

It seemed as if the whole plain was covered with troops, and they advanced slowly and in order. Well might we appear in perilous case, for we had but six divisions, while the Greeks had fully forty, and there was not one of their divisions but was larger than any of ours. But ours were ordered in such a way that none could attack them save in front. . . .

For a long space the armies of the pilgrims and of the Greeks stood one against the other; because the Greeks did not dare to throw themselves upon our ranks, and our people would not move from their palisades. . . . Thus did the battle remain