The account of Robert is borne out

The account of Robert is borne out by the evidence to which I have already called attention. Assuming that the portion of the proposal made during the last week of July, referring to an attack on Zara, was kept secret, as to which there can be little doubt if it be admitted that Zara was mentioned in July, the next month was spent in negotiations. Opposition to There was a party opposed to its acceptance as soon toe«ua°ck0sal as the attack was mentioned. Here again we are Zara.

On solid ground. Villehardouin tells is that discord sprang up as soon as the Venetians refused to carry them beyond sea until they paid. lie says that those who declared they wanted to leave Venice to go to other ports did so because in reality they desired that the army should break up, and therefore struggled against the acceptance of the proposition. The unofficial writers tells us why they did so.

“In truth,” says Gunther, “the proposal to attack Zara seemed to our princes cruel and iniquitous, both because the city was Christian and because it belonged to the King of Hungary, who, having himself taken the Cross, had placed himself and his, as the custom is, under the protection of the pope. While the Venetians were constantly urging us to accept the proposal, and we, on the other hand, were earnestly refusing, much time was lost.” Why was time lost? The same writer answers, “Because our men thought it altogether detestable and a thing forbidden to Christian men that soldiers of the Cross of Christ should march to pillage Christian men with slaughter and rapine and fire, such as usually happen when a city is attacked, and therefore refused their consent.”

Expedition to Zara

There was no idea of abandoning the crusade. The expedition to Zara was probably, though by no means certainly, regarded even by the leaders who were in the secret merely as a means of payment, in order that when it had been captured the Crusaders might go about their proper business. The third great mistake of the campaign had, however, been made; the second being the failure to bring sufficient men to comply with the terms of the charter-party entered into with the Venetians. The third blunder was the more serious.