But if we wait till March, we shall
leave this emperor in good estate, and go hence rich in goods and in
food. Thus
50
shall we go to Syria, and over-run the land of Babylon. And the fleet
will remain with us till Michaelmas, yes, and onwards from Michaelmas
to Easter, seeing it will be unable to leave us because of the winter.
So shall the land overseas fall into our hands."
Those who wished the host to be broken up, cared not for reasons good
or bad so long as the host fell to pieces. But those who wished to
keep the host together, wrought so effectually, with the help of God,
that in the end the Venetians made a new covenant to maintain the
fleet for a year, reckoning from Michaelmas, the Emperor Alexius
paying them for so doing; and the pilgrims, on their side, made a new
covenant to remain in the same fellowship as theretofore, and for the
same term. Thus were peace and concord established in the host.
Then there befell a very great mischance in the host; for Matthew of
Montmorency, who was one of the best knights in the kingdom of France,
and of the most prized and most honoured, took to his bed for
sickness, and his sickness so increased upon him that he died. And
much dole was made for him, for great was the loss-one of the greatest
that had befallen the host by any man's death. He was buried in a
church of my Lord St. John, of the Hospital of Jerusalem.
PROGRESS OF THE YOUNG ALEXIUS THROUGH THE EMPIRE
Afterwards, by the advice of the Greeks and the French the Emperor
Alexius issued from Constantinople, with a very great company,
purposing to quiet the empire and subject it to his will.
Pages:
61
62
63
64
65
66
67
68
69
70
71
72
73
74
75
76
77
78
79
80
81
82
83
84
85