Book excerpt: Excerpt from Translations and Reprints From the Original Sources of European History, Vol. 3 I. The Preparations for the Crusade. Taught by the experience of the other crusaders, the barons resolved to go by sea. Venice was the city that seemed most able to furnish sufficient vessels. Accordingly, Ville-Hardouin and five other embassadors were sent to make a bargain with the Venetians. The official compact is given in full in Muratori Rerum Italicarum Scriptores, vol xii, 323. The most important difference between that and Ville-Hardouin's version is that, according to the compact, the expedition was to start on St. Peter and St. Paul's day. For the events preliminary to the crusade, as well as for all the matters connected with it, consult Pears' excellent book, "The Fall of Constantinople." The second extract relates to one of the most hotly debated subjects connected with the crusade. Did Venice treacherously make a treaty with the sultan of Egypt? If she did, her conduct and the diversion of the crusade are more easily explained. Pears, pp. 263 ff., believes such a treaty was made and quotes references to support his view. But consult Wailly's very able discussion, pp. 431 ff, in which he brings out the difficulty in reconciling the dates and endeavors to show that this L'Estoire de Eracles is entirely untrustworthy. Consult also, Heyd: Levanthandel, I, 292 ff. and 440 ff. The third extract is self-explanatory. Ville-Hardouin and Robert de Clari are the most important authorities for the fourth crusade. The first was one of the leaders and gives us an official, "inspired" account. The second was one of the poorer knights and is especially useful as he tells us what the bulk of the army knew and thought, and enables us to check the statements of Ville-Hardouin. I. The compact with the Venetians. Ville-Hardouin: Couquete de Constantinople, ch. iv, v, vi. Nos. 18-24, 30. Old French. 18. "Sire, we have come to you in behalf of the noble barons of France who have taken the cross, in order to avenge the shame of Jesus Christ and to reconquer Jerusalem, if God will permit. And because they know no people who are as able to assist them, as you and your people, they pray you, for God's sake, to pity the land of Outre-mer and the shame of Jesus Christ, and to endeavor to furnish them transports and ships of war." 19. "Under what conditions?" asked the doge. "Under any conditions that you may propose or advise, if they are able to fulfill them," replied the messengers. About the Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works."