embark at Italian ports; others took ship at Marseilles.
Many were lost in the forests, and perished with heat,
hunger, thirst, and fatigue. Some, after being stripped by
thieves, were reduced to slavery, and a remnant, in sorrow
and shame, returned to their homes. Of those who sailed,
some were lost by shipwreck, and others sold as slaves to
the Saracens. "No authority," says Michaud, "interfered,
either to stop or prevent the madness; and when it was
announced to the Pope that death had swept away the flower
of the youth of France and Germany, he contented himself
with saying: 'These children reproach us with having fallen
asleep, while they were flying to the assistance of the Holy
Land.'"

Innocent now called a general council of the Church--the
Fourth Lateran Council, 1215--for the purpose of stimulating
a new crusade. "The necessity for succoring the Holy Land,"
said his letters of convocation, "and the hope of conquering
the Saracens, are greater than ever. We renew our cries and
our prayers to you to excite you to this noble enterprise."

The Sixth Crusade, which was inspired by the Pope and
preached in France by his legate, Robert de Courçon, was
divided in the sequel into three maritime expeditions. The
first, 1216, consisted mainly of Hungarians under their
King, Andrew; the second, 1218, was composed of Germans,
Italians, French, and English nobles and their followers;
and the third, 1228, was led by Frederick II in person. The
first two produced no considerable advantage for the
Christians; while Frederick, involved in the Hohenstaufen