Then was there much discord in the host, as had been oft times before
on the part of those who wished that the host should break up; for to
them it seemed to be holding together too long. And the party that had
raised the discord at Corfu reminded the others of their oaths, and
said: " Give us ships as you swore to us, for we purpose to go to
Syria."

And the others cried to them for pity and said: " Lords, for God's
sake, let us not bring to naught the great honour that God has given
us. If we go to Syria at this present, we shall come thither at the
beginning of winter and so not be able to make war, and the Lord's
work will thus remain undone. 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