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288 THE FALL OF CONSTANTINOPLE. that account have been omitted by the marshal. The ad- vances made to the republic were to be repaid. The contract for the freight of the Venetian transports was to be renewed for another year on its expiration in June, and the republic was to receive one hundred thousand marks.^ The messengers had brought with them letters from Philip, ordering the Germans under his rule, under strict injunctions,'^ to support the proposal for the restoration of Alexis. He promised the French and Flemings that, if Alexis should come to his own, he would always keep open a road through Eomania safe and free.' The meeting was adjourned until the next day. When it took place the division of opinion among the barons became at once evident. The Abbot of Yaux, who represented the party which Yillehardouin insists was desirous of breaking up the army, declared that he and his friends would not agree to the proposal, though even this writer tells us that they gave as their reason that they had not left their homes for such work as that proposed, and that they wished to go to Syria. Those, says Gunther, who were anxious for the success of the Cross earnestly dissuaded the rest from accepting the pro- posals of Philip. They urged that the restoration could not be effected without bloodshed. The plan, says this writer, seemed foolish and dishonest ; foolish, because a few foreigners were not likely to take a city so well fortified and so populous, and where there was sure to be much slaughter; dishonest, ^ Ernoul, " Chron.," Halberstadt. Eobert cle Clari and others mention the ships and victuals for another year. ^ " Theothonicis autem, pro eo quod sui juris esse videbantur, hanc rem securiosius et imperiosius injungebat ; marcliionem, cognatum suum, ejus, qua? inter cos erat, commonebat propinquitatis; Flandrenscs atquc Franci- genas et Venetos, et aliarum rcgionum homines, omni precum moliniine sedulus exorabat, certissime promittens, si ille, auxilio ipsorum, sedem suam rcciperet, peregrinis omnibus, tam per Theothoniam quam per totam Graiciam, tutani ac liberam in perpetuum patere viam. Accedebat etiara ad lioc quod idem juvenis certissime pollicebatur, si viribus eorum re- stitutus foret, eis in commune argenti treceuta marcarum millia se datu- rum." — Gunther, c. 8, " Exuv. Sacr." 3 Gunther, p. 77, ibid.