ZARA. 2G1

fort, told some of the deputation tliat they had only to fear the Venetians. " I am not here, said he, " to do harm to Christians. I wish you no ill, and, on the contrary, would rather protect you against those who would hurt you." ' The well-meant interference proved mischievous. The deputa- tion returned to the city. The negotiations were interrupted, and the terms on which the people of Zara had proposed to surrender wxre withdrawn. The Venetians proposed to at- tack the city, and lest the Crusaders should make further de- lays in what Gunther calls this hateful and detestable busi- ness, the Venetians commenced the siege at once. The peo- ple of Zara, in anticipation, probably, of this attack, had ob- tained letters from the pope, excommunicating any who should do them damage. These they sent to the doge and the lead- ers of the army. The doge declared his intention to disregard the threat, and most of the barons expressed their determina- tion to follow his example. The discontent and indignation of the better part of the Crusaders found at length a mouth- piece. A council was held. The Abbot of Vaux, a Cistercian monk, could no longer control his indignation. In the coun- cil held in Dandolo's tent he suddenly rose, and, in a bold, clear voice, said, " I forbid you in the name of the pope to at- tack this city. It is a city of Christian men, and you are Crusaders. You have another destination." The Venetians would have murdered him if he had not been protected by Simon de Montfort and by other nobles. Dandolo was greatly annoyed. He charged the Crusaders with having prevented him from taking possession of the city, and claimed the fulfil- ment of their promise to aid him in conquering it. The ma- jority of them thought themselves bound to help Dandolo, and promised to do so. Simon de Montfort, however, and many other pilgrims declared that they would not act against the apostolic command, and that they had no intention of be- ing excommunicated. Notwithstanding these protests, the letters of the pope, and the threats of the pope's representa- tives, the city was attacked. 1 Petri, " Val. Cera. Hist. Albig." c. 19.