282 THE FALL OF CONSTANTINOPLE. be about their sacred business, they regarded the Venetians as the cause of all their ills. But they could hardly look upon Boniface with great affection or confidence. He had been chosen only after the command had been refused by sev- eral others. He had seen less of the army than Baldwin of Flanders and others who had done their best to lessen the troubles of the Crusaders, and who had at least shared them. Early in September an embassy arrived in Venice from Proposnis Alcxis in Verona. A meeting took place between from Alexis, ^j^^ mcssengers of Alexis and the leaders of the army. The proposals of Alexis were submitted. A reply was given that a message should be sent to Philip with Alexis, who had sent word that he was going to his uncle. The mes- sage to Philip was in these words: '^If Philip will aid us to recover the land d'outre-mer^ we will help Alexis to recover his own land." * It is clear that the mass of the Crusaders knew little or nothing of this embassy or of this message. Probably Dan- dolo on the part of the Venetians, Boniface the commander- in-chief, and three or four of the leaders, including Villehar- douin himself, were alone in the secret. It did not suit the conspirators yet to reveal their project, and we shall see that when it was made known to the army it was made to appear that the proposal to go to Constantinople w^as a quite recent suggestion, due to the necessities in which the Crusaders found themselves after wintering at Zara, instead of part of a well- planned conspiracy. Still no definite agreement with the Crusaders and with Venice was yet arrived at. The project of Alexis had been favorably received ; had been accepted in principle by the leaders. Ahnost immediately afterwards, and probably in September, Boniface again left the army, and remained absent until after the conquest of Zara. During a part at least of this time he was at Pome, where also was Cardinal Peter Capuano. Thus, while the crusading army was leaving Venice, 1 Villebardouiu, sec. 72.
