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Ch.XI THEFIFTH CRUSADE 427 
eager to avenge the humiliation of their fellow Christians, would hasten
from the west; al-Kãmil probably knew about the planned expedition
of Frederick II. Moreover, the Moslem world was faced with many difficulties
arising from unsettled internal condi tions and from the Mongol threat. Al-Kãmil's
army was weary and desired peace.178 Accordingly al-Kämil received the
Christian emissary, and later king John himself, with the utmost courtesy,
showering upon them many attentions, and sending food and other supplies
to the wretched crusaders.179 
 An embassy headed by the masters of the Templars and the Teutonic Knights
was sent to Damietta to acquaint the crusaders who had remained in the city
with the details of the defeat, and with the terms of the proposed treaty.
Meanwhile, in the midst of the disaster, the reinforcements sent by Frederick
under the leadership of the chancellor Walter of Palear, the marshal Anselm
of Justingen, and the admiral Henry of Malta had arrived in the harbor of
Damietta. They were bitter in their denunciation of the leaders who had launched
the expedition contrary to the express orders of Frederick that no new undertaking
was to be attempted prior to his arrival, and many of the German, Italian,
and Sicilian pilgrims shared their views, and opposed the treaty with al-Kämil.
But the French, the Templars, and the Hospitallers, as well as the Syrian,
Greek, and Armenian forces, moved by the plight of their countrymen, insisted
that the terms of the treaty must be accepted. 
 At length the difference of opinion manifested itself in acts of violence,
particularly on the part of the Venetians, who, together with other disgruntled
elements described by the Chronicle of Tours as the "emperor's people", attacked
the houses of John of Brienne, the Templars, and the Hospitallers, and endeavored
to gain control of Damietta. Only when the representatives of the captive
leaders of the expedition threatened to surrender Acre to the Saracens if
opposition continued, did the Venetians and their supporters agree to the
terms of peace. 180 The failure of Walter of Palear and Henry of Malta to
prevent the surrender of Damietta subjected them to the extreme wrath of
the emperor. The chancellor was deprived of his possessions and condemned
to perpetual exile, while the admiral, returning secretly to Sicily, was
captured and imprisoned and his fiefs confiscated. Subsequently, however,
he was pardoned by Frederick, who not only employed him as commander of the
 178 Al-Maqrizi, "Histoire d'Egypte," ROL, IX (1902), 491—492.
 179 "Hist. patr. d'Alex.," ROL, XI (1908), 258; Abu-Shamah, Ar-raudatain
(RHC, Or., V), p. 183. 
180 Chronicon Turonense (RHGF, XVIII), p. 302.