Fuller，inhisquainthistoryofthe“HolyWarre，“saysthatthisCrusadewasdonebytheinstinctofthedevil；andheaddsareason，whichmayprovokemirthnow，butwhichwasputforthbytheworthyhistorianinallsobernessandsincerity。Hesays，“thedevil，beingcloyedwiththemurderingofmen，desiredacordialofchildren’sbloodtocomforthisweakstomach；“asepicures，whentiredofmutton，resorttolambforachange。
Itappearsfromotherauthorsthatthepreachingofthevilemonkshadsuchaneffectuponthesedeludedchildrenthattheyranaboutthecountry，exclaiming，“O，LordJesus，restorethycrosstous！“andthatneitherboltsnorbars，thefearoffathers，northeloveofmothers，wassufficienttorestrainthemfromjourneyingtoJerusalem。
Thedetailsofthesestrangeproceedingsareexceedinglymeagreandconfused，andnoneofthecontemporarywriterswhomentionthesubjecthavethoughtitworthwhiletostatethenamesofthemonkswhooriginatedthescheme，orthefatetheymetfortheirwickedness。
TwomerchantsofMarseilles，whoweretohavesharedintheprofits，were，itissaid，broughttojusticeforsomeothercrime，andsuffereddeath；butwearenotinformedwhethertheydivulgedanycircumstancesrelatingtothismatter。
PopeInnocentIIIdoesnotseemtohavebeenawarethatthecausesofthisjuvenileCrusadeweresuchashavebeenstated，for，uponbeinginformedthatnumbersofthemhadtakentheCross，andweremarchingtotheHolyLand，heexclaimed，“Thesechildrenareawake，whilewesleep！“Heimagined，apparently，thatthemindofEuropewasstillbentontherecoveryofPalestine，andthatthezealofthesechildrenimpliedasortofreproachuponhisownlukewarmness。Verysoonafterwards，hebestirredhimselfwithmoreactivity，andsentanencyclicallettertotheclergyofChristendom，urgingthemtopreachanewCrusade。Asusual，anumberofadventurousnobles，whohadnothingelsetodo，enrolledthemselveswiththeirretainers。AtacouncilofLateran，whichwasheldwhilethesebandswerecollecting，InnocentannouncedthathehimselfwouldtaketheCross，andleadthearmiesofChristtothedefenceofhissepulchre。Inallprobabilityhewouldhavedoneso，forhewaszealousenough；butdeathsteppedin，anddestroyedhisprojectereitwasripe。HissuccessorencouragedtheCrusade，thoughherefusedtoaccompanyit；andthearmamentcontinuedinFrance，England，andGermany。Noleadersofanyimportancejoineditfromtheformercountries。Andrew，KingofHungary，wastheonlymonarchwhohadleisureorinclinationtoleavehisdominions。TheDukesofAustriaandBavariajoinedhimwithaconsiderablearmyofGermans，andmarchingtoSpalatro，tookshipforCyprus，andfromthencetoAcre。