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Chapter
XXXII
The victorious outlaws assemble in the forest to divide up the
spoils they plundered from the burning castle. Cedric is distraught
because Athelstane was killed. He pardons Gurth, makes him a
free man and gives him some land. Rowena arrives with an escort.
De Bracy, now a prisoner, asks her to forgive him, but Rowena
is reluctant to forgive him for all the misery his passion for
her has caused. The Black Knight tells Cedric he will soon ask
a boon from him, and Cedric says it is granted already, because
he is so grateful for the Black Knight’s assistance. The
Black Knight then frees De Bracy, who grabs a horse and rides
away. Locksley gives the Black Knight a bugle and tells him
to blow three notes on it if he should ever need assistance
in the forest. Locksley then distributes the booty in a fair
manner. One-tenth is to be given to the church; some goes to
the families of the dead, and some is given to the outlaws according
to their rank and merit. Locksley’s decisions in the matter
are accepted by all. Friar Tuck arrives belatedly, with Isaac
in tow. The Friar claims that Isaac has converted to Christianity,
but Isaac vehemently denies it. The Friar aims a blow at Isaac,
but the Black Knight restrains him. The Friar and the Black
Knight then exchange blows in a test of strength, which the
Black Knight wins. Another prisoner is then brought to Locksley.
This is Prior Aymer of Jorvaulx.
Chapter
XXXIII
Locksley tells the Prior that he will be freed only on payment
of a ransom. He asks Isaac to decide what the ransom should
be. Isaac says six hundred crowns. Asked to name Isaac’s
ransom, the Prior sets it at a thousand crowns. Both men protest
loudly about the large sums expected of them. Locksley lowers
Isaac’s ransom to five hundred crowns, since he knows
that Isaac will also have to pay a ransom to free Rebecca from
De Bois-Guilbert. Locksley has been cared for in the past by
Rebecca when he was sick, so this accounts for his relative
generosity to Isaac. Locksley also persuades the Prior to intervene
with De Bois-Guilbert in order to win Rebecca’s freedom.
After lengthy negotiations, Isaac goes off on his mission. The
Black Knight departs, his real identity still a mystery.
Chapter
XXXIV
At the castle of York, Prince John and his men plot to seize
the throne. But they are disturbed by reports that Front-de-Boeuf,
De Bracy and De Bois-Guilbert have been captured or killed,
since they need the help of these knights if their plan is to
succeed. De Bracy arrives and tells them the whole story. He
also says that Richard is in England, and he has spoken to him
and seen him. It is clear that he means the Black Knight. De
Bracy intends to flee for Flanders. On hearing the news, Fitzurse
decides to take sanctuary in the church. Prince John knows that
everyone is deserting him, but he is defiant, saying that they
must kidnap and imprison Richard before he raises an army against
them. De Bracy refuses to have anything to do with this, but
Fitzurse says he will take charge of the operation. While Fitzurse
does the planning, Prince John arranges to have De Bracy, whom
he distrusts, spied upon.
Chapter
XXXV
Isaac journeys to the castle of Templestowe, the home of the
Templar Order, to negotiate Rebecca’s freedom. Before
he arrives he stays with his friend Nathan. Nathan advises him
not to go further because the strict and virulently anti-Semitic
Grand Master of the Templar Order, Lucas de Beaumanoir, is currently
staying at Templestowe. Isaac is not deterred, and journeys
on. When he arrives and asks to speak to De Bois-Guilbert, he
is shown first to the Grand Master. Isaac says he bears a letter
from Prior Aymer for De Bois-Guilbert; Grand Master has his
attendant read the letter to him. The letter asks De Bois-Guilbert
to release Rebecca for a ransom, but it also lets slip that
both the Prior and De Bois-Guilbert have departed far from the
Christian ideal of temperance. The Grand Master seizes on the
reference to Rebecca as a witch, and claims that she works her
curses through the devil. He resolves to put her on trial and
burn her at the stake.
Analysis
Chapter
XXXII, which centers around Locksley and his men, makes it clear
that the outlaws are in fact more worthy of respect than the
unscrupulous Normans who oppress the people. The band of outlaws
actually form a model society. Their income is distributed fairly
according to people’s individual needs and the needs of
the group. Locksley is a just leader, respected by all his men.
All the outlaws obey the code of conduct that they have agreed
upon, and Locksley proves to be a fair arbiter of any quarrels
that arise. The outlaws’ little society may not have the
high-flown ideals of the chivalric code, but it is honest and
without hypocrisy.
Chapter
XXXV begins the process of setting up the climax of part three
of the novel. |
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