Thelowerpartofthisampleapartmentwasfilledwithsquiresandyeomen，whomadewaynotwithoutsomedifficultyforRebecca，attendedbythePreceptorandMont-Fitchet，andfollowedbytheguardofhalberdiers，tomoveforwardtotheseatappointedforher。Asshepassedthroughthecrowd，herarmsfoldedandherheaddepressed，ascrapofpaperwasthrustintoherhand，whichshereceivedalmostunconsciously，andcontinuedtoholdwithoutexaminingitscontents。Theassurancethatshepossessedsomefriendinthisawfulassemblygavehercouragetolookaround，andtomarkintowhosepresenceshehadbeenconducted。
Shegazed，accordingly，uponthescene，whichweshallendeavourtodescribeinthenextchapter。
CHAPTERXXXVII
Sternwasthelawwhichbadeitsvot’riesleaveAthumanwoeswithhumanheartstogrieve；
Sternwasthelaw，whichatthewinningwileOffrankandharmlessmirthforbadetosmile；
Butsternerstill，whenhightheiron-rodOftyrantpowersheshook，andcall’dthatpowerofGod。
_TheMiddleAges。_
TheTribunal，erectedforthetrialoftheinnocentandunhappyRebecca，occupiedthedaisorelevatedpartoftheupperendofthegreathall——aplatform，whichwehavealreadydescribedastheplaceofhonour，destinedtobeoccupiedbythemostdistinguishedinhabitantsorguestsofanancientmansion。
Onanelevatedseat，directlybeforetheaccused，sattheGrandMasteroftheTemple，infullandamplerobesofflowingwhite，holdinginhishandthemysticstaff，whichborethesymboloftheOrder。
Athisfeetwasplacedatable，occupiedbytwoscribes，chaplainsoftheOrder，whosedutyitwastoreducetoformalrecordtheproceedingsoftheday。Theblackdresses，barescalps，anddemurelooksofthesechurch-men，formedastrongcontrasttothewarlikeappearanceoftheknightswhoattended，eitherasresidinginthePreceptory，orascomethithertoattendupontheirGrandMaster。
ThePreceptors，ofwhomtherewerefourpresent，occupiedseatslowerinheight，andsomewhatdrawnbackbehindthatoftheirsuperior；andtheknights，whoenjoyednosuchrankintheOrder，wereplacedonbenchesstilllower，andpreservingthesamedistancefromthePreceptorsasthesefromtheGrandMaster。Behindthem，butstilluponthedaisorelevatedportionofthehall，stoodtheesquiresoftheOrder，inwhitedressesofaninferiorquality。
Thewholeassemblyworeanaspectofthemostprofoundgravity；andinthefacesoftheknightsmightbeperceivedtracesofmilitarydaring，unitedwiththesolemncarriagebecomingmenofareligiousprofession，andwhich，inthepresenceoftheirGrandMaster，failednottosituponeverybrow。
Theremainingandlowerpartofthehallwasfilledwithguards，holdingpartisans，andwithotherattendantswhomcuriosityhaddrawnthither，toseeatonceaGrandMasterandaJewishsorceress。
Byfarthegreaterpartofthoseinferiorpersonswere，inonerankorother，connectedwiththeOrder，andwereaccordinglydistinguishedbytheirblackdresses。Butpeasantsfromtheneighbouringcountrywerenotrefusedadmittance；foritwastheprideofBeaumanoirtorendertheedifyingspectacleofthejusticewhichheadministeredaspublicaspossible。Hislargeblueeyesseemedtoexpandasbegazedaroundtheassembly，andhiscountenanceappearedelatedbytheconsciousdignity，andimaginarymerit，ofthepartwhichhewasabouttoperform。Apsalm，whichhehimselfaccompaniedwithadeepmellowvoice，whichagehadnotdeprivedofitspowers，commencedtheproceedingsoftheday；andthesolemnsounds，_VeniteexultemusDomino_，sooftensungbytheTemplarsbeforeengagingwithearthlyadversaries，wasjudgedbyLucasmostappropriatetointroducetheapproachingtriumph，forsuchhedeemedit，overthepowersofdarkness。Thedeepprolongednotes，raisedbyahundredmasculinevoicesaccustomedtocombineinthechoralchant，arosetothevaultedroofofthehill，androlledonamongstitsarcheswiththepleasingyetsolemnsoundoftherushingofmightywaters。
Whenthesoundsceased，theGrandMasterglancedhiseyeslowlyaroundthecircle，andobservedthattheseatofoneofthePreceptorswasvacant。
BriandeBois-Guilbert，bywhomithadbeenoccupied，hadlefthisplace，andwasnowstandingneartheextremecornerofoneofthebenchesoccupiedbytheKnightsCompanionsoftheTemple，onehandextendinghislongmantle，soasinsomedegreetohidehisface；whiletheotherheldhiscross-handledsword，withthepointofwhich，sheathedasitwas，hewasslowlydrawinglinesupontheoakenfloor。
``Unhappyman！’’saidtheGrandMaster，afterfavouringhimwithaglanceofcompassion。``Thouseest，Conrade，howthisholyworkdistresseshim。
Tothiscanthelightlookofwoman，aidedbythePrinceofthePowersofthisworld，bringavaliantandworthyknight！——Seestthouhecannotlookuponus；hecannotlookuponher；andwhoknowsbywhatimpulsefromhistormentorhishandformsthesecabalisticlinesuponthefloor?——Itmaybeourlifeandsafetyarethusaimedat；butwespitatanddefythefoulenemy。_SemperLeopercutiatur！’’
Thiswascommunicatedaparttohisconfidentialfollower，ConradeMont-Fitchet。TheGrandMasterthenraisedhisvoice，andaddressedtheassembly。
``Reverendandvaliantmen，Knights，Preceptors，andCompanionsofthisHolyOrder，mybrethrenandmychildren！——youalso，well-bornandpiousEsquires，whoaspiretowearthisholyCross！——
andyoualso，Christianbrethren，ofeverydegree！——
Beitknowntoyou，thatitisnotdefectofpowerinuswhichhathoccasionedtheassemblingofthiscongregation；for，howeverunworthyinourperson，yettousiscommitted，withthisbatoon，fullpowertojudgeandtotryallthatregardsthewealofthisourHolyOrder。HolySaintBernard，intheruleofourknightlyandreligiousprofession，hathsaid，inthefifty-ninthcapital，*
*ThereaderisagainreferredtotheRulesofthePoorMilitary*BrotherhoodoftheTemple，whichoccurintheWorksof*StBernard——L。T。
thathewouldnotthatbrethrenbecalledtogetherincouncil，saveatthewillandcommandoftheMaster；leavingitfreetous，astothosemoreworthyfatherswhohaveprecededusinthisouroffice，tojudge，aswelloftheoccasionasofthetimeandplaceinwhichachapterofthewholeOrder，orofanypartthereof，maybeconvoked。
Also，inallsuchchapters，itisourdutytoheartheadviceofourbrethren，andtoproceedaccordingtoourownpleasure。Butwhentheragingwolfhathmadeaninroadupontheflock，andcarriedoffonememberthereof，itisthedutyofthekindshepherdtocallhiscomradestogether，thatwithbowsandslingstheymayquelltheinvader，accordingtoourwell-knownrule，thatthelionisevertobebeatendown。WehavethereforesummonedtoourpresenceaJewishwoman，bynameRebecca，daughterofIsaacofYork——awomaninfamousforsortilegesandforwitcheries；wherebyshehathmaddenedtheblood，andbesottedthebrain，notofachurl，butofaKnight——notofasecularKnight，butofonedevotedtotheserviceoftheHolyTemple——notofaKnightCompanion，butofaPreceptorofourOrder，firstinhonourasinplace。Ourbrother，BriandeBois-Guilbert，iswellknowntoourselves，andtoalldegreeswhonowhearme，asatrueandzealouschampionoftheCross，bywhosearmmanydeedsofvalourhavebeenwroughtintheHolyLand，andtheholyplacespurifiedfrompollutionbythebloodofthoseinfidelswhodefiledthem。Neitherhaveourbrother’ssagacityandprudencebeenlessinreputeamonghisbrethrenthanhisvalouranddiscipline；
insomuch，thatknights，bothineasternandwesternlands，havenamedDeBois-Guilbertasonewhomaywellbeputinnominationassuccessortothisbatoon，whenitshallpleaseHeaventoreleaseusfromthetoilofbearingit。Ifweweretoldthatsuchaman，sohonoured，andsohonourable，suddenlycastingawayregardforhischaracter，hisvows，hisbrethren，andhisprospects，hadassociatedtohimselfaJewishdamsel，wanderedinthislewdcompany，throughsolitaryplaces，defendedherpersoninpreferencetohisown，and，finally，wassoutterlyblindedandbesottedbyhisfolly，astobringhereventooneofourownPreceptories，whatshouldwesaybutthatthenobleknightwaspossessedbysomeevildemon，orinfluencedbysomewickedspell?——Ifwecouldsupposeitotherwise，thinknotrank，valour，highrepute，oranyearthlyconsideration，shouldpreventusfromvisitinghimwithpunishment，thattheevilthingmightberemoved，evenaccordingtothetext，_Aufertemalumexvobis_。ForvariousandheinousaretheactsoftransgressionagainsttheruleofourblessedOrderinthislamentablehistory——1st，Hehathwalkedaccordingtohisproperwill，contrarytocapital33，_Quodnullusjuxtapropriamvoluntatemincedat_——
2d，Hehathheldcommunicationwithanexcommunicatedperson，capital57，_Utfratresnonparticipentcumexcommunicatis_，andthereforehathaportionin_AnathemaMaranatha_——3d，Hehathconversedwithstrangewomen，contrarytothecapital，_Utfratresnonconversanturcumextraneismulieribus——
4th，Hehathnotavoided，nay，hehath，itistobefeared，solicitedthekissofwoman；bywhich，saiththelastruleofourrenownedOrder，_Utfugianturoscula_，thesoldiersoftheCrossarebroughtintoasnare。Forwhichheinousandmultipliedguilt，BriandeBois-Guilbertshouldbecutoffandcastoutfromourcongregation，werehetherighthandandrighteyethereof。’’
Hepaused。Alowmurmurwentthroughtheassembly。Someoftheyoungerpart，whohadbeeninclinedtosmileatthestatute_Deosculisfugiendis_，becamenowgraveenough，andanxiouslywaitedwhattheGrandMasterwasnexttopropose。
``Such，’’hesaid，``andsogreatshouldindeedbethepunishmentofaKnightTemplar，whowilfullyoffendedagainsttherulesofhisOrderinsuchweightypoints。Butif，bymeansofcharmsandofspells，SatanhadobtaineddominionovertheKnight，perchancebecausehecasthiseyestoolightlyuponadamsel’sbeauty，wearethenrathertolamentthanchastisehisbacksliding；and，imposingonhimonlysuchpenanceasmaypurifyhimfromhisiniquity，wearetoturnthefulledgeofourindignationupontheaccursedinstrument，whichhadsowellnighoccasionedhisutterfallingaway——
Standforth，therefore，andbearwitness，yewhohavewitnessedtheseunhappydoings，thatwemayjudgeofthesumandbearingthereof；andjudgewhetherourjusticemaybesatisfiedwiththepunishmentofthisinfidelwoman，orifwemustgoon，withableedingheart，tothefurtherproceedingagainstourbrother。’’
SeveralwitnesseswerecalledupontoprovetheriskstowhichBois-GuilbertexposedhimselfinendeavouringtosaveRebeccafromtheblazingcastle，andhisneglectofhispersonaldefenceinattendingtohersafety。Themengavethesedetailswiththeexaggerationscommontovulgarmindswhichhavebeenstronglyexcitedbyanyremarkableevent，andtheirnaturaldispositiontothemarvellouswasgreatlyincreasedbythesatisfactionwhichtheirevidenceseemedtoaffordtotheeminentpersonforwhoseinformationithadbeendelivered。
ThusthedangerswhichBois-Guilbertsurmounted，inthemselvessufficientlygreat，becameportentousintheirnarrative。ThedevotionoftheKnighttoRebecca’sdefencewasexaggeratedbeyondthebounds，notonlyofdiscretion，butevenofthemostfranticexcessofchivalrouszeal；
andhisdeferencetowhatshesaid，evenalthoughherlanguagewasoftensevereandupbraiding，waspaintedascarriedtoanexcess，which，inamanofhishaughtytemper，seemedalmostpreternatural。
ThePreceptorofTemplestowewasthencalledontodescribethemannerinwhichBois-GuilbertandtheJewessarrivedatthePreceptory。TheevidenceofMalvoisinwasskilfullyguarded。ButwhileheapparentlystudiedtosparethefeelingsofBois-Guilbert，hethrewin，fromtimetotime，suchhints，asseemedtoinferthathelabouredundersometemporaryalienationofmind，sodeeplydidheappeartobeenamouredofthedamselwhomhebroughtalongwithhim。Withsighsofpenitence，thePreceptoravowedhisowncontritionforhavingadmittedRebeccaandherloverwithinthewallsofthePreceptory——``Butmydefence，’’heconcluded，``hasbeenmadeinmyconfessiontoourmostreverendfathertheGrandMaster；heknowsmymotiveswerenotevil，thoughmyconductmayhavebeenirregular。JoyfullywillIsubmittoanypenanceheshallassignme。’’
``Thouhastspokenwell，BrotherAlbert，’’saidBeaumanoir；``thymotivesweregood，sincethoudidstjudgeitrighttoarrestthineerringbrotherinhiscareerofprecipitatefolly。Butthyconductwaswrong；ashethatwouldstoparunawaysteed，andseizingbythestirrupinsteadofthebridle，receivethinjuryhimself，insteadofaccomplishinghispurpose。Thirteenpaternostersareassignedbyourpiousfounderformatins，andnineforvespers；
bethoseservicesdoubledbythee。Thricea-weekareTemplarspermittedtheuseofflesh；butdothoukeepfastforallthesevendays。Thisdoforsixweekstocome，andthypenanceisaccomplished。’’
Withahypocriticallookofthedeepestsubmission，thePreceptorofTemplestowebowedtothegroundbeforehisSuperior，andresumedhisseat。
``Wereitnotwell，brethren，’’saidtheGrandMaster，``thatweexaminesomethingintotheformerlifeandconversationofthiswoman，speciallythatwemaydiscoverwhethershebeonelikelytousemagicalcharmsandspells，sincethetruthswhichwehaveheardmaywellinclineustosuppose，thatinthisunhappycourseourerringbrotherhasbeenacteduponbysomeinfernalenticementanddelusion?’’
HermanofGoodalrickewastheFourthPreceptorpresent；theotherthreewereConrade，Malvoisin，andBois-Guilberthimself。Hermanwasanancientwarrior，whosefacewasmarkedwithsearsinflictedbythesabreoftheMoslemah，andhadgreatrankandconsiderationamonghisbrethren。
HearoseandbowedtotheGrandMaster，whoinstantlygrantedhimlicenseofspeech。``Iwouldcravetoknow，mostReverendFather，ofourvaliantbrother，BriandeBois-Guilbert，whathesaystothesewondrousaccusations，andwithwhateyehehimselfnowregardshisunhappyintercoursewiththisJewishmaiden?’’
``BriandeBois-Guilbert，’’saidtheGrandMaster，``thouhearestthequestionwhichourBrotherofGoodalrickedesirestthoushouldstanswer。I
commandtheetoreplytohim。’’