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。’’