Wisconsin School for the Deaf - Tattler Yearbook (Delavan, WI)

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THE TATTLER led to one after another. The knights knell ho-fore her when she presented the prize to them. Then she gavo a little talk. After the prises were awarded, gifts were presented to the heralds. Often, one day was not enough so the second day the lists were given over to the squires. Kaeh one wore the armor which his knight had used and did his West to do as well. Young maidens presented prizes to thorn. Sometimes the great event continued through the third day when both squires and knights took part. If two knights were rivals or enemies, they took advantage of the opportunity to comlmt with each other. So the tournament at times became a little war for the purpose of injuring and destroying life. Sharp weapons were then imported into the lists. At such times the ground also was drenched with blood. While it is true that real lighting occasionally took place, the purpose of the tournament was to encourage and exhibit skill, strength and bravery in the use of weapons. At best it was a rough and dreadful sport. The tournament varied in different countries and not all had the same rules and ideals, but I have mentioned in the short space 1 have the points which were general. THE TRIAL OF REBECCA By ADELINE MALM Rebecca, the daughter of Isaac, the Jewish money lender, was made a captive at Temple stowe by the Templar, better known as Sir Brian do Bote Guilbort. After the fall of Tar-quilslone Castle which had been captured by Richard I with the help of Robin Hood and his forest outlaws, Rebecca had been forced upon a horse and carried off to the Preceptory of Templestowe by the Templar whose overture she had already refused. The Preceptory was a religious house of the order of Knights Templar of which Bois Guil-bert was a member. As a rule, the members of thut organization were not allowed to marry. This establishment was strongly built and well fortified. Two halberdiers, clad in black, guarded the drawbridge, and others in the same livery glided to and fro with a funeral pace upon walls so that they resembled spirits more than soldiers. The Grand Muster of the Templars had arrived unexpectedly at Templestowe from Prance where the headquarters of the order were located. He was a man advanced In age to which hte long grey beard, and shaggy grey eyebrows testified. When the news reached him that Ret cccn had been confined in a remote and secret part of the building, he demanded that she be brought to trial the next day. Orders were sent out to prepare the castle hall as a court of justice in which the sorceress, as he had determined to call her in order to save Bote Guilbert from merited punishment, was to be condemned to death. In order to prove that she was a sorceress. evidonee, that she had thrown spe b and used incantations over the soldiers of the blessed Temple, was to bo presented at the trial. The innocent and unhappy Rebeccu was led into the room and placed on the dais or elevated part of the upper end of the great hall where she for the first time faced the Grand Master of the Templars. He was dressed in full and ample robes of flowing white, and in hb hard. In- held the mystic stuff which bore the symbol of hte order. At hte feet was placed a table occupied by two scribes, chaplains of the order, whose duty it was to make a formal record of the proceedings of the day. The preceptors, of whom there were four present, occupied seat lower in height and somewhat behind that of their superior, and leaser knights were placed on benches still lower. Behind them, but still upon the dais, stood esquires of the order in white gowns of an inferior quality. The remaining and lower part of the hull was filled with guards, holding partisans, or pikes, and with persons whom curiosity had drawn to see the meeting of the Grand Master and the Jewish sorceress. A psalm, which was sung to the old church tune by the Templars and the Grand Master who, in spite of his advanced years, had still a deep and mellow voice, rose to the vaulted roof of the hall like the sound of rushing waters. When the sounds ceased, the Master cast hte eye slowly around the circle and observed that the seat of one of the preceptors was vacant. Brian dc Page twenty-four

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THE TATTLER were introduced into England after the conquest of the Normans. It was during the fifteenth century that they took the form of a pageant. Tournaments were given by wealthy nolle , earls, dukes, or by the king himself. They made very elaborate preparation , and the invitations to the tournament were carried by heralds. A custlc guard would report thut a herald had come to the castle gate. The gaU was opened for him ond his cavalcade to enter into the court-yard. Then a Hast was blown by a trumpeter to coll the folks of the castle to hear what the herald had to say. He proclaimed the tournament to all who were worthy of knighthood and would give their respects to ladies. At that time the herald explained everything; what the prizes would be, what weapons could be used, where the tournament would be, when it would be held, and other details. He sometimes made his announcement in markets and even went into the neighboring countries. Traveling was slow work so the invitations were given long before the time came for the tournament, but on that very day every knight began to get ready. As for the ladies, they, too, made ready their wardrobes. When the time came for the great event, the journey was safe because people iti different countries would not harm or injure them, not even their enemies at such times. From far and near many knights und their ladies, squires and servants came to the place of meeting. The host welcomed them and gave them good lodgings. Some would sleep in the castle, some in a neighboring village and some in their own tents. Wherever one slept, he set up the design of his coat of urins over the entrance so that nil the knights would know who he was. If he had broken his promise to any woman or had been a coward, he would not be allowed to take part in the tournament. The courtyard of the castle was a scene of great excitement. It was like u village. There wero many old friends who were happy to meet each other again. There were feasting, music, dancing and singing. The night before the tournament everybody went to bed early, but the next morning all were hard at work. The armor must be polished, rivets, straps and buckles closely inspected, and horses must be well fed and rubbed down. Each one was discussing the contestants. One hail made himself popular because he was very strong, another hud been skillful in munaging his horse, while still unother had shown determination. Every lady must be fair because it was her duty to choose the winners. Early in the morning everyone went to the lists, which had been prepared long before. A double row of wooden railings or ropes fenced an oblong area, and a space between the two was saved for those who were to help the injured knights. The galleries, which were out side this empty space for the ladies and nobles, were richly decorated with costly tapestry. The pages und young maidens were dressed In bright colored clothes and jewels. The lord of the tournament made his announcements, explaining carefully what arms were allowed. No one was allowed to bring any weapon with a sharp point into the lists. If this was ever permitted, they used rockets which were pieces of wood that protected the point of the lance. The heralds gave out the rules of the contest. Some of the rules wore: The one who broke the most lances would be a winner and should be awarded the first prize if they were broken according to the laws of the tournament. One who would break a spear by striking a man out of the saddle would gain three points, but if it was broken by striking the saddle itself, he would lose one point. If one struck a horse or struck a man in the buck when he was not armed, he had no chance of getting a prize. Before the tournament started, the arms of the knights had to be examined by the constables, as there were some who would not conform to the rules, especially when enemies were taking part. When all was ready, the heralds shouted. Come forth, knights.” Th« contestants then entered the list . The horses in their beautiful harnesses und jeweled bridles pranced gracefully. The gold and silver armor gleamed in the sunshine, and polished jeweled helmets wore decorated with ribbons belonging to the ludies. Each one thus bedecked her favorite knight. When it was time to begin, the Indies gave the orders for the ropes, which were stretched between the two sides of the lists, to be snatched aside. After the trumpets had been sounded, the knights bent low, put spur to the horses, and rushed toward their opponents with lances. The spectators were excited; some held their breath while the minstrels played and the trumpets blared. The trampling of the horses shook the plain, and the noise of arms and the breaking of spears filled the air. Men were unhorsed and their blood mingled with dust. There were usually several encounters the first day. Following the tournament, the lists were deserted. After those who took port had bathed and dressed, they had n banquet with the ladies at which they hud o gay time. Tho lady who had been chosen Queen of Love and of Beauty was 19 3 4 Page twenty-three

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THE TATTLER Lois Guilbert, by whom it had been occupied, had loft his place and was standing near the ex trctnv comer of one of the benches occupied by the knights’ companions of the Temple. One hand held his long mantle so that it hid his face. In order to save Bob GoQbert and the order of Knights Templars, the Grand Muster rose, and, with an eloquent tongue, put forth the circum-stances which had occasioned the trial. He stated that the noble Bois Guilbcrt. no doubt had erred, but that he could not be blamed for bringing KelMTCca to the preceptory for the knight was possessed by same demon or was under the in fluence of a spell cast over him by the wicked sorceress. Several witnesses were called upon to bring evidence to prove his statements. One by one they came and told their stories which had been carefully prepared to fasten the guilt upon the beautiful Jewish maiden. There was in the crowd a man, whom Rebecca hud restored to the perfect use of his limbs by a miraculous balsam after he had been bedridden for years. He was dragged forward to the bar, terrified by the guilt of having been cured of the palsy by a Jewish damsel. Perfectly cured, he was not, for he supported himself on crutches while he gave evidence to prove his statements. One by one, his evidence. He also produced a small box bearing same Hebrew characters on the lid which was sure proof thut the devil hud brewed the ointment it had contained. At this period of the trail, the Grand Master commanded Rebecca to unveil herself. Opening Iter lip. for the first time, she replied patiently, but with dignity, thut it was not the custom of her people to uncover their faces when alone in un assembly of strangers. The sweet tones of her voice and the softness of her reply made an impression on the audience. But the Grand Muster, who didn't have any sympathy for her, repeated his commands that she should be unveiled. The guards were about to remove the covering from her fuel accordingly, when she stood before the Grand Muster and told him that if she had to unveil herself, she would do it herself rather than let it be removed by such rude grooms. In her countenance, bashfulness contended with dignity. Her exceeding beauty caused a murmur of surprise, and the younger knights told each other silently with their eyes that Brain had been under the power of her real charm rather than witchcraft. Another witness, one of the guards from Tor quilstone Castle, was called before the bar to tcstifiy against Rebecca. He said that he had seen her standing upon the turret of the castle, and, all of a sudden, she changed into the form of a milk-white swan and flew around the castle three times; and then, settling on the turret, she had once more assumed her own form. All that evidence had been too much for Rebecca. and there seemed to be nothing for her to do to save herself. The Grand Maxtor hnd learned all thut he wanted, and, in a solemn tone, demanded of Rebecca what she had to say against the sentence of condemnation which he was a-bout to pronounce. In her hand there was a note which had been thrust into it by someone when she entered the Hall. Slyly opening it she read in Arabic characters, Demand a champion. She quickly destroyed the scroll unobserved. Then the Grand Master spoke again and asked if she hud anything to say. She broke out with the statement that there was one chance of life left for her and that she would not cast away the gift of God. She told him that she was innocent und declared the falseness of the accusation and demanded a champion to buttle Bois de Guilbert for her, and if he won, she would be saved. The epistle to her father, urging him to procure a champion for her, was sent out by a messenger and reached him soon for he hud come as near the preceptory as he dured. He quickly turned his mule and went in search of lvanho whom he found at Coningsburgh Castle. He made straight for the Preceptory of Templestowe to rescue Rebecca. On the third day as the noon hour approached, Rebecca didn't know whether she was facing life or death. All eyes were watching the gutt of the preceptory for Rebecca’s champion, und arrangements were being made outside for the combat. A throne which was erected at the east end of the tilt yard for the Grand Master was surrounded with seats of distinction for the preceptors and knights of the order. At the opposite end was u pile of faggots arranged u-round a stake where Rebecca was to be burned to death if her champion failed in the combat. The bell of Templestowe began to ring, the drawbridge fell, the gates opened, and a knight bearing the great standard of the Knights Templars. sallied from the castle, preceded by six trumpeters, and the preceptors of the order, with the Grand Master, mounted on a stately horse, lust. At some distance came Brian de Bois Guilbert whose face was partly hidden by a long plume which floated down from his cap. Behind him came other champions of thr Temple. Still behind these marched a guard of wardens, and with them was Rebecca, moving with a slow but undismayed step owards the scene of her fate. Stripped of her ornaments, she hud been com- Boge twenty-five