Sir Wilfred, Knight of Ivanhoe, a young Saxon knight, brave and
handsome, was disinherited by his father because he loved Rowena, a
Saxon heiress and a ward of his father. He therefore went on a crusade
to Palestine with Richard the Lion Hearted. Returning, under the name
of Desdichado (The Disinherited) he entered the lists of the Ashby
Tournament: and, having won the victory, he was crowned by the Lady
Rowena.
At this tournament there was one knight in particular who aided
Ivanhoe. This was the Black Knight, and his feats of valor set all the
spectators to wondering who he might be. He was in reality Richard the
Lion Hearted, the Crusader, King of England.
Just at this time King Richard's younger brother, John, was conspiring
to take the throne of England from him. One of his fellow conspirators
was Maurice de Bracy, who was in love with Rowena. He captured her as
she was returning from the tournament, and imprisoned her in the Tower
of Torquilstone.
Ivanhoe, who was wounded in the tournament, was cared for by Isaac of
York and his daughter, Rebecca. She fell in love with him, but realized
that she could never marry him; and knowing that Ivanhoe loved Rowena,
she offered to give any sum of money for her release.
This was not effected, however, until Torquilstone had been besieged
by Locksley, who was really Robin Hood, and his men, led by the Black
Knight. The Black Knight had come upon this band in his wanderings
through Sherwood Forest. He ran across the little chapel of the Hermit,
one of Locksley's men, in the the following manner:
"The entrance to this ancient place of devotion was under a very
low round arch, ornamented by several courses that zigzag moulding,
resembling shark's teeth, which appears so often in the more ancient
Saxon architecture. A belfry rose above the porch on four small
pillars, within which hung the green and weatherbeaten bell, the feeble
sounds of which had been some time before heard by the Black Knight.
"The whole peaceful and quiet scene lay glimmering in twilight before
the eyes of the traveler, giving him good assurance of lodging for
the night; since it was a special duty of those hermits who dwelt
in the woods to exercise hospitality towards benighted or bewildered
passengers.
"Accordingly, the knight took no time to consider minutely the
particulars which we have detailed, but thanking Saint Julian (the
patron of travelers), who had sent him good harborage, he leaped from
his horse and assailed the door of the hermitage with the butt of his
lance, in order to arouse attention and gain admittance."
The Hermit who lived there and who gave the Black Knight food and
lodging, was Friar Tuck.
Finally Rowena was rescued and married Ivanhoe. Rebecca was carried
away by the Templar Bois-Guilbert, who was madly and vainly in love
with her, to the Preceptory of Templestowe, and convicted of sorcery.
She was condemned to be burned alive, but was allowed a trial by
combat. Ivanhoe was her champion, and in the contest with the Templar
he was the victor. Rebecca was then pronounced guiltless and freed.
"Ivanhoe" is one of Scott's most famous novels. It was written and
published in 1819. The manuscript is now at Abbotsford.
[Illustration: VARNEY, LEICESTER AND AMY ROBSART--"KENILWORTH"
COURTESY, THE PAGE COMPANY
FROM A DRAWING BY AD. LALAUZE.]