. A soldier testified that he had
seen her cure a wounded man in a mysterious way. He said she made
certain signs upon the wound, and repeated words he understood not.
The result, he declared, was that the iron head of a cross-bow bolt
disengaged itself from the wound, the bleeding was staunched, the
wound closed, and the seemingly dying man was within a quarter of an
hour walking upon the ramparts. Another soldier deponed that he had
seen Rebecca perch herself upon a high turret, and there take the form
of a white swan, under which appearance she flitted three times round
the castle of Torquailstone. Again she settled on the turret, and once
more assumed her womanly form. The evidence was considered more than
enough to condemn the unhappy Jewess; and in a solemn tone the Grand
Master demanded what she had to say against sentence of condemnation
being pronounced against her. Rebecca knew the law; she maintained her
innocence, claimed the privilege of trial by combat, and offered to
appear by a champion.

Brian de Bois-Gilbert was appointed to do battle on behalf of himself
and the order of knights to which he belonged; and the day came when
the die would be cast that was to decide the fate of Rebecca. At the
castle of Templestowe everything was prepared by the prosecutor for
the combat, but for poor Rebecca no champion appeared. Near the lists
was a pile of faggots so arranged around a stake as to leave a space
for the accused to enter within the fatal circle, chained by fetters,
in order to be ready for the fiery punishment. At the hour appointed
for the champions to meet, the large bell of St. Michael tolled
mournfully, the drawbridge fell, the gates opened, and a knight,
bearing a great standard, sallied forth from the castle, preceded by
six trumpeters, and followed by the knights preceptors, the Grand
Master coming behind. Then came Brian de Bois-Gilbert, armed
_cap-a-pie_, accompanied by two godfathers and many squires and pages.
After these followed a guard of warders, with the trembling Jewess,
stripped of all her ornaments, lest there should be among them
amulets, which Satan was supposed to bestow upon his victims, to
deprive them of the power of confession, even when under torture.
While the Grand Master took his exalted seat, the unfortunate culprit
was conducted to the black chair, near the ready prepared pile.
Everything being arranged, a loud and long flourish of trumpets
announced that the proceedings o