Ivanhoe Chapter 44

The Grand Master declares Rebecca free and innocent. Ivanhoe refuses Bois-Guilbert's weapons and corpse, believing he deserves honor in his death. Suddenly, the Black Knight rides up with many attendants. He has an attendant arrest Albert for high treason. Beaumanoir demands to know who arrests his man, and the Knight reveals himself as King Richard. He asserts England's power over that of the Templars, and declares that Albert and his brother Philip will be dead within the week. He then orders the Grand Master to leave with his Templars. They do, slowly and with defiant glares.

Isaac holds his daughter, and tells her they must thank Ivanhoe. But Rebecca cannot, fearing she might say too much. So they slip out. Ivanhoe now turns to the Earl of Essex, King Richard's ally. He met the rash King on the road, and came with him here. Ivanhoe asks for news from York, and is angry to find out that Richard did not imprison his brother John. Instead, he sent him to their mother. Ivanhoe cannot help but be angry at his King.

It is learned that de Bracy escaped and joined forces with France, and the Malvoisin brothers were executed. Fitzurse was banished, and Prince John received no punishment. Cedric, whose hopes of a Saxon rule of England were crushed by Richard's return, was summoned to York. Cedric knew also that without the marriage of Rowena and Athelstane, a union of Saxon forces was impossible. Athelstane got his revenge, by keeping his captors in the dungeon for three days on a poor diet. He was more interested in this matter and in his dinner than in any marriage to Rowena. He gave her up easily to Ivanhoe. Cedric softened and consented to the marriage of Ivanhoe and Rowena. Both Normans and Saxons attended, and a slow evolution of respect began between the two races, culminating years later when English, a mix of the two languages, become the official language of the court.

Topic Tracking: Prejudice 17

Soon after the marriage, Rebecca comes to see Lady Ivanhoe. She conveys her gratitude, and asks Rowena to tell him good-bye. Rowena says that Ivanhoe was just repaying her many kindnesses. Rebecca insists she and her father must leave England. Its violent nature leaves her people too vulnerable. She and her father will go to Grenada. Rowena begs her to stay, but Rebecca refuses. She gives Rowena a gift of jewels, which she will never again wear. When Rowena tries to refuse, she insists: "You have power, rank, command, influence; we have wealth, the source both of our strength and weakness..." Chapter 40, pg. 431 Rebecca needs such jewels no longer, for she is to become a servant of her God, caring for the less fortunate. She tells Rowena to tell Ivanhoe--but her voice trembles and she fears her tenderness for him has been revealed. She quickly leaves Rowena, wishing her well. Rowena tells her husband the story and, though they loved each other and lived happily, it is unknown how often Ivanhoe may have thought of the beautiful and virtuous Jewess. Ivanhoe rose in Richard's ranks, but the King's death halted his ascent. King Richard's wonderful ideas and plans died with him, his legacy rooted in legend and story.