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X . The Jester in a Monk’s Robe The trumpet that had saved all three prisoners belonged to a messenger from the forest . He brought a letter , which the Templar read aloud to Front - de - Boeuf and De Bracy . It was a strange letter . It was signed by Gurth the swineherd and Wamba the jester , and also by the Black Knight and Locksley the archer , and it had been written by the hermit of Copmanhurst . It said that if the prisoners were not set free within one hour , the castle would be attacked and its owners treated as robbers and traitors . The three Normans laughed at first . “ A letter of war from a fool and a swineherd ! ” said De Bracy . But when they looked out from the walls , they stopped laughing . The forest was full of men in green with long bows in their hands , and at the front of them stood a tall knight in black armour . Front - de - Boeuf had only a small number of soldiers in the castle , because many of his men were away . He decided to play for time . He sent back an answer which said that the prisoners would be killed before noon , and that if the outlaws wanted to help them , they should send a priest to hear their last confession . Outside , Locksley and the Black Knight discussed this answer with the others . “ We cannot send a real priest , ” said the Black Knight . “ But perhaps one of us could pretend . ” Wamba stepped forward . “ I will go , ” he said . “ I have heard enough sermons in my life to sound like a monk . Give me the hermit’s robe and a few words of Latin . ” So the jester put on Friar Tuck’s long grey robe , pulled the hood over his face and walked up to the castle gate . “ Pax vobiscum , ” he said solemnly to the guards . It meant “ peace be with you ” . It was also the only Latin he knew , but it was enough . The guards bowed their heads . They let him in and took him to the room where Cedric and Athelstane were being kept . As soon as they were alone , Wamba threw back his hood . “ Master , ” he whispered , “ take this robe and walk out of the castle . The guards will think that you are the priest . I will stay here in your place . ” “ You will die if they find you , ” said Cedric . “ They will hang you . ” “ Then they will hang a fool instead of a wise man , ” said Wamba with a smile . “ That is a good bargain for England . ” Cedric tried to send Athelstane instead , but Athelstane refused to go . At last Cedric took the robe , with tears in his eyes , and Wamba put on his master’s clothes .
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