The narrative unfolds around an ancient forest castle during the baronial conflicts of the medieval age, tracing the fortunes of its house and the neighbouring priory and colleges. It follows Sir Hubert of Walderne and a devout friar whose preaching and conscience drive encounters at Oxford, in the greenwood, and on crusade, bringing them into contact with outlaws, sieges, and battlefield action. Episodes culminate in a major engagement and its moral aftermath, while a spectral or uncanny incident intrudes on the household. The tale contrasts religious fervour, scholastic life, chivalric duty, and the harsh realities of war.