How we cite our quotes: Chapter, Paragraph
Quote #4
"But, good Alan, you see how well he could bear a sword," said the sheriff. Even though the sheriff was uttering careful London-speech, he pronounced swurd like his fellow townsmen. "And an apprentice cannot be held accountable for his master's avarice." (3.23)
Here we have the sheriff questioning a medieval idea of justice. He's probably looking at young, scared Edmund and recognizing his innocence. He realizes that it doesn't make any sense for him to be found guilty of his master's crime and he wants to cut him a break, give him a chance to become a good man himself.
Quote #5
"Indeed you do. The law is a knot. You are mine, now, breath and bone. If I want you." (8.10)
So Edmund may have been cleared of his late master's fate, but now he's been passed onto a new boss—which means he's basically owned by another person. Nigel reminds him that the law is solid: Now that he's been given to Nigel, he's basically Nigel's property. No questions, and no turning back.
Quote #6
"I can't blame you, Hubert," Nigel said, "for nearly slaughtering a drover on your first afternoon in London. After all, you had an idle hour, why not kill a man?" (11.7)
Good thing Hubert has a boss to answer to in order to curb his impulses, right? Without fear of Nigel's judgment, who knows what Hubert would get up to…