Summer Movies 2020: The Holy Thief

Welcome back to our summer movie series, in which plants are the real movie stars! This summer we're enjoying more episodes of Cadfael, the British drama series that is based on the books by Edith Pargeter, writing as Ellis Peters. The series is set in medieval England, and takes place in the town of Shrewsbury. Brother Cadfael is a Benedictine monk in the Abbey of Saint Peter and Saint Paul, and works in his garden and medicinal shed to prepare botanical remedies. He served as a soldier in the Crusades and joined the monastery later in life, and is often called upon to use his logic, experience, and plant knowledge to solve local mysteries.

The Holy Thief (Season 4, Episode 1)

In this episode, the year is 1144 and England is torn by civil war as King Stephen and Empress Maud vie for power in The Anarchy. The whole land is in upheaval as factions squirmish and support their cause. Loyalties are strained and property is at risk. The episode begins in a torrential downpour of rain, with Sub-prior Herluin, Brother Tutillo, and a small party travelling from Abbey Ramsey, which was recently destroyed by Empress Maud. At Shrewsbury they request funds, and make an audacious request to take the relic of Saint Winifred. Brother Tutillo has had a vision about a great lady, which Prior Herluin interpets to mean they should acquire the relic to raise funds to rebuild. The Abbey relies on the donations from pilgrims to keep the Abbey running, but surprisingly, Prior Pennant agrees to lend the bones for one year. (Recall in A Morbid Taste for Bones he acquired the relic for the Abbey of Saint Peter and Saint Paul).

Sub-prior Herluin insists on travelling with Brother Cadfael on a mission of mercy to the dying Lady Donata. She refuses to see Sub-prior Herluin (because he is always asking for money), but is comforted when Brother Tutillo and the slave girl Daalny sing. Brother Cadfael administers poppy juice to ease Lady Donata's pain (and informs Daalny's troubadour owner that the church opposes slavery). Upon her death, Lady Donata bequeaths valuable gold and jewels to Brother Tutillo. Back at Shrewsbury, the bones of Saint Winifred and the jewels are stolen, Daalny is kidnapped, and the driver is found murdered. Cadfael follows the lead of a red-dyed thread, and works with Sheriff Hugh Beringar to expose the holy thief (even their good relationship is strained by political unrest). To decide where Saint Winifred's bones should rest, stakeholders conduct a sortes Biblicae, each randomly selecting a scripture from the Gospels to discern their path.

This brings our summer movies series to an end for 2020. I hope you've enjoyed these episodes of Cadfael, and the glimpse into the distant past. I really enjoy seeing Brother Cadfael working in his garden and medicinal shed, and solving mysteries using his plant knowledge. It is also interesting to learn more about the English civil war that serves as a backdrop to the series. Brother Cadfael has seen plenty of war in his time, so strives to bring healing where it is needed and calm the strife.