The Leper of Saint Giles
Encyclopedia
The Leper of Saint Giles is a medieval mystery novel by Ellis Peters, first published in 1981
. It was adapted for television in 1994
by Central
for ITV
. It is the fifth novel in the Brother Cadfael series.
who is a skilled herbalist and physician, is restocking the salves and medicines at a leper colony
at Saint Giles, maintained as a charity by the Abbey. The house is half a mile from the town so that there is no risk of contagion, though Cadfael believes that any disfiguring skin infestation or inflammation is often mistaken for the dreaded disease of leprosy
. The lepers must go about cloaked and hooded, and carry a dish with a clapper which they use to warn those they meet that they are "unclean".
A wedding between two nobles is to take place in two days at the Abbey, and both parties are due to pass Saint Giles. Cadfael believes the bride to be a descendant of a famous knight whom he knew on the First Crusade
, and is disappointed that the groom, Huon de Domville, is a callous baron in late middle age. As he passes, the baron lashes out with his whip at one of the lepers, an old man naming himself Lazarus, who has recently arrived and is slow to get off the road. Cadfael and his friend Brother Mark, who is in charge at Saint Giles, are even more dismayed when the bride's party passes. Iveta de Massard is a beautiful young woman, but is being closely hemmed in by her legal guardians, Godfrid Picard and his wife Agnes. It is clear that for them, the marriage is a profitable alliance involving lands and properties, with the bride's wishes being ignored.
Further along the road, De Domville's three squire
s watch as Iveta's party passes his lodgings. Iveta secretly blows a kiss to one of them, Joscelin Lucy. The other two, Simon Aguilon, who is de Domville's nephew and heir presumptive
, and Guy Fitzjohn, know of Joscelin's apparently hopeless love for Iveta. Iveta and the Picards are staying in the Abbey's guesthouses. That night, after Vespers
, Iveta absents herself and meets Joscelin in Cadfael's workshop in the Abbey grounds. They discuss how the marriage might be prevented, without much hope. Cadfael walks in on them unexpectedly. Hearing Agnes Picard approaching, he pretends that Joscelin and Iveta are seeking medicines. Civilities are preserved although Agnes is not fooled. After Agnes and Iveta depart, Joscelin tells Cadfael that he would commit murder to prevent Iveta's marriage to de Domville. Cadfael scolds him for what he chooses to treat as youthful exaggeration.
The next morning, Joscelin bursts into the Abbey's grounds and challenges Godfrid Picard to a duel, as he has been dismissed by de Domville at Picard's urging. As Abbot Radulfus intervenes, de Domville himself arrives with Gilbert Prestcote, the Sheriff of Shropshire, and claims that Joscelin has stolen a necklace, a gift intended for Iveta. Joscelin's belongings are searched, and the necklace is found. Cadfael is certain that it was planted there. Joscelin is meekly led out of the Abbey, but at a bridge near the town, he breaks free of his guards and escapes by jumping into the River Severn. Simon later goes to find him in the woods, and conceals him in a shed within de Domville's lodgings.
Later that day, Radulfus summons Cadfael to explain the Picards' complaints at his interference. Cadfael states his concern that Iveta is being coerced into marriage, but when they question Iveta alone, she states she is fully willing to be wed to de Domville.
De Domville dines with the Abbot the evening before the wedding. At the entrance to his lodgings, he tells Simon that he fancies a night ride, and trots off towards Saint Giles. Joscelin has left his hiding place to try and reach Iveta, but he is spotted by a patrol and is pursued along the same road. The leper Lazarus conceals him in a haystack. Surprising himself, Joscelin confides to Lazarus his crude plan to challenge de Domville to a duel to the death to thwart the wedding. Lazarus says that de Domville rode past Saint Giles a short while before, and must presumably come back the same way before the next day.
The next morning, Iveta and the invited guests gather at the Abbey church for the wedding, but de Domville does not appear. Searchers find him dead on the track he took the previous night. He had been toppled from his saddle by a rope stretched across the path, and strangled as he lay stunned. It is assumed that this is Joscelin Lucy's work. Iveta protests that he must be innocent, as he is in prison. Cadfael realises that the Picards concealed his escape from her, threatening that if she did not go through with the wedding, he would be hanged for theft. When the Picards reveal the truth, Iveta faints. The Picards grudgingly allow Cadfael to take care of her.
While the Sheriff musters parties to search for Joscelin, Cadfael determines from the dew under the body that de Domville died shortly after dawn. He also notes that the strangler wore a ring, which cut into the flesh of de Domville's throat. Nobody recalls whether Joscelin wore such a ring. At Saint Giles, Brother Mark is uneasily aware that from the hour of Prime
, his flock has grown by one able-bodied man, who nevertheless is concealed behind a leper's veil. Since the lepers trust the newcomer, so for the moment does Brother Mark.
That evening, the searchers return empty handed. Some of Prestcote's men have searched de Domville's lodgings and found that Joscelin had been in hiding there, but has left. Simon seems strangely disconcerted by the news. With Godfrid Picard, he attends the ceremony of placing de Domville in his coffin. About the same time Cadfael's assistant, Brother Oswin, notes that De Domville's hat is missing. Cadfael finds it near where he fell, with a very rare flower, blue creeping gromwell
, wound around it. The next day, Cadfael follows de Domville's track to a hunting lodge where the flower grows. Only some caretakers live there, but Cadfael notes a gentlewoman's perfume and a horse also suitable for a lady. He returns to the Abbey and questions one of de Domville's servants, who admits that de Domville had a favourite mistress, a former peasant girl named Avice of Thornbury, who was born close to the hunting lodge.
Joscelin has confided in Lazarus his new plan to take Iveta to sanctuary at a Cistercian convent near Brewood
until the courts can properly consider her case. He has befriended Bran, one of the children at Saint Giles. From Brother Mark, Bran obtains a strip of vellum on which Joscelin writes a message to Simon, asking him to tether his horse near the Abbey grounds and tell Iveta to be in Cadfael's herb garden after Vespers. Just before dawn on the next day, Joscelin sneaks into de Domville's lodging and leaves the message for Simon to find, Shortly afterwards, Iveta is surprised when she overhears Simon and Godfrid Picard arguing furiously. Simon is admitted briefly to her room and passes on Joscelin's message in haste before being dismissed by Picard.
The Sheriff prepares to search for Joscelin for a third day. He calls up every able-bodied man and horse, apparently leaving the Abbey unguarded. Towards evening, Joscelin prepares to leave Saint Giles for the last time. Before he departs, Lazarus asks him to point out Godfrid Picard among the Sheriff's parties.
Meanwhile, Iveta has acted on Simon's message. She obtains some of a syrup derived from poppies, which Cadfael uses as a sleeping draught, from Brother Oswin, and puts it into the drink of the maidservant left to watch over her. She then meets Joscelin in the grounds, but some of the Sheriff's men have been tipped off and are waiting for them. As Joscelin tries to break free, Abbot Radulfus once again intervenes to prevent him being killed.
The Sheriff and his men arrive one by one, Simon and Guy with them. The Sheriff is prepared to wait for Joscelin to be surrendered, and lets Radulfus question Joscelin. Cadfael arrives in haste behind the Sheriff. He has traced Avice of Thornbury, who has entered the Benedictine convent at Godric's Ford nearby and has joined the order as a novice. Cadfael relates her evidence that de Domville left the hunting lodge after dawn on the morning he died. Brother Mark has followed Joscelin and confirms that at that time, Joscelin was already in cover at Saint Giles. He also states that he has been watching Joscelin all day, and can account for his every move.
Cadfael then announces that he has found the body of Godfrid Picard, strangled as Huon de Domville was. Agnes Picard instantly turns on Simon Aguilon and accuses him of the murder of both de Domville and her husband. She tells everyone that Godfrid Picard realised at the coffining ceremony on the day after de Domville's death that Simon wore the ring which Cadfael noted had cut into de Domville's neck. Simon had nevertheless sought Iveta's hand, as de Domville's heir. Picard was prepared to accept him, provided Joscelin was pronounced guilty of the murder and hanged. The ring is found on Simon when he is forcibly searched. Cadfael also tells the Sheriff that Simon was entrusted by de Domville to escort Avice of Thornbury to the hunting lodge, and alone knew the route de Domville must take. Finally, one of the Sheriff's men admits that it was Simon who alerted him to search for Joscelin at de Domville's lodging, and later to intercept him in the Abbey grounds.
As Simon is dragged off to the castle, nobody questions that he is guilty of the murder of Godfrid Picard also, presumably to silence the witness who knew of his first crime. When he examines Picard's body closely, Cadfael has doubts, as whoever strangled Picard lacked several fingers. He goes to Saint Giles, where he tells Lazarus that he knows him to be the famous knight Guimar de Massard, who was believed to have died as a prisoner of the Fatimids after being captured at the Battle of Ascalon
. Lazarus admits that he had been told of his malady by Fatimid doctors. He had them announce that he died of wounds received in battle, and lived as a hermit for years until he learned that his granddaughter Iveta was orphaned. Returning to England, he was outraged to find her being exploited by the Picards and unwillingly forced into marriage. As Prestcote's searchers made their way back to Shrewsbury, he had waylaid Godfrid Picard, challenged him to mortal combat, and easily killed him.
Cadfael urges de Massard to reveal himself to Iveta, who venerates his memory. He boldly suggests that there was another Lazarus
who returned from the dead, to the joy of his family. Lazarus removes his veil to reveal features ravaged by disease and asks, "And was this the face that made his sisters glad?" He assures Cadfael that all is well with him, and leaves Saint Giles that very night, never to be seen again. Joscelin adopts the child Bran as his helper and someday squire.
. Brother Cadfael went on the First Crusade, and often claims that the Saracens were nobler and more righteous than some at least of the crusaders. He alludes to the massacre of civilians after the capture of Ascalon
and Jerusalem, and the ignoble behavior of the Crusader leaders Baldwin
, Bohemond, and Tancred
, "squabbling over their conquests like malicious children."
The fictional Guimar de Massard was not only a more honourable character than some crusaders but also left large lands to his heirs after his supposed death. When his son Hamon died before the book begins, his granddaughter Iveta was only eleven years old and was given into the wardship of her maternal uncle, Godfrid Picard. The Picards are stated to have milked Iveta's estates for their own benefit, and would also profit from her marriage to Huon de Domville. Although Cadfael and other characters such as Abbot Radulfus question this arrangement, it was apparently not uncommon.
Joscelin Lucy is heir to two manors. It was common for a young man in his situation to be sent at the age of thirteen or fourteen as squire
s in equal or greater noble households, to learn knightly duties before becoming knights themselves. When dismissed by de Domville, Joscelin considers joining the King's army, as rumours grow of impending civil war.
Cadfael's "syrup of poppies" is clearly an opiate
, and he presumably learned its use and effects in the Holy Land, quite possibly from the Saracens. It is useful to Cadfael throughout the series of books, for dulling pain and calming those in distress, and to other characters for stupefying guards, witnesses and rivals.
Cadfael's final conversation with Guimar de Massard alludes to the raising of Lazarus of Bethany
from the dead, as recounted in Chapter 11 of the Gospel of John
.
Avice of Thornbury, admitted to the Benedictine convent under her new name of Sister Magdalene, plays a role in several subsequent novels in the Cadfael series and becomes a valued friend and ally to Cadfael.
The "Cadfael" series eventually extended to thirteen episodes, all of which starred Sir Derek Jacobi
as the sleuthing monk. The series was filmed mostly in Hungary
.
The adaptation for The Leper of St. Giles stuck fairly closely to the original novel. The part of Joscelin Lucy was played by Jonathan Firth
, brother of Julian Firth
who played Brother Jerome, Prior Robert's clerk, who had only a minor part in this TV episode. Iveta de Massard was played by Tara FitzGerald
, Sarah Badel
played Avice of Thornbury, Jamie Glover
played Simon and John Bennett
played Lazarus.
1981 in literature
The year 1981 in literature involved some significant events and new books.-Events:*PEN/Faulkner Award for Fiction given for the first time...
. It was adapted for television in 1994
1994 in television
The year 1994 in television involved some significant events.Below is a list of television-related events in 1994.For the American TV schedule, see: 1994-95 United States network television schedule.-Events:-Debuts:-Miniseries:...
by Central
Central Independent Television
Central Independent Television, more commonly known as Central is the Independent Television contractor for the Midlands, created following the restructuring of ATV and commencing broadcast on 1 January 1982. The station is owned and operated by ITV plc, under the licensee of ITV Broadcasting...
for ITV
ITV
ITV is the major commercial public service TV network in the United Kingdom. Launched in 1955 under the auspices of the Independent Television Authority to provide competition to the BBC, it is also the oldest commercial network in the UK...
. It is the fifth novel in the Brother Cadfael series.
Plot summary
The book is set in the autumn of 1139. Brother Cadfael, a monk of Shrewsbury AbbeyShrewsbury Abbey
The Abbey of Saint Peter and Saint Paul, commonly known as Shrewsbury Abbey, was a Benedictine monastery founded in 1083 by the Norman Earl of Shrewsbury, Roger de Montgomery, in Shrewsbury, the county town of Shropshire, England.-Background:...
who is a skilled herbalist and physician, is restocking the salves and medicines at a leper colony
Leper colony
A leper colony, leprosarium, or lazar house is a place to quarantine leprous people.-History:Leper colonies or houses became widespread in the Middle Ages, particularly in Europe and India, and often run by monastic orders...
at Saint Giles, maintained as a charity by the Abbey. The house is half a mile from the town so that there is no risk of contagion, though Cadfael believes that any disfiguring skin infestation or inflammation is often mistaken for the dreaded disease of leprosy
Leprosy
Leprosy or Hansen's disease is a chronic disease caused by the bacteria Mycobacterium leprae and Mycobacterium lepromatosis. Named after physician Gerhard Armauer Hansen, leprosy is primarily a granulomatous disease of the peripheral nerves and mucosa of the upper respiratory tract; skin lesions...
. The lepers must go about cloaked and hooded, and carry a dish with a clapper which they use to warn those they meet that they are "unclean".
A wedding between two nobles is to take place in two days at the Abbey, and both parties are due to pass Saint Giles. Cadfael believes the bride to be a descendant of a famous knight whom he knew on the First Crusade
First Crusade
The First Crusade was a military expedition by Western Christianity to regain the Holy Lands taken in the Muslim conquest of the Levant, ultimately resulting in the recapture of Jerusalem...
, and is disappointed that the groom, Huon de Domville, is a callous baron in late middle age. As he passes, the baron lashes out with his whip at one of the lepers, an old man naming himself Lazarus, who has recently arrived and is slow to get off the road. Cadfael and his friend Brother Mark, who is in charge at Saint Giles, are even more dismayed when the bride's party passes. Iveta de Massard is a beautiful young woman, but is being closely hemmed in by her legal guardians, Godfrid Picard and his wife Agnes. It is clear that for them, the marriage is a profitable alliance involving lands and properties, with the bride's wishes being ignored.
Further along the road, De Domville's three squire
Squire
The English word squire is a shortened version of the word Esquire, from the Old French , itself derived from the Late Latin , in medieval or Old English a scutifer. The Classical Latin equivalent was , "arms bearer"...
s watch as Iveta's party passes his lodgings. Iveta secretly blows a kiss to one of them, Joscelin Lucy. The other two, Simon Aguilon, who is de Domville's nephew and heir presumptive
Heir Presumptive
An heir presumptive or heiress presumptive is the person provisionally scheduled to inherit a throne, peerage, or other hereditary honour, but whose position can be displaced by the birth of an heir or heiress apparent or of a new heir presumptive with a better claim to the position in question...
, and Guy Fitzjohn, know of Joscelin's apparently hopeless love for Iveta. Iveta and the Picards are staying in the Abbey's guesthouses. That night, after Vespers
Vespers
Vespers is the evening prayer service in the Western Catholic, Eastern Catholic, and Eastern Orthodox, Anglican, and Lutheran liturgies of the canonical hours...
, Iveta absents herself and meets Joscelin in Cadfael's workshop in the Abbey grounds. They discuss how the marriage might be prevented, without much hope. Cadfael walks in on them unexpectedly. Hearing Agnes Picard approaching, he pretends that Joscelin and Iveta are seeking medicines. Civilities are preserved although Agnes is not fooled. After Agnes and Iveta depart, Joscelin tells Cadfael that he would commit murder to prevent Iveta's marriage to de Domville. Cadfael scolds him for what he chooses to treat as youthful exaggeration.
The next morning, Joscelin bursts into the Abbey's grounds and challenges Godfrid Picard to a duel, as he has been dismissed by de Domville at Picard's urging. As Abbot Radulfus intervenes, de Domville himself arrives with Gilbert Prestcote, the Sheriff of Shropshire, and claims that Joscelin has stolen a necklace, a gift intended for Iveta. Joscelin's belongings are searched, and the necklace is found. Cadfael is certain that it was planted there. Joscelin is meekly led out of the Abbey, but at a bridge near the town, he breaks free of his guards and escapes by jumping into the River Severn. Simon later goes to find him in the woods, and conceals him in a shed within de Domville's lodgings.
Later that day, Radulfus summons Cadfael to explain the Picards' complaints at his interference. Cadfael states his concern that Iveta is being coerced into marriage, but when they question Iveta alone, she states she is fully willing to be wed to de Domville.
De Domville dines with the Abbot the evening before the wedding. At the entrance to his lodgings, he tells Simon that he fancies a night ride, and trots off towards Saint Giles. Joscelin has left his hiding place to try and reach Iveta, but he is spotted by a patrol and is pursued along the same road. The leper Lazarus conceals him in a haystack. Surprising himself, Joscelin confides to Lazarus his crude plan to challenge de Domville to a duel to the death to thwart the wedding. Lazarus says that de Domville rode past Saint Giles a short while before, and must presumably come back the same way before the next day.
The next morning, Iveta and the invited guests gather at the Abbey church for the wedding, but de Domville does not appear. Searchers find him dead on the track he took the previous night. He had been toppled from his saddle by a rope stretched across the path, and strangled as he lay stunned. It is assumed that this is Joscelin Lucy's work. Iveta protests that he must be innocent, as he is in prison. Cadfael realises that the Picards concealed his escape from her, threatening that if she did not go through with the wedding, he would be hanged for theft. When the Picards reveal the truth, Iveta faints. The Picards grudgingly allow Cadfael to take care of her.
While the Sheriff musters parties to search for Joscelin, Cadfael determines from the dew under the body that de Domville died shortly after dawn. He also notes that the strangler wore a ring, which cut into the flesh of de Domville's throat. Nobody recalls whether Joscelin wore such a ring. At Saint Giles, Brother Mark is uneasily aware that from the hour of Prime
Prime (liturgy)
Prime, or the First Hour, is a fixed time of prayer of the traditional Divine Office , said at the first hour of daylight , between the morning Hour of Lauds and the 9 a.m. Hour of Terce. It is part of the Christian liturgies of Eastern Christianity, but in the Latin Rite it was suppressed by the...
, his flock has grown by one able-bodied man, who nevertheless is concealed behind a leper's veil. Since the lepers trust the newcomer, so for the moment does Brother Mark.
That evening, the searchers return empty handed. Some of Prestcote's men have searched de Domville's lodgings and found that Joscelin had been in hiding there, but has left. Simon seems strangely disconcerted by the news. With Godfrid Picard, he attends the ceremony of placing de Domville in his coffin. About the same time Cadfael's assistant, Brother Oswin, notes that De Domville's hat is missing. Cadfael finds it near where he fell, with a very rare flower, blue creeping gromwell
Lithospermum prostratum
Lithospermum prostratum is an ornamental plant native from Europe in the Boraginaceae family. It is known in the UK as Creeping Gromwell.-External links:...
, wound around it. The next day, Cadfael follows de Domville's track to a hunting lodge where the flower grows. Only some caretakers live there, but Cadfael notes a gentlewoman's perfume and a horse also suitable for a lady. He returns to the Abbey and questions one of de Domville's servants, who admits that de Domville had a favourite mistress, a former peasant girl named Avice of Thornbury, who was born close to the hunting lodge.
Joscelin has confided in Lazarus his new plan to take Iveta to sanctuary at a Cistercian convent near Brewood
Brewood
Brewood refers both to a settlement, which was once a town but is now a village, in South Staffordshire, England, and to the civil parish of which it is the centre. Located around , Brewood village lies near the River Penk, eight miles north of Wolverhampton city centre and eleven miles south of...
until the courts can properly consider her case. He has befriended Bran, one of the children at Saint Giles. From Brother Mark, Bran obtains a strip of vellum on which Joscelin writes a message to Simon, asking him to tether his horse near the Abbey grounds and tell Iveta to be in Cadfael's herb garden after Vespers. Just before dawn on the next day, Joscelin sneaks into de Domville's lodging and leaves the message for Simon to find, Shortly afterwards, Iveta is surprised when she overhears Simon and Godfrid Picard arguing furiously. Simon is admitted briefly to her room and passes on Joscelin's message in haste before being dismissed by Picard.
The Sheriff prepares to search for Joscelin for a third day. He calls up every able-bodied man and horse, apparently leaving the Abbey unguarded. Towards evening, Joscelin prepares to leave Saint Giles for the last time. Before he departs, Lazarus asks him to point out Godfrid Picard among the Sheriff's parties.
Meanwhile, Iveta has acted on Simon's message. She obtains some of a syrup derived from poppies, which Cadfael uses as a sleeping draught, from Brother Oswin, and puts it into the drink of the maidservant left to watch over her. She then meets Joscelin in the grounds, but some of the Sheriff's men have been tipped off and are waiting for them. As Joscelin tries to break free, Abbot Radulfus once again intervenes to prevent him being killed.
The Sheriff and his men arrive one by one, Simon and Guy with them. The Sheriff is prepared to wait for Joscelin to be surrendered, and lets Radulfus question Joscelin. Cadfael arrives in haste behind the Sheriff. He has traced Avice of Thornbury, who has entered the Benedictine convent at Godric's Ford nearby and has joined the order as a novice. Cadfael relates her evidence that de Domville left the hunting lodge after dawn on the morning he died. Brother Mark has followed Joscelin and confirms that at that time, Joscelin was already in cover at Saint Giles. He also states that he has been watching Joscelin all day, and can account for his every move.
Cadfael then announces that he has found the body of Godfrid Picard, strangled as Huon de Domville was. Agnes Picard instantly turns on Simon Aguilon and accuses him of the murder of both de Domville and her husband. She tells everyone that Godfrid Picard realised at the coffining ceremony on the day after de Domville's death that Simon wore the ring which Cadfael noted had cut into de Domville's neck. Simon had nevertheless sought Iveta's hand, as de Domville's heir. Picard was prepared to accept him, provided Joscelin was pronounced guilty of the murder and hanged. The ring is found on Simon when he is forcibly searched. Cadfael also tells the Sheriff that Simon was entrusted by de Domville to escort Avice of Thornbury to the hunting lodge, and alone knew the route de Domville must take. Finally, one of the Sheriff's men admits that it was Simon who alerted him to search for Joscelin at de Domville's lodging, and later to intercept him in the Abbey grounds.
As Simon is dragged off to the castle, nobody questions that he is guilty of the murder of Godfrid Picard also, presumably to silence the witness who knew of his first crime. When he examines Picard's body closely, Cadfael has doubts, as whoever strangled Picard lacked several fingers. He goes to Saint Giles, where he tells Lazarus that he knows him to be the famous knight Guimar de Massard, who was believed to have died as a prisoner of the Fatimids after being captured at the Battle of Ascalon
Battle of Ascalon
The Battle of Ascalon took place on August 12, 1099, and is often considered the last action of the First Crusade.-Background:The crusaders had negotiated with the Fatimids of Egypt during their march to Jerusalem, but no satisfactory compromise could be reached — the Fatimids were willing to give...
. Lazarus admits that he had been told of his malady by Fatimid doctors. He had them announce that he died of wounds received in battle, and lived as a hermit for years until he learned that his granddaughter Iveta was orphaned. Returning to England, he was outraged to find her being exploited by the Picards and unwillingly forced into marriage. As Prestcote's searchers made their way back to Shrewsbury, he had waylaid Godfrid Picard, challenged him to mortal combat, and easily killed him.
Cadfael urges de Massard to reveal himself to Iveta, who venerates his memory. He boldly suggests that there was another Lazarus
Lazarus of Bethany
Lazarus of Bethany, also known as Saint Lazarus or Lazarus of the Four Days, is the subject of a prominent miracle attributed to Jesus in the Gospel of John, in which Jesus restores him to life four days after his death...
who returned from the dead, to the joy of his family. Lazarus removes his veil to reveal features ravaged by disease and asks, "And was this the face that made his sisters glad?" He assures Cadfael that all is well with him, and leaves Saint Giles that very night, never to be seen again. Joscelin adopts the child Bran as his helper and someday squire.
Background and setting
The book explores several themes among aristocratic society in the Middle Ages, and the CrusadesCrusades
The Crusades were a series of religious wars, blessed by the Pope and the Catholic Church with the main goal of restoring Christian access to the holy places in and near Jerusalem...
. Brother Cadfael went on the First Crusade, and often claims that the Saracens were nobler and more righteous than some at least of the crusaders. He alludes to the massacre of civilians after the capture of Ascalon
Ashkelon
Ashkelon is a coastal city in the South District of Israel on the Mediterranean coast, south of Tel Aviv, and north of the border with the Gaza Strip. The ancient seaport of Ashkelon dates back to the Neolithic Age...
and Jerusalem, and the ignoble behavior of the Crusader leaders Baldwin
Baldwin I of Jerusalem
Baldwin I of Jerusalem, formerly Baldwin I of Edessa, born Baldwin of Boulogne , 1058? – 2 April 1118, was one of the leaders of the First Crusade, who became the first Count of Edessa and then the second ruler and first titled King of Jerusalem...
, Bohemond, and Tancred
Tancred, Prince of Galilee
Tancred was a Norman leader of the First Crusade who later became Prince of Galilee and regent of the Principality of Antioch...
, "squabbling over their conquests like malicious children."
The fictional Guimar de Massard was not only a more honourable character than some crusaders but also left large lands to his heirs after his supposed death. When his son Hamon died before the book begins, his granddaughter Iveta was only eleven years old and was given into the wardship of her maternal uncle, Godfrid Picard. The Picards are stated to have milked Iveta's estates for their own benefit, and would also profit from her marriage to Huon de Domville. Although Cadfael and other characters such as Abbot Radulfus question this arrangement, it was apparently not uncommon.
Joscelin Lucy is heir to two manors. It was common for a young man in his situation to be sent at the age of thirteen or fourteen as squire
Squire
The English word squire is a shortened version of the word Esquire, from the Old French , itself derived from the Late Latin , in medieval or Old English a scutifer. The Classical Latin equivalent was , "arms bearer"...
s in equal or greater noble households, to learn knightly duties before becoming knights themselves. When dismissed by de Domville, Joscelin considers joining the King's army, as rumours grow of impending civil war.
Cadfael's "syrup of poppies" is clearly an opiate
Opiate
In medicine, the term opiate describes any of the narcotic opioid alkaloids found as natural products in the opium poppy plant.-Overview:Opiates are so named because they are constituents or derivatives of constituents found in opium, which is processed from the latex sap of the opium poppy,...
, and he presumably learned its use and effects in the Holy Land, quite possibly from the Saracens. It is useful to Cadfael throughout the series of books, for dulling pain and calming those in distress, and to other characters for stupefying guards, witnesses and rivals.
Cadfael's final conversation with Guimar de Massard alludes to the raising of Lazarus of Bethany
Lazarus of Bethany
Lazarus of Bethany, also known as Saint Lazarus or Lazarus of the Four Days, is the subject of a prominent miracle attributed to Jesus in the Gospel of John, in which Jesus restores him to life four days after his death...
from the dead, as recounted in Chapter 11 of the Gospel of John
Gospel of John
The Gospel According to John , commonly referred to as the Gospel of John or simply John, and often referred to in New Testament scholarship as the Fourth Gospel, is an account of the public ministry of Jesus...
.
Avice of Thornbury, admitted to the Benedictine convent under her new name of Sister Magdalene, plays a role in several subsequent novels in the Cadfael series and becomes a valued friend and ally to Cadfael.
Television adaptation
The book was the third Cadfael book to be adapted for television, as The Leper of St. Giles, by Carlton Media for distribution world wide, in 1994. It was slightly out of sequence as two earlier books in the series were filmed as later episodes.The "Cadfael" series eventually extended to thirteen episodes, all of which starred Sir Derek Jacobi
Derek Jacobi
Sir Derek George Jacobi, CBE is an English actor and film director.A "forceful, commanding stage presence", Jacobi has enjoyed a highly successful stage career, appearing in such stage productions as Hamlet, Uncle Vanya, and Oedipus the King. He received a Tony Award for his performance in...
as the sleuthing monk. The series was filmed mostly in Hungary
Hungary
Hungary , officially the Republic of Hungary , is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is situated in the Carpathian Basin and is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine and Romania to the east, Serbia and Croatia to the south, Slovenia to the southwest and Austria to the west. The...
.
The adaptation for The Leper of St. Giles stuck fairly closely to the original novel. The part of Joscelin Lucy was played by Jonathan Firth
Jonathan Firth
Jonathan Firth is a British actor best known for his roles in such noted British television productions as Middlemarch, Far from the Madding Crowd, and Victoria & Albert.-Early life:Jonathan Firth was born in Essex, England...
, brother of Julian Firth
Julian Firth
Julian Firth is a British actor, best known for his roles as troubled inmate Davis in the cinematic version of the film Scum and as Brother Jerome in the long running television series Cadfael....
who played Brother Jerome, Prior Robert's clerk, who had only a minor part in this TV episode. Iveta de Massard was played by Tara FitzGerald
Tara Fitzgerald
Tara Anne Cassandra Fitzgerald is an English actress who has appeared in feature films, television, radio and the stage....
, Sarah Badel
Sarah Badel
Sarah Badel is a British stage and film actress. She is the daughter of actors Alan Badel and Yvonne Owen.-Theatrical career:...
played Avice of Thornbury, Jamie Glover
Jamie Glover
Jamie Glover is an English actor, known for portraying Andrew Treneman in Waterloo Road.-Background:Born and raised in Barnes, London, Glover is the son of actors Julian Glover and Isla Blair...
played Simon and John Bennett
John Bennett (actor)
John Bennett was an English actor. Born in Beckenham, Kent, he was educated at Bradfield College in Berkshire, then trained at the Central School of Speech and Drama, followed by a wide Rep experience including Bromley, Bristol Old Vic, Dundee, Edinburgh Festival and Watford before going to...
played Lazarus.