Brother Cadfael: A Morbid Taste for Bones Quiz

Answer: Six

Six brothers made the journey. Brothers Cadfael, John, Colombanus and Jerome along with Sub-prior Richard and Prior Robert travelled to Gwytherin in Wales. Brother Cadfael managed to get himself and Brother John included in the group as he was the only Welsh speaker in the Abbey and Brother John was good with horses and mules.

Answer: St Winifred

St Winifred, Patron Saint of Gwytherin and Holywell in Wales, was the saint the Benedictine brothers went to bring back to Shrewsbury. This part of the story is not fiction but fact. In 1138 her relics were placed on the altar at Shrewsbury Abbey but were later scattered on King Henry VIII's orders in 1540. Her remaining relics were taken to Rome but were returned to England in 1852 and now reside at Shrewsbury and Holywell.

St Dwynwen is worshipped throughout Wales and Cornwell while St Richildis is worshipped in Switzerland. St Giles is the Patron Saint of Edinburgh (Scotland), Tolfa (Italy), Blacksmiths, rams, horses and many different illnesses and ailments. This is probably why the leper house in "Cadfael" is named after him.

Answer: He offered him money

Prior Robert offered Lord Rhisiart a bag of money in exchange for his approval to take the saint. The prior realised very quickly this was the wrong thing to say and tried to fix it by explaining the money was for Gwytherin as a gift not for Rhisiart as a bribe but it was too late. Rhisiart was angered by the Prior's proposal and made it clear to the townsfolk that he was in opposition to the monks' plans.

Answer: He was stabbed

When Rhisiart's body was discovered, he was lying on his back with an arrow jutting out just below the ribs. This arrow was identified as belonging to Engelard, the outlander, but it was not the murder weapon. Further examination proved that the arrow had been pushed in after Rhisart had lain dead for a time. Lord Rhisiart was stabbed in the back with a dagger/knife.

Answer: Annest

Brother John harboured an attraction to Annest almost from first sight and as each day past the attraction between the two grew. Brother John didn't return to Shrewsbury. He stayed in Wales and a few months later married Annest.

Answer: Brother John

Brother John tackled the villein that was about to capture Engelard because he firmly believed that the outlander was innocent. Brother John was arrested for obstruction of justice and imprisoned in Annest's barn. When the bailiff came to take him away, Annest, Cai and Annest's servants pretended that John had escaped so that after the rest of the brothers had left, he could marry Annest and start a family.

Answer: Place their hand on Rhisiart's chest in blessing

Sioned asked all the brothers and Father Huw to place their hand on Rhisiart's chest in blessing and forgiveness. What she was really doing was seeing if any of them feared to touch his body in case it bled afresh and branded them a murderer. This was an ancient theory that many of the brothers, excluding Cadfael, believed.

Answer: Brother Columbanus

Engelard was suspected of the murder but had been framed by Peredur who, while not the murderer, was the one who pushed in the arrow after Rhisiart lay dead. Brother Columbanus killed Rhisiart because he stood in the way of the brothers taking St Winifred.

Answer: Put poppy juice in the wine

Brother Columbanus put poppy juice in Brother Jerome's wine when they went to the chapel for their vigil. While Jerome slept, he snuck out and killed Rhisiart before returning to the chapel and later claiming he, himself, had fallen asleep at vigil, not only giving himself an alibi but cleverly leaving Jerome with none.

Answer: Five

Trick question! Six brothers left Shrewsbury and Brother John stayed in Gwytherin. Brother Columbanus was killed but when Columbanus died Brother Cadfael replaced Saint Winifred's bones in the ground and put Columbanus' body into the reliquary. Therefore Brother Columbanus did come back to Shrewsbury, in the reliquary!

I hope you have enjoyed this quiz. Thanks for playing!