The Raven in the Foregate

The Raven in the Foregate (1986) Ellis Peters

Set in England in 1141.

The 12th Brother Cadfael mystery finds a new priest come to the local parish–a priest sent by bishop Henry of Winchester. Although he is educated and pious, it soon becomes clear that he is not well suited to being a parish priest.

(T)here were those who found that zeal too narrowly channelled, and somewhat dehydrated of the milk of human tolerance.

“My lord, there’s a decent poor man of this parish, Centwin, whose wife Elen bore a very weakly child, a boy, four days ago. It was about Sext when the baby was born, and it was so small and feeble, they were sure it must die, and Centwin ran quickly to the priest’s house, and begged him to come and baptise the boy before he died, that his soul might be saved. And Father Ailnoth sent out word that he was at his devotions, and could not come until he had completed the office. Centwin begged him, but he would not interrupt his prayers. And when he did go, Father, the baby was dead.”
The small, chill silence seemed to bring down a looming darkness on the panelled room.
“Father, he would not give the child Christian burial, because it was not baptised. He said it could not come within the hallowed ground, though he would say what prayers he could at its burial— which was in a grave outside the pale.”

When Father Ailnoth is found drowned, there is plenty of suspicion to go around as to who might have killed him.

Radulfus brooded for some minutes over the indifferent corpse which had been Father Ailnoth, and never before so still and quiet, so tolerant of the views of others.

(I)t is not enough to abstain from evil, there must also be an outgoing goodness. The company of the blessed may extend justifiably to embrace even men who have been great sinners, yet also great lovers of their fellow men, such as have never turned away their eyes from other men’s needs, but have done them such good as they might, and as little harm as they must.

These really are lovely stories.
Rating: 8/10

Published by MysteriousPress

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