As the episode opens, Jack Barak (Anthony Boyle) cleans blood off the blade of his sword. Bugge (Mike Noble) escorts Abbot Fabian (Babou Ceesay) to the stable where Doctor Goodhap (Matthew Steer) lay deceased on the floor. Brother Mortimus (Brian Vernel) and Fabian stare in shock.

Jack tells Alice (Ruby Ashbourne Serkis) that Matthew Shardlake (Arthur Hughes) likes her. She says he obviously does not know her. Brother Guy (Irfan Shamji) suggests Jack help Alice change Brother Mark’s dirty bed linen. Refusing to lend a hand, Jack hurriedly walks away. She asks Guy if he knows what attributed to Simon Whelplay’s (Joe Barber) behavior. He assures her that it is unimportant.

Brother Edwig (David Pearse) informs Mathew of Goodhap’s departure to London. Brother Jerome (Paul Kaye) watches them from a nearby table. Joining them, Jack confesses to liking the monastery, not the “fat monks.” Matthew tells him about Goodhap. Edwig says Bugge claims to have seen him leave and asks if he can have his books back. Matthew promises to return them after he goes through them. Edwig assures him that they are accurate but Matthew is skeptical. Matthew and Jack question why Edwig would visit Whelplay whom he hates. Edwig denies the allegation. Matthew asks why not pray for Whelplay at the church, instead of his bedside. Edwig claims it was a practice of St. Donatus and he and Whelplay prayed together. After Edwig leaves, Matthew tells Jack that Whelplay was given poison while sick in the infirmary. Jack suggests it was Guy. Matthew argues that Guy could have just as easily hidden the poison after he found it. Brother Gabriel (Miles Barrow) looks over his shoulder at them.

Matthew questions why the senior monks attended Whelplay who had previously been persecuted. Jack says if Edwig’s accounts hold the answer, Justice Copynger (Tadhg Murphy) should be questioned. Matthew recalls the missing sword and relic which he doubts are in the marshland. They see Jerome watching them.

Jack finds Bugge in the barn and threatens to kill him if he doesn’t tell him the truth about Goodhap’s departure. Bugee says Goodhap left before 6am when Matthew quietly approaches. Placing the tip of his sword at Bugge’s chest, Jack calls him a liar. Matthew orders him to put down his sword. Jack lowers his sword and races out of the bard with Matthew in tow. Bugge exhales deeply with relief. Matthew tries to convince Jack that the case is near to being solved but Jack is not so sure.

Holding Whelplay’s cross, Matthew recalls something and races to retrieve a metal processional cross. Returning to the site where he saw Whelplay, he utilizes the cross to probe a pond. When Jack arrives, Matthew convinces him to search the pond. As Jack is removing his clothes, Gabriel approaches and warns them of the dangers lurking in the pond. Mortimus and Bugge watch as Jack climbs into the pond, dives down into the water, and comes up with a sword wrapped inside a robe. After congratulating Jack, Matthew assures them that an outsider would never put it there. Gabriel identifies the robe as belonging to him. He claims to have last since it when he gave it to the launderer on the day of Robin Singleton’s (Michael Rivers) arrival. He denies any knowledge of the sword. Taking hold of the sword, it nearly slips out of his hand. Jack tells him to demonstrate how he beheaded Singleton. Gabriel looks at him and then at Matthew. Jack takes the sword away. Gabriel assures Matthew that Whelplay is no killer.

Fabian complains about Matthew’s order to drain the pond. Fabian questions who killed him and voices concern about the sword. Mortimus says since there is no information on the sword, they should say it has been in the pond for years. Fabian warns that Matthew will not stop to he finds more.

Alice rubs her finger along the handle of the sword. Jack asks why she is single. She claims her husband died. He says as an imposter, marriage is out of the question. They kiss. The sword is later found to be inscribed with four pointed towers and JS 1507 etched in the handle. Matthew is sure it is the murder weapon and believes the relic was too important to be disposed of in the pond. Jack compliments his knowledge. Matthew assures him that he would exchange it any day to wear a codpiece.

Fabian insists Alice tell Matthew that he dealt with the would-be molesters if it comes up. Matthew climbs into the now-empty pond to get a better look at a female corpse. Alice watches in astonishment as he removes a necklace from the bones before leaving. A short time later, Matthew walks behind the stretcher holding the woman’s corpse. Later, he is alone when the ghost of Orphan Stonegarden (Charlotte Christof) appears before him. She touches the necklaces and smiles before her face fills with concern. When Jack arrives, Matthew tells him that her death angers him.

Guy identifies the victim as his former assistant, Orphan Stonegarden. Edwig refers to her as a thief. Matthew suggests she was put into the pond as some form of punishment. Edwig says it was most likely an accident. Matthew points out that her pockets were filled with stones. Mortimus says it was believed she fled with two golden chalices. Guy tells them that the cause of death is a broken neck. Upset, Matthew sarcastically says it happened in “this house of God.” Edwig believes it was a punishment from God. Disputing the idea, points out that the golden chalices are still missing and names the three murdered victims – Singleton, Stonegarden, and Whelplay. Fabian reminds him that there were witnesses who saw Whelplay fall. Matthew argues that he was poisoned. Guy tells them that Belladonna, a poison, was found in Whelplay’s stomach. Matthew insists Fabian surrender the Monastery of St. Donatus and its assets to King Henry.

Moving next to Orphan Stonegarden’s corpse, Fabian denies St. Donatus is responsible for her and Singleton’s murders. He argues that Whelplay died from a broken neck. Jack reminds him of the sword found in the pond. Fabien refuses to relinquish the monastery to the Crown of King Henry. Matthew vows to see them executed by hanging. Gabriel requests a private meeting with Matthew. Fabian insists he speaks in front of them but he refuses. A short time later, Gabriel tells Matthew that Orphan Stonegarden was molested by several monks, whom he will not identify. After claiming Fabian put a stop to it, he suggests Simon knew who killed her. From an upper-story window, an individual shoots Gabriel with an arrow.

Matthew watches Alice assist Guy in caring for Gabriel. Later, Matthew informs Jack of his decision to return to London to find out more about the sword. Jack voices his displeasure in remaining at St. Donatus. Matthew asks if he believes Jerome’s writings. Jack says no and urges him to destroy it.

Crowe (Alex Bhat) stuffs land sales for the five remaining days in his bag to keep Matthew from showing them to Cromwell. Later, Copynger tells Matthew that his ship sails in an hour. Matthew takes his horse to the barn where he finds Goodhap’s horse. At St. Donatus, Gabriel’s body is on display at the church. Elsewhere, Jack asks Alice where she will go when the monastery closes. She assures him that there is no need to fret about her. He claims to be fond of her but she isn’t so sure. They get intimate.

Aboard a ship, Crowe asks Copper (Roderick Hill) why he refused to deliver a horse to London. Copper says it would have made a mess for him to clean up. Matthew asks if the horse’s owner is associated with the monastery. Copper denies any knowledge of the owner before leaving. In London, Crowe hits Matthew and leaves him lying on the ground. The episode ends.

 

Shardlake Review

Shardlake’s investigation leads to the discovery of the sword utilized in Doctor Goodhap’s murder and the body of Orphan Stonegarden. Gabriel tells Matthew that several senior and lower-rank monks were molesting her. Simon’s efforts to protect her failed when someone broke her neck, weighed her down with rocks, and disposed of her in the pond. Gabriel is later killed to keep him from talking.

Abbot Fabian refuses to surrender St. Donatus to the king. He denies Whelplay was poisoned because witnesses saw him fall. He believes the monastery is not responsible for Stonegarden’s death.

When Matthew returns to London to investigate the sword, he is attacked by Crowe. The attack was intended to delay Matthew’s meeting with Cromwell

 

The episode deserves a 6.5 out of 10. Get more Shardlake recaps here. Support Reel Mockery by donating. Learn how advertising with Reel Mockery can help build brand awareness. Join our newly established forum to discuss celebrity happenings, classic films, sports, and many other topics.