Abbot William
You are in charge of the abbey. You come from a
rich, powerful family but being Abbot has made
you even more powerful because the abbey is
extremely rich. You are one of the King’s
councillors and attend every meeting of parliament.
Prior Richard
You are second in command of the abbey. When
Abbot William dies or steps down, you expect to
become Abbot. That will give you the chance to
attend Parliament and advise the King. Being
Abbot will suit your grand ambitions and you will
live in an even richer style.
Brother Peter
You joined the abbey when you were 10. You are
now 35. You are lame and can only walk slowly
and painfully and it’s been like that since you were
born. However you are a brilliant artist and you
worship God by painting beautiful pictures in the
books written in the abbey’s writing room, the
scriptorium.
Brother Simon
You have been in the abbey since you were 8, 60
years ago. You are now often ill but you get food,
warmth and medicines in the abbey and you still
attend services in the church when you can. It’s the
only world you know.
Brother Hugh
You lead the abbey’s choir. You have a fine
singing voice and love music. Singing is the best
way to worship God. You have been doing this for
the last 20 years and do not want to do anything
else. What else could you do? The abbey took you
in as an orphan.
Brother Robert
You are well over 50 years of age. You did not
become a monk until you were 30, when your wife
and two children died of the plague. Since then,
you have only been interested in prayer and
working for God.
Brother Cadfael
You look after the old and sick in the abbey’s
infirmary. You know a great deal about how to use
herbs as medicines and people from the local town
regularly come to see you for cures. You believe
that healing people is doing God’s work and the
abbey garden grows the best medicines in the area.
John
You work in the herb garden with Brother Cadfael.
You know all the plants and have a gift for
gardening. However you are not very clever and
when you lived in town other children used to pick
on you and make fun of you. Now Brother Cadfael
protects you from all that and you have never been
happier.
Stephen
You are the abbot’s servant, keeping his rooms and
the abbey’s guest rooms clean. The job gives you a
lot of status and a good income and you enjoy
meeting the wealthy visitors to the abbey. Your
father did the same job and you hope your son will
take over from you one day.
David
Your father is a tailor in the town. He sent you to
the abbey school where you have done very well.
The Abbot has promised to pay for you to go to the
university at Oxford, which could lead to well-paid
work in the king’s government.
Edward
You are not a monk but you work in the abbey’s
kitchens. It’s good regular work with no danger of
losing your job if times are hard. The abbey is rich
enough to manage, even in years of bad harvests.
You also take the leftovers home for your family.
Working in the abbey has kept your family wellfed for years.
Martin
You are not a monk but you work in the abbey’s
laundry. There’s plenty of work and there’s no
danger of losing your job. You take special care of
the Abbot’s fine clothes. You are hoping that your
son can find work in the abbey soon because
there’s not much work around in the town.
Blind Tom
You have been a beggar since you lost your sight
fighting in the King’s wars in France. You get a
little money by begging but not enough to keep you
alive when times are hard – which they usually are.
The monks make sure you have enough food and
even give you shelter.
Old Meg
You live in a hovel in the town. You are over 60
(although you are not sure exactly how old you are)
and have no family. The monks give you food and
a little money and make sure you stay warm in
winter. Brother Cadfael also gives you medicines.
Matthew the Goldsmith
You are a wealthy craftsman in the town. You
make a lot of money out of business with the
abbey. The Abbot orders crosses, jewelled plates
and other treasures from your workshop. The abbey
is very rich and you are able to charge the abbot a
good price.
Sir John Cheney
You are the local lord of the manor. Your family
has lived here for many years and your ancestors
are buried in the abbey’s church. You have given
money to the abbey so that the monks say prayers
for the dead and this helps them reach heaven more
quickly. The Abbot is also helping to solve the
problems of your youngest son and daughter.
Henry Cheney
You are the third son of Sir John and Lady Cheney.
When your father dies, all the family lands will go
to your eldest brother and you will not have enough
to live on. You could be a soldier, like your other
brother, but you are not a good fighter so Abbot
William says you can join the abbey. You are
clever enough to become Prior after Prior Richard.
Margaret Cheney
You are the third daughter of Sir John and Lady
Cheney. You are 16 years old. Your two elder
sisters are married but your father is struggling to
find you a husband. It may have something to do
with your squint and he can’t afford to pay a high
price to get you a husband. Abbot William has
arranged for you to become a nun in a nearby
nunnery. It will save you a lot of heartache – and
stop the beatings at home.
Robert Croham, I am the prior of Lewes Priory in Sussex. I am visiting this
abbey and I know that soon the Kings men will be coming to investigate me!
Sir Robert Tyrwhit, I am pleased. I own lands nearby and I am going to buy
the monastery and all its lands.
Lady Mary Williams, I am pleased too. I own lands nearby and I am going to
buy the monastery and all its lands.
Robert Aske, I am a lawyer in Yorkshire and I am going to lead a march to
London called the Pilgrimage of Grace. I will try to see the King himself to tell
him what his going on. I’m sure he does not really want these monasteries to
be closed!
Joanna Cheeseman, I own an inn near the monastery and I will lose money if
it shuts down, as fewer people will be travelling near here. I don’t know what I
will do.
The Pope, The monasteries are houses of God! I think this is utterly dreadful
and I am going to excommunicate Henry VIII from the Roman Catholic
Church.
Henry VIII, The Pope will not annul my marriage to Catherine even though it
is clear that it offends God. Anne is expecting a baby, our son so I must break
away from Rome and shut down the monasteries to make sure they do not
rebel against me. Also, they are rich: I will take their treasures and the money
they used to give to the Pope.
Thomas Cromwell, I must do what the King says. I will send out
commissioners and whatever they find I must make sure that the King has
enough bad reports of the monasteries to enable him to justify shutting them
down. I
Catherine of Aragon, I believe that I am the King’s true wife. I have done
nothing to offend God but he has chose not to give me a son. The King sent
me away four years ago. I am now here at Kimbolten Castle. I hear that his
Highness is going to close the monasteries. I am dying, pray for me.
Princess Mary, I hate what my father is doing! He has sent my mother
Catherine of Aragon away and has made me a servant to Anne. He must not
shut the monasteries. I am loyal to the Pope and if I ever become the Queen I
will return England to the Roman faith.
Anne Boleyn, Do not think that Henry is doing this for me. He is already in
love with another woman. That whey faced Jane Seymour! If Catherine dies I
think he will divorce me.