King Edward III calls his mother to order by executing her lover-conspirator Mortimer, having seen them burn a letter proving his father's murder in jail at their orders, and pulls the reins. The frugal prior refuse to let the merchants guilt, concerned to lose trade, desperately needed now taxes are raised for the royal war plans against the French, hire Merith to fix the shaky bridge, while he suggests a new one. It collapses during the earl's mass hanging, allowing Petronilla to drown the prior, hoping Godwyn will succeed him. Meruth suffers bully Elfric's abuse until he witnesses him abuse his wife, Merith's beloved, Caris, already traumatized by her forced marriage and the burning as witch of Mattie, her unofficial medical tutor, as the priory's incapable healer needed to eliminate his 'competitor'.
—KGF Vissers