Take a look at the hints below for guidance.
Hint 1
DO NOT PROCEED unless you have read ALL of the other clues and found alibis for as many of the suspects as possible. The following hints will gradually reveal who the killer was!
Hint 2
When did Graves die? Follow the hints for Establishing a Timeline before proceeding.
Hint 3
Graves was last seen alive in either 1381 or 1382. The evidence in favour of 1382 is a minstrel’s ballad quoted in a newspaper clipping from the Upper Thames Herald. This mentions the Baron Cherwell, but doesn’t give a name. Was this Robert Graves?
Hint 4
The ballad describes the Baron as “but one full yer since lordli made,” and since we know Graves was 3rd Baron Cherwell before this point, the ballad must describe the 4th Baron Cherwell, Robert Graves’ successor. So, Graves likely died in 1381, since this is the last time the historical records mention he is alive. What incident occurred in 1381?
Hint 5
In the translation of Henry’s confession to Hermann, dated summer 1381, he describes a hunting accident in which Graves was shot in the chest with a bow and arrow. This matches the chest wound from notes on the photo of Graves’ skeleton. Is there additional info on the hunting accident that can help us uncover the truth? Follow the hints for Accessing Gisele’s UoSE Email if you are stuck.
Hint 6
During the hunting accident, the second part of the translation of Henry’s confession mentions that Robert Graves wore Thomas’ armour to keep warm. The armour was emblazoned with Thomas’ coat-of-arms, which had a red background, and which showed damage matching Graves’ arrow wound. From a distance, anyone could mistake Graves for Thomas, so did anyone have a motive to kill Thomas?
Hint 7
Graves’ letter to King Richard shows Harcourt hated Thomas and believed he had lied about his parentage to infiltrate the Graves’ household. Harcourt’s fierce loyalty may have driven him to murder. Did Harcourt have the opportunity to try and kill Thomas?
Hint 7
In Ingrid’s first letter she mentions that just before the gentlemen return from the hunt, she saw Harcourt descending from the Osprey Tower with a bow in hand. Harcourt may have shot at who he thought was Thomas, actually hitting Graves. Is there any record of such a shot? The incident may have been twisted over the years.
Hint 7
A plaque near Cherwell Castle recounts a folk story about a blood-red figure known as the Bloody Yeoman being shot with an arrow from heaven. Graves in Thomas’ red brigandine fits this description. We also know where Graves was shot thanks to the plaque’s location. If the arrow came down from “heaven,” is there a raised location with a view of where the plaque stands?
Hint 7
ANSWER: Sir Lambert of Harcourt is the killer! The 3D reconstruction of Cherwell Castle shows that there must have been north-facing windows in the Osprey Tower. Harcourt was in the Osprey Tower at the time Graves was shot, the singular location in Cherwell Castle with a clear view of where Graves was standing. His arrow hit true as recorded in the folk story of the Bloody Yeoman. Following the shot, Harcourt hastened down the stairs of the Osprey Tower, where he encountered Ingrid. He had his bow in hand and announced that he was going to join the hunt.
Head over to www.cryptickillers.com/medieval-killer and enter “Sir Lambert of Harcourt” to read the summary of how he did it.