The main story takes place over the course of about a week in May 1555 during the reign of 'bloody' Mary Tudor.In part one, the first and now former Bishop of Bristol, Lord Paul Bushe, is alerted to a mounting heresy problem developing in Kingswood Forest (a wild part of the diocese of Bristol) by the inexperienced new bishop, Lord John Holyman. He is called away from his comfortable and established routine as Rector of Winterbourne and the simpler life of a country gentleman schol...