Benedict Blackthorn

> "*Tell no one what I've given you."*
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> -Benedict Blackthorn
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**Benedict Blackthorn**, or Master Benedict, was the owner of the Blackthorn Apothecary, member of the Cult of the Rising Sun, member of the London Apothecary Guild, and Master to Christopher Rowe.

## Early Life

Born in 1610, Benedict Blackthorn was the apprentice to Allen Wade, who was once the apprentice to the famous John Parkinson, King James I's apothecary and the founder of the London Apothecary Guild. Blackthorn kept several journals throughout his life, dating back to when he was a fourteen year-old apprentice himself in 1624.

As an apothecary, Blackthorn is not only familiar with ingredients and recipes, but also codes. As said by Christopher Rowe, he hides 'puzzles inside of puzzles', 'codes within codes', and 'secrets within secrets'. Master Benedict is fond of books and he often passes on that knowledge to his apprentice. He was also fond of puzzles, codes, and ciphers, making his apprentices and himself very good at solving them.

### Apprenticeships

After becoming a master near 1636, Blackthorn kept four apprentices throughout his life- Hugh Coggshall, who later became his friend; Peter Hyde, who was rumoured to have a 'descent into darkness'; a boy named George Staple, who later died from plague, and Christopher Rowe, his last and favourite apprentice.

## The Blackthorn Key

Master Benedict is a kind and gentle man, unlike other masters that hit and punish their apprentices. He was fascinated by the sawdust Christopher used to clean up the mess and later uses that to stabilize the Archangel's Fire. He hit Christopher once to throw Wat off his tracks. He later uses lemon juice to write a secret message for Christopher, which basically told him where the secret lab was. Christopher, when made aware of that fact, rigged the room with traps, which successfully killed many members of the Cult of the Archangel.

### Puzzle Cube

Master Benedict gave Christopher a box that required mercury, a.k.a quicksilver, to unlock it, Christopher used that general idea later to unlock the secret workshop.

Master Benedict is fond of books and he often passes on that knowledge to his apprentice. He was also fond of puzzles, codes, and ciphers, making his apprentices and himself very good at solving them.

## Mark of the Plague

### Treasure

In Mark of the Plague, Isaac delivers a letter to Christopher Rowe, which told of a treasure that Blackthorn left behind to Christopher. Christopher struggles to find this treasure throughout the course of the book. The treasure was in fact a gift of 72 gold guineas, a large fortune that would last a lifetime, and a few pages from the journals showing how proud Blackthorn was of Christopher.

### Volohosy

In studying the plague after George's, his apprentice's, death, Blackthorn came across a mysterious plant called 'volohosy'. This plant was extremely similar to the plague into way that its poison caused symptoms similar to the disease. After many tests, Blackthorn decreed the plant as useless in his search for a cure for the plague, and wrote its description, name and antidote in a plant identification journal under the date 1652. Christopher used this journal in Mark of the Plague to identify the mystery plant.

## Other Books

### *The Assassin's Curse*

Christopher brings along Blackthorn's box of poisons and notes on them to Paris, to study, and learn their antidotes.

### *Call of the Wraith*

When Christopher has no memory at the beginning of the book, he refers to Master Benedict inside his head as the Voice. Later, Tom tells him who the Voice is, and he is relieved to learn that he wasn't going crazy.

> '*It pushes me to... to think, I guess. To think harder about what's happening to me. To the children. I know it sounds mad, but I think... I think it's trying to help.'*
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> -Christopher Rowe, about the Voice
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## Personality

Benedict is very kind and patient, never once getting angry. He is also honest when dealing in his apothecary's products, unlike his fellow apothecary Nathaniel Stubb.

## Relationships

### Apprentices

#### George Staple

Master Benedict’s first apprentice, George, died of the plague on 2nd July, 1636. He was liked by Benedict, who called him a 'sweet and gentle boy'.

#### Hugh Coggshall

Benedict is very close friends with his second apprentice, and being in the Cult of the Rising Sun together, they also keep an important secret. After accidentally killing Hugh, he was very distraught.

#### Peter Hyde

Peter Hyde is Benedict's least favourite apprentice, as mentioned in a letter to Hugh where he blamed himself for Peter's descent into darkness.

#### Christopher Rowe

Benedict's favourite apprentice is Christopher, who he kept for 3 years from the age of 11. Even though Christopher is inquisitive and occasionally explosive, Benedict was very patient with him and never scolded or hit him (with the exception of once)