Church of England clergyman, Reverend Nick Lawrence has settled into the daily hurly burly business of his parish in rural England. He discusses with his various parishioners the holding of a May Medieval Fayre for the purpose of raising money to pay off the church spire repairs fund. The first day of the Fayre is very successful with lots of jolly entertainment and interesting purchases of books, furnishings etc, for those who attended. Unfortunately, the very next day a small child is discovered dead and tied to the Maypole by the ribbons used by the Morris dancers the previous day. There is a bloody arrow in his heart.

Called to take charge of the police investigation is Detective Inspector Dominic Tenant and he is as mystified as anyone by the callousness of the killer. Several of the parishioners suspect the leader of the Morris Men of being involved but he has an alibi for the night it occurred.