Philip of Evesham

Also known as Philip Ganter; subject of the novel Ordeal by Silence: A Story of Medieval Times by Prudence H. Andrews (New York: G.P. Putnam's Sons, 1961). This born-deaf illegitimate son of a priest is totally fictitious--he does not appear in legitimate history books. In the novel, he becomes a priest, a favorite of King Henry II, the enemy of Prince John, and a contemporary of Thomas a Becket. Several years after his death, claims of pre- and post-death miracles and popular demand for Philip's sanctification lead the Church to call the testimony of 10 witnesses, which form the basis of the novel.