In 1215, in England, John learns the name of his father whom he has never known–and then travells to the Holy Land with the Fifth Crusade, in the hopes of finding his father. Along the way, he becomes a squire and meets St. Francis of Assisi. Mystery surrounds the young peasant boy known as Big John. Raised during the strife-filled days of the reign of King John of England, his life is one day changed when a knight says, in passing, “You remind me of someone—someone I once knew and loved.” It is from “Old Marm,” the herb woman, that John understands that injustice has been done his family. Though never telling him the family name lest he unwittingly betray himself, she does all she can to prepare him to one day reclaim his name and family honor.