The hermit, who lives in the woods near Joppa, uses his lasts breaths to tell Frederic a secret from St. Nicholas about where to dig up a giant sword upon which is written a prophecy. Later, when Frederic is close to betraying his quest to follow the prophecy in his desire to marry Matilda, the hermit’s ghost appears to him in Hippolita’s oratory, reminding him to reject his passion and to follow heaven’s command.