Blackadder/Recap/S1/E05 Witchsmeller Pursuivant

The Black Plague is ravaging Europe, leaving millions dead on its wake and rendering King Richard IV even crazier than usual. Being the educated, logical, reasonable bunch of fellows they are, the Privy Council concludes that the plague is the work of a witch. And when you're in the Middle Ages and have witch problems, who you gonna call?

THE WITCHSMELLER PURSUIVANT!

Sure enough, the Witchsmeller turns out to be an insane, gibbering maniac. He proposes an investigation to find the witch hidden among the royal family and staff. The method is simple. Two objects are placed on the Witchsmeller's palms: a crucifix and a dagger. If the person takes the crucifix, then he is a god-fearing Christian. But if he takes the dagger, then he's a WIIIIIIITCH!!!!!!!!

After a little dirty trick by the Witchsmeller, Edmund is accused of being a witch. However, he is granted a trial, with Percy and Baldrick as defenders. As it turns out, the trial is constructed to prevent Edmund from escaping. The Witchsmeller Pursuivant prevents Baldrick and Percy from defending Edmund by condemning them as witches before the trial, tries to question Edmund's horse Satin, Quote Mine the hell out of Edmund's words, and hires a random woman to show a poodle which is supposedly her love child with Edmund. With no hope of escaping the trial legally, the trio resorts to their cunning plan: jump off a balcony and take refuge inside the King's chamber. Unfortunately for them, the crazier-than-usual King kicks them out to their doom at the stake.

Edmund, Baldrick and Percy are left to mourn their fate in the dungeon when Edmund's underage bride Princess Leia comes to visit them, bringing something from the Queen. Is it a dagger? A lock picker? Instructions for a cunning plan?

""No, silly! It's a dolly!""

The next morning, the three are tied to stakes and set fire upon. However, during the ordeal, Edmund inadvertently drops the doll into the fire. A moderate amount of Genre Savvy would tell you what happens next.

At the end, the King gets better, the three survives, and everybody is happy. Except the Witchsmeller.


 * Burn the Witch
 * Chewing the Scenery: The Witchsmeller managed to rival King Richard IV, which is no small feat.
 * Egomaniac Hunter: The titular witch hunter.
 * Hot Witch: It is heavily implied that the Queen is the real witch.
 * Insane Troll Logic
 * Kangaroo Court: Played ridiculously straight.
 * Missing the Good Stuff: The King is bedridden for most of the episode.
 * Unspoken Plan Guarantee: Exaggerated, as when Baldrick is telling Percy and Black Adder his cunning plan in the cell, two guards suddenly step into shot and discuss mundane things until he is done talking. Of course, this plan succeeds, briefly.
 * Witch Hunt