| "Witchsmeller Pursuivant" | |||
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| Episode no. | Series 1 Episode 5 |
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| Written by | Rowan Atkinson Richard Curtis |
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| Original air date | 13 July 1983 | ||
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| Episode chronology | |||
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| List of Blackadder episodes | |||
"Witchsmeller Pursuivant" is the fifth episode of The Black Adder, the first series of the BBC One sitcom Blackadder.
In 1495, the Black Plague is ravaging Europe, and infects King Richard, rendering him more deranged than usual; when Edmund comes to visit, the King nearly stabs him to death. Harry summons the Privy Council, which includes Edmund and Percy. The Council agrees (over Edmund's objections) that the Plague is the result of witchcraft, and summons the Witchsmeller Pursuivant (Frank Finlay). Edmund goes to a village to find Mistress Scott, but discovers her and her pussycat have been burnt by the Witchsmeller, who he insults.
The Pursuivant suggests a test to discover the witches in their midst: he will place a dagger and a crucifix on a table, and blindfold the suspect — if he chooses the crucifix, he is innocent, but if he chooses the dagger, he is guilty. When Edmund is selected as the first suspect, the Witchsmeller blindfolds him and switches the two objects around; Edmund accidentally chooses the dagger and is condemned as a witch.
As a courtesy, Edmund is granted a trial. Percy and Baldrick are appointed defence lawyers, but the Witchsmeller silences them before they can even start their case by condemning them as witches, who obviously can't be trusted to tell the truth. He then mounts a sham prosecution, attacking Edmund for having a cat named Bubbles ("short for Beelzebubbles!") and feeding it blood and feeding his horse carrots, which the Witchsmeller declares are the devil's favourite food. He questions the horse itself, who is declared a hostile witness for refusing to testify. The following day, the horse mysteriously dies, but not before leaving a signed confession. The prosecution then calls a peasant woman (Barbara Miller), who claims to have given birth to Edmund's child — a poodle. The trio are found guilty and sentenced to burn at the stake. The only consolation Edmund receives is a doll from his mother, who cryptically promises to "see what [she] can work out."
On the day of the execution, Edmund obscenely rebukes Baldrick's last-minute "cunning plan" and offers a feeble confession. When the pyre is lit, Edmund panics and drops the doll — which bears a striking resemblance to the Witchsmeller — and the would-be executioner mysteriously burns to death, after which the flames disappear. The accused witches are spared, believing it to be the result of Baldrick's plan.
Meanwhile, a cured King Richard greets Queen Gertrude and daughter-in-law Leia, asking about the commotion outside. The Queen assures him that everything will work out, and winks at the audience; sparks fly out of her eyes, implying that she is the real witch. Leia is the only witness to the incident.
| “ | I mean milk, bloody milk. | ” |
Important characters are in bold.
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