1 THE THREE NAPOLEONS
2 THE PEN AND THE SWORD
3 THE DE BERRY AFFAIR
4 THE SARDINIA AFFAIR
5 THE BLACK DEATH
6 FIRST TRAIN TO PARIS
7 VICTOR HUGO
8 RETURN TO CHATEAU D'IF
9 THE GOLDEN BLADE
10 THE DUEL
11 ANDORRA
12 AFFAIR OF HONOR

13 A TOY FOR THE INFANTA
14 MARSEILLES with Conrad Philips
15 THE LUXEMBOURG AFFAIR with Lloyd Lamble
16 THE TEXAS AFFAIR with Henry Oscar
17 THE MAZZINI AFFAIR with Michael Aldridge, Andrew Faulds
18 THE CARBONARI with William Franklyn
19 THE DEVIL'S EMISSARY with Jan Holden
20 BORDEAUX with Betty McDowell, Alan Wheatley
21 FLIGHT TO CALAIS with Hugh Williams, Adrienne Corri
22 NAPLES with Maurice Kaufmann
23 ALBANIA with Ralph Michael
24 THE ART OF TERROR with Andrew Faulds, Elvi Hale
25 THE EXPERIMENT with Diana Fairfax, Conrad Phillips

1 KNIGHTS WITH THE RED PLUME Lancelot-of-the-Lake appears at Camelot with his bona fides in question- has he killed Sir Gawain's brother? Only a fight to the death can decide
2 FEROCIOUS FATHERS Something like Romeo and Juliet with two warring wrinklies (Ballard Berkeley and George Woodbridge), but not a lot when their joust turns to comedy as age gives way to beauty. Lance also gains a squire, Brian, who's fed up with washing up the pots n pans
3 THE QUEEN'S KNIGHT Guinevere is kidnapped by naughty Sir Mordred and hidden in his impreganble castle. Lance gets in, but ends up in prison, so it's Brian to the rescue!
4 THE OUTCAST Sir Glavin (Patrick McGoohan) is determined to prevent "kitchen trash" Brian from training as a knight. In a plot from Tom Brown's Schooldays, Brian has to undertake the Quest of the Matron's Nightcap. He's helped by attractive Mary, but when Guinevere's ring goes missing, he's the obvious suspect. Worse follows for Brian when the fell Glavin proposes to Mary, before he gallops off, dressed in black naturally, with the ring.
5 WINGED VICTORY Death to surrender! Will Lance succumb to torture to reveal Arthur's battleplan against Bad King Mark (Nigel Green)? Yes, seems the answer...
6 SIR BLIANT Lancelot impersonates aged Sir Bliant in order to teach his three unruly sons a lesson in how to behave proper
7 THE MAGIC SWORD Merlin convinces "rabbit" Sir Bernard (Dan Cunningham) that Lancelot's sword will make him invincible. In a little gem of a tale, Bernard then rides off to rescue his Lady Love who's held prisoner by four wicked brothers
8 THE ROMAN WALL
9 SIR LANCELOT'S BANISHMENT "Lancelot will die," sings the most untuneful minstrel (Robert Crewdson) in the kingdom. Lance has had a bust-up with King Arthur over the bona fides of King Marhaus. Lance is on the ball of course- Marhaus is plotting to kill Arthur in what is supposed to be a 'friendly' joust. But even in exile, Lancelot has compensation, in the shape of Marhaus' lovely sister (Zena Walker)
10 CALEDON Alone on a mission, Lancelot is attacked, his horse killed. The robber chief (George Murcell, leering at his evil worst) gives Lance a fine new grey horse which Lance names Caledon, but that corny nasty trick of gorse under its saddle causes him to throw Lance, who is then robbed of his sword and his bracelet...
11 THE SHEPHERD’S WAR The father of Elsa (Jennifer Jayne) is killed by ignoble knights, so her intended Chad enlists the assistance of Lance to help his village protect themselves. Lance bravely attempts reason with the unreasonable Sir Mador, and when that fails he helps the villagers protect themselves to teach the naughty knights a lesson
12 THE PIRATES Liam of Ireland (Noel Purcell) warns Arthur The Pirates are Coming! Arthur dashes off with the Round Table leaving Lance to guard Camelot and Guinevere. Liam turns out to be a little treacherous
13 THE BLACK CASTLE Lady Lorraine's dad is being held to ransom, so her intended, Sir Cedric, impulsive apprentice knight, dashes to the rescue. But dad's being held by fearsome Torwald, so Lance dashes to 'soften up' Torwald by defeating him in a fair fight. but that's exactly not what Torwald does, he's just a cheat and a coward, and Lance allows Cedric to meet him in fair combat, in front of the adoring Lorraine and her dad. Despite Torwald's attempts at trickery, guess who wins
14 THEFT OF EXCALIBUR On St Stephen's Day, when Arthur and Lance spend their annual day learning to be humble in the kitchens, Squire Robert (John Charlesworth) is tricked into giving Excalibur to three thieves. Their leader Barney (a fine role for Alfie Bass) then captures the other young squires, including Brian. Rashly believing the sword is magic, Barney challenges Lance to a duel in this super little adventure
15 THE MAGIC BOOK
16 KNIGHT ERRANT King Balmain must marry the fair Helen for her kingdom, but she loves another, Sir Oringel. With very little assistance from Sir Kay, Lance ensures true love does run smooth

Stories made in colour: 17: THE LESSER BREED Incongruous appearances of Vikings, suggestions of sea monsters and an odd reference to the prison film genre as Lance chips rocks down at the quarry. At least the story is fun- Lance rescues the fair Sella (Ann Stephens), who's been sold into marriage. The price for her nuptials: Lance has to be sold as a slave 18 THE RUBY OF RADNOR The annual display of the Crown Jewels! At the castle of cousin Everard (Colin Tapley) they naturally disappear. It's Brian who finds them 19 SIR CRUSTABREAD Virginia Vernon proves to be one of the few to act as though this really is a children's fantasy. She plays rather nicely the devious Lady Lynette who takes baker-knight Crustabread (Lance in disguise) to rescue her sister who's being forced to marry an evil baron 20 WITCHES BREW Merlin competes against the hypnotism and ventriloquism of the witch Eunice (Maxine Audley), who holds poor King Rolf (Leonard Sachs) in her power 21 MAID OF SOMERSET Naughty King Melchiot wants to sell slaves to the Saracens. Lance traps him in Cheddar Gorge, where he is taught a sharp lesson 22 DOUBLE IDENTITY Ambidextrous Richard of Taunton (Howard Pays) is to marry wealthy Lady Margaret but his double takes his place and it's up to Lance to expose him and his wicked uncle, Bad Sir John (John Bailey) 23 THE BRIDGE What's Lance up to now? Quote: "he's rescuing the Lady Angela. He's always doing that!" In fact, our fair maiden has now been imprisoned by her own brother, nasty young King Marhaus, in order to trick his way into gaining control of a strategic bridge. Singlehanded, Lance defeats him, and carries Lady Angela off on his steed to Queen Guinevere 24 LADY LILITH Bit of a glorious failure this one, about Lance's attempts at matchmaking with "monster" Lilith who efficiently runs her late father's castle, and who also has a crush on Lance 25 THE UGLY DUCKLING (only survives in b/w) - King Arthur, Merlin and Lance visit Sir Egbert and his two daughters, the lovely Amora and her snivelling sister Sybil (Carol Marsh). When the ugly sister is subject to a death threat, Lance is assigned to protect her, to her obvious delight. However Merlin proves she is the author of the threat herself but then another threat on her life. Comedy turns into a detective story as Arthur and Lance track down the new kidnapper. Rescued, Sybil smartens herself up and is now more than the equal of Amora, "that's a wonderful time of life" 26 KNIGHT'S CHOICE with Robert Hardy 27 THE MORTAISE AFFAIR The Madras Emerald is stolen from Queen Guinevere. As it was a present from a rajah, we have the makings of an international crisis, so Lance announces he has found the emerald, even though he is lying, but it's in a good cause, to find that thief 28 THE PRINCE OF LIMERICK 29 THE MISSING PRINCESS (only in b/w) A village of women take a princess hostage. The king (John Horsley) seems strangely unperturbed, even though they threaten to burn the princess at the stake. Can peace broker Lance save the day? 30 THE THIEVES King Arthur and Lance are dressed as thieves

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SIR FRANCIS DRAKE
with Terence Morgan in the title role, and Jean Kent as Queen Elizabeth.

ATV being short of studio space, this series was made at AB Elstree Studios. An attempt to make a series "as well as, if not better" than the money-spinning Robin Hood. "No effort will be spared," declared an ATV spokesman, "to make this a first class series, with top production values. We think it will be better than Robin Hood." A bold promise, that really fell flat because the star chosen from three who were tested on July 28th 1960, was hardly in the charismatic Richard Greene mould. I wonder who the two others who made tests were?
Having said that, some of the stories do rise above the usual rather mundane children's swashbuckling adventures (for example, stories 3, 11 and 12). I also like the stirring theme music by the underrated Ivor Slaney- perhaps if it had had a vocal, it would have been a hit.

1 The Garrison - Captain Williams (Patrick Wymark in Welsh) is in charge of the Blankenburg fort with 500 men, but when Drake fails to bring his provisions, FD is accused of cowardice. Making amends, Sir F discovers a mere 13 men at the fort, so where are the rest?
2 The Prisoner - Has Captain Drake "met his match" in the shape of a Spanish Contessa (Natasha Parry) he's rescued from a sinking galleon? Her scheme is to blow up the Hind, but FD outthinks her, and she faces being blown up along with FD, who still has time to tease her "you're very beautiful you know"
3 Mary Queen of Scots - Here's a genuine attempt to portray the dilemmas of the queen and her cousin (Noelle Middleton), as crooked politicial activists try to manipulate Mary's death. A more conventional second half as FD gallops to her rescue, foiling the evil plot of Sir Amyas (Alfred Burke)
4 Governor's Revenge - Patently obvious is a provincial gov's plan for revenge on FD. Hawkins is framed and sentenced to death, but Drake's plan is pretty obvious too- he kidnaps the gov's fiancee
5 Lost Colony of Virginia - FD relieves the tottering fortress of Virginia, a tale to stir every American heart
6 English Dragon - "Gay young" Lord Oakeshott (David McCallum) is held prisoner in Calais, so as the Queen is "fond" of him, FD promises to rescue him. But this foppish Lord "adores" the countess (Delphi Lawrence) living there, and won't leave, so FD has to drag him back to England
7 Bold Enterprise - "The richest gold town" of the Spaniards is where the queen's cousin Lord Westbrook (Patrick Holt) is imprisoned. Against her majesty's command, FD sails with the ebullient Bosanquet (Richard Pearson) to get the gold- "Drake shall answer with his head!" The Spanish governor isn't too pleased either- "My King shall hang you for this!" But when FD produces Westbrook as well as the gold, all is forgiven, at least on the queen's side
8 Doctor Dee- Can you imagine Raymond Huntley playing a magician? Well here he is, as Dr Dee, an alchemist who "causes a member of the court to vanish." Only in fun, but Mendoza the Spanish ambassador persuades him to give the queen a horoscope that will discourage FD from attacking crippled Spanish ships. But FD can read the signs too and retrieves Dee's scientific notes Mendoza has stolen, so Dee is able now to give the right prediction enabling FD to attack legitimately the enemy. Also in this story, Michael Crawford sings Greensleeves
9 Escape - FD is washed ashore and thrown unrecognised into a Spanish prison. He faces psychological torture by the governor, before the old dawn firing squad. Not your traditional swashbuckler this, more a script by a writer with a WW2 hangover, transposing 350 years ahead of FD's time
10 Boy Jack - Queen Elizabeth entrusts young courtier Jack to FD to make a man of him. He is to escort him to Portugal, which has, unbeknown to FD, just been taken over by the Spanish
11 The Flame Thrower - "By heavens, madam, what a welcome we can give the Spanish Armada now!" In an unusually philosophical start, Martin (Neil McCallum) has a conscience about his weapon being used in warfare. But the Spaniards have no such scruples and force him to make the Flame Thrower for them. So it's FD to Martin's rescue!
12 King of America - Apparently the "true story" of Kieron Moore, correction Thomas Stukeley who before the Pilgrim Fathers declared himself King of America. Drake's nephew Michael Crawford, alias John Drake (he's no Danger Man, though) tags along, besotted by the fair Susan Hampshire, sorry Celia. However the King's subjects capture a Spanish pirate ship and decide to return to England, minus Kieron Moore. Alone in his kingdom, he's about to be polished off by those Spaniards, when FD sails in- hurrah!- to his rescue
13 The Irish Pirate - FD is ordered to bring the rebellious Earl of Tyrone "in chains" to Queen Bess. This is a corny caricature of the Irish with a couple of disagreeable Burkes and an Irish piratess (Olive McFarland)- only nice moment is when their brawl is suddenly ceased by the appearance of the minuscule Lord Abbott (Gordon Phillott)
14 Drake on Trial - Did FD really kill all the crew on a Spanish ship after they had surrendered? But it proves to be his double who is then persuaded by the Spanish to attack a Dutch ship. Queen Liz is not amused until FD tracks down the imposter
15 Beggars of the Sea - Rotten army the Spanish!- they won't fight unless they are actually paid. And Dutch insurrectionists are ensuring that pay never reaches them in Holland. Spanish Count Julio (William Lucas) is sure it will arrive this time when Queen Elizabeth guarantees the Spanish payship a safe passage through the English Channel. At least this is what she says: "No English ship must attack it." This is an awful lesson for youngsters in how to be devious!
16 The Bridge - FD is asked to rescue a Portuguese leader from an impregnable castle captured by the Spaniards. What's he look like? asks FD. A painting of Patrick Troughton is shown: "that's a face one's not likely to forget"
17 Johnnie Factotum - After fierce fighting FD captures a Spanish treasure. He then goes undercover to catch crooks who plan to snatch the booty on its way from Tilbury to her Majesty, in a plot that must have been used later for The Saint! He's nearly outwitted in this violent robbery by the Queen of Alsatia (Katharine Blake)
18 Mission to Paris - Her Majesty beguiled by a foppish French prince, even considering an alliance with the notorious French branch of the de Medicis! But why, if Alencon is so "repulsive?" Oh no, the Queen thinks him "handsome." Though even the prince's own mother thinks he needs "exterminating." FD is sent to France to gauge the wicked French Queen's intentions, and they are not honourable. Thanks to an ally in her palace, Navarre (Patrick Allen), FD avoids the Medici's murderous plans.
19 Gentleman of Spain - Barbary pirates have carried off slaves from Wales, so FD goes to Tripoli to save them. He has an unlikely ally in Don Miguel (Nigel Davenport): "at least the Spaniards are Christian"
20 The Reluctant Duchess - A crotchety Dutch duchess must be persuaded not to collaborate with the Spanish, so FD has to 'encourage' her to come to England. With the aid of an actor Maartens (Ferdy Mayne) FD, the lady and his company have to perform Hecuba by Euripedes to convince the enemy of their bona fides. "Have you nothing livelier?" asks a bored Spanish duke. A bit unfair on Mary Merrall as the duchess who seems to enjoy spouting the stuff, though things liven up with a sword fight
21 The Gypsies - FD's ship picks up some marooned gypsies who bring "the evil eye" on the crew. FD and John, who's fallen for the beauteous Sara, find themselves forced to protect their passengers, who are really trying to loot the Golden Hind. The ship is nearly sunk, but as the witches flee, their longboat falls victim to the sharks
22 The Doughty Plot - Veteran actor and producer of this series Anthony Bushell plays FD's old friend Tom who organises his version of Mutiny on the Bounty. But it ends unsuccessfully and there follows the "landlubber's" solemn trial
23 Fountain of Youth - Sir Henry (Reginald Beckwith) takes charge of FD's expedition to Florida, where FD helps the natives rescue their chief Black Eagle from the Spaniards. His reward is the undying thanks of BE's daughter (Catherine Woodville) plus barrels of magic water from an Indian well known as the Fountain of Youth, that Queen Bess is discretely anxious to taste
24 Court Intrigue - "If Drake is attacking the treasure fleet... the Queen will lose her kingdom." The Spaniards try to decoy FD away from protecting the English shores, so the Armada can strike. "Patriots not pirates" is what the Queen demands of FD's men. However, here's a game of double bluff with FD wise enough to "repulse an invasion" as well as making time enough to "escort" the Spanish treasure back to England
25 Visit to Spain - FD is a guest of the King of Spain to witness his "little monster of a son" who is getting married to an Italian princess (Francesca Annis), only she doesn't love him and he despises her. FD is in his element as he prevents this alliance
26 Slaves of Spain - In Tobago the Spanish have forced some British to become slaves, digging in their gold mine. Despite some local treachery, the "inhuman monsters" are beaten and the series ends with a kiss for FD, well more a peck really, from Yana aka Nanette Newman

To Historical Menu . . . . . . The site with Sir Francis Drake cast lists

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The Adventures of the Scarlet Pimpernel
Marius Goring starred as the famous hero, Sir Percy "in flowed satin" but secretly The Man Whom They Seek Here, They Seek Him There, They Seek Him Everywhere. "I enjoyed playing the Pimpernel," he claimed in an interview, "he embodies everyone's ideal of a hero; a man who, for no personal gain, risked his life for the innocent. It's a strange thought that his antagonists were the people who shouted Liberte Egalite Fraternite!"
1 The Hostage - Baroness de Fleury (Yvonne Furneaux), a prisoner in the Rue de L'Egalite, Paris, needs rescuing from the evil Chauvelin (Stanley Beers). Despite huge odds SP succeeds, yet she refuses to accompany him to England. The reason- her little son is being held hostage. Posing as a coachman SP tricks Chauvelin into thinking he's going to help prevent little Pierre from being snatched. But SP does one of his surprise attacks and Pierre is reunited with his rather pensive mother. SP pompously tells her "the most important thing in life is to fight injustice." With perhaps, as his actions show, a touch of romance!
2 Sir Percy's Wager - Unless Chauvelin's "trifling request" that SP desists from his activities is obeyed, Lady Caroline will be executed. SP executes his own awfully tedious plan to rescue her on the way to the guillotine
4 The Elusive Chauvelin- SP receives a blackmail note- £500, or he will be exposed! But then it seems every aristo has received similar, a trap by "Shovelon." However one idiot strangely gets caught in the trap and SP feels it's up to him to come to the rescue. By locking Chauvelin in the prisoner's cell, the tables are turned. And isn't that Christopher Lee uncredited as executioner Louis?
6 The Sword of Justice- "The Pimpernel murdered for gold... outrageous!" Surely Sir Percy must track this imposter down. He cleverly elicits Chauvelin's aid to set a thief to catch a thief. Face to face with the rogue SP (Brian Wilde), the real SP is shot at close range, but amazingly survives to challenge the false SP to a sword fight. "Death to all traitors"
8 Sir Andrew's Fate- Andrew Ffolkes is injured helping an aristo escape, so SP rides to his rescue, not that he needs it, as he's in the arms of his beloved, Colette. SP tricks Chauvelin into thinking Sir Andrew is dead, and he has a chance to capture the Pimpernel. One of them is doomed to disappointment
9 The Ambassador's Lady - The Republic's first ambassador to England is Citizen Fleury (William Franklyn). Lord Hastings "admires tremendously" Mme Fleury and thus it takes all SP's skill to avert war with France after she dies in his arms
10 The Christmas Present - "I don't want Christmas," declares the Scroogish Blakeney, but before that festival, he has an erand of mercy to rescue French nobles imprisoned near Nantes. They turn out to be four children, young Jean-Paul (Christopher Toyne), his sister Renee, Comte Charles and "baby" Antoinette (Lesley Dudley). The Pimpernel invites them to a Christmas party, though Jean Paul tells him sadly, "but there isn't any Christmas any more in France." Posing as a doctor, diagnosing the children as having plague, SP keeps his promise, Marius Goring ending with a rendition of part of The Twelve Days of Christmas
14 Antoine and Antoinette -"Arrested in the name of the Republic," and just before their wedding too! To the rescue of Antoine and Antoinette comes SP, who narrates the tale in the manner of a charming fairy tale, though it's slightly marred by bridesmaid Elise, whose acting is distinctly childish (Gillian Town). The affair ends as Chauvelin comes face to 'face' with SP in a fierce swordfight, in which of course the French rotter is an absolute cheat
18 Tale of Two Pigtails - (final story) Chauvelin's "infallible" scheme to catch aristos involves Citizen Sabot posing as a sailor prepared to ferry escapees to Britain. SP to the rescue of one princess, but Chauvelin zooms to London to abduct her. Dressed as a Chinese, SP thwarts his machinations
Historical Menu

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Sword of Freedom (1957)
SHORTLY TO BE RELEASED ON DVD!
starring Edmund Purdom as Marco del Monte, "one of the most famous and talented artists in Florence" during the Renaissance, who also fights local tyrants.
Pitting their wits against him are Medici, the Gonfalonier of Florence (Martin Benson), and master intriguer Machiavelli (Kenneth Hyde). Marco has two allies in his model Angelica (Adrienne Corri) and, on occasion, the burly Sandro (Reginald Beckwith).
The series depicted the struggle of the people of Florence for liberty against their despotic rulers, the banking house of Medici.
This was no masterpiece of a series, but the stories from the Hannah Weinstein stable, are competent and always enjoyable.
The picture: the star alongside Marianne Benet
1 'Francesca' - opening story
2 'The Sicilian'
4 'Caterina' with Marianne Benet in the title role
6 'Portrait in Emerald Green'
7 'The Duke'
11 'The Ship' with Andrew Cruickshank, Patricia Burke, Peter Asher, Maxwell Shaw and Geoffrey Bayldon
Historical Menu

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2 The Sicilian

A swaggering stranger from Sicily (Peter Wyngarde) is in town: "I don't like his face," says Marco.
With good reason for he's a cardsharper and it's only "poetic justice" that Marco has to win those 'winnings' back in a similar way. Some weighted dice and "I've been swindled!"
The Sicilian does not take to being "fooled completely" and so plans his revenge by killing Marco.

Sword of Freedom Menu

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6 Portrait in Emerald Green

Butcher Julio (John le Mesurier) is refusing to pay his taxes! He refuses until the public accounts are published.
De Medici needs him to 'disappear' and hatches a plot involving Julio's young wife Lucrezia (June Rodney). Her portrait is currently being painted by "gay blade" Marco. The butcher, having got wind that Marco is a "wife stealer" bursts in demanding satisfaction.
But the fight does not conclude with his death as the misunderstanding is cleared up. Lucrezia herself is persuaded to kill her husband using the poison found in the emerald green paint Marco is using.
Naturally Marco spots this evil plan and now a swordfight is the only way Julio can be disposed of. That plan too is doomed to failure and de Medici finally has to abort his extortionate tax schemes- hurrah!

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The Duke
Unrest among the locals, Medici demands more troops to prevent any rebellion, or does he want them for more sinister reasons? "To keep power, one has to walk a tightrope." Spanish troops are readily available, to be supplied by the Duke of Ferrara (Richard Pasco). But how to pay for the troops? An arranged marriage would please the Duke, and Francesca is the lucky girl, but is Marco so happy? He attempts to persuade "the most eligible lady in Florence" not to marry the Duke. She is not however impressed by Marco's motives, she realises this marriage is but a political alliance.
The Duke is readily in favour of the marriage, but only if Francesca herself, whom he admires greatly, is willing herself. The Duke is not in favour of any political union, he wants true love!
But Medici has a trump card, for he has captured the Duke's brother, and unless the marriage goes ahead, there will be an execution.
Marco and Machiavelli 'borrow' two soldiers' uniforms to sneak into the Duke's property. A trail of gunpowder is laid from the magazine room to the very place where The Duke dines with Medici, who is being held as a kind of prisoner. Marco forces them to the magazine room, on pain of an explosion, but they have a swordfight, Marco of course the victor and the whole scheme collapses as Marco ironically frees Medici.
Back in Florence poor Medici has to explain why his mission has failed. "I've got to thank him for helping me," he rants. And Francesca and Marco patch things up with a kiss

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RICHARD THE LIONHEART (1961)
With scripts by the accomplished Paul Tabori and Stanley Miller, this was an ambitious last TV series by the Danziger Brothers.
Dermot Walsh starred as Richard The Lionheart
with support in many episodes from Robin Hunter as Sir Gilbert, Iain Gregory as Blondel, and Alan Haywood as Sir Geoffrey.
Others who appear in several stories were Trader Faulkner as Prince John (and other roles), Sheila Whittingham as Queen Berengaria, John Longden as Sir Thomas, Marne Maitland as Saladin, Francis de Wolff as King Leopold, Michael Peake as Conrad of Montserrat, and Conrad Phillips as Guy of Lusignan.

Here are my reviews of some of the stories:
1 Long Live the King - You can't blame some knights for proposing John be proclaimed King when Richard fails to turn up at his own father's deathbed. But what kept him? Bad Sir Philip (Peter Reynolds) has sent him on a false errand to sign a peace treaty with Catherine, a seductive French princess (Lisa Daniely). When King Henry expires, Prince John attempts to get elder son Richard disowned: "I think I would be more worthy of the crown." He even declares that the dying Richard had indeed declared John the new king. Fortunately Richard eludes the treacherous Philip and brings Catherine to substantiate the reason for his delay. Unfortunately she lies through their teeth so there's only one way for Richard to prove his honour - go to the Field of Combat with Sir Philip
2 The Lion and the Eagle - As new King Richard rides into London, it's "like the plague," everyone is scared of him, because Bad John has spread vile rumours about tax increases. The 'Eagle' is the nickname of a rather feebly acted Queen Eleanor. But Prince John makes up for her deficiencies in the acting stakes, and in nastiness, as he shrewdly guesses Richard won't want to be crowned whilst his kidnapped mum is missing. "You will never spread your wings and fly away from me," he poetically warns her. But Richard follows her expensive trail of scattered trinkets and finally confronts his errant kinsman in a "forgotten" castle. John is ordered to get out of all England. As noone accompanies him, there's a fat chance of that happening!
3 The Robbers of Ashdown Forest - All is jolly at the feast celebrating Richard's coronation in Westminster Hall, when news comes of an uprising in the north, lead of course by John. En route to quell the rebellion Richard has a fight with quarterstaffs against an entertaining imitation of Robin Hood, a bandit leader in the forest, Edmund the Saxon (a chirpy Glyn Owen) who cares "nothing for any king." Becoming friends, together they put John to rout, and just as he was starting his triumphal march towards London too!
4 The Wolf of Banbury - Rich Lady Rosalie, engaged to Sir Geoffrey, is kidnapped by "renegade murderer" 'The Wolf' (Francis de Wolff!). Aided by his henchman (John Bennett) who does a passable imitation of a dieting Charles Laughton in The Hunchback of Notre Dame, the nasty Wolf plans to marry the fair maiden. However King Richard, posing as an outlaw, joins the Wolf's band, and proves his worth by kidnapping the poor Bishop of Oxford. He's to perform the marriage ceremony: "it will be interesting to tame you when we are married," Wolf tells Rosalie. That of course can never be, and Richard fights the villain on the battlements
9 The King's Champion - At the King's coronation feast there are some vacant seats since John has persuaded King William of Scotland that, despite Story 1, King Henry is still alive! Many are wavering and even those at Richard's court are half convinced: "it might be the old king himself." Richard is challenged, and aged Sir Thomas (John Longden) as the King's Champion is the one who is to represent him. It's such an uneven contest that Richard himself, against tradition, challenges the Pretender to fight for The Crown of England
23 The Vision Fades - Bitter sweet story of how, at the very gates of the holy city, King Richard finds his dream of entering Jerusalem slipping: "the victory is now in our very grasp." With the emphasis on 'now': "if we fail now, our shame will be eternal." Outnumbered, those of Richard's band who have not deserted, march to the Mount of Olives. "I may look on those towers, but I do not think Jerusalem will ever be mine." Not afraid of a last battle, Richard knows "in my heart... I fear we do not deserve it." His fears are borne out by the continued bickering of the Allies ("a hornet's nest of pride"). "Perhaps I have been judged unworthy," admits the sorrowing Richard.
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Well Jim lad, the Answer be Long John Silver

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Willoughby Goddard
To William Tell

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Answer- Leo Fromkess

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Sapphire

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