The Black Seal

In the sixth and final episode of The Black Adder, The Black Seal, Edmund Duke of Edinburgh (aka the Black Adder) has finally had enough. The final insult from his father (King Richard IV played so memorably by Brian Blessed) is to relieve him of the title of Duke of Edinburgh. All he's left with now is the title, Warden of the Royal Privies.

So he does what any good tyrant would do and fires his two faithful retainers Percy (Tim McInnerny) and Baldrick (Tony Robinson). As he leaves the castle, on his way to recruit a band of evil mercenaries to help him seize the throne by force, he bumps into an old man at the castle gates. Reluctantly, he recruits him to tend his horse.

The first evil mercenary he encounters is Sir Wilfred Death, then Three Fingered Pete, followed by Guy of Glastonbury (Patrick Malahide). Fourth up, and my favourite, Sean the Irish Bastard, then Friar Bellows and finally, Jack Large.

After much plotting the Black Adder instructs his band of evil mercenaries, now known as the Black Seal, to disperse to whence they came and to await his signal for the plot to be put into action. On their way back to the castle, the Black Adder and his new faithful retainer, set up camp in a forest clearing. Unfortunately, the old man is not what he seems and within minutes has revealed himself as Philip of Burgundy, also known as the Hawk (Patrick Allen).

After 'sentencing' Edmund to death by snails, the Hawk leaves him in a dungeon in which he meets Mad Gerald (played by himself, or as you may know him, Rik Mayall). Edmund escapes and returns to the castle to send the signal...