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Court of Historical Law: Ethelred the Unready

Horrible Histories
SKETCH-O-VISION
A VERY GOOD USE OF YOUR TIME.

The setup

Accused of stealing a horse, Ted discovers that choosing an Anglo-Saxon trial can be as dangerous as the verdict.

Community rating

– / 10

The premise

Here’s the bit.

The Court of Historical Law invites Ethelred the Unready to prosecute a horse-theft case using Anglo-Saxon methods. Ted asks about evidence, but the king offers tests involving a river and a red-hot iron instead. Eating a piece of cake sounds like the safe option, until Ted learns that choking will count as proof of guilt. His confidence in the easy choice soon collapses, and the ordeal ends with a rather belated confession.

The funny people

Meet the cast. 3

Say it with us

Highly quotable.

Sorry, sorry. Wasn't ready.

Fair enough, I did nick that horse.

A little extra

Notes from the archive.

Rattus Rattus appears after the trial to explain the historical basis of ordeal by cake.

The rabbit hole continues

One more couldn’t hurt.

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