The Witch of Elsdon - Recap

Opening with a visionary dream, foretelling the events of the episode, Robin awakes in a panic, and immediately ponders the meaning of what he dreamt.

After the opening credits, we are witness to medieval justice as Jennet of Elsdon is found guilty of witchcraft and her and her husband are ordered to be hanged in four days time in Nottingham. However, the real reason for Gisburne's was revealed by Jennet, namely her refusal of his advances.

Meanwhile, Robin's dreams/visions have been taken to heart and he leads his men around Sherwood, and despite their protests and doubts, they follow. Finally they happen upon a man with a cart of grain. The merry men want to let him on his way, but Robin's visions have told him a secret that the sacks are half grain and half silver. The man is not a surf, but a tax collector! The gang are mystified at Robin's uncanny intuition, yet he does not reveal the source of his knowledge to them (i.e. the visions). Finally the soldiers arrive and are dealt with fairly easily, however in the melee the tax collector has headed for the hills! Meanwhile when they return to camp, where Marion has been waiting on Robin's command, she is upset at being left out, and demands equality.

In Nottingham, the tax collector has made an appearance before the Sheriff, where he is subsequently disbelieved, and ordered to be put on the rack. Gisburne, unintentionally inspires the Sheriff, who stops suddenly with a new plan running through his mind. Sending for Jennet, he coerces her to apply her knowledge of herbalism to incapacity the merry men so that Gisburne and his men can make easy work of killing them. The reward is her and her husband's freedom with a full pardon. With little choice, she is "chased" through Sherwood Forest until Will "saves" her from Gisburne and the troops.

When Robin and the gang return from delivering the grain to local villagers, they find Jennet, and welcome her with open arms. Meanwhile, they have "recruited" two serfs who John found trying to rob him, and they are being put through training. John has designs on robbing the Bishop of Leicester, and finally persuades him to give it a shot, but when Robin once more asks Marion to stay behind she's more than angry and begins to show her strength my 'beating' on Robin and the gang, but to no avail, as she remains behind again. Gone off on her own to sulk, and ponder her fate, Marion sits by a pond, whilst back at camp Jennet prepares a herbal concoction as specified by the Sheriff... and it works!

Back in Nottingham, Gisburne brings Hugo's fears to the Sheriff's attention. Fears that Jennet will abandon her husband and escape without punishment. The Sheriff responds with news of her return, and that she has accomplished her objective. Yet, just to reassure the Abbot, the Sheriff also notifies Gisburne that he has no intention of keeping his promise of a pardon and that Jennet is to be killed with the others, after, of course, she leads Gisburne and his men to Robin Hood.

Upon arriving at the campsite, Gisburne seeks out Robin Hood, lying prone before him, he bends down only to get a shock... they're not incapacitated after all! Another classic fight ensues and Jennet slips away quietly, but not without notice. Marion gives chase and brings her back to the gang, then the truth is revealed. Robin, adorning himself with Gisburne's armour, rides into Nottingham and goes straight to the Sheriff, and suggests a bargain of his own. Gisburne's life for Thomas', Jennet's husband. Unwilling to accept those terms, the Sheriff tries his luck with the sword, however, obviously not accustomed to wielding it, he soon has to bargain for his own life.

Robin returns with her husband and it's happiness all around, except for Will, who is upset at being lied to and betrayed by a woman he cared for. He is the only member not present when returning the couple to their village, presumably too upset to go.

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