- When Edmund's Scottish lands are given to the King's Supreme Commander, Douglas McAngus, he plots revenge.
- The year is 1486, and recently-crowned king Richard IV of England departs the country, to lead a crusade against the Ottoman Empire. His elder son (and heir) Prince Harry is entrusted with the position of regent, while second son Prince Edmund is entrusted with herding sheep and cleaning out the drains.
A year later, in 1487, the king is expected to return. Harry tasks Edmund with preparing a celebratory feast for their father. Edmund has trouble with finding suitable entertainers, as most of the available acts are pathetic. Dougal MacAngus, the king's military commander in Scotland, arrives for the feast. As a reward for his military services, Dougal demands the Royal burghs of Roxburgh, Selkirk and Peebles, which belong to Edmund. Harry grants them to him with no hesitation.
Edmund starts plotting to assassinate Dougal , and intends to have an acting troupe stab Dougal to death. Edmund has replaced their stage-prop knives with real blades. However, he cancels out the plan, when Dougal seems to offer him evidence that Prince Harry is illegitimate. Edmund reads letter concerning an extramarital affair of his mother Gertrude of Flanders. He concludes that Harry is not Richard IV's real son, but a bastard of the queen.
Edmund reveals the information to the Royal court, and Harry abdicates the regency. Edmund is now seen as the heir to the throne. News arrive that Richard IV was last seen entering Constantinople to face 10,000 Turks alone, and armed with only a fruit knife. With Richard considered deceased by everyone, Edmund proclaims himself king. But seconds later, Richard IV enters the room, claiming to have defeated the Turks with his fruit knife.
Edmund tries to present the letters concerning Gertrude's affair to his father. However, he has made a crucial error. The letters were written following Harry's birth, but exactly 9 months before Edmund's birth. The letters indicate that Edmund himself is the bastard, not Harry. Edmund quickly claims the letters to be forgeries, and burns them.
Edmund knows that Dougal had tricked him, and impulsively challenges him to a duel. Dougal is a much better swordsman than Ednund, and wins the duel easily. Edmund offers his entire property to Dougal in exchange for his life, and Dougal agrees to spare his life. Later Edmund pretends to befriend Dougal . He actually uses a plan suggested by Baldrick, and the episode ends with Dougal 's death at an "accident" involving a cannon.
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