Strange News - AP

'Merlin' Tried for Shopping With Sword

Tue Jul 13,11:37 AM ET



PORTSTMOUTH, England - "Merlin" appeared in court Tuesday, resplendent in his druid robes and defended by King Arthur Pendragon, but without the 3-foot sword which caused alarm in a local shop.

Merlin Michael Williams, 26, of Westbourne, England, was arrested last week after carrying his spell-casting weapon while shopping at a store in Portsmouth. The sword was confiscated as evidence.

Williams presented himself at Portsmouth Magistrates draped in a green robe and blue cloak.

Pendragon, who addressed the court in a white robe with a red lion print, was joined by a dozen other members of the Insular Order of the Druids, who filled the public gallery.

Williams argued precedent, explaining previous cases heard by the court had allowed druids the right to carry ceremonial swords, which are used to cast spells and create circles of safety.

The case was adjourned for a month to give prosecutor Colin Shackel time to examine precedents.

"It is accepted by the crown this was sheathed and there was no offensive action by the defendant," Shackel said. "The issue is whether this is an offensive weapon per se."

Williams remained free on bail.


The Insular Order of the Druids was founded in 1993 at Stonehenge and is one of at least eight self-styled druid groups in the Britain.

I got my battle axe confiscated once and had to go to court to defend myself. They wouldn't buy my pitch that Barbarianism was a religion....

Yeah thats civilization for you, no respect for the things that got them to where they are now.
You'd think they were afraid of natural selection or something

I think I'm to start telling people I'm Gwenevere...I'm going to the court house at lunch to change my name and I'm going to start wearing my gowns in public.....so there.

You got that right!!!!

THE BOOK OF BARBARIANISM
Chapter 1: Verse 1

In the beginning there was mead.
And God saw that it was good.
And it was good.
And lo, there was much rejoicing.
And lo, there was much rejoicing.
And lo, there was much rejoicing.
And lo, there was much rejoicing.
And lo, there was much ..........................

AMEN.

Wow...that was beautiful man...brought tears to my eyes....SLAINTE!

Sounds like a Monty Python thing

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