PlotLlud arrives at a market, aiming to sell two horses. He chances upon Rowena, who has come to buy cattle for her father. Llud advises against buying the ones she is considering. Rowena asks Llud to help her choose.
Llud then spots Kurk, a friend from his younger days, whom he describes as, “the blackest rogue you’ll ever chance to meet!” Kurk is telling a – not wholly accurate - tale to a group of listeners. Llud disabuses them as to Kurk’s fighting prowess, and the two renew their friendship.
As they wander around the market, Kurk shows Llud two fine cattle, and leads him to believe that he is the owner. Llud then shows them to Rowena, and she bids against another man for them; Kurk accepts six measures of silver from her, even though the other buyer offers more.
As Llud and Rowena lead the cattle down a track, they are ambushed by a man claiming to be the real owner of the beasts. It turns out that Kurk had ambushed him, tied him up and stolen his cattle. Rowena is devastated to learn that she will have to give them back, but Llud pays the man six measures of silver, and leaves Rowena to take her cattle home.
Llud then sets off in pursuit of Kurk, catches up with him, and overpowers him. He is angry at having been used to trick Rowena, and demands that Kurk reimburse him for the price of the stolen cattle. But Kurk claims he needs the money to ransom his wife, Bron from a band of savage, cave-dwelling tribesmen, led by the merciless Berthold.
Llud agrees to pay Bron’s ransom, but decides to come along, to make sure Kurk gets his wife back. When they stop to rest along the way, Llud falls asleep, and Kurk tries to give him the slip, but fails in his attempt to steal Llud’s horse. Llud gives chase, manages to get ahead of Kurk, and ambushes him again.
Kurk claims he only ran off with the money because he was afraid Llud would change his mind about letting him have the silver. They continue on their journey.
When they get in sight of the caves where Bron is held prisoner, Llud insists that instead of paying the ransom, they raid the caves, and rescue Bron. Kurk reluctantly agrees.
They enter a cave, and sneak up on the guards, but Berthold’s people see what’s happening, chase Llud and Kurk, and bring them before their leader.
Llud is astonished to learn that Berthold, whom Kurk described as such an ogre, is Bron’s mild-mannered and long-suffering father, and that the ‘ransom’ Kurk claimed he had to pay was money he owed Berthold for everything he’d stolen from him.
Bron appears, delighted to see Kurk, but Berthold holds firm, demanding six measures of silver for her release.
Kurk begs Llud to pay Berthold the silver on his behalf, so that he and Bron can go off and start their life together. He swears to - one day - repay him.
Llud fetches a pouch, and tosses it onto the table in front of Berthold.
Bron falls to the floor in a faint; apparently, she is with child. When Kurk has taken her outside, on the pretext of getting some air, Berthold notices that the pouch Llud brought him has gone: stolen by Kurk. Llud then tosses another pouch – the one that actually contains the silver - onto the table in front of Berthold.
Kurk and Bron make their escape, laughing. Kurk is less than pleased to find that Llud has turned the tables on him; the pouch he stole contains only rocks and dirt.
As Llud rides home, he meets Kai and Arthur, and tells them a tall tale about how he lost the money he got for the horses he sold.
Timeline"Six Measures of Silver" appears after "The Prize" on the "Konig Arthur" DVDs and in the "Konig Arthur" book. Seasonal cues also suggest this order.
The fact that Llud does not appear in “Rolf the Preacher”, and that Arthur and Kai make only a token appearance in “Six Measures of Silver”, suggests that HTV may have been working on the two episodes concurrently. When Arthur and Kai do appear, they are wearing most of the same clothes as in “Rolf the Preacher”, so that scene, at least, was probably filmed at around the same time.
Suggested shooting order so farArthur is Dead
Daughter of the King
The Challenge
The Gift of Life
Enemies and Lovers
In Common Cause
The Penitent Invader
The Slaves
People of the Plough
Go Warily
The Prisoner
The Duel
Rowena
Some Saxon Women
The Marriage Feast
The Prize
Six Measures of Silver/Rolf the Preacher
LocationsThere is no sign of the village at Woollard in this episode. The countryside scenes would presumably have been filmed nearby, somewhere in the Mendips.
The scene in Berthold’s caves was filmed in the
Redcliffe Sand Mines in Bristol: artificial sandstone caverns, from which red sandstone was excavated to be converted to sand for the glass and pottery trades.
Inside InformationTwo of the extras in the cave scene were Maria and her friend. Maria remembers that they were warned not to wander off, because there were so many tunnels, they might never find their way out. More of Maria’s memories can be found
here.Cast notesDavid Brierley, who played Hurn (the cattle’s original owner) provided the voice of K9 in Dr Who in 1979 and 1980.
Folk singer Fred Wedlock makes his second appearance in the series, this time as Berthold’s minstrel. He can be heard playing in the background, just after Kurk and Bron are re-united.
“A blackguard – and a fool!”Most of us have a friend who brings out the worst in us, and gets us into all sorts of trouble, but we love them just the same. For Llud, Kurk, played by Michael Craig, is that friend. Rowena notes that he has “great charm”, to which even Llud is not immune, despite dubbing him “the blackest rogue you’ll ever chance to meet.”
Kurk has no qualms about telling stories that bear little relation to the truth, to make himself seem a big hero, and make his friends look like cowards, poor fighters, and fools. He will steal from anyone - a monastery, and even his father-in-law.
Llud knows this, yet when Kurk declares himself “a completely reformed character”, Llud lets himself believe it. He doesn’t notice that on two important matters, Kurk, while not actually lying, fails to give him a straight answer:
Llud: Are you a breeder? Kurk: And why not?
Llud: These are yours? Kurk: Prime breeding pair. You want to buy them?
Llud then gives Kurk his tacit endorsement by introducing Rowena to him as a prospective buyer for “his” cattle. Rowena also falls under his spell, and assumes she is being complimented when he describes her as “enchanted”; in fact, he is simply noting her gullibility!
Rowena does wonder why Llud has changed his tune: “I thought you said that this Kurk is an outright villain, hnh?” but Llud – perhaps more in hope than expectation - says that Kurk “seems to have mended his ways.”
When he discovers his mistake, Llud angrily tells Kurk, “The only thing you ever bred was treachery!” Kurk doesn’t see why Llud is so cross; after all, he wasn’t the one cheated!
Kurk then tells more lies: that his wife Bron’s father was a wheelwright, who frowned on him because of their age difference, and "wanted to keep his beautiful daughter cooped up in a remote village”, and that this same wife is now being held hostage by savages led by the cruel and vicious Berthold, who will kill her if he doesn’t pay the ransom.
Llud can hardly believe that the man Kurk has portrayed as such an ogre, is Bron’s loving and long-suffering father, for whom the theft of his prize stallions – after all the other things Kurk has taken – proves the final straw.
Kurk looks embarrassed, but then claims that “It was true about him holding my wife hostage”!
Even after his previous lies have been made known, he has the nerve to carry on telling tall tales to Berthold’s people, and to try to steal back the money Llud has paid on his behalf!
Don’t call me old!Though Kurk is a rogue, there’s no question that Llud enjoys his little adventure. He is glad to be able to help damsel in distress, Rowena.
He seems to relish his battle of wits with Kurk, taking precautions to stop his old friend from running off with his horse! He won’t let Kurk go into the caves alone to pay the ransom, presumably suspecting Kurk might leave his wife behind, and run off with the money!
He says that Kurk’s deviousness is catching, and gets a glint in his eye when contemplating a daring raid on the formidable and ruthless Berthold! “Would we have paid a ransom? Never, Kurk, never!”
He insists they are just as strong, and more cunning than ever: “we’ll have your wife out of there before they know what’s happened! Like the old days, eh, Kurk? I keep my money, and you’ll get your wife back. And we’ll show them that Llud and Kurk are still as good in a scrap as ever they were!”
Llud is still a sucker for a pretty face, offering to bale Kurk out for Bron’s sake, but he has the foresight to outwit Kurk by switching coin purses.
But he’s right about one thing: Kurk’s deviousness has rubbed off on him. He tries to explain the loss of the money he made on the horses to Kai and Arthur by saying he was ambushed by ten marauding Scots!
Dark Age MenLlud is a bit puzzled to see Rowena on her own: “Is it the Jute custom to send their women to barter?” She tells him that Yorath trusts her judgement, but panics when it looks as if she has failed in her mission: “What do I tell my father? How do I explain that I’ve paid six measures of silver for cattle that I haven’t got?” Fortunately for her, Llud accepts responsibility, and gallantly spares her blushes.
Great momentsLlud and Kurk’s meeting.
Llud, trying to persuade Kurk to raid the caves.
Berthold’s revelations.
Kurk, being duped by Llud.
Llud’s failed attempt to dupe Arthur and Kai.
Quote/unquoteLlud [of Arthur]: As a leader there is no man better …
Llud [of/to Kurk]:
Once a rogue, always a rogue!
How did you come by a wife? Did you steal her, too?
Letting you go is more an act of folly than of mercy!
Family TiesLlud tells Rowena that he and Kurk “were as brothers.”
Kurk shows an interest in Llud’s family: “that Saxon brat that you found abandoned, and decided to father” and “young Arthur, who would change the world.”
Llud proudly tells him than Kai is “a fine young warrior, strong, and courageous”, and that Arthur is also like his son, and “will be changing the world when you and I have turned to dust.”
But family ties clearly mean little to Kurk, as he is happy to steal from his wife’s father. When Berthold learns that Bron is with child, his reaction is “if it’s a boy, it’ll be brought up as a rogue, like its father!”
"By the Gods!"Rowena is, for the first time, seen wearing a cross. Either Christianity is spreading, or Rowena is hoping to get into Arthur's good graces.
Kurk mentions a past exploit, when he pretended to be a priest looking after the lepers, and hid Llud in the monastery, and Llud reminds Kurk that he stole half the valuables from the altar.
Kurk says it does his soul good to see Llud, who retorts “Nothing ever did your soul any good!” They don’t mention which religion either of their souls belongs to.
Berthold is a pantheist of sorts, saying “Only the gods know” how lenient he’s been with Kurk, and later, of Bron’s unborn child, “By the gods, if it’s a boy, it’ll be brought up as a rogue, like its father!”
The title of the episode, “Six Measures of Silver”, may be an oblique reference to the thirty pieces of silver for which Judas is said to have betrayed Jesus.
“That is bloody dangerous!”As Llud and Rowena pass beneath a branch, the cattle owner, who is clinging to it, drops from his perch, grabs Llud, and pulls him from his horse. This appears to have been performed by stuntmen.
An axe is thrown into a tree trunk near Llud’s head. Later on, Llud drags Kurk from his horse.
The most dangerous stunt is probably when the head one of Berthold’s guards is banged against the cave wall. The perils of being a 'redshirt'!
Dressed to kill? Llud’s tatty old white undershirt has finally been replaced, by a new green garment, which he wears under his suede jerkin. Rowena has a new tunic.
“A man on a horse is worth ten on foot”As in previous episodes, Rowena’s horse is Blackstar.
Llud, for the first time, is seen riding a different horse, instead of his usual mount, Curly. Perhaps this was something to do with the filming being at a new location. Curly may not have travelled well, or perhaps Jack Watson found the new - smaller - horse, Brownie, easier to mount without the benefit of the mounting block which was usually available in the village.
This is also the horse Llud is seen riding in the opening credits, so presumably that sequence was put together some time after this episode was filmed.
The horses Llud brings for sale are the chestnut, Flame, and the reliable bay horse, Trooper.
Though no mention is made of Kurk having bought his horse from Llud, he is later seen riding Trooper, both alone, and with Bron. But then, it is Kurk’s theft of Berthold’s prize stallions that proved the final straw for Berthold. Perhaps Kurk stole Trooper as well!
On the table
Like Arthur, Llud does enjoy his apples. There’s a fairly substantial feast laid out for Berthold’s people.
Extra! Extra! 
This poor fellow, who was killed by Kai in “The Gift of Life”, then again, in “In Common Cause”, seems to get off more lightly as Berthold’s guard; Llud probably just knocks him out.
One Berthold’s men appears in Arthur’s rampage scene in "The Marriage Feast."
Honourable mentionFor the poor cow about which Llud is so dismissive: “Keep prodding that one, and it’ll fall over.”
This may be one of the cattle Peter Miller had in mind when interviewed for an
article in the Western Daily Press on 19 July 1972, when he said, “Some long-horn cows were sent to the highlands of Scotland to grow the shaggy coats typical of the cattle of the period.”
What’s going on here? Poor Rowena! She is delighted to see Llud, but one can’t help thinking that the glint in her eye is the hope that Arthur is nearby!
When Llud asks her whether the Jutes usually send their women to barter, Rowena claims that her father trusts her judgement. If so, this is the first evidence we’ve seen of it! In “Rowena”, despite her protests, he sent her off to marry a scoundrel, and in “Some Saxon Women” he went ahead with his plan to become a slave trader despite her protests, until Arthur intervened. And later in the series, he is heard calling her “chicken-brain”!
Why is Llud selling horses - especially a great horse like Trooper? Only two or three episodes previously, Arthur’s people were desperate for
more horses; Arthur expressed regret that they hadn’t bred any, and had to go cap-in-hand to Yorath for some.
When Llud tells Kurk how Kai is faring, we see a flashback to a scene from “People of the Plough” – a scene which Llud could not have witnessed, from an episode in which Llud didn’t feature!
The male longhorn Kurk claims to own looks rather like the one recently seen in Mark of Cornwall’s village during “Rolf the Preacher.”
When Rowena bids six measures of silver for the cattle, Kurk immediately accepts her offer, without waiting for any higher bids. Why is Kurk determined to fleece his friend’s companion? He later claims that his reason was that he only needed six measures to ransom Bron. But this seems completely out of character for someone with as few moral scruples as Kurk. It seems likely that Kurk thought his chances of getting away with his deception were better if he sold to Rowena. He probably feared Rowena's retribution less than what might come from the other burly fellow. Or perhaps he just wanted an excuse to see more of his old friend, Llud! Of course, the other buyer could have been a shill.
When, and how, would Kurk have learned to use an axe as a weapon?
Why are Berthold’s guards facing
into the cave? It must be obvious that any danger would come from outside.
Kurk is blamed for stealing the pouch from Berthold’s table, but it is actually Berthold himself who pulls off a cunning robbery!
MusicSome of the music tracks used in this episode were:
Track 21, Celtic Bard: Llud leads the horses to market.
Track 30, Night Scene: Llud tells Kurk how Kai and Arthur are faring.
Track 4, Sentinels: Kurk shows Llud the stolen cattle.
Track 6, Infiltration and Treachery: Rowena bargains for the cattle.
Track 5, To Battle! – Llud and Rowena are ambushed.
Track 16, Danger Mounts: Llud and Rowena part ways.
Track 8, Kai the Saxon/Skirmish and Rout: Llud pursues Kurk.
Track 34, Title Theme (middle eight): Llud and Kurk set off on foot.
Track 4, Sentinels: Llud persuades Kurk to attack Berthold’s men.
Track 26, Evil Stirs: they enter the caves.
Track 7, Hesitation and Achievement: Bron is re-united with Kurk.
Track 23, Children’s Games: Kurk and Bron make their escape; Llud tries to fool Kai and Arthur.
The whole suite of music, beautifully written and orchestrated for the series by
Paul Lewis, is now available on
CD.Cast Arthur …………….... Oliver Tobias
Kai ……………….… Michael Gothard
Llud ………………... Jack Watson
Kurk ……………….. Michael Craig
Rowena ………….… Gila von Weitershausen
Berthold ……………. Peter Copley
Cattle Dealer ……….. Reg Lye
Buyer …………….… Victor Platt
Bron ………………... Jeannie Fisher
Hurn ………………... David Brierly
Minstrel ………….…. Fred Wedlock
CrewDirector ………….…. Pat Jackson
Writer ………………. Robert Banks-Stewart
Executive Producer … Patrick Dromgoole
Producer ……………. Peter Miller
Associate Producer …. John Peverall
Production Manager ... Keith Evans
Post-production …….. Barry Peters
Fight Arranger ……… Peter Brayham
Cameraman ………… Bob Edwards
Camera Operator …… Brian Morgan
Editor ……………….. David Samuel-Camps
Sound recordist ……... Mike Davey
Set Dresser ………….. Ken Bridgeman
Art Director ………… Doug James
Assistant Director …... Stuart Freeman
Production Assistant ... Ann Rees
Costume Design .…… Audrey MacLeod
Make-up ……………. Christine Penwarden
Incidental music ……. Paul Lewis
Theme music ……….. Elmer Bernstein
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