“I am just happy to have got my sword back so I can continue with my duties as sword-bearer”

A druid and his sword suffer separation not lightly:

Prosecutors dropped charges Tuesday against a man who explained that he carried a sword into a shop because he is a druid.

At a brief appearance in court last month, Merlin Michael Williams, 26, said 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.

Williams, of Westbourne, southern England, was arrested July 9 after carrying his weapon while shopping at a store in Portsmouth. The sword was confiscated as evidence.

….Williams, who wore his green and blue druid’s robes at last month’s court appearance, said his sword, which he calls Talisen, had been returned.

“I am just happy to have got my sword back so I can continue with my duties as sword-bearer,” he said. [AP]

Sally forth, sword-bearer, and wield well noble Talisen.