A Surprise for the Monk | The Time Meddler | Doctor Who

[@DalekTheSupreme]

I can't get over how much friendlier and nicer the First Doctor is after travelling with Ian and Barbara. He's famous for being the grumpy old Doctor who was coldly uncaring toward his humans companions, when for most of his run, he was much nicer and kinder, and a little more eccentric, like the Doctors we're more familiar with. It just goes to show how important Ian and Barbara were within the Doctor Who universe.

[@brichards71993]

he's really only like that in the first few stories. remember when he is about to kill the injured caveman with a rock but ian stops him? quite a turn around for the doctor.

[@DalekTheSupreme]

***** I know. And it wasn't just Ian and Barbara. Look at how reacts to the Daleks attempting to commit genocide against the Thals: "This senseless, EVIL, KILLING!"

[@Icarais69]

Maybe Barbara and Ian made him realize that, as limited as human beings are compared to Time Lords, there's a basic strength and decency that always helps him to do the right thing?... (smile)

[@NPCSingularity]

They made him trust people more. The old Doc matured a great deal because of Ian and Barbara. It makes sense why he holds both in such high esteem now.

[@ciarantimothy8081]

And the first doctor was being sexist in twice Upon a Time.

[@DieWeltIstSchlecht]

I like the meddling monk. He was a villain unlike many others, with a nice personality. He just wanted to have fun. I hope he makes his return one day. He was featured in one story after this if I remember correctly, that's by far not enough!

[@Gamelover254]

+DieWeltIstSchlecht He also appeared in "The Dalek Master Plan". Unfortunately, most of the story is lost, but recons are available.

[@HerohammerStudios]

There's a bunch of Big Finish work with him in it

[@MegaGermanShepherds]

That is the episode called Golden Death which the Monk double-crossed the Daleks. This was in the Dalek’s Master Plan story. Finally finished it yet still on season 3. It’s a bit of a bore afterwards currently since most of the episodes are lost.

[@MrSukram777]

He appear in lots of Big Finish stories, I highly recommend them. Rufus Hound is a perfect successor for Peter Butterworth as the Meddling Monk, showing the same mix of a schemer and a coward.

[@MrBulky992]

Yes: the Doctor said something like "How did you get here?", having marooned him and his miniaturised TARDIS in 1066 and the monk replying "Well, it was a bit of a squeeze but I managed it"

[@LordZontar]

The Doctor, Steven and Vicki were a near-ideal TARDIS team. Three willing adventurers all looking around the next corner and not backward, all bringing their strengths forward and all quite capable.

[@stephenbaker5413]

A Great Team,on screen and on Audio to,Like Steven with Sara Kingdom to and Dodo,Vicki was cheeky,Stephen not afraid to speak his mind and The Doctor.,funny and crotechy too,Hope Big Finish brings Maureen,Peter and Jean Back,miss the 1st Doctor stories and don't like Big Finish way of releasing Past Doc Audios now,Would like to See Tyler Butterworth as the Monk, and either Z Lucker or J Badler or C Seymour or P Salem as the Rani against First Doctor, she was around during Trojan Wars,how about having her disguised as Cassandra and have her take on Vicki in her new life in Ancient Greece.

[@BrendanJSmith]

That's also what made Troughton, Jamie, and Victoria/Zoe so special.

[@KieranMacadie]

I love The Time Meddler. It's such an entertaining story that's perfectly written. I can't count how many times I've pushed the DVD disc into my DVD/Blu-Ray player. I don't hear people talk about it much which is a shame as I think it deserves popularity.

[@ewalker3]

It aired last weekend on the doctor who Pluto Channel first time seeing it and it was a treat to see fresh first snd second doc stories not aired in some time

[@TMrreviews]

And the new blu ray restoration looks insanely good.

[@nedd.8479]

Given that the Monk was one of the first recurring antagonists in the show, it's genuinely surprising that he hasn't been brought back in the revived series.

[@awesomecat458]

He's in big finish mostly

[@Popcultureguy3000]

@@awesomecat458 Yeah, and his current actor, Rufus Hound, is absolutely hysterical as him! His constant attempts at oneupsmanship against Missy in her box sets is one of the funniest things I’ve ever listened to. His pairing against her were so well received that they’re forced to pilot the same TARDIS (his😂) in the third box set and it’s titled “Missy and The Monk”!

[@awesomecat458]

@@Popcultureguy3000 HAH

[@alexandergonyea4642]

@@Popcultureguy3000 Oh, I'd kill to see Rufus Hound as the Monk on TV. Considering the 60th is around the corner, it'd be a really great throwback. I mean, yeah, we're possibly (most likely) getting the Toymaker, but what's stopping the Monk from showing up too?

[@redjirachi1]

He'd fit right in with the Moffat Era's timey-wimey focus. He could even join the Silence/Papal Mainframe to play a literal monk!

[@Lythgoemania]

The best thing about the Monk is that he wasn't really a bad guy at all. All he wanted to do was stop Harold dying at the battle of Hastings to see if he would be a good king. That's it.

[@brichards71993]

he's basically the same as the doctor in the waters of mars

[@johnwhittington2998]

He's basically did what the Doctor commonly does in nu who. I would like the Monk to confront the Doctor on this in the future

[@TheWeepingDalek]

@@brichards71993 the doctor was the bad guy in that. The time lord victorious is wrong

[@TheWeepingDalek]

@@johnwhittington2998 how. The doctor only interference is when he reconises something out of place. Ie. Something that isn't meant to happen.

[@johnwhittington2998]

@@TheWeepingDalek Clara

[@lDrownded2]

A big question for any Doctor Who fan is: "What would you do if you had a TARDIS?" I would go back in time and steal every tape of Doctor Who before it's taped over by the skinflints at The BBC for future generations to enjoy. We almost lost Monty Python because of this policy.

[@EmpressKaga]

BUT what if all those "lost" episodes were in fact stolen by a time traveler, and that's how they became lost in the first place? ............... ...Doo-wee-ooooh~

[@lDrownded2]

To quote Robert A. Heinlein, a paradox can be para-Doctored. Or more than a pair if all 12 (or 13) want to help.

[@HBHaga]

What you should do, though, is copy them and let the originals get taped over. Then arrange for the copies to turn up later. Preserves the time line, obscures your involvement, and makes you chunk of change in the process.

[@lDrownded2]

You are my time travel consultant.

[@ewaf88]

The animated reconstructions are pretty good - although I would expect that in about 15 years time you'd be able to have totally life like CGI at a reasonable cost to replace the missing shows plus - if necessary - a computer reading the script in exactly the right voice.

[@TheBrokenMadMan]

Really, it doesn't seem that small, he could just squeeze himself in, and cross his legs while flying.

[@LibraGamesUnlimited]

I said the same thing. At least long enough to go somewhere he could fix it. I've never seen the episode but I read the book version and when I did I pictured it being much, much smaller like doll sized.

[@DarthRushy]

You forget that he's pretty chubby. He'd never fit through those doors.

[@LibraGamesUnlimited]

DarthRushy I haven't actually seen the episode so I didn't realize. Still looks like from where he is he COULD reach the console and perhaps repair what was done. Still, it sounds like the Doctor stole a part and in that case there wouldn't BE anything to fix. For some reason I just flashed to the end of the original "Day of the Dead" when the two soldiers are arguing about the controls for the platform that's supposed to take them from their underground complex to the surface. One of the other characters had totally ripped the wires and stuff out and one of the soldiers was trying to tell the other one that and the other one just kept telling him to fix it. The first soldier couldn't make the second one understand that there was nothing to fix because all the 'guts' of the control were ripped out. It's kind of funny because they were both a-holes and deserved what they got. :)

[@DarthRushy]

Chris McWilliams It's kinda hard to fix a delicate issue with a giant fingers(especially if said damage was done to the other side of the console).

[@TheBrokenMadMan]

DarthRushy we meet again

[@EmpressKaga]

One dislike? Must be the Monk.

[@sheridan5175]

And he made 9 alt accounts

[@LeeHutchingsdrumsUK]

Anyone else think they should bring back The Monk into the modern series?

[@boybawang1981]

@Ian Robert Davies MAYBE he started a cult, "The Headless Monks"!?!?

[@Numaticin]

Come on guys, bring back the Monk!

[@azurerainbow4637]

The 2nd time The Doctor battled the Meddling Monk was in The Dalek Master Plan,which is the longest Doctor Who story with 12 episodes and the Monk hasn't been seen since.

[@TheDigitalApple]

@@azurerainbow4637 If other less reoccurring villains like The Great Intelligence get to return for not returning for nearly 50 years on the show, then it’s about time The Monk get his time to shine again!

[@zacmumblethunder7466]

@@TheDigitalApple Nah, we don't want to see another fondly remembered character reimagined for the 21st Century.

[@TheDigitalApple]

@@zacmumblethunder7466 You know what, fair point. Considering the recent writers history of not knowing the source material of the show and proceeding to retcon almost everything of Doctor Who, maybe the Monk should be in the hands of Big Finish for now for safe keeping

[@zacmumblethunder7466]

@@TheDigitalApple Yeah, I don't want to see the Monk come back as the Doctor's mother.

[@ShovelAndPick]

Love this story, funny that this episode first aired 49 years ago today. Obvious choice to post it today :)

[@DoctorWho]

You're a true fan, nicely spotted :-)

[@ShovelAndPick]

Doctor Who Thanks :)

[@AlchemistOfNirnroot]

Doctor Who I guess you know a lot about Doctor Who. In "The Chase" at the end of episode 1. Did the Dalek elevate out of the ground? If so wouldn't Remembrance of the Dalek's cliffhanger be something which wasn't new? And BTW, what's your favourite story (or top 3)?

[@diamondaxe4133]

@@AlchemistOfNirnroot the way I see it, the daleks were implied to be able to hover in the chase. In multiple episodes, you can see daleks on upper levels that can only be accessed by stairs. Also in episode 2, when they are trying to destroy the tardis, a dalek literally lifts up and moves to a new spot. I think its a blooper, but you couldn't see any legs underneath so I wonder if it was intentional.

[@DB_137]

Amazing performance from Peter Butterworth. One timelord that would be amazing to see return someday!

[@richardhumphreys8662]

He doesn't remain marooned for very long as he turns up in Daleks' Master Plan a few weeks later.

[@adamslowikowski3085]

I love Peter Butterworth! He was a great British comedy actor, from the Carry On films! Always playing a clumsy arrogant fool! Great days of entertainment!!! 🙂🌻💛🙏

[@ponchoman49]

Another enjoyable Hertnell episode and with some humorous moments thrown in. The scene where the Monk trapped the Doctor and offered him something to drink only to have it thrown back in his face were a joy

[@CharlieInDaUK]

#throwbackthursday The seventh doctor falls and gets locked at the top of the stairs as the dalek elevates up. Please!

[@josephheston9238]

It's smaller on the inside.

[@vitaliylomanoff1759]

That's Right.

[@NateSean]

1st Doctor: Ah yes, I'll trap my enemy in time. I bet this idea will never occur to me again. Now where did I put that chameleon circuit?

[@tobi_dfwt8226]

haha 3rd doctor go brr

[@diamondaxe4133]

The Axons: am I a joke to you?

[@madabbafan]

Peter Butterworth was brilliant as the monk

[@CamilleonProductions]

"You know, I'm getting used to the idea of being a crew member on a time machine." "You'll be lucky! He's the crew, we're just the passengers!" My favourite ever moment from my favourite ever story, with my favourite ever male companion. Thanks Doctor Who for putting up my request!

[@SuperDuperJamer]

Heck yeah! Another clip from the First Doctor! :D

[@LordSlarr]

Ah, one of my favorite Hartnell episodes, an excellent story. If only the Monk would one day return...

[@nzrockboi]

Maybe Twelve should go see if he's ok

[@hazelnik]

He returned in the 12-Part Dalek's Master Plan and later met the Eighth Doctor with a new face after regenerating in the Big Finish New Eighth Doctor Adventures series.

[@metaldave08096]

This was an awesome episode!!

[@buhe1]

I wonder if this episode made viewers who saw it when it first aired question on whether or no the Doctor invented the Tardis like he claimed.

[@TheProfessor230]

The episode mentions that the monk was from 50 years in the Doctor's future so it was possible that he still invented the tardis. Of course knowing what we know now, the doctor stole the TARDIS

[@bradleywillard2361]

#Throwbackthursday The scene from Doctor Who The Movie (1996) where the doctors operate on the Seventh Doctor in hospital after he's been shot

[@delabarcel]

#ThrowbackThursday The Doctor and The Master speaks with the Draconian emperor from "Frontier in Space" Part Five

[@OddOneOut665]

I'd love it if they brought The Monk back and revealed him to be a 'Lost' face of The Master or something...

[@001Geoff]

As a child I remember this episode when it was first transmitted.

[@the_alex_ellis_channel6923]

Carry-On actor Peter Butterworth playing the Monk!

[@BrendanJSmith]

The Monk is the definition of Chaotic Neutral.

[@dwaugh2215]

Had no idea Peter butterworth as in it, I seen him in the other films such as the Carry On series

[@sheridan5175]

2:37 I think that's when he realised what the doctor had done, he was just in denial LOL

[@wynnefox]

Calling it now: The Monk returns.

[@orko4185]

Would like that.

[@ArnimSommer]

Not: Return to The Monk?

[@stephenmurphy2212]

In series 8?

[@ehruparelia]

Has that got anything to do with the doctor's own TARDIS struggling to maintain its size in the set pictures?

[@montiellopezbeatriz4796]

yes that he deserves more stories like the master except the monk is not exactly evil

[@Tomthestarhartnell]

Fun Fact: The Hartnell family used to be the lords of the Somerset Devonshire area, Hartnell deriving from HartKnoll meaning Stag Hill The Hartnells lost the territory and their title during the Norman conquest. William's mother moved to London where she lives with her cousin and her child Norman, they raised them alongside each other. My theory, is that this episode was based off of Williams attempts at finding his family and his family's history, and his dream of what if he could go back and restore their name? (Many members of his family moved to Canada the year he was born and didn't even hear about his story, I just recently tracked down the names and found all of this out)

[@stephenmurphy2212]

"Monks are not cool!"

[@ManhattanMadneSSSMusic]

#sotrue

[@zacmumblethunder7466]

Those cliff top scenes were beautifully done, with the scudding clouds and wind.

[@elisabethkelley5745]

it's like the opposite of the thing that happened in "flatline"

[@AndrewChapman]

"Oh, am I glad to see that old police box again?" I have a feeling that I could be saying that in a not too distant future.

[@daemonartursson7159]

Marounded a virtual immortal at one of the turning points in British and world history. . the possibilities

[@jb47vintage]

I love these clips of the First Doctor.

[@Lythgoemania]

Oh, I love this story. Certainly one of Hartnell's finest.

[@kalvingoodlaxson]

I would love to see the Monk back, and set the story during the Borgia Family's reign in Italy. It would be interesting of how the Monk would try to change the course of history again during that time period.

[@blainea8398]

Could the monk be "The Master?" That's my only reaction...

[@Artisan1979]

I think it would be a great idea for the new doctor to revisit this episode; given that this time Lord with the same regeneration cycle, it will be interesting to do a follow up.

[@LibraGamesUnlimited]

I remember reading the novelisation of this story years ago. I pictured the inside of his TARDIS being much, much smaller. Looks to me like he could just squeeze the doors and try to fix it. Of course there wouldn't be a whole lot of room inside and it might not be possible to fix but I don't wonder that he could at least get in enough to set coordinates for a more advanced location and fix it there. Then again maybe not. Either way it might be about time for him to reappear. Seems like the TImelords recalled all of their kind home for the Time War so maybe they got him too and perhaps in the turmoil and fighting he stole another TARDIS and took off again. Of course he would need a better name than Time Meddler and he would likely need to regenerate and be recast.

[@LibraGamesUnlimited]

neonbabyblue . I actually bought a whole slew of novelizations of various episodes from a half price book store years ago. There were like 20 or 30 of them and this just happened to be one of them. Not even sure I knew anything about the episode before I read the book as this was pre-internet and I don't think our local PBS station ever aired episodes this far back or, if they did, I never saw them. I would like to see this one however, given the chance.

[@GhostLightPhilosophy]

So he stranded a time meddler in the time he was meddling in?

[@fab42355]

❤ the ending praise 🙌

[@ShamrockParticle]

Up next, "Carry On Marooned"! Peter Butterworth, known for his roles in Carry On films, really excels as the Meddling Monk. Plays well off of Hartnell too. 👍

[@yellowshadow115]

#throwbackthursday amy almost turning into a weeping angel

[@Brainwave101]

CLASSIC who smart one

[@FisherKing9633]

Well, we’ve gotten the Toymaker back, any chance the Monk could return? Played by Matt Berry maybe? Big Finish’s Monks were pretty good too, Rufus Hound and Graeme Garden.

[@AnthonyGrain--]

Just finished this episode and I wanted o watch this scene!

[@joebrennan230]

I've seen all of Hartnell's episodes and this is one of my favourites

[@brichards71993]

same. i think steven and vicki are underrated as companions too.

[@homeworld1765]

+Ben Richards Me too

[@thegoombrat8198]

Omg I wonder if this inspired flatline. In this episode the exterior is normal but the Tardis console is tiny whereas in flatline the exterior is tiny but with a normal console.

[@naruto199797]

Wish we would see the monk back on the show at some point

[@Lythgoemania]

#throwbackthursday The scene with Vincent in the art gallery from Vincent And The Doctor.

[@psycoticbastard]

Funny showing this seeing the Tardis shrinks in season 8.

[@shiloh6519]

But Doctor! you can't condemn me to exile on one primitive planet, in one century of time!

[@paulharries9558]

The Monk gets his Monk on.

[@Zombie9Slayer]

The Monk needs to Return

[@rami_ungar_writer]

One of these days I'm going to have to watch that serial.

[@brichards71993]

do it. it's really good.

[@TZER0]

The Monk used to scare the heck out of me when I was younger.

[@nickloschen2717]

The Monk's TARDIS is so small now!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@Artisan1979]

I sincerely hope that the 13th doctor revisit this Monk. I noticed how in the lock down stories that she has we visited some of her previous incarnations choices. Could this be one of them?

[@terryperring104]

''Lets stand here and describe some expensive special effects!''

[@MrWolly18]

#ThrowbackThursday Zoe smashes a vase over Gorton's head in The War Games

[@thomasstevens2746]

Love this story it's so underated

[@aidanjack03]

Why do all the TARDISES make the same noise The Doctor's TARDIS makes?

[@TheEleventhWheatley]

They're all TARDISes?

[@GoldLight73]

I guess everyone just forgets and leaves the breaks on.

[@WillowFalls]

Well, why change it? They worked really hard to get that sound. Besides, it's a wonderful sound.

[@rubiopaul]

Probably the TARDIS factory , needs to make a TARDIS recall , to get the brakes fixed , just like Toyota and GM

[@Whofan06]

The Eleventh Wheatley technically yes, though i don't think they're officially reffered to that way. apparently Susan came up with it if i remember right.

[@PhilDrury]

Centuries later in another encounter.... "The Doctor! Stark raving mad - the lot of them! What's this on my console? Strawberry moose?"

[@odetteswann7694]

Strawberry mooooose!!

[@Night-man123]

1066 to 2022 can you live that long 🤣 956 years

[@AmelityshTV]

Susan Triad is the Monk. Prove me wrong (Unless the episode has already come out and I'm wrong)

[@Framzer]

morooned!!

[@NakedSnowAngels]

I think this monk is Ms. Flood in the new series and she led Isaac Newton to discover Mavity.

[@kyoya6181]

So The Monk is actually one of The Master's incarnations?

[@Artisan1979]

It would be interesting to see the 13th doctor return to this particular time lord

[@samuelbedsole5089]

And to think, the Monk has been stranded on the ice world the Doctor had stranded him on for goodness know how many years or centuries. The Monk might not even be aware Gallifrey was destroyed and that the Time Lord's are pretty much extinct- and he missed all of it. After all that time alone, I imagine he would've gone a bit insane. Imagine the Doctor stumbling across that same ice world, let's say after the Doctor picks up a TARDIS distress signal, and runs into the Monk again. The Monk, now thirsty for revenge, finally escapes and goes on to meddle with history again- this time with more malicious intents, or even forcing the Doctor to correct the timeline so that the worst of atrocities could occur so as not to corrupt future events, thus challenging the Doctor's morals and her companions' opinion of them.

[@levimeister101]

#ThrowbackThursday The 4th Doctor witnesses Romana regenerate (over and over again).

[@GregTheGamer123]

This is one of my favourite stories actually. Maybe the monk was the master before he came to Earth...

[@montiellopezbeatriz4796]

he wasn´t , he was friend of the doctor and the master , and he stole a tardis 50 years after the doctor run away from gallifrey

[@doctorwhofan1989]

Good job taking Greendude's channel off of Daily Motion. Now it's even harder to gain access to the classics.

[@JustAFilmGuy]

Cynicalguy89 Buy the DVDs and don't be cheap.

[@OldTelivisionRocks]

Then buy Hulu+ they have all that are available I think...or close to it.

[@OldTelivisionRocks]

catandfishfc well then do the free trial and then cancel. Just be sure to watch it all in a month!

[@hugodrax71]

Why am I waiting for the Monk to say "pound"?

[@azurerainbow4637]

The Meddling Monk was unreasonable when The Doctor couldn't persuade him to stop meddling with history for his own evil schemes. That's why The Doctor removed The Monk's dimensional control which made it difficult to get inside his TARDIS. But The Doctor had later ran into him again a few stories later.

[@LordZontar]

The Monk wasn't evil as much as irresponsible. He operated along what he thought were good intentions but was utterly heedless of the damage to history he could cause. He genuinely believed he was going to achieve some constructive purpose by securing the Saxons in their rule of England and introducing science and technology earlier than in actual history, on his assumption that Harold Godwinson would make a better king than Duke William of Normandy and also prevent several wars arising from the claims over France he evidently saw as playing a role in retarding human progress through the Medieval period.

[@mrdreadley]

From the days when the budget was so large and also when having daleks on actually meant somebody actually died.

[@krathoon2338]

They even played around with the dimensions way back then.

[@Cryten1974]

Can't help but wonder if the line that includes "Master plan" was a hint (even if it was not intended at the time) for The Doctors enemy The Master and the Monk was one of his incarnations. Living through the ages till a time that he had enough technology to reverse what The Doctor had done to his TARDIS and we next saw him played amicably by Roger Delgado.

[@DarthAzabrush]

The Monk appears in the McGann audio series and there is a nice little nod to that fan theory "Doctor: You know there were times when thwarting your meddling that I thought you some younger version of the Master. Monk: Really Doctor? I'm insulted: That thug is as far from me as he is from you. Doctor: Yes, never far enough"

[@Cryten1974]

Ian Warner Which audiobook? I thought I'd listened to them all.

[@DarthAzabrush]

Cryten1974 Not sure I saw reference to it on Grahame Garden's page. He was the replacement for Peter Butterworth

[@SecondDigitOfPi]

...although doesn't he next show up in The Dalek's Master Plan?

[@TheValeyard92]

Cryten1974 Ian Warner Graeme Garden plays the Monk in The Book of Kells, Deimos/The Resurrection of Mars, and Lucie Miller/To the Death. Speaking for myself, I never really held with the theory that the Monk is the same person as the Master. The Monk - albeit a dangerous, amoral one - is more a bumbling, jovial mischief-maker. The Master is an evil, sadistic megalomaniac.

[@VividSause]

Love this story

[@thomasfluskey5922]

The size of the Tardis seams similar to a new New Who EP with Peter Capidi

[@vanimapermai]

The could still fit in that it would be a bit of a squeeze but he'd still fit in the control room

[@h0lly_blue]

#ThrowbackThursday "You put a hole in my TARDIS?!" from The Ribos Operation.

[@disdanzafilm]

And theres the character prototype for the Master before he was the real Master played by Delgado was introduced.

[@devranhasan4969]

I think we should have the meddling monk back and the rani and romana as well

[@JeremyDuncan]

I love this episode. I own it and i want the monk to return.

[@jamiehartley5941]

#ThrowbackThursday the motorbike chase scene with the Ogrons from Day of the Daleks

[@MaxPSVR]

This is the guy who I think ended up becoming the master

[@TheRonanTGaming]

Does anyone else want the clip of the Doctors speech about death in Closing Time? When he's talking to Craig. #throwbackthursday

[@JacobBobb]

#ThrowbackThursday "Do I Have the Right?" Genesis of the Daleks.

[@Madesic]

marooned, MAROOOOOONED! in 1066.. lol

[@witchitalineman1523]

Carry on Doctor!

[@pollinger1967]

Steven is so cute omg

[@The_Capri_Kid]

Strange to see Peter Butterworth not in a Carry On film!

[@azurerainbow4637]

Too bad the Meddling Monk didn't think of having his TARDIS locked so that the Doctor wouldn't sabotage it after he couldn't persuade the evil renegade from interfering history for his own plans.