Annus Dominus 1287. Western Gate, Swansea
John lifted his eyes from the gibbet and groaned at the stench. The De Braose family had trusted him with captaining the hanging party: he could smell a traitor and a murderer. William, as leader of the Oystermouth Castle Revolt, was both. If the cross beam had not buckled under the weight of that other Judas, the second hanging would have been avoided; John would have had the time to take his victuals – time denied due to William’s obstinacy in reviving… twice.
He reported to Lady Mary de Braose that evening. “Yes Ma’am, definitely dead. I myself witnessed Cragh releasing through both lower passages the natural waste emitted by hanged men when they die.”
He described how on testing for life by inserting his tongue into William’s bloodied mouth the sensation was of an icicle, how the dead man’s face was totally black, tongue swollen and hanging out, neck and throat scarred, nostrils full of blood, and the eyeballs popped-out and hanging down on the cheekbones. Any taking of breath was impossible.
Mary de Braose had in his presence prayed to St Thomas. As her words ascended, a foot moved, the eyes returned to their sockets. William drew breath and sat up.
Thus ended Welsh Wars 1.
Annus Dominus 1307. Hereford Cathedral
John of Baggenham, Seneschal of Swansea Castle, in reply to the translator’s enquiry as to who he was, whether a Welsh translator was needed and what Willian had said.
No sire. I speak French and peasant Welsh.
‘Ods Bodikins, awakening a condemned man from the eternal slumbers. It’s a witch hunt.’ forgive my blasphemous repetition. Then I saw a calculating look gather in his bloodied eyes. ‘A miracle! a miracle!’ His words were echoed and amplified by the crowds.
It was I who measured the body with twine, I who organised the wax melting and I who fashioned the taper. I then escorted that scabious traitor on his 3 day pilgrimage to Hereford. He travelled on foot.. unshod feet at that… and insisted on wearing the hanging noose… as penance!
The smell of melting wax cloyed our nostrils long before we summited the final hill. As we descended towards the Cathedral’s spire shouts of <Thomas, Thomas> crescendoed.
All folk consider it a miracle of St Thomas, assisted by the intercession of My Gracious Lady. William claimed to have prayed to St Thomas in the castle’s cell. I am doubtful; more likely it was part of a bigger business plan.
A successful business plan. A small mountain of votive wax offerings had to be disposed of each day. Worth its weight in gold … literally. Liturgical disagreements erupted as to its disposal. Brother Pious swept the chapel floor each morning, in preparation for the ascent of Thomas, now elevated to Saint Thomas, to the pulpit.
William and Pious were oft seen in conversation. Thomas began wearing silken hose and breeches adorned with gold thread and precious gems.
Thus ended Wax Wars 11.
REFERENCES
- The resuscitation of the twice-hanged man: miracles and the body in mediaeval Swansea
by Harriet Webster. https://medievalswansea.ac.uk/en/the-story/the-twice-hanged-william-cragh/index.html
2. 1200-1300 The De Breos Years. https://www.swansea.gov.uk/debreosyears?/lang=en
