Yorkshire Oddities, Incidents, and Strange EventsBaring-Gould, S. (Sabine)
History
Yorkshire Oddities, Incidents, and Strange Events
Baring-Gould, S. (Sabine)
Legends -- England -- Yorkshire; Yorkshire (England) -- Miscellanea
He received sentence, and on March 27th was hung on the gallows, outside
Micklegate Bar, York. There were no houses there at that time--it was
open country. After he had remained swinging for three-quarters of an
hour, and was to all appearance dead, he was cut down, and buried near
the place of execution. The officers of justice had accomplished their
work carelessly in both particulars, as it afterwards transpired, for he
had been neither properly hung nor properly buried.
Earth has a peculiarly invigorating and restorative effect, as has been
recently discovered; and patients suffering from debility are by some
medical men now-a-days placed in earth baths with the most salutary
effects. In the case of gangrened wounds a little earth has been found
efficacious in promoting healthy action of the skin. John Bartendale was
now to experience the advantages of an earth-bath.
That same day, in the afternoon, a gentleman, one of the Vavasours of
Hazlewood, was riding by, when he observed the earth moving in a certain
place. He ordered his servant to alight; he himself descended from his
horse; and together they threw off the mould, and discovered the
unfortunate piper alive. He opened his eyes, sat up, and asked where he
was, and how he came there. Mr. Vavasour and his servant helped him out
of his grave, and seated him on the side. The man was sent for water and
other restoratives, and before long the news had spread about down
Micklegate that the poor piper was come to life again. A swarm of
wondering and sympathising people poured out to congratulate John the
Piper on his resurrection, and to offer their assistance. A conveyance
was obtained, and as soon as Bartendale was in a sufficient condition to
be moved, he was placed in it, covered with Mr. Vavasour's cloak,--for
he had been stripped by the executioner before he was laid in the
earth--and was removed again to York Castle.
It was rather hard that the poor fellow, after he had obtained his
release, should have been returned to his prison; but there was no help
for it. The resurrection of the piper was no secret; otherwise Mr.
Vavasour would doubtless have removed him privately to a place of
security till he was recovered, and then have sent him into another part
of the country.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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