John Schorne, Gentleman Born, Conjured the Devil into a Boot
‘Master,’ ‘Maister’ or ‘Sir’ John Schorn(e), Rector of North Marston, Buckinghamshire died in 1314, reputed to have possessed miraculous powers of healing sickness in both animals and humans.
His most infamous miracle was when he conjured the devil into a boot! A second legend recounts the time when struck the ground with his staff from which a spring gushed forth. The water was said to be excellent for curing the ‘ague’ (malaria) and gout!
Following his death in the 14th century, his shrine became the third most popular after Canterbury & Walsingham – yet, mysteriously, he remained uncanonised!
This talk will seek to illustrate the circumstances for his non-canonisation, of how his bones were ‘translated ‘to St George’s Chapel at Windsor and how his ‘territory of grace’ spread out to encompass the south of England.
Speaker Bio
Wayne Perkins is an archaeologist of 23 years with a special interest in apotropaic graffiti, folklore and concealed objects recovered from ancient buildings.
Don’t worry if you miss it – we will send you a recording valid for two weeks the next day.
