In August 1614 A pamphlet by a London bookseller called John Trundle named "True and Wonderfull- A Discourse Relating to a Strange and Monstrous Serpent" was published which claimed many had seen the serpent [otherwise known as a dragon] in St Leonard's Forest. One John Steele, Christopher Holder and a Widow Woman dwelling nere Faygate "can certifie the truth of all that has been here related".
Until 2006 it was believed that the booklet was only a single sheet but recent research has turned up a copy which has proved it to be twenty pages long. It goes into great and glorious detail describing how the beast has slaughtered both men and beasts with its venom. It is described as about nine feet long with a white ring around its neck, black scales on its back and a red underbelly.
The dragon story was widely known at the time and a few weeks after the discourse it was reported that it had either been killed or had died. One wonders what people were seeing or perhaps they had had a small beer too many. Our local museum has put together a small exhibition in commemoration of this local piece of history which I dropped into recently. Excuse the poorer quality photos....sadly this time Mr GBT was conspicuous by his absence!
Arilx
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