Piers Shonks, the Lord of Pelham, had had enough of the dragon laying waste to his lands. The dragon itself lived in a cave underneath an ancient yew tree in the village, and Piers rode out from his moated house (some versions of the story include references to “winged hounds”) to slay the beast. After an epic encounter, Piers landed the mortal blow by thrusting his lance down the dragon’s throat.
Unfortunately for Piers, the story didn’t end there. No sooner had he killed the dragon, the devil himself appeared. He was none too happy with Piers, who had just killed his favorite pet. He cursed Piers to eternal damnation, and vowed to claim Piers’ soul “be ye buried within a church or with-out.”
Years went by and Piers lay on his deathbed, having not forgotten the devil’s promise. His final wish to his servants was to be buried wherever his arrow landed. So Piers strung his bow one last time and loosed his arrow, which sailed out of his window, across the village, into the church and lodged in the wall. And so Piers was buried inside the wall of the church. In doing so he had bested the devil once again—as he was neither buried inside nor outside the church, the devil could not claim his soul.
The tomb of Piers Shonks can still be seen inside the church of St. Mary in Brent Pelham in Hertfordshire, his hometown. As the inscription on his tomb makes clear, Piers was a true hero. Unlike St George, whose own dragon slaying myth leaves no trace, Piers Shonks bravery and cunning has left a legacy in the form of a proud but simple tomb in the corner of a quiet church in the peaceful Hertfordshire countryside.
