The Expensive Pig

Edward Savage, the famous warlock of Llangurig, was born at Felin Fawr in the year 1759. He was a farmer, a skilled gunsmith and herbalist, and his knowledge of black magic was extensive. People from all parts of Wales called at Felin Fawr to consult Edward Savage; some offered him a great deal of money to curse their real or imagined enemies, while other wanted spells that had been cast upon them removed. His fees for raising the dead were very high indeed for those times - two gold coins, nothing else was acceptable, but then not many asked for this service. The idea being that the corpse was called from the grave to terrify persons whom the customers thought had wronged them. It can be imagined that some of the resurrected would be skeletons, enough to scare the bravest souls. In the main though most of the callers at Felin Fawr wanted herbal or magical cures for themselves or their families, and usually they received their money's worth. One day in the year 1792 a farmer called upon Edward Savage to ask advice about a very expensive boar he had bought. He was convinced it had been bewitched as it frequently ran its head against the wall of the sty, it then rolled about moaning. His friend had urged on him to call on the wizard Savage that very day and not delay, as the animal had cost much money. After hearing of the animals actions Edward Savage agreed the pig was indeed bewitched. "Oh please sir, help me. I have paid a golden coin for this pig." Begged the man almost in tears. The wizard felt sorry for him and said: "I know who has bewitched your pig, you will know who it is by morning; and I will cure the pig for you." Savage never wasted words; his instructions were always terse. He gave the man a mixture of herbs saying: "Pour water on these and then force the mixture down the pig's throat." The farmer knew how difficult it was to dose a full-grown pig, particularly a boar, but he had some friends to help him. Edward Savage then went into the house and sat down to write a spell. Soon he came out and gave the piece of paper to the farmer saying " rub this paper up and down the pig's tail, and then put the paper into a crack in the pig's sty. Take a few bristles off the pig, put them in a heavy vessel in some water, then keep them boiling all night, an in the morning the witch will arrive." Then ending the conversation he said "That will be a sliver coin. Good day!" It certainly proved far from easy to treat the pig, which was a massive, vicious boar. It took three of the man's friends and himself to carry out Edward Savage's strange instructions. The animal's screams could be heard half a mile away. It sounded as is it was being killed not being dosed. It resisted the treatment fiercely. Savagely biting the legs of two of the helpers. After dosing the pig the farmer thanked his friends and they left. The farmer, after putting the pig's old bristles in an old iron pot of boiling water, drew himself a mug of ale. Fetched some bread and cheese and sat down by the fire. He decided to stay awake till dawn to keep the pot boiling. He began to wonder if the witch was male or female, and why anyone would curse a pig. "Oh well, I shall find out in the morning" he said to himself as he had total faith in Edward Savage, and his powers. Next morning a woman neighbour called early waking the farmer who had dozed off with a start. While talking to the woman he remembered something else Savage had said. "You will know who is the witch for she will not have slept all night." His neighbour then said "Farmer bach (dear farmer), I haven't slept a wink all night. The old toothache has been bothering me." Out to the sty rushed the farmer, and there was his valuable pig as fit as it could be looking for food. When he got back into the house the witch had gone. He kept well away from her from then on. He often wondered though if she knew Savage had said she was a witch. The famous Edward Savage died in 1849 and his wife a year later. Both are buried in Llangurig churchyard where their gravestone is still visible.

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