Cornish legends: The tasks of Jan Tregeagle
By zteve t evans
Jan Tregeagle is a name that is known all over Cornwall. In Cornish folklore he is considered the wickedest man that ever lived. His cries and wails can be heard when the wind howls through the trees and woods, across the bleak, cold moors and along the rugged coasts as he struggles to complete the task alotted to him. Like the Wandering Jew who is doomed to an eternity of endless, restless wandering, Tregeagle must work to complete hopeless tasks until Judgement Day when he will be brought before the Almighty for for release, or endless condemnation as the Lord shall see fit.
Example of a Faustian pact
The Faustian Pact
Around the world there are many legends and stories from diverse cultures that tell the story of how a person sells their soul to the devil in return for riches, power or long life. To begin with things go well as the seller reaps the benefits of the Faustian pact. However, the devil does not forget and there comes a time when he has to be paid. The story of how of Jan Tregeagle, a Cornishman, sold his soul to the devil is one such story.
As is often the case with legends there are a number of different versions that vary by location and who is telling the story and this version is influenced by others. Even so the Faustian theme of a person selling their soul to the devil and the reluctance of the seller to honor the bargain when the time comes remains, as well as the setting of a series of impossible tasks to keep that person on earth until the Judgement Day.
Many people think Jan Tregeagle was a real man who was a magistrate who may have lived and worked in 17th century Cornish town of Bodmin. By evil means, including cheating an orphan from their rightful inheritance, he had acquired great wealth and to help him fulfill his desire for riches he made a pact with the devil.
Tregeagle repents!
However, as he grew older and his days grew shorter he began to realize the enormity of the pact. He grew fearful and full of remorse for his wicked behavior and his life of sin. In an attempt to get out of his bargain with the devil he poured money into the church and gave much money to the poor in the hope that the clergy would pray to God for his deliverance from the devil. Even though the priests knew of his pact with the they felt obliged by their calling to try to save him. Therefore, they united to perform prayers and exorcisms in an attempt to prevent the devil claiming the soul of Jan Tregeagle. Inevitably he died and was said to be buried in Saint Breock Church, near Wadebridge, but the devil does not forget his pacts easily.
The ghost of Jan Tregeagle
A short time after he died there was an important lawsuit that came to court involving land that had been said to have been illegally obtained by Tregeagle by the forging of a document. The judge had listened to the case and was set to rule against one of the parties who at the last minute requested to call another witness, none other than the deceased Jan Tregeagle. To the absolute horror of the entire court the thin, shadowy spectre of Jan Tregeagle materialized before them in the witness stand. Needless to say the court emptied quickly as terrified officials and spectators fled.
However, the judge steadfastly refused to flee and questioned the ghostly apparition who answered all questions put to it and admitted obtaining the land by deception. From the testament of the ghost of Jan Tregeagle the judge decided the defendant was not guilty and the case dismissed. Jan Tregeagle had been brought back from the grave and had provided an honest testament proving the defendant's innocence. Even though this had been for a just and worthy cause Tregeagle was now in danger from the devil.
The defendant who had called up his ghost simply left the court leaving it for the clergy of Bodmin to deal with. After a great discussion led by the Prior of Bodmin it was decided that the only possible chance for Jan Tregeagle to rest in peace was for him to wait for the Judgement Day when the Lord may, if it pleased him, bestow everlasting peace on him, or banish him to the confines of hell for all eternity. They decided that to prevent the Hounds of Hell finding him and dragging him off to the Underworld they would set him a task that would keep him busy until Judgement Day as long as he kept unceasingly to that task. This, they decided, although slim, was his only hope of salvation.
Around the world there are many legends and stories from diverse cultures that tell the story of how a person sells their soul to the devil in return for riches, power or long life. To begin with things go well as the seller reaps the benefits of the Faustian pact. However, the devil does not forget and there comes a time when he has to be paid. The story of how of Jan Tregeagle, a Cornishman, sold his soul to the devil is one such story.
As is often the case with legends there are a number of different versions that vary by location and who is telling the story and this version is influenced by others. Even so the Faustian theme of a person selling their soul to the devil and the reluctance of the seller to honor the bargain when the time comes remains, as well as the setting of a series of impossible tasks to keep that person on earth until the Judgement Day.
Many people think Jan Tregeagle was a real man who was a magistrate who may have lived and worked in 17th century Cornish town of Bodmin. By evil means, including cheating an orphan from their rightful inheritance, he had acquired great wealth and to help him fulfill his desire for riches he made a pact with the devil.
Tregeagle repents!
However, as he grew older and his days grew shorter he began to realize the enormity of the pact. He grew fearful and full of remorse for his wicked behavior and his life of sin. In an attempt to get out of his bargain with the devil he poured money into the church and gave much money to the poor in the hope that the clergy would pray to God for his deliverance from the devil. Even though the priests knew of his pact with the they felt obliged by their calling to try to save him. Therefore, they united to perform prayers and exorcisms in an attempt to prevent the devil claiming the soul of Jan Tregeagle. Inevitably he died and was said to be buried in Saint Breock Church, near Wadebridge, but the devil does not forget his pacts easily.
The ghost of Jan Tregeagle
A short time after he died there was an important lawsuit that came to court involving land that had been said to have been illegally obtained by Tregeagle by the forging of a document. The judge had listened to the case and was set to rule against one of the parties who at the last minute requested to call another witness, none other than the deceased Jan Tregeagle. To the absolute horror of the entire court the thin, shadowy spectre of Jan Tregeagle materialized before them in the witness stand. Needless to say the court emptied quickly as terrified officials and spectators fled.
However, the judge steadfastly refused to flee and questioned the ghostly apparition who answered all questions put to it and admitted obtaining the land by deception. From the testament of the ghost of Jan Tregeagle the judge decided the defendant was not guilty and the case dismissed. Jan Tregeagle had been brought back from the grave and had provided an honest testament proving the defendant's innocence. Even though this had been for a just and worthy cause Tregeagle was now in danger from the devil.
The defendant who had called up his ghost simply left the court leaving it for the clergy of Bodmin to deal with. After a great discussion led by the Prior of Bodmin it was decided that the only possible chance for Jan Tregeagle to rest in peace was for him to wait for the Judgement Day when the Lord may, if it pleased him, bestow everlasting peace on him, or banish him to the confines of hell for all eternity. They decided that to prevent the Hounds of Hell finding him and dragging him off to the Underworld they would set him a task that would keep him busy until Judgement Day as long as he kept unceasingly to that task. This, they decided, although slim, was his only hope of salvation.
Dozmary Pool - Public Domain
Remains of a chapel on Roche Rock - by Tony Atkin
Dozmary Pool
Upon Bodmin Moor there is a dark and dismal lake called Dozmary Pool, which was believed to be bottomless and has many mysterious and legendary associations. It was also the place where Bedivere was believed to have thrown Excalibur the famous sword of King Arthur as he lay dying he died after the Battle of Camlan.
The Churchmen decided that the task they would appoint Tregeagle was to empty Dozmary Pool using a limpet shell with a hole drilled in it. Year upon year Jan Tregeagle laboured at the hopeless task until a most violent and terrible storm broke over the lake causing him to momentarily stop work. Ever watchful, the devil sent his demons and Hell Hounds after him. Terrified, Tregeagle fled and in his haste to escape leapt right over Dozmary Pool. The demons and hell hounds could not catch him as they cannot cross water and had to go around the pool in their pursuit, which gave him enough just enough time to reach a small chapel on Roche Rocks, near St Austell. Climbing up he managing to push his head through the small east window with his hellish pursuers hot on his heels.
However, his head was inside the chapel though stuck in the window but his body was hanging outside and his terrible pursuers were below him. On hearing the terrifying howling of the demons and hounds and the terrified screams of Tregeagle for help a priest called upon others of his calling to help him. After delivering prayers and exorcisms they placed holy spells upon his soul and took him to a place on the rugged north Cornish coast near Sennen Cove called Gwenvor. Once there they set him another task to keep him busy until Judgement Day. His task was to weave a truss of sand and then to spin a rope of sand with which he had to bind the truss with. Once this was done he then had to take it to a place called Carn Olva.
Two versions exist which tell a different tale to how the task was finished. According to the first a powerful storm caused waves to destroy all his work. The second version tells how it was so cold one night that Tregeagle poured water onto the sand which froze and allowed him to complete the task. What then followed in both accounts was that the clergy had to summon Saint Petroc for advice. He bound Tregeagle with a strong chain and led him to a place on the Cornish south coast near Helston.
Upon Bodmin Moor there is a dark and dismal lake called Dozmary Pool, which was believed to be bottomless and has many mysterious and legendary associations. It was also the place where Bedivere was believed to have thrown Excalibur the famous sword of King Arthur as he lay dying he died after the Battle of Camlan.
The Churchmen decided that the task they would appoint Tregeagle was to empty Dozmary Pool using a limpet shell with a hole drilled in it. Year upon year Jan Tregeagle laboured at the hopeless task until a most violent and terrible storm broke over the lake causing him to momentarily stop work. Ever watchful, the devil sent his demons and Hell Hounds after him. Terrified, Tregeagle fled and in his haste to escape leapt right over Dozmary Pool. The demons and hell hounds could not catch him as they cannot cross water and had to go around the pool in their pursuit, which gave him enough just enough time to reach a small chapel on Roche Rocks, near St Austell. Climbing up he managing to push his head through the small east window with his hellish pursuers hot on his heels.
However, his head was inside the chapel though stuck in the window but his body was hanging outside and his terrible pursuers were below him. On hearing the terrifying howling of the demons and hounds and the terrified screams of Tregeagle for help a priest called upon others of his calling to help him. After delivering prayers and exorcisms they placed holy spells upon his soul and took him to a place on the rugged north Cornish coast near Sennen Cove called Gwenvor. Once there they set him another task to keep him busy until Judgement Day. His task was to weave a truss of sand and then to spin a rope of sand with which he had to bind the truss with. Once this was done he then had to take it to a place called Carn Olva.
Two versions exist which tell a different tale to how the task was finished. According to the first a powerful storm caused waves to destroy all his work. The second version tells how it was so cold one night that Tregeagle poured water onto the sand which froze and allowed him to complete the task. What then followed in both accounts was that the clergy had to summon Saint Petroc for advice. He bound Tregeagle with a strong chain and led him to a place on the Cornish south coast near Helston.
His next task
Saint Petroc then set him a new task of moving all the sand off of the beach below Berepper and carrying it across the River Cober estuary to Portleven until only the bare rock that lay under the sand remained. Saint Petroc knew full well that the task was impossible because the sand would be carried back with every tide, but for Tregeagle to have any chance of redemption he had to be kept working until Judgement Day.
Now the devil is patient and does not give up easily and he set his demons and Hell Hounds the task of watching Tregeagle for a chance to drag him to hell. To move the sand Tregeagle would shovel it into a great sack and carry it on his back across the river. One day as he was struggling across the river carrying the huge sack of sand a demon tripped him up. Tregeagle stumbled over spilling all of the sand into the river which blocked the flow of water creating what is now known as Loe Pool and the dam of sand which is now known as Loe Bar which also has other myths and legends associated with it.
Saint Petroc then set him a new task of moving all the sand off of the beach below Berepper and carrying it across the River Cober estuary to Portleven until only the bare rock that lay under the sand remained. Saint Petroc knew full well that the task was impossible because the sand would be carried back with every tide, but for Tregeagle to have any chance of redemption he had to be kept working until Judgement Day.
Now the devil is patient and does not give up easily and he set his demons and Hell Hounds the task of watching Tregeagle for a chance to drag him to hell. To move the sand Tregeagle would shovel it into a great sack and carry it on his back across the river. One day as he was struggling across the river carrying the huge sack of sand a demon tripped him up. Tregeagle stumbled over spilling all of the sand into the river which blocked the flow of water creating what is now known as Loe Pool and the dam of sand which is now known as Loe Bar which also has other myths and legends associated with it.
Nanjizal Bay by Jim Champion
The third task
Luckily for the soul of Jan Tregeagle the clergy begged the saints to intervene and a third labour was set him in the hope of keeping him working until Judgement Day when he would at least have a slim chance of salvation. For this task he was taken around the headland of Tol-Pedn-Penwith to Nanjizal Bay, which is also known as Mill Bay, to Porthcurno Cove, not far from Land's End. Here he was given the hopeless task of sweeping the sand from the cove. Hopeless because the sand is quickly replenished by tides and currents.
The devil never forgets!
To this day he is now trying to sweep the sand from Porthcurno Cove and it is said that on on cold, dark winter nights you can hear Tregeagle wailing and howling at his hopeless task as he labours away until Judgement Day. The legend of Jan Tregeagle is a warning about the danger of selling your soul to the devil, for he never forgets!
© 20/01/2015 zteve t evans
Luckily for the soul of Jan Tregeagle the clergy begged the saints to intervene and a third labour was set him in the hope of keeping him working until Judgement Day when he would at least have a slim chance of salvation. For this task he was taken around the headland of Tol-Pedn-Penwith to Nanjizal Bay, which is also known as Mill Bay, to Porthcurno Cove, not far from Land's End. Here he was given the hopeless task of sweeping the sand from the cove. Hopeless because the sand is quickly replenished by tides and currents.
The devil never forgets!
To this day he is now trying to sweep the sand from Porthcurno Cove and it is said that on on cold, dark winter nights you can hear Tregeagle wailing and howling at his hopeless task as he labours away until Judgement Day. The legend of Jan Tregeagle is a warning about the danger of selling your soul to the devil, for he never forgets!
© 20/01/2015 zteve t evans
References and Attributions
Copyright January 20th, 2015 zteve t evans
Copyright January 20th, 2015 zteve t evans
- Dozmary Pool - Public Domain
- File:Roche Rock - geograph.org.uk - 54566.jpg Wikimedia Commons - Author: Tony Atkin - Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.0 Generic licence
- File:Sandy beach in Nanjizal Bay (or Mill Bay) - geograph.org.uk - 526237.jpg From Wikimedia Commons - Author Jim - Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.0 Generic licence
- Jan Tregeagle - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
- Jan Tregeagle | Mysterious Britain & Ireland
- Legend of Jan Tregeagle | Cornwall Guide
- Cornish Saints and Sinners: The Tale of Jan Tregeagle
