The Albiggensian Chronicles Lettre 5

A Story by Patches I'm not so new anymore.

28 decembre 1217

Your Excellency:

May our new year be blessed with success and this horrible chapter in history brought to a swift and satisfactory conclusion. My dear uncle I had hoped to be back with you by Epiphany but that my lord is most unlikely. My wound is slow in healing. Dr. Amery is hesitant to begin the Moorish medical procedure, I have, however urged him to get on with it but he keeps putting it off saying that he has yet to receive approval by the bishop which as we all know is slow in coming. He also hems and haws about having a difficult time accquring the necessary supplies to begin. I asked what was needed , he replied that what was needed would be in abundance once spring came and the weather warmed.

I do not know what to think, I am eager to get back but Dr. Amery says that unril the wound heals he will not discharge me from his care. It is still hard for me to walk without assistance.

I think that if the good Dr. would open the sickroom curtains so that the sun could enter, or that I be allowed out into the fresh air a few hours a day the leg would heal a whole lot faster but then I am not a Dr. and so trust my phyician is doing the right thing.

Finally my lord! Dr. Amery has been able to get the necessary supplies thanks to the brief warm spell we experenced here recently.

Your Excellency will never guess what the good Dr. has done---he has brought housefly maggots and placed them into the wound channel saying that they will eat the pitrid flesh of the wound leaving the helthy healined tissue alone and that I should start to heal faster after the larvae are removed.

The treatment seems to be working as I am able to stand now and make my way to the chamber pot with no or little assistance. Soon I shall be able to ride again and rejoin you in camp.

Your Servant

Captain Raphael de Estange