The third day of Christmas, 27th December, is the Feast of St. John, Apostle and Evangelist.
St. John the Evangelist, is traditionally thought to be the only one of the twelve disciples who did not die a martyr. Born in Bethsaida, he was called while mending his nets to follow Jesus. He became the beloved disciple of Jesus. He is traditionally accredited with writing the Gospel of John, the Johannine epistles, and the Book of Revelation. However, the authorship of the Johannine works: has been debated by biblical scholars since at least the 2nd century AD. The debate focuses mainly on the identity of the author(s), as well as the date and location of authorship of these writings.
If King Edward had been warned of his upcoming death by the Legend of the Ring of St John as related in the Life of Edward, then this day must have been of particular significance to him. King Edward was still conscious and capable of speech up to the dedication of the church on the 28th of December. This was the fourth day of his final illness.
William the Bastard claimed, post conquest, that King Edward had made him heir to the English throne. If Edward had been sickening since October and had received a prophecy of his upcoming death that had prompted the rush to complete the abbey and dedicate it at Christmas, why was William, as the intended heir, not in attendance?
Why was William surprised to receive the news of Edward's death and King Harold's coronation? There was sufficient time during the twelve days of Christmas for messengers to travel to Normandy with news of Edward's decline and for William to rush to his bedside. Why did this not happen? The post-conquest accounts do not address this, they give no explanation for William's absence or for the failure of King Edward to call for his so-called heir.
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