William had the itch
[1140-1209]
William of Bourges was a vegetarian from the illustrious family of the ancient Counts of Nevers. He liked irritating his skin with a hair shirt so much that in his final hours, he asked his fellow monks to place his beloved haircloth on the ground, sprinkle some ashes on it (maybe in the shape of a cross), and lay his dying, naked body on it, like the most pathetic of altars.