Salutations All!

 

Hayfield, Derbyshire

                Here is another report from SO Addy. This is taken from his book, Household Tales, published in 1895. In Hayfield, Derbyshire during the 16^th century, all the dead about the old village chapel rose in unison. Despite the date, it is more likely that this was a mass grave for flood victims that are recorded as being buried in 1754 in a letter written by Reverend Dr James Clegg, the minister of nearby Chapel-en-le-Frith. Here’s what the good reverend had to say:

… on the last day in august, several hundreds of bodies rose out of the grave in the open day… to the great astonishment and terror of several spectators. They deserted the coffin, and rising out of the grave, immediately ascended directly to heaven, singing in content all along as they mounted thro’ the air; they had no winding sheets, about them, yet did not appear quite naked, their vesture seem’d streak’d with gold, interlaced with sable, skirted with white, yet thought to be exceedingly light by the agility of their motions, and the swiftness of their ascent. They left a most fragrant and delicious odour behind them, but were quickly out of sight…

                This might be an exaggeration or even an outright fictionalisation by a member of the clergy to enforce the idea of the resurrection in a sermon. If it is true, an exaggeration or an old fiction that’s gone down into local legend, then what can I say, it’s still fun.

                I would like to finish this article with a bit of vampire folklore. Similar occurrences have happened throughout Europe – and other areas of the world – throughout recorded history. People have been curious about the whys and wherefores of the dead reappearing above ground. All I can say for certain is that after death, it’s common for a body to bloat up with its own gases. Thus, drowned and forgotten bodies rise to the surface of their watery grave and in mass graves where numerous corpses swell, it’s possible for the surface of the ground to rupture and the dead underneath to break forth.

Of the prodigy of the dead man, who wandered about after burial

Salutations all!

Here's the next in my brief series on William of Newburgh and the 'true medieval horror' in his History of English Affairs.

Again, I will be adding this to the pages on the right named after the writer.

Of the prodigy of the dead man, who wandered about after burial

                This is the first of the segments from the History of English Affairs by William of Newburgh. This history, written over the period of a couple of decades, always surprises me. If you can get a copy of the original text and read the introduction, William tries to stand by the facts as they’re presented to him with very little speculation. His neutrality is more comparable with academic texts of a much more modern age than the 12^th century that this was written in; yet, it does have the feel of a Hammer Horror film.

I hope that you enjoy it.

In these days a wonderful event befell in the county of Buckingham, which I, in the first instance, partially heard from certain friends, and was afterwards more fully informed of by Stephen, the venerable archdeacon of that province. A certain man died, and, according to custom, by the honourable exertion of his wife arid kindred, was laid in the tomb on the eve of the Lord's Ascension. On the following night, however, having entered the bed where his wife was reposing, he not only terrified her on awaking, but nearly crushed her by the insupportable weight of his body. The next night, also, he afflicted the astonished woman in the same manner, who, frightened at the danger, as the struggle of the third night drew near, took care to remain awake herself, and surround herself with watchful companions. Still he came; but being repulsed by the shouts of the watchers, and seeing that he was prevented from doing mischief, he departed. Thus driven off from his wife, he harassed in a similar manner his own brothers, who were dwelling in the same street; but they, following the cautious example of the woman, passed the nights in wakefulness with their companions, ready to meet and repel the expected danger. He appeared, notwithstanding, as if with the hope of surprising them should they be overcome with drowsiness; but being repelled by the carefulness and valour of the watchers, he rioted among the animals, both indoors and outdoors, as their wildness and unwonted movements testified.

Having thus become a like serious nuisance to his friends and neighbours, he imposed upon all the same necessity for nocturnal watchfulness; and in that very street a general watch was kept in every house, each being fearful of his approach unawares. After having for some time rioted in this manner during the night-time alone, he began to wander abroad in daylight, formidable indeed to all, but visible only to a few; for oftentimes, on his encountering a number of persons, he would appear to one or two only though at the same time his presence was not concealed from the rest. At length the inhabitants, alarmed beyond measure, thought it advisable to seek counsel of the church; and they detailed the whole affair, with tearful lamentation, to the above-mentioned archdeacon, at a meeting of the clergy over which he was solemnly presiding. Whereupon he immediately intimated in writing the whole circumstances of the case to the venerable bishop of Lincoln, who was then resident in London, whose opinion and judgment on so unwonted a matter he was very properly of opinion should be waited for: but the bishop, being amazed at his account, held a searching investigation with his companions; and there were some who said that such things had often befallen in England, and cited frequent examples to show that tranquillity could not be restored to the people until the body of this most wretched man were dug up and burnt. This proceeding, however, appeared indecent and improper in the last degree to the reverend bishop, who shortly after addressed a letter of absolution, written with his own hand, to the archdeacon, in order that it might be demonstrated by inspection in what state the body of that man really was; and he commanded his tomb to be opened, and the letter having been laid upon his breast, to be again closed: so the sepulchre having been opened, the corpse was found as it had been placed there, and the charter of absolution having been deposited upon its breast, and the tomb once more closed, he was thenceforth never more seen to wander, nor permitted to inflict annoyance or terror upon any one.

Salutations all!

Here's a book shop dear to my heart. It's Scarthin Books in Cromford, Derbyshire. I remember visiting it as a child, where I would search through the books that sprawled over the three floors - including the stairwells - of the shop. Even the café was filled with them. I even go up now with the same sense of childlike glee - I found my first set of Sexton Blake originals there over Christmas. But they need help. Check out http://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/scarthin-books-needs-your-help/ and for more information about the shop itself, visit www.scarthinbooks.com

The 'Hundeprest' or Hound Priest

Salutations All!

Here's my first extract from William of Newburgh's History of English Affairs from the 12th century. I'll also be placing it in the William of Newburgh page to the right for your further reference.

Of certain prodigies

 Here's a moderately long extract from the History of English Affairs by William of Newburgh. This is tale from the late 12th century that, though longer, I found such fun. This story is from the Monastery of Melrose in Northumbrian and concerns the death and un-death of a chaplain nicknamed the Hundeprest or Hound Priest. Watch out for the, "corpse, swollen to an enormous corpulence," that spurts a, "stream of blood that... might have been taken for a leech filled with the blood of many persons."

Melrose Abbey, the province of the Hound priest

Skeletons

It would not be easy to believe that the corpses of the dead should sally (I know not by what agency) from their graves, and should wander about to the terror or destruction of the living, and again return to the tomb, which of its own accord spontaneously opened to receive them, did not frequent examples, occurring in our own times, suffice to establish this fact, to the truth of which there is abundant testimony. It would be strange if such things should have happened formerly, since we can find no evidence of them in the works of ancient authors, whose vast labour it was to commit to writing every occurrence worthy of memory; for if they never neglected to register even events of moderate interest, how could they have suppressed a fact at once so amazing and horrible, supposing it to have happened in their day? Moreover, were I to write down all the instances of this kind which I have ascertained to have befallen in our times, the undertaking would be beyond measure laborious and troublesome; so I will fain add two more only (and these of recent occurrence) to those I have already narrated, and insert them in our history, as occasion offers, as a warning to posterity.

A few years ago the chaplain of a certain illustrious lady, casting off mortality, was consigned to the tomb in that noble monastery which is called Melrose. This man, having little respect for the sacred order to which he belonged, was excessively secular in his pursuits, and -- what especially blackens his reputation as a minister of the holy sacrament -- so addicted to the vanity of the chase as to be designated by many by the infamous title of "Hundeprest," or the dog-priest; and this occupation, during his lifetime, was either laughed at by men, or considered in a worldly view; but after his death -- as the event showed -- the guiltiness of it was brought to light: for, issuing from the grave at night-time, he was prevented by the meritorious resistance of its holy inmates from injuring or terrifying any one with in the monastery itself; whereupon he wandered beyond the walls, and hovered chiefly, with loud groans and horrible murmurs, round the bedchamber of his former mistress. She, after this had frequently occurred, becoming exceedingly terrified, revealed her fears or danger to one of the friars who visited her about the business of the monastery; demanding with tears that prayers more earnest than usual should be poured out to the Lord in her behalf as for one in agony. With whose anxiety the friar -- for she appeared deserving of the best endeavours, on the part of the holy convent of that place, by her frequent donations to it -- piously and justly sympathized, and promised a speedy remedy through the mercy of the Most High Provider for all.

Thereupon, returning to the monastery, he obtained the companionship of another friar, of equally determined spirit, and two powerful young men, with whom he intended with constant vigilance to keep guard over the cemetery where that miserable priest lay buried. These four, therefore, furnished with arms and animated with courage, passed the night in that place, safe in the assistance which each afforded to the other. Midnight had now passed by, and no monster appeared; upon which it came to pass that three of the party, leaving him only who had sought their company on the spot, departed into the nearest house, for the purpose, as they averred, of warming themselves, for the night was cold. As soon as this man was left alone in this place, the devil, imagining that he had found the right moment for breaking his courage, incontinently roused up his own chosen vessel, who appeared to have reposed longer than usual. Having beheld this from afar, he grew stiff with terror by reason of his being alone; but soon recovering his courage, and no place of refuge being at hand, he valiantly withstood the onset of the fiend, who came rushing upon him with a terrible noise, and he struck the axe which he wielded in his hand deep into his body. On receiving this wound, the monster groaned aloud, and turning his back, fled with a rapidity not at all interior to that with which he had advanced, while the admirable man urged his flying foe from behind, and compelled him to seek his own tomb again; which opening of its own accord, and receiving its guest from the advance of the pursuer, immediately appeared to close again with the same facility. In the meantime, they who, impatient of the coldness of the night, had retreated to the fire ran up, though somewhat too late, and, having heard what had happened, rendered needful assistance in digging up and removing from the midst of the tomb the accursed corpse at the earliest dawn. When they had divested it of the clay cast forth with it, they found the huge wound it had received, and a great quantity of gore which had flowed from it in the sepulchre; and so having carried it away beyond the walls of the monastery and burnt it, they scattered the ashes to the winds. These things I have explained in a simple narration, as I myself heard them recounted by religious men.

Another event, also, not unlike this, but more pernicious in its effects, happened at the castle which is called Anantis, as I have heard from an aged monk who lived in honour and authority in those parts, and who related this event as having occurred in his own presence. A certain man of evil conduct flying, through fear of his enemies or the law, out of the province of York, to the lord of the before-named castle, took up his abode there, and having cast upon a service befitting his humour, laboured hard to increase rather than correct his own evil propensities. He married a wife, to his own ruin indeed, as it afterwards appeared; for, hearing certain rumours respecting her, he was vexed with the spirit of Jealousy. Anxious to ascertain the truth of these reports, he pretended to be going on a journey from which he would not return for some days; but coming back in the evening, he was privily introduced into his bedroom by a maid-servant, who was in the secret, and lay hidden on a beam overhanging, his wife's chamber, that he might prove with his own eyes if anything were done to the dishonour of his marriage-bed. Thereupon beholding his wife in the act of fornication with a young man of the neighbourhood, and in his indignation forgetful of his purpose, he fell, and was dashed heavily to the ground, near where they were lying.

The adulterer himself leaped up and escaped; but the wife, cunningly dissembling the fact, busied herself in gently raising her fallen husband from the earth. As soon as he had partially recovered, he upbraided her with her adultery, and threatened punishment; but she answering, "Explain yourself, my lord," said she; "you are speaking unbecomingly which must be imputed not to you, but to the sickness with which you are troubled." Being much shaken by the fall, and his whole body stupefied, he was attacked with a disease, insomuch that the man whom I have mentioned as having related these facts to me visiting him in the pious discharge of his duties, admonished him to make confession of his sins, and receive the Christian Eucharist in proper form: but as he was occupied in thinking about what had happened to him, and what his wife had said, put off the wholesome advice until the morrow -- that morrow which in this world he was fated never to behold! -- for the next night, destitute of Christian grace, and a prey to his well-earned misfortunes, he shared the deep slumber of death. A Christian burial, indeed, he received, though unworthy of it; but it did not much benefit him: for issuing, by the handiwork of Satan, from his grave at night-time, and pursued by a pack of dogs with horrible barkings, he wandered through the courts and around the houses while all men made fast their doors, and did not dare to go abroad on any errand whatever from the beginning of the night until the sunrise, for fear of meeting and being beaten black and blue by this vagrant monster. But those precautions were of no avail; for the atmosphere, poisoned by the vagaries of this foul carcass, filled every house with disease and death by its pestiferous breath.

Already did the town, which but a short time ago was populous, appear almost deserted; while those of its inhabitants who had escaped destruction migrated to other parts of the country, lest they too should die. The man from whose mouth I heard these things, sorrowing over this desolation of his parish, applied himself to summon a meeting of wise and religious men on that sacred day which is called Palm Sunday, in order that they might impart healthful counsel in so great a dilemma, and refresh the spirits of the miserable remnant of the people with consolation, however imperfect. Having delivered a discourse to the inhabitants, after the solemn ceremonies of the holy day had been properly performed; he invited his clerical guests, together with the other persons of honour who were present, to his table. While they were thus banqueting, two young men (brothers), who had lost their father by this plague, mutually encouraging one another, said, "This monster has already destroyed our father, and will speedily destroy us also, unless we take steps to prevent it. Let us, therefore, do some bold action which will at once ensure our own safety and revenge our father's death. There is no one to hinder us; for in the priest's house a feast is in progress, and the whole town is as silent as if deserted. Let us dig up this baneful pest, and burn it with fire."

Thereupon snatching up a spade of but indifferent sharpness of edge, and hastening to the cemetery, they began to dig; and whilst they were thinking that they would have to dig to a greater depth, they suddenly, before much of the earth had been removed, laid bare the corpse, swollen to an enormous corpulence, with its countenance beyond measure turgid and suffused with blood; while the napkin in which it had been wrapped appeared nearly torn to pieces. The young men, however, spurred on by wrath, feared not, and inflicted a wound upon the senseless carcass, out of which incontinently flowed such a stream of blood that it might have been taken for a leech filled with the blood of many persons. Then, dragging it beyond the village, they speedily constructed a funeral pile; and upon one of them saying that the pestilential body would not burn unless its heart were torn out, the other laid open its side by repeated blows of the blunted spade, and, thrusting in his hand, dragged out the accursed heart. This being torn piecemeal, and the body now consigned to the flames, it was announced to the guests what was going on, who, running thither, enabled themselves to testify henceforth to the circumstances. When that infernal hell-hound had thus been destroyed, the pestilence which was rife among the people ceased, as if the air, which had been corrupted by the contagious motions of the dreadful corpse, were already purified by the fire which had consumed it. These facts having been thus expounded let us return to the regular thread of history.

 Salutations all!

As  a start to a brief series, here's a brief biography of William of Newburgh. He was a great guy, read it. 

Because of my thorough enjoyment of his work, as well as because I have found him to be quite an inspiration, here is a brief biography of the 12^th century historian, William of Newburgh. I plan to upload some of the most fantastical –and possibly true – extracts of his most famous work as time goes by. But in the meantime, I hope you enjoy the following.

William of Newburgh was a 12^th century historian who covered the history of England between the Norman Conquest and his death in roughly 1198. Both his birth date and death date are unclear, but he is thought to have been born in 1136. Also known as William Parvus, Guilelmus Neibrigensis, Wilhelmus Neubrigensis and Willelmus de Novoburgo, he was also an Augustinian Canon from Bridlington, Yorkshire.

He is most famous for his work as a historian and his magnum opus was the History of English Affairs, or the Historia rerum Anglicarum, which covered the period of 1066 and 1198.

This book is a major source for its details about The Anarchy under King Stephen of England and also covers how King Richard the Lionheart’s absence from his throne affected Britain. It holds accounts that many have found fascinating – including myself – about life in the 12^th century. The History of English Affairs is a prime source for stories of medieval Revenants – Western European vampires – as well as being the only source of information about Wimund, the only pirate bishop who held the Diocese of the Isle of Man. I am amazed at its ease of reading and engaging fashion.

Edward Augustus Freeman, the 19^th century historian championed William of Newburgh as ‘the father of historical criticism’, though this is now an out dated opinion. Though, I personally have found that William of Newburgh’s articles compare with much of the research that I have done. I find his neutrality refreshing for an academic of his period.

I will admit to being proved wrong. William of Newburgh is very critical of King John – who ruled in Richard the Lionheart’s place during the early Crusades – who he describes as ‘nature’s enemy’.

On a side note, I found it curious that in the History of English Affair’s coverage of the reign of King John there is no mention of a certain Robin Hood. Nor have I found there to be any episodes of interest or references to anyone or anything that could be construed as this National Hero or his activities.

Newburgh is thought to have based his work on reliable sources. In fact, William of Newburgh rails against those that don’t follow this principal. He reasons that if a history text isn’t, then how can it be classed as a history. Specifically he snipes at Geoffrey of Monmouth – who popularised the exploits of King Arthur, his Knights of the Round Table and Merlin. Newburgh says about Monmouth’s Historia Regum Britanniae: “only a person ignorant of ancient history would have any doubt about how shamelessly and impudently he lies in almost everything.” On of William’s primary chagrins is that Geoffrey of Monmouth’s history conflicts with the accounts of the Venerable Bede’s in almost every way.

Much like a Northern Walter Mapp – of whom he was a contemporary – Newburgh’s history is peppered with stories he has heard about Revenants. Stories about the dead returning were popular during this period as the belief that souls could return from their grave was surprisingly common at during this period. Although they are a small part of his work, they are popular with those interested in the occult and with folklore.

There are other stories recorded in William’s history about acts of God and the supernatural, such as when two suns were seen over Northern France. Though he expresses a conviction that these events have significance, he doesn’t go into them with any detail. He regularly says that it is not his place to question or critique these too deeply. Though he expresses a genuine astonishment and amazement at these episodes, I think that this shows his wish to stay with the facts in the face of the fantastical.

In later days, he composed an exposition on the Biblical book, the Song of Songs and three sermons on both liturgical texts and also Saint Albans. For those of a Christian persuasion, these are well worth searching for.

I will be occasionally posting extracts from William of Newburgh’s History of English Affairs. I hope that these ‘true episodes of historical horror’ meet curious eyes.

The full version of the History of English Affairs can be found at http://legacy.fordham.edu/halsall/basis/williamofnewburgh-intro.asp