Vampires of Great Britain

by Tom Slemen

  Early English Vampires

  Of all the forms of interaction between the living and the dead, visitation by a vampire is the most loathsome. Some occultists debate whether a vampire is truly alive, with a conscious mind of the type you and I possess, or whether it is as ‘alive’ as a parasitic virus or a thirsty mosquito that is devoid of a conscience, living solely to siphon off the life-blood of its human host. I believe that vampires have varying degrees of consciousness, ranging from the type of perception a maggot may have of its surroundings, right up to the standards of awareness that are characteristic of the human mind. Of course, some people simply believe that vampires do not exist at all, based on what we vaguely term as ‘common sense’. Religious people may believe that a man cannot rise from his grave after dark, yet accept that the founder of Christianity did such a thing at the Resurrection. That is not to say that Jesus was a vampire, but it does throw some light on the way our belief-system works. It would seem that from the large amount of data I have accumulated on vampires, they are mostly cryptobiotic – that is to say, they possess an ametabolic state of life which responds to environmental conditions such as freezing, desiccation, and even oxygen deficiency. In other words, the vampire can possibly survive underwater, can live much longer in a hostile desert condition than the most robust of humans, and could even be revived after years of being encased in ice. This cryptobiosis is evident in some of the lower organisms such as the incredible Tardigrade, a tiny segmented creature that looks like a microscopic bear with its bulky body and four pairs of stumpy legs and claws. Tardigrades can live in hot springs, in the snows of the Himalayas, at the bottom of the ocean, and can even endure an intense bombardment of X-Rays (one thousand times the dose that is lethal to humans). Not only can the Tardigrade survive in the vacuum of space, it can also ‘suspend’ its metabolism indefinitely through dehydration and ‘come back to life’ decades later. In recent years a piece of moss in a museum was hydrated after 170 years and Tardigrades from the 1880s were found to have revived themselves. Scientists are currently studying the Tardigrade to see if they can learn how to store human organs designated for transplants for long periods. The DNA of these incredible creatures is also being scrutinised with a view to understanding how it might one day be possible to perhaps create a human who could be both as resilient and virtually immortal as the Tardigrade. Perhaps nature has already combined the genetic codes of a branch of the human tree with that of a DNA akin to the Tardigrade – and produced the vampire as a result. There are some strange skulls with overdeveloped fangs that have been found in the earth which refuse to be pigeon-holed as pro-simian or proto-human by the anthropologist. The theory of evolution maintains that all the plants and animals existing today descended from species that existed before them, and in 1859, Charles Darwin introduced a very controversial theory about the origins of the human race in his landmark book, Origin of Species – that homo sapiens were descendants of an apelike ancestor. In recent years, Darwin’s theory of evolution has been questioned by new freethinkers who have pointed out many weak points in the Darwinian hypothesis. There are over 312 physical traits that set humans apart from apes and chimpanzees. We have to take into consideration our virtual hairlessness, our upright way of walking, the complete helplessness of human infancy, our lengthy childhood, and the biggest problem confronting Darwin’s theory: the human brain. The brain is one-forty-fifth our body weight. The gorilla has a brain that is one-two-hundredth its body weight. With the exception of the dolphin, our brain is bigger in gross size than any other mammal. According to Darwin, nature never over-endows a creature with more than its basic requirements, yet the cubic capacity of the human brain (which ranges from 1200 to 1800 cc) is in excess of the size needed for everyday survival and procreation. Nature never over-endows a species beyond the demands of everyday existence, yet the human brain has faculties and a cubic capacity far beyond its needs. According to Darwinian theory, mankind should only concern itself with hunting, survival and procreation, yet we have poetry, art, music, literature – things that are a superfluous luxury in our day-to-day struggle for survival. We have a brain that put people on the moon and split the atom, but where did that incredible brainpower come from? Darwin’s theory cannot answer that question. What if Darwin was wrong? Perhaps mankind was created by a higher intelligence, as many religions claim, and perhaps there were different versions and prototypes of human; those that were active by day, and those that preferred the night to go about their business. We could call these two contrasting versions of homo sapiens diurnals (daytime people) and nocturnals (night-time people).

  For thousands of years, the nocturnal vampire is said to have existed in one form or another, and according to ancient Occult lore, one of the earliest recorded vampires was Lilith, the first wife of Adam – as described in the Talmud. In this alternative version of Genesis, God created Lilith not from the dust he had fashioned Adam from, but from filth and sediment. Adam and Lilith never found peace as a couple; for when he wished to lie down with her, she took offence at the recumbent posture that he demanded. 'Why must I lie beneath you?' she complained, and reminded Adam of their common origins: 'I also was made from dust, and am therefore your equal.'

  Because Adam tried to enforce her obedience, Lilith uttered the magic name of God in a rage, rose into the air and left him to be with Lucifer. In essence then, the quarrel was simply this; that Lilith preferred to stand over Adam, but God wanted the male to be the dominant one in the relationship.

  'I have been deserted by my helpmeet' Adam complained to his Creator, and God at once sent forth the angels Senoy, Sansenoy and Semangelof to fetch Lilith back, and at the Red Sea, which coursed through a region abounding in lascivious demons, they finally found her. Lilith gave birth to the Lilim at the rate of more than one hundred a day. Perhaps these ancient legends are referring to the early origins of the vampire. This book is about the vampires of England, and some of the earliest references to the bloodthirsty undead are to be found in the works of two medieval writers, Walter Map and William of Newburgh. Walter Map (c.1137-1209) was a Welsh poet and ecclesiastic who had studied at the University of Paris and also became a prominent clerk in the royal household of Henry II. He wrote about many anecdotes and trivia he had accumulated during his travels in De Nugis Curialium (Trifles of Courtiers). This work contained a mixed bag of odd stories about demonic infanticide, the capture of Jerusalem by Saladin, a comparison of the royal courts with Hell, an early king of Portugal who had his wife murdered, and amongst Map’s satirical anecdotes, trivia, and the accounts of court gossip, there are several early tales of English vampires. Writing in the 12th century, Map recounts the curious story of a “wicked man” of Hereford who rose from his grave at night to wander the streets, crying out the names of people he had known when he was alive. The people he called out for became sick and subsequently died within three days from a mysterious fever. Gilbert Foliot, the Bishop of Hereford (and later the Bishop of London) was consulted, and deciding that the ghoul was a vampire revenant – a corpse animated by the Devil – he gave specific instructions to a band of men to lay the creature to rest. ‘Dig up the body and cut off the head with a spade, then sprinkle it with holy water and rebury it.’

  This was attempted but the holy water had no marked effect and the spinal column of the vampire proved too hard to sever. The creature staggered about for a while, then crawled back into its open grave. Before it could claw the earth over its temporary resting place, one of the villagers was brave enough to make a last-ditch attempt at killing the vampire. With all his might he brought down the blade of his sword on the revenant, splitting its skull open. The vampire gave out a strange guttural sound and slumped face down into its grave for good. Holy water and vinegar were then sprinkled on the grave, which was later marked with a Christian cross to prevent the fiend from rising again. In another of the chapters of De Nugis Curialium Walter Map recounts a chilling tale of a vampiric demon. A knight discovers that hi
s newborn baby has had its throat cut from ear to ear, hours after its birth. The knight recoils in horror at the sight of his first child lying in its blood-soaked cradle, and cannot discover who has perpetrated the evil deed. The same grisly fate befalls the knight’s next two children, and so, after the birth of the fourth child, a vigil is kept. Torches are lit all over the household and many friends and relatives of the knight keep a close watch on the room where the newborn babe is sleeping in his cradle. An impoverished stranger arrived at the knight’s house seeking hospitality, and was invited into the premises to enjoy a drink, a simple meal, and a place by the fireside. To repay the knight for his hospitality, the stranger agreed to remain awake all night to keep a vigil on the new baby. One by one, the other people of the vigil soon started to fall asleep, but the stranger kept his word and refused to succumb to sleep. In the wee small hours of the morning, the stranger saw ‘a most worthy and honourable matron’ appear in the room, hunched over the cradle. She held the baby by its throat. The guest rushed across the room to apprehend the woman and raised the alarm as he did, waking the people who had lapsed into slumber. Walter Map states that this female child-killer was ‘the noblest of the most respected matrons’ of the city, but he does not identify this wealthy woman who is held in great esteem. The stranger held onto this cruel and murderous woman, and all of a sudden, her double entered the room, looking exactly the same as the child-killer in facial features and even in the clothes she wore. The stranger was a evidently a very perceptive man who was quite knowledgeable in the Occult, for he suddenly announced to the knight and his confused household

  There can be no doubt that the lady who has now come is very virtuous and very dear to heaven, and that by her good works she has stirred hell and provoked the anger of devils against her, and so this evil messenger of theirs, this loathsome instrument of their wrath, has been fashioned as far as possible in the likeness of this noble lady, that this demon may cause this noble soul to be accused of the guilt of her heinous deeds. And in order that you may believe, see what she will do after I release her.

  The stranger let go of the struggling doppelgänger of the virtuous lady, and she raised her arms and seem to metamorphose into some winged creature which flapped its wings frantically and flew through the window. This was one of the earliest accounts of a shape-shifting vampire of the kind that was reported many times in the following centuries.

  William of Newburgh (1136-1208) was an English chronicler, a canon in the Augustinian priory at Newburgh in the North Riding of Yorkshire, and one of the chief authorities concerning the reign of Henry II. Within his work, Historia Rerum Anglicarum (History of English Affairs) which covers the period from 1066 to 1198, there are three intriguing accounts of vampiric beings, in chapters 22 , 23 and 24 of Book 5, reproduced here:

  Chapter 22

  n 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 the 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.

  And here is the next chapter, which describes another report of a possible vampire:

  Chapter 23

  In the northern parts of England, also, we know that another event, not unlike this and equally wonderful, happened about the same time. At the mouth of the river Tweed, and in the jurisdiction of the king of Scotland, there stands a noble city which is called Berwick. In this town a certain man, very wealthy, but as it afterwards appeared a great rogue, having been buried, after his death sallied forth (by the contrivance, as it is believed, of Satan) out of his grave by night, and was borne hither and thither, pursued by a pack of dogs with loud barkings; thus striking great terror into the neighbours, and returning to his tomb before daylight. After this had continued for several days, and no one dared to be found out of doors after dusk -- for each dreaded an encounter with this deadly monster -- the higher and middle classes of the people held a necessary investigation into what was requisite to he done; the more simple among them fearing, in the event of negligence, to be soundly beaten by this prodigy of the grave; but the wiser shrewdly concluding that were a remedy further delayed, the atmosphere, infected and corrupted by the constant whirlings through it of the pestiferous corpse, would engender disease and death to a great extent; the necessity of providing against which was shown by frequent examples in similar cases. They, therefore, procured ten young men renowned for boldness, who were to dig up the horrible carcass, and, having cut it limb from limb, reduce it into food and fuel for the flames. When this was done, the commotion ceased. Moreover, it is stated that the monster, while it was being borne about (as it is said) by Satan, had told certain persons whom it had by chance encountered, that as long as it remained unburned the people should have no peace. Being burnt, tranquillity appeared to be restored to them; but a pestilence, which arose in consequence, carried off the greater portion of them: for never did it so furiously ra
ge elsewhere, though it was at that time general throughout all the borders of England, as shall be more fully explained in its proper place.

  In the chapter that follows this, William documents the ghoulish activities and violent end of a vampiric friar:

  Chapter 24

  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.