William of Newburgh

William of Newburgh, also known as William Parvus, was an English historian and Augustinian canon of Anglo-Saxon descent from Bridlington, East Riding of Yorkshire. He lived from 1136 to 1198. William experienced the Jewish pogroms in York in the late 12th century, commenting that the violence stemmed more from greed than religious zeal. He also composed works on the Song of Songs and liturgical texts. His most significant work is the 'Historia rerum Anglicarum' ('History of English Affairs'), a history of England from 1066 to 1198 written in Latin. This work is highly regarded by historians for its detailed account of 'The Anarchy' during the reign of Stephen of England. The 'Historia' is noted for its engaging style and valuable glimpses into 12th-century life. It is a primary source for stories of medieval revenants, which have parallels to vampire beliefs, and is the sole source for information about the bishop-pirate Wimund. While later considered by some, like Edward Augustus Freeman, as a pioneer of historical criticism, William himself maintained a loyal but critical stance towards English kings, notably describing King John as 'nature's enemy'. He was critical of Geoffrey of Monmouth's 'Historia Regum Britanniae', deeming it unreliable and contradictory to established historical accounts. William's work also includes accounts of folklore, such as the arrival of the green children from 'St. Martin's Land', presented with a critical and questioning tone, reflecting the common beliefs of his time about souls returning from the dead.