Martin and the Green Children

Abstract

Click to increase image sizeClick to decrease image size Notes [1] The Latin texts are in Ralph of Coggeshall's Chronicon Anglicanum (1875, 118–20), and William of Newburgh's Historia Rerum Anglicarum (1988, 114–17)—the latter edition includes an English translation. Translations presented here are my own. [2] Various published attempts to identify the “real” St Martin's Land are irrelevant here—one should simply note that there is no lack of candidates. [3] The miracle is recounted in a letter from the treasurer of Tours cathedral to Archbishop Phillip of Cologne (1167–94). [4] A seventeenth-century report from the Greek island of Amorgos of five or six vrykolakes (vampire-like animated corpses) seen eating beans in a bean-field (Lawson 1910 Lawson, John Cuthbert. 1910. Modern Greek Folklore and Ancient Greek Religion: A Study in Survivals, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. [Google Scholar], 368) is hardly substantive evidence for widespread belief! [5] However, Briggs seems to have taken note of it. She comments (1970, 95) that the Green Children “lost their green colour and became mortal people after they had eaten mortal food” (my italics). [6] Indeed Walsh makes this proposition explicit (if tentative) in his contribution on “Harvest Festivals and Rituals” in Lindahl, McNamara, and Lindow (2000, 466): “it may well be that the Corn Spirit […] is peeking through as a palimpsest in the records of elite culture.” Additional informationNotes on contributorsJohn ClarkAs contributions to this section, the Editors welcome comment and debate on topical issues or on recent articles or reviews appearing in the journal. Shorter accessibly written items of general interest, reports on work in progress, notes and queries are also welcome.