William of Newburgh
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'''William of Newburgh''' ([[1136]]? – [[1198]]?), also known as William Parvus, was a [[English historians in the Middle Ages|12th century English historian]] and [[Augustinian canon]] from [[Bridlington]], [[Yorkshire]].
==William of Newburgh==
His major work was ''Historia rerum Anglicarum'' (''History of English Affairs''), a history of England from 1066 to 1198. The work is valued by historians for detailing [[The Anarchy]] under [[Stephen of England]]. It is written in an engaging fashion and still readable to this day, containing many fascinating stories and glimpses in to 12th-century life.
The nineteenth-century historian [[Edward Augustus Freeman]] expressed the now-outdated opinion that William was "the father of historical criticism"{{fn|1}}. Newburgh saw his own work as being based on reliable sources, unlike [[Geoffrey of Monmouth]]'s ''History of the British Kings'', of which Newburgh was critical, saying "only a person ignorant of ancient history would have any doubt about how shamelessly and impudently he lies in almost everything".{{fn|2}} He criticized Geoffrey for writing a history that conflicted with the accounts found in the writing of [[Bede]].
Because belief in souls returning from the dead was common in the 12th century, Newburghs ''Historia'' briefly recounts stories he heard about [[medieval revenant|revenant]]s, as does the work of [[Walter Map]], his southern contemporary. Although they form a minor part in each work, these folklore accounts have attracted attention within [[occultism]].{{fn|3}} He also described the arrival of [[green children of Woolpit|green children]] from "St. Martin's Land" (I.27) and other mysterious, wondrous occurrences. While he says that these have an apparent signification, he does not explain what that meaning might be.
He also composed a lengthy Marian exposition on the Song of Songs and three sermons on liturgical texts and Saint Alban.
==See also==
*[[William Fitz Osbern (1196)]] - The story of William Fitz Osbern, from William of Newburgh's historical account.
*[[Wimund (bishop)]] - The story of Wimund the bishop, from William of Newburgh's historical account.
*[[Medieval revenants]] - The story of those souls who return from the dead, from William of Newburgh's historical account.
==Sources==
* [http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/basis/williamofnewburgh-intro.html ''The History of English Affairs''] Online excerpts, as part of ''The Church Historians of England, volume IV, part II''; translated by [[Joseph Stevenson]] (London: Seeley's, 1861). Spelling modernized 1999 by Scott McLetchie.
* ''The History of 'William of Newburgh' (1066-1194)'', Joseph Stevenson (Translator), LLanerch Press, 1996, ISBN 1-86143-013-2, This is believed to be the Seeley's 1861 version as seen above, without Scott McLetchie's spelling updates.
* ''Chronicles of the Reigns of Stephen, Henry II and Richard I.'' Edited by Richard Howlett. [[Rolls Series]] no. 82. London, 1884-9. Books 1-4 of William's history appear in volume 1, book 5 in volume 2. Most recent complete source.
* ''The History of English Affairs, Book I (Medieval Latin Texts)'', by William, P.G. Walsh, M.J. Kennedy, 1988, ISBN 0-85668-304-3, Book I only.
==Footnotes==
*{{fnb|1}} [[Edward Augustus Freeman]], ''Contemporary Review'', vol. XXXIII (1878), p. 216.
*{{fnb|2}}''Historia rerum Anglicarum'', [http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/basis/williamofnewburgh-one.html#preface Book I, Preface], Retrieved Jan. 2005
*{{fnb|3}}see [[Medieval revenants#References]]
==External links==
* [http://www.bartleby.com/211/0910.html Latin Chroniclers from the Eleventh to the Thirteenth Centuries: '''William of Newburgh'''] from ''[[The Cambridge History of English and American Literature]]'', Volume I, 1907–21.
* [http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/basis/williamofnewburgh-intro.html Books I to V of Newburgh's 'History'] from the Medieval Sourcebook
[[Category:1130s births]]
[[Category:1190s deaths]]
[[Category:12th century writers]]
[[Category:12th century English people]]
[[Category:Medieval historians]]
[[Category:English historians]]
[[Category:People from Bridlington]]
[[la:Willelmus Neuburgensis]]
[[no:William av Newburgh]]
[[ru:Вильям Ньюбургский]]