The Green Children of Woolpit

From the History of William of Newburgh:

Nor does it seem right to pass over an unheard of prodigy which, as is well known, took place in England during the reign of king Stephen. Though it is asserted by many, yet I have long been in doubt concerning the matter, and deemed it ridiculous to give credit to a circumstance supported on no rational foundation, or at least one of a very mysterious character; yet, at length I was so overwhelmed by the weight of so many and such competent witnesses that I have been compelled to believe, and wonder over a matter, which I was unable to comprehend, or unravel, by any powers of intellect.
In East Anglia there is a village, distant, as it is said, four or five miles from the noble monastery of the blessed king and martyr, Edmund; near this place are seen some very ancient cavities, called “Wolfpittes“, that is, in English, “Pits for wolves,” and which give their name to the adjacent village. During harvest, while the reapers were employed in gathering in the produce of the fields, two children, a boy and a girl, completely green in their persons, and clad in garments of a strange colour, and unknown materials, emerged from these excavations.
While wandering through the fields in astonishment, they were seized by the reapers, and conducted to the village, and many persons coming to see so novel a sight, they were kept some days without food. But, when they were nearly exhausted with hunger, and yet could relish no species of support which was offered to them, it happened, that some beans were brought in from the field, which they immediately seized with avidity, and examined the stalk for the pulse, but not finding it in the hollow of the stalk, they wept bitterly. Upon this, one of the bystanders, taking the beans from the pods, offered them to the children, who seized them directly, and ate them with pleasure.
By this food they were supported for many months, until they learnt the use of bread. At length, by degrees, they changed their original colour, through the natural effect of our food, and became like ourselves, and also learnt our language. It seemed fitting to certain discreet persons that they should receive the sacrament of baptism, which was administered accordingly. The boy, who appeared to be the younger, surviving his baptism but a little time, died prematurely; his sister, however, continued in good health, and differed not in the least from the women of our own country. Afterwards, as it is reported, she was married at Lynne, and was living a few years since, at least, so they say.
Moreover, after they had acquired our language, on being asked who and whence they were, they are said to have replied, “We are inhabitants of the land of St. Martin, who is regarded with peculiar veneration in the country which gave us birth.” Being further asked where that land was, and how they came thence hither, they answered, “ We are ignorant of both those circumstances; we only remember this, that on a certain day, when we were feeding our father’s flocks in the fields, we heard a great sound, such as we are now accustomed to hear at St. Edmund’s, when the bells are chiming; and whilst listening to the sound in admiration, we became on a sudden, as it were, entranced, and found ourselves among you in the fields where you were reaping.”
Being questioned whether in that land they believed in Christ, or whether the sun arose, they replied that the country was Christian, and possessed churches; but said they, “ The sun does not rise upon our countrymen; our land is little cheered by its beams; we are contented with that twilight, which, among you, precedes the sunrise, or follows the sunset. Moreover a certain luminous country is seen, not far distant from ours, and divided from it by a very considerable river.”
These, and many other matters, too numerous to particularize, they are said to have recounted to curious inquirers. Let every one say as he pleases, and reason on such matters according to his abilities; I feel nor egret at having recorded an event so prodigious and miraculous.
Source: The History of William of Newburgh, trans. Rev. Joseph Stevenson, 1856, p. 436-437

Summary

Two mysterious green children appear in the village of Woolpit, near Bury St Edmunds. They claim to hail from a twilight Crhistian realm named St Martin's Land. The boy soon dies, but his youner sister thrives, loses her green colour, and is eventually married.

Historical Basis

Historian Paul Harris, in The Green Children of Woolpit: A 12th Century Mystery and its Possible Solution, (Moore, Steve (ed.), Fortean Studies: No. 4, 1998) suggests the children may have been Flemish immigrants suffering from hypochromic anaemia (green sickness). Many Flemish came to East Anglia in the middle of the 12th century. The children may have become lost; and would not have spoken English, and their Flemish clothing may have seemed strange to the folk of Woolpit.

Variations & Mutation

The story of the Green Children is also told by Ralph of Coggeshall, writing in the 1220s, who adds additional details.
According to Ralph, the children travelled by long, underground passages to reach Wollpit. They were initially taken to the home of Sir Richard de Calne, six miles north of Woolpit, where they refuse food until beans are offered. After the boy dies, the girls is employed as a servant at de Calne's manor for many years.
The "twilight realm" of St Martin's Land has a parallel of Gerald of Wales' story of the priest Elidyr's visit to an underground twilight realm with two tiny men, an attractive land of meadows and rivers, woodlands and plains, where the sun did not shine: "The days were all overcast, as if by clouds, and the nights were pitch-black, for there was no moon nor stars."

Date of First Recording

1190-1198

Date of Setting

1135-1154