THE SCENE: The villagers in this medieval tale learn an important lesson about dealing with vampires (or revenants?): never prevent them from returning to their grave.
THE TEXT: I know too that in the time or Roger, Bishop of Worcester, a man, reported to have died unchristianly, for a month or more wandered about in his shroud both at night and also in open day, till the whole population of the neighbourhood laid siege to him in an orchard, and there he remained exposed to view, it is said, for three days. I know further that this Roger ordered a cross to be laid upon the grave of the wretch, and the man himself to be let go. When, followed by the people, he came to the grave, he started back, apparently at sight of the cross, and ran in another direction. Whereupon they wisely removed the cross: he sank into the grave, the earth closed over him, the cross was laid upon it and he remained quiet.
– De Nugis Curialium, Walter Map, 12th Century AD
