That Sounds Familar






This article was originally hosted on Kev Demant's website 'Plan 9'. I reproduce it here in it's entirety for anyone requiring proof of Sean's rampant plagiarisms of other people's work, and then pretending that it is his own. Happy reading, and I'll be back soon. Oh yes. I'll be back!








This selection has been compiled in response to the claims of a certain individual that his writings have been plagiarised from ...
"Count Dracula, Monarch of all vampires, is dead; but his disciples live on to spread the cult and corrupt the world."
Preamble to the film Brides of Dracula, 1960.
"These same Satanists that desecrate Highgate cemetery are disciples of the 'Evil One,' the vampire, and intend to spread the cult in the hope of corrupting the world."
Sean Manchester, quoted in the Hampstead & Highgate Express, August 1970.
"Joseph of Arimathea ...was an "importer in the tin, lead and copper trade" which then flourished between Cornwall and Phoenicia - the British Isles being known as the Cassiterides, or the Islands of Tin ...which had, in the more distant past, supplied some of the "glorious adornment of Solomon's Temple" ...On one of his voyages in a "ship of Tarshish" (modern Cadiz in Spain) he brought the Boy Jesus with him ...They stayed in various part of Cornwall and Somerset, or "Summer Land" - and, for example, the "little village of Priddy at the top of the Mendip Hills" preserves the legend that they sojourned there ...Jesus ..." built with His own hands a small hermitage of mud and wattle", and "spent some time in quiet study, prayer and meditation prior to His Ministry and Passion" ...during this time "He preached there, contacted the Druids, and sowed the seeds of the future Christian Church in our Land". For in "Druid Britain He would be free from the tyranny of Roman oppression, the superstition of Rabbinical interpretation, the grossness of pagan idolatry", and live among a "people dominated by the highest and purest ideals - the very ideals He had come into the world to proclaim."
George Target, Holy Ground, 1986.

"Joseph of Arimathea was an importer in the tin, lead and copper trade which then flourished between Cornwall and Phoenicia ...the British Isles (known as the Cassiterides or the Islands of Tin which had, in the more distant past, supplied some of the glorious adornment of Solomon's Temple) ...Another version tells of Joseph of Arimathea on one of his voyages in a ship of Tarshish (modern Cadiz in Spain) bringing the Holy Child to Cornwall and Somerset, or "Summer Land" (the little village of Priddy at the top of the Mendip Hills preserves the legend that they sojourned there) ...It is believed that when He came to these shores, He built with His own hands a small hermitage of mud and wattle where He spent some time in quiet study, prayer and meditation prior to His Ministry and Passion. During this time He preached there, contacted the Druids, and sowed the seeds of the future Christian Church. In Druid Britain He would be free from the tyranny of Roman oppression, the superstition of Rabbinical interpretation, the grossness of pagan idolatry, and live among a people dominated by the highest and purest ideals - the very ideals He had come into the world to proclaim."
Sean Manchester, The Grail Church, 1995.
"Earlier this century, however, one distinguished scholar, Margaret Murray, claimed that witchcraft in Europe had been ...the true 'Old Religion' which had always existed secretly as an alternative to Christianity. Although now discredited ...today covens exist throughhout the world ...Witches distinguish between black magic ...and white magic ...But even white magic involves claiming for oneself godlike powers over other human lives ...it is not surprising that the Bible opposes witchcraft of any kind. Present-day 'wicca' is founded insecurely on Murray's exploded historical research, hazardous moral practices, and promises of limited spiritual powers..."
John Allan, Mysteries, 1981.
"Margaret Murray, a distinguished scholar, claimed earlier this century that in Europe an alternative to Christianity existed known as the "Old Religion", identifying it as witchcraft ...Although her theory has subsequently been discredited, covens of witches are on the increase ...Witches distinguish between white and black witchcraft, but even so-called "white witches" claim for themselves godlike powers over other human lives ...Their religion, called "Wicca", is founded insecurely on exploded historical research, immoral practices and promises of magical powers. It is not surprising that the Bible opposes any form of witchcraft."
Sean Manchester, From Satan To Christ, 1988.
"Hill House ...had stood so for eighty years and might stand for eighty more ...silence lay steadily against the wood and stone of Hill House, and whatever walked there, walked alone ...'I leave before dark comes ...It knows my name .."

Shirley Jackson, The Haunting of Hill House, 1959.

"..this obelisk of another century might stand for a hundred years more ...whatever walks the broken staircases of Hell House, walks alone... 'Leave before dark comes' ...'It knows my name."..."

Sean Manchester, "The Haunting of Hell House", New Witchcraft 4, 1975.
"Lucy did not wake; but she got up twice and dressed ...It is a very strange thing, this sleep-walking ... the skin of her throat was pierced ...there are two little red points like pin-pricks..."
Bram Stoker, Dracula, 1897.
"Lusia ...[had started] sleep-walking, something that she had never been prone to do ...Upon close examination her neck revealed two tiny pin-pricks that were far from noticeable."

Sean Manchester, "The Highgate Vampire", The Vampires Bedside Companion, 1975.
"...several cases have occurred of young children straying from home or neglecting to return from their playing on the Heath [near Lucy Westenra's tomb] ...the consensus of their excuses is that they had been with a 'bloofer lady'. It has always been late in the evening when they have been missed ...some of the children, indeed all who have been missed at night have been slightly torn or wounded in the throat. The wounds seem such as might be made by a rat or a small dog..."

Bram Stoker, Dracula, 1897.
"My worst fears were strengthened after interviewing the young boy who had been playing in the nearby park [to Lusia's grave] after dark. He described his "lovely lady all in white" as being "very blonde with big, staring eyes." It would seem that she allured him into the cemetery's wood, whereupon he felt drowsy and must have fallen asleep beneath a tree. He woke with the familiar small incisions on his throat which his parents ascribed to animal or insect bites."
Sean Manchester, The Highgate Vampire, 1985.
The Lebanon Circle. The inner circle of catacombs ...Surmounting the circle is a large old cedar of Lebanon ...formerly part of Lord Ashurst's garden ..the catacombs were built around this tree ...The outer semi-circle ...was not added until 1877 by which time the inner circle was full. By then catacombs were beginning to go out of fashion and in 1893 one of the compartments was converted to house cremated remains - it is technically termed a columbarium.
"The Egyptian style was fashionable for places of burial in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. The archway is flanked by lotus bud columns and an outer pair of obelisks. Through the gateway lies the Egyptian Avenue, and beyond it the Lebanon Circle ...Branches of yew hang darkly over the path; the yew is a symbol of sorrow. Beneath it, cast in iron on the catacomb doors, are upturned torches, symbols of death.
Jenny Cox, Highgate Cemetery, 1978.
"... the dismal inner circle of catacombs which is surmounted by a large, old cedar of Lebanon that once stood proudly in the garden of Ashurst House. The tombs were built around this tree ...The outer circle was not added until almost half a century later by which time the inner circle was full. By then catacombs were .less fashionable and one of the compartments was converted to house cremated remains In 1893. This place is called the Columbarium. By far the most forbidding approach to the circle is a long Egyptian avenue. This style was in vogue for places of burial in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. The archway is flanked by lotus bud columns and an outer pair of obelisks. Through the creaking iron gateway lies an eerie passage flanked by vaults on either side and beyond it the Lebanon Circle. Branches of yew hang darkly over the Egyptian Avenue; the yew being a symbol of sorrow. Cast in iron on the doors of the vaults are upturned torches. Symbols of death.
Sean Manchester, The Highgate Vampire, 1991.
To form a monolithic, combat-efficient, international political aperatus to combat and utterly destroy the inernational Jew-Communist and Zionist.. To protect and promote the Aryan race and its Western Civilization... the chill North wind flaunting the swastika banner in the sky
Neo-Nazis quoted in Martin Walker, The National Front, 2nd printing May 1977.
Our aim is to protect and promote the Aryan race and its western culture by forming a monolithic international force to combat and utterly destroy Communism and Zionism. All over England, cells like this one exist and the chill North wind flaunts their swastika banners as they wait in eager anticipation of our inevitable victory.
Sean Manchester, "The New Nazis", Borehamwood Post, 29 September 1977
If you are a practising witch, you must expect the occasional fracas from time to time ...Be ye far from us, all hostility, deceit, and illusion ...the powers of the deep mind ...draw ...the pentagram ...with salt water from your cup ...visualise the symbol glowing in blue light ...Bringer of ruin and despair, be present here and lend thy aid! ...flinging of sand into the air ...[to summon] an electrical storm... Graveyard Dust
Paul Huson, Mastering Witchcraft, 1970.
Anyone involved with the occult must expect the occasional fracas from time to time ..."Be ye far from me, all hostility, deceit and illusion" ..."Bringer of ruin and despair, be present here and lend thy aid"
...he grabbed a large handful of graveyard dust and flung it in the air ...and tried to summon an electric storm ...Raising a chalice of salt water before me, I projected a shimmering blue pentagram from my deep mind.
Sean Manchester, "Occult Duel", New Witchcraft 3, 1975.
Arise, arise, I charge and command thee ...The exorcist binds upon the top of his wand a bundle of St.John's wort ...gently smiting the carcase nine times with the rod, he adds ...I conjure thee, thou Spirit of N., that thou do immediately enter into thy ancient body again, and answer to my demands ...

Arthur Waite, The Book of Black Magic, 1898
One of the necromancers' voices was heard above the rest, crying: "I conjure thee thou spirit of the lamented dead, that thou do immediately enter into your ancient body again and answer to my demands." Then taking the wand sanctified with St. John's Wort he struck the body nine times, and shrieked: "Arise, arise, I charge and command thee!"
Sean Manchester, "Son of the Beast", Hendon Times, 2 June 1977.
The hand raising the stake shook ...His other hand ...rose ...a wooden mallet coming into view ... 'Strike, Albert - strike for God's sake!'
Etienne Aubin, Dracula and the Virgins Of The Undead, 1974.
I raised the mallet in my right hand ...I clutched the wooden stake in my left hand. "In God's name strike!" cried Arthur.
Sean Manchester, The Highgate Vampire, 1985.
Some of these adventures had certainly been remarkable. Pirates, brigands and cut-throats of every description were still to be encountered in these waters, and he sought them out. At Malta he had fallen madly in love with a Mrs. Spencer Smith ...From then on his exploits became increasingly bizarre. In Albania he was honoured as a patrician by the terrible Ali Pacha, who was in the habit of roasting his enemies on a spit. He as then almost drowned while travelling in a Turkish warship which foundered in a storm; was shipwrecked and then befriended by bandits; fell under the spell of Greece ...
Henry Blyth, Caro: The Fatal Passion, 1972.
"Some of their adventures on this voyage were remarkable. Pirates, brigands and cut-throats of every , description abounded in these waters and Byron sought them out. At Malta he met the romantic Constance Spencer Smith... Thereafter his exploits became increasingly bizarre. He became acquainted with the terrible Ali Pacha in Albania, whose habit was to roast his enemies on a spit. He almost drowned when a Turkish ship he was on foundered in a storm. He was shipwrecked and then befriended by bandits. And he fell under the spell of Greece.
Sean Manchester, Mad, Bad, and Dangerous to Know, 1992.
...the waltz ...was the rage of the moment, and one would imagine Lady Caroline to have danced beautifully, even if we had not the testimony of the Morning Post that she was "a correct and animated waltzer". Her enthusiasm for dancing was unbounded ...Byron's inability to dance himself made him dislike the amusement for other people Caroline promised him she would never waltz again, and they shut themselves up together. "My only charm ...was that I was innocent, affectionate and enthusiastic ... I was not a woman of the world ..."
Elizabeth Jenkins, Lady Caroline Lamb, revised edition 1972.
The rage of the moment was the waltz and Caroline, whose enthusiasm for dancing was unbounded, was "a correct and animated waltzer" according to the Morning Post. Byron's inability to dance due to lameness, on theother hand, made him dislike the amusement for other people and Caroline promised him she would never waltz again. They shut themselves up together instead. "My only charm ...was that I was innocent, affectionate and enthusiastic ...I was not a woman of the world..."
Sean Manchester, Mad, Bad, and Dangerous to Know, 1992.
This might seem conclusive enough, until it is remembered that earlier Van Helsing had given precise instructions on how to be rid of the vampire. Folklore, too, insists on almost ritualistic observation of prescribed rites. These are not followed in the case of Dracula, who is despatched as if he were human, with cold steel. No wooden stake is used, the head is not detached from the body; and there is no corpse left to be properly treated or devoured by flames ...Stoker had already informed his readers that vampires have the power of dematerialization and can transform themselves into specks of dust.
Clive Leatherdale, Dracula: The Novel & The Legend, 1985.
In that very moment, the demonic creature appeared to disintegrate, did he not? Or, as is more likely dematerialise. But had he not shown his ability to transform into mist or specks of dust before? ... Most alarming of all is the fact that no wooden stake was employed, no decapitation took place, and no cadaver remained to be purified by the incineration of fire. This expert from the Netherlands, Professor Van Helsing, he knew what he was talking about. Yet he did not heed his own instructions, when the final confrontation took place. Steel blades are no match for the Devil's offspring. The lore is very precise ... Sean Manchester, Carmel, 2000.
... The martyrdom of most of the Apostles. The episcopacy of St Peter at Rome. The residence of St John at Ephesus. If documentary proof is the only requisite of truth, and all legend is fiction, then surely these, too are fiction. The view taken by the present writer has always been that legends often, perhaps generally, contain a germ of truth ...In Cornwall it is found at such widely separated places as Marazion and Ding Dong at Penwith, St Day and Falmouth in Carnmarth, St Just-in-Roseland, and Lammana (Looe island) in Wivelshire ...We have abundant evidence that the tin trade with Britain was flourishing long before the Christian era. Posidonius [footnote: Circa 80 BC], comments on the friendliness and good manners of the people of Damnonia (Devon and Cornwall) because of their intercourse with the traders. Britain was the principal, and, at times, almost the only place where tin was obtainable for the ancients. The Phoenicians came here for it, and it is practically certain that among the traders would be found Hebrews as well. There are names in Cornwall suggestive of Hebrew origin, notably Marazion and its counterpart Market Jew-street, in Penzance ...The lead mines near Priddy in the Mendips were certainly in existence before the Romans began to exploit them about AD 50, and the need for this metal would account for Joseph's connection with Glastonbury and the district ...The old wattle Church of Glastonbury was held in a veneration which far transcended that -- which would be accorded to an early Christian sanctuary, even if it were supposed to have been erected by or in the time of the Apostles... In the great Register of Glastonbury of the Middle Ages occur two titles, 'Domus Dei' and 'Secretum Domini', which bear the obvious meaning of 'The House or home of God' and' The Secret or retreat of the Lord'.
A. H. Lewis, "Christ in Cornwall?", in John Matthews (ed.), A Glastonbury Reader, 1991.
Legends and traditions usually spring from a basis in truth ...Some will dismiss the idea in the absence of absolute documentary proof, yet many generally accepted traditions (the martyrdom of most of the Apostles, the episcopacy of St. Peter at Rome, the residence of St. John at Ephesus - to name just three) would also fail to meet this maxim ...The Cornish tradition is to be found at such widely separated places as Marazion and Ding Dong in Penwith, St. Day and Falmouth in Parnmarth [ sic ], St. Just-in-Roseland, and Lammana (Looe island) in Wivelshire ...We have abundant evidence that the tin trade with the British Isles ...was flourishing long before the Christian era. Posidonius, circa 80 B.C., comments on the friendliness and good manners of the people of Damnonia (Devon and Cornwall) because of their dealings with the traders. Britain was at times almost the only place where tin was obtainable for the ancients. There are names in Cornwall suggestive of Hebrew origin (notably Marazion and its counterpart Market Jew Street in Penzance ) which supports the belief that Jewish traders, as well as Phoenicians, came here for tin ...The lead mines near Priddy in the Mendips were certainly in existence before the Romans began to exploit them about A.D. 50, and the need for this metal would account for Joseph's connection with Glastonbury and its environs ...The old wattle Church of Glastonbury was held in a veneration which far transcended that which would be accorded to an early Christian sanctuary, even if it was supposed to have been erected by or in the time of the Apostles. In the great Register of Glastonbury of the Middle Ages occur two titles, "Domus Dei" and "Secretum Domini". The obvious meanings are 'The House or home of God' and 'The Secret or retreat of the Lord'.
Sean Manchester, The Grail Church, 1995.
JAH-BUL-ON ...a precise designation that describes a specific supernatural being ...Each syllable of the "ineffable name" ...JAH = Jahweh, the God of the Hebrews. BUL = Baal, the ancient Canaanite fertility god associated with 'licentious rites of imitative magic'. ON = Osiris, the Ancient Egyptian god of the underworld. Baal, of course, was the 'false god' with whom Jahweh competed for the allegiance of the Israelites in the Old Testament. But more recent.ly ...the sixteenth century demonologist John Weir identified Baal as a devil... In 1873, the renowned masonic author and historian General Albert Pike wrote of his reaction on learning of Jah-Bul-On ...'No man or body of men can make me accept as a sacred word, as a symbol of the infinite and eternal Godhead, a mongrel word, in part composed of the name of an accursed and beastly heathen god whose name has been for more than two thousand years an appellation of the devil' ...Dr H. S. Box, author of The Nature of Freemasonry , attempted to raise the issue of Freemasonry in the Canterbury Convocation of the Church of England in 1951. 'Due largely,' Hannah says, 'the persuasive influence of the Masonic Bishop of Reading Dr. A. Groom Parham, this was never debated.' There was, though, a debate in the Church Assembly in 1952. Hanna records that 'the critics of Masonry were frankly out-manoeuvred by the unexpectedness and speed with which Masons acted': the motion for an enquiry was overwhelmingly rejected ...Pope Leo XIII [issued] his famous encyclical Humanum Genus in 1884. Leo XIII classed Freemasonry as a grouping of secret societies in the 'kingdom of Satan', and, like the Greek Orthodox Church half a century later, stated that Masonry wished 'to bring back after eighteen centuries the manners and customs of the pagans.' He urged the bishops to whom the encyclical was addressed 'first of all to tear away the mask of Freemasonry and let it be seen for what it really is' ... The Catholic News Service announced that the effect of this guidance "is to move from a ban on Catholics belonging to the Masonic Movement to a cautious procedure whereby such membership may in some cases be sought."

Stephen Knight, The Brotherhood , 1983.
The Catholic News Service announced that the effect of this guidance "is to move from a ban on Catholics belonging to the Masonic Movement to a cautious procedure whereby such membership may in some cases be sought." ...So much for Pope Leo XIII and his famous encyclical Humanum Genus in 1884 which classed Freemasonry as a grouping of secret societies in the "kingdom of Satan" ... Foreshadowing the view of the Greek Orthodox Church by half a century, Leo XIII stated that Masonry wished "to bring back after eighteen centuries the manners and customs of the pagans." He urged the bishops to whom the encyclical was addressed "first of all to tear away the mask of Freemasonry and let it be seen for what it really is" ...Each syllable of the "ineffable name" has a precise designation that describes a specific supernatural being. JAH: Jahweh the God of the Hebrews. BUL: Baal, the ancient Canaanite fertility god associated with "licentious rites of imitative magic". ON: Osiris, the Ancient Egyptian god of the underworld. Baal was the false god with whom Jahweh competed for the allegiance of the Israelites in the Old Testament, but the sixteenth century demonologist, John Weir, identified Baal as a devil or demon. One celebrated Mason, Albert Pike, reacted thusly in 1873 upon learning of the secret name: "No man or body of men can make me accept as a sacred word, as a symbol of the infinite and eternal Godhead, a mongrel word, in part composed of the name of an accursed and beastly heathen god whose name has been for more than two thousand years an appellation of the devil" ...Dr. H. S. Box, author of The Nature of Freemasonry , tried to raise the issue of Freemasonry in the Canterbury Convocation of the Church of England in 1951, but this was thwarted largely because of the persuasive influence of the Masonic Bishop of Reading Dr. A. Groom Parham. A debate was nevertheless held in the Church Assembly the following year, but the critics of Masonry were out-manoeuvred by the unexpectedness and speed with which Masons acted. The motion for an enquiry was overwhelmingly rejected.

Sean Manchester, The Grail Church, 1995.
I awoke one morning and found myself famous.
Lord Byron, Letters and Journals (ed. Thomas Moore), 1830.

On the morning of 27 February 1970 I awoke and found myself famous.
Sean Manchester, The Highgate Vampire, 1991.
In the early Nineties, Guiley was fully operational in the Aviary's attempts to ridicule and undermine civilian crop circles research. At the same time she attempted to infiltrate the male research fraternity in order to compile a crop circles database for her 'employers' ...This was achieved, for the most part,by sexual advance and intimate dialogue situations. Guiley was eventually 'rumbled' three years into her mission ... (Her cover was finally blown one night while attempting, in her own inimitable way, to gain information from a well-known crop circles researcher at his home. A note was found that had fallen from her file and lodged down the back of the seat in which she had been sitting. In her own handwriting were the names of CIA operatives to whom she was passing on relevant information, and also rough notes detailing her latest findings.) Aviary code name: ORIEL or MORNING DOVE.

Jon King, "Remote Control", UFO Reality, June/July 1996.
Guiley's Aviary code name is Oriel and sometimes Morning Dove ...Guiley was rumbled three years after successfully infiltrating a crop circles study group. In the early Nineties, she was fully operational in the Aviary's attempts to ridicule and undermine civilian crop circles research. At the same time she made every effort to infiltrate the male research fraternity in order to compile a crop circles database for her "employers". This was achieved, apparently, by sexual advance and intimate dialogue situations.
Her cover was blown one night while she was attempting to gain information from a well-known crop circles researcher at his home in Britain. A note was found that had fallen from her file and lodged at the back of the seat in which she had been sitting. In her own handwriting were the names of CIA agents to whom she was passing on relevant information. There was also a rough draft detailing her
latest findings.

Sean Manchester, "The Youngson File", The Cross & The Stake, late 1996.
Gardner's connection with Crowley has a deeper shared philosophical root. One of the founders of the O.T.O. was the Freemason Franz Hartmann, a companion of the theosophist Helena Blavatsky.
Before Gardner discovered his celebrated witch's coven in the New Forest, he was a member of the nearby Rosicrucian fraternity, the Fellowship of Crotona. This was an offshoot of The Temple of the Rosy Cross which was founded by Annie Besant, the British leader of a second theosophical society that sprang up after the death of the founder of the first, Madame Blavatsky ... An 0. T .0. writer in Pagan News (August 1989) maintains: "Crowley wrote the Gnostic Mass as the public ritual of the 0. T .0. ...it should be remembered that sections have been incorporated into the Great Rite, the third and highest Wiccan Initiation." ...some hold that Gardner actually paid Crowley to write the rituals.

Andrew Boyd, Blasphemous Rumours, 1991.
Gardner's connection with Crowley has a deeper shared philosophical root. One of the founders of Ordo Templi Orientis was the Freemason Franz Hartmann, a companion of the theosophist Helena Blavatsky. Prior to Gardner's discovery of witchcraft, he was a member of a Rosicrucian fraternity, the Fellowship of Crotona. This was an offshoot of the Temple of the Rosy Cross which was founded by Annie Besant, the British leader of a second theosophical society that sprang up after the death of Madame Blavatsky. An OTO writer in Pagan News (August 1989) maintains that "Crowley wrote the Gnostic Mass as the public ritual of the OTO ...it should be remembered that sections have been incorporated into the Great Rite, the third and highest wiccan initiation." Some hold that Gardner actually paid Crowley to write the rituals that have become fundamental to modern witchcraft.

Sean Manchester, "Witchcraft", Holy Grail Church website, July 2002.
The quotations from Blyth, Caro: The Fatal Passion, and Jenkins, Lady Caroline Lamb, are both short examples which could be extended to thousands of words each; in fact Mad, Bad and Dangerous to Know is little more than a conflation of the two earlier biographies.
It is a modern myth that BUL and ON refer to Baal and Osiris, one that is only repeated because it suits people to believe in it. In fact, any good Bible Dictionary will tell you that "Bul" means "rainy" and "on" means "walled". The real mystery is why people think that these mundane adjectives are divine or diabolical names.
No doubt the "author" of all this will as usual howl all the way to his solicitor about this violation of "his" copyright...
Gareth J. Medway, 2002