Part 41

Moreover the King of _Samback_ (he saith) did one time tell our Kinsman _Samuel Blomart_, that these kind of Satyres, especially the Males in the Iland of _Borneo_, have so great boldness of mind and such a strong compaction of Muscles, that they have often forceably set upon armed men; and not only upon the weak sex of Women and Girls; with the flagrant desire of which they are so inflamed, that catching them often they abuse them. For they are highly prone to lust (which is common to these, with the lustful Satyres of the ancients) yea sometimes so keen and salacious, that therefore the Indian Women do eschew the Woods and Groves as worse than a Dog or a Snake; in which these impudent animals do lie hid. And that this lascivious animal is found in the Eastern Mountains of _India_; as also in _Africa_, between _Sierra_, _Liona_, and the Promontory of the Mountain, where (perhaps) were those places where _Plinius_ _lib._ 5. _cap._ 5. affirmeth that upon the nights there was seen to shine frequent Fires of the Ægipanes, and to abound with the lasciviousness of the Satyres, who do love craggy Dens and Caves, and shun the society of mankind, being a salacious, hairy, four-footed Creature, with human shape and a crooked nose. But that the foot of this Creature neither hath hoofs nor the body every where hairs, but only the head, shoulders and back. The rest of the parts are smooth, and the Ears are not sharp.”

[Sidenote: Enq. into vulg. err. _l._ 5. _p._ 271.]

So that from hence it is undeniably true, that there are such Creatures existent in nature, and have been either taken for Devils or the Apparitions of Demons in this shape of Satyres, as Doctor _Brown_ hath well observed in these words: “A conceit there is (he saith) that the Devil commonly appeareth with a cloven foot or hoof, wherein although it seem excessively ridiculous, there may be somewhat of truth; and the ground thereof at first might be his frequent appearing in the shape of a Goat, which answers that description. This was the opinion of ancient Christians concerning the Apparitions of _Pans_, _Fauns_ and _Satyres_, and in this form we read of one that appeared unto _Antony_ in the Wilderness. The same is also confirmed from expositions of holy Scripture; for whereas it is said; Thou shalt not offer unto Devils, the original word is _Sehhirim_, that is rough and hairy Goats, because in that shape the Devil most often appeared, as is expounded by the Rabbins, as _Tremellius_ hath also explained.”

But saving the reputation of learned Saint _Hierome_ and D^r _Brown_, it is but a supposition unproved that ever the Devil appeared in the shape of a Goat, the rise of the opinion was only because the Devil was worshipped in an Idol made in the shape of a Goat.

[Sidenote: Enquir. into vulg. errors. _l._ 4. _c._ 11. _p._ 207.]

[Sidenote: _Mund. Subter._ _l._ 8 _Sect._ 4. _c._ 4. _p._ 101.]

[Sidenote: _Idea Idear. operatr._ _c._ 6.]

[Sidenote: _Hist. 5._]

[Sidenote: _Demonstr. Thes._ _p._ 679.]

3. In a few ages past when Popish ignorance did abound, there was no discourse more common (which yet is continued amongst the vulgar people) than of the apparition of certain Creatures which they called Fayries, that were of very little stature, and being seen would soon vanish and disappear. And these were generally believed to be some kind of Spirits or Demons, and _Paracelsus_ held them to be a kind of middle Creatures, and called them _non-Adamicks_, as not being of the race of _Adam_; but there are Authors of great credit and veracity, that affirm, there have been Nations of such people called Pygmies. And though Doctor _Brown_ hath learnedly and elegantly handled the question, “Whether there have been or are any such dwarfish race of mankind, as but of three spans, not considering them singly but nationally, or not, and hath brought the most probable arguments that well can be, to prove that there are not nor have been any such race of people called Pygmies, yet doth he moderately conclude in these words. There being thus (he saith) no sufficient confirmation of their verity, some doubt may arise concerning their possibility; wherein, since it is not defined in what dimensions the soul may exercise her faculties, we shall not conclude impossibility, or that there might not be a race of Pygmies, as there is sometimes of Giants, and so may take in the opinion of _Austine_, and his Commentator _Ludovicus Vives_. And though _Kircherus_ with his wonted impudence do conclude in these words:” _Fabulosa itaq; sunt omnia, quæ de hujusmodi Pygmæis veteres Geographi à simplici populo sola relatione descripta tradiderunt_: Yet (I say) notwithstanding these negative arguments, I give the relation of others (that are of as great or greater credit) in the affirmative. And thus much is affirmed by that most sagacious and learned person _Marcus Marci_, a late Physician of no mean judgment, who saith thus: _Quicquid tamen sit de his, Pygmæos & olim fuisse, & nunc esse affirmamus_. And besides the testimony of _Aristotle_, _Solinus_, _Pomponius Mela_, and _Ælian_, he relateth these. “But those (he saith) that have in our age viewed the World, the same do testifie also, that there are yet Pygmies in the Island of _Aruchet_, one of the _Moluccas_, and in the Isle _Cophi_, and such _Pigasetta_ affirmeth that he saw.” And though Doctor _Brown_ seem to sleight it, yet (according to the Proverb) _one eye-witness is more to be credited than ten that have it but by the ear_. _Odericus_ in his History of _India_ doth report also, “that there are such people of about three spans high,” which also is confirmed by the later _Odericus_. And to these affirmative proofs we shall add that of the learned Philosopher and Physician _Baptista Van Helmont_, in English thus. “A Wine Merchant (he saith) of our Country, a very honest man, sailing sometimes to the _Canaries_ or Fortunate Islands, being asked of me his serious opinion and judgment upon certain Creatures, which there the Children as oft as they would did bring home, and did name them _Tudesquillos_, or _Germanulos_, that is little men; (the Germans call them _Eard-Manlins_) for they were dead Carkases dried almost three foot long, which any one of the Boys did easily carry in one hand, and were of an human shape: But the whole dead Carkase was transparent like Parchment, and the bones were flexible as grisles. Also the bowels and intestines were to be seen, holden against the sun, which, when after I knew to be a certain truth, from the Spaniards born there, I considered, that in these days the off-spring of the Pygmies were there destroyed.”

From whence all understanding and unpartial judgments may clearly perceive, that these kind of Creatures have been really existent in the World and are and may be so still in Islands and Mountains that are uninhabited, and that they are no real Demons, or _non_-Adamick Creatures, that can appear and become invisible when they please, as _Paracelsus_ thinketh. But that either they were truly of human race endowed with the use of reason and speech (which is most probable) or at least that they were some little kind of Apes or Satyres, that having their secret recesses and holes in the Mountains, could by their agility and nimbleness soon be in or out like Conies, Weazels, Squirrels, and the like.

[Sidenote: _Centur._ 2.]

[Sidenote: _Histor._ 11. 169.]

[Sidenote: _Hist. 6._]

4. It hath been no less a mistake about those Fishes that are called _Tritones_, _Syrenes_, Meirmaids, or Marine, and Sea-Men, and Women, which have been by many supposed and taken to be Spirits, or Demons, and commonly Nymphs, when indeed and truth they are reall creatures, as these examples do make manifest. The first of which we shall recite from the faithful pen of that learned Anatomist _Thomas Bartholinus_, who was Physician to _Frederick_ the third King of _Denmark_, in these Englished words: “Various things (he saith) of Meirmaids are extant delivered in the monuments of the Ancients, that are partly false, partly true. It is not far from a Fable that they held, that they did imitate the voices of Men and Women. But that there are beasts found in the Sea, with humane faces (he saith) I shall not deny. But I will not (he saith) sum up the accounts of the ancients. For they are full of the stories of Meirmaids. Amongst the later Authors, these have here and there handled this argument, _Scaliger_ (_in lib._ 2. _Histor. Anim._ _t._ 108.) _Rondoletius_, _Licetus_ (_de Spont. vin. ort._), _Marcus Marci_ (_de Ideis_) _P. Boistuan_ (_Histor. Gall. prod._ _T._ 1. _c._ 18.) At _Enchuysen_ in _Holland_ (he saith) the shape of a certain Meirmaid is to be seen painted, that formerly had been cast upon the shore, by the force of the waters. It is (he saith) in the mouth of our common people, that a Meirmaid was taken in _Denmark_, that did speak, foretel things to come, and spin. A Father of the Society of _Jesus_ returning forth of _India_ to _Rome_, had seen a Sea-Man there adorned with an Episcopal Mitre, who did seem to have in the next corner, hardly born his captivity; but being let loose, and turned into the Sea, did seem to render thanks for his liberty, by bowing of his body before he went under water, which (he saith) the Jesuit was wont to tell to _Corvinus_ the elder, as his Son (he saith) told me at _Rome_.” But this being but a story told to _Bartholinus_ at the second hand, and but primarily from the mouth of a Jesuit (who doubtless had some design in it) I leave it to the judgment of the Wise and Prudent. But he proceeds thus. “It is (he saith) most certain that fishes are to be found in the Ocean, that represent Terrestrial Animals in shape: As the Sea-Fox, the Wolf, the Sea-Calf, the Dog, the Horse, _&c._ Therefore why should we deny humane shape to Sea-monsters? Certainly also in the earth there are Apes, which wanting reason, do express the external shape and gestures of Man. All Sea-monsters of this sort we referr (he saith) to the kind of _Phocæ_ or Sea-Calves. There was (he saith) in the age we live in a Sea-Man taken by the Merchants of the _West-India_ Company, and dissected at _Leiden_ by _Peter Pavius_, _John de Laet_ being present my friend (he saith) and while he lived, a great and most knowing person of the things of _America_ and of Nature. The head and the breast even as far as the navil was of an humane shape, but from the navil even unto the extremities, it was deformed flesh, without the sign of a tail. But that I may not (he saith) seem to impose upon the Reader, the hands and ribs are to be found in my Study or Closet, which I owe to the kindness of the praised _Latius_. We have (he saith) annexed the Picture of both, as well of the Meirmaid erect, as of the image of it swimming, that we might satisfie the dubitation of all men. The hand doth consist of five fingers, as ours do, with as many articulations as ours, but that only is singular, that all the bones of the fingers are broader and compressed, and a membrane doth joyn them together in course, as in volatiles, as Geese, Ducks, _&c._ which do help to stretch forth the foot in the water. The extremity of the two middle fingers are broader, the extremities of the other two sharp. The _radius_ and cubit are very short, for the commodiousness of swimming, scarce the length of four fingers breadth. Neither is the draught of the shoulder more ample. The ribs are long and thick, almost exceeding common humane ribs a third part.

“Of the ribs (he saith) are beads turned or thrown, a present remedy for the pain of the Hemorrhoides, which the praised _Latius_ hath observed by experience. Also (he saith) that Bracelets being made of the bones of this kind of _Phocas_ carried to _Rome_, applied to the wrist do appease the Hemicrany, and swimming of the head, which comes again, if they be laid away, as (he saith) the most illustrious Nobleman _Cassianus à Puteo_, (most worthy of Roman Purple) hath told me. The same Noble _Puteus_ (he saith) hath shewed me the picture of a Meirmaid in his Closet, which not many years before, was driven to the shore of _Malta_. A certain Spaniard (he saith) told me, that Meirmaids were seen in _India_ having the Genital members of Women, like those of humane kind, so that the Fishers do bind themselves with an Oath to the Magistrate, that they have no copulation with them. _Bernardinus Ginnarus_ (_lib._ 1. _c._ 9. _de Indico itinere, edit. Neap._ 1641.) doth relate that Meirmaids are seen, in the vast River _Cuama_, near the head of _Good-hope_, which in the middle superior part are like to the form of men, that is, with round head, but immediately joyned to the breast, without a neck, with ears altogether like ours, and so their eyes, lips and teeth. And that their dugs being pressed do send forth most white milk.”

Therefore he concludeth: “There is (he saith) so great difference of the form of Meirmaids, with the Ancients and Moderns, that it is no wonder, that some do account them figments. We have (he saith) the hands to be seen with eyes, and we shew the Meirmaids to be such, as in truth they are seen to be. Neither do the hands and ribs deceive, whose Pictures we have given framed according to the truth of nature.”

[Sidenote: _Hist. 7._]

[Sidenote: _Genial. dier._ _l._ 3. _c._ 8. _p._ 134.]

5. But besides these there are other Fishes or Sea-monsters, that in all parts resembled Men and Women, as these examples make manifest. _Alexander ab Alexandro_, a person of great learning and experience, relateth: “That in _Epirus_ a _Triton_ or Sea-Man was found, who forth of the Sea did ravish Women being alone upon the shore: But being taken by cunning, he did resemble a Man with all his members, but did refuse meat being offered, so that he died with hunger and wasting, as being in a strange element.

[Sidenote: _Hist. 8._]

[Sidenote: _Lib. de verit. fid. Christ._ _l._ 2.]

6. Also _Ludovicus Vives_ doth tell us this story: “in our age (he saith) with the _Hollanders_, a Sea-Man was seen of many, who also was kept there above two years, he was mute, and then begun to speak: But being twice smitten with the Plague, he is let loose to the Sea rejoicing and leaping.”

[Sidenote: _Hist. 9._]

[Sidenote: _Vid. Ideam Idear. operat._ _c._ 6.]

7. In the year of our Lord 1403. there was taken a Sea-woman in a lake of _Holland_, thrown thither forth of the Sea, and was carried into the City of _Haerlem_; she suffered her self to have garments put upon her, and admitted the use of bread, milk and such like things: Also she learned to spin, and to do many other things after the manner of Women, also she did devoutly bend her knees to the image of Christ crucified, being docible to all things, which she was commanded by her Master, but living there many years, she alwayes remained mute.

[Sidenote: _Hist. 10._]

[Sidenote: _Stows Annal._ _p._ 157.]

[Sidenote: _Britan._ _p._ 412.]

8. To these we shall conclusively add one story of sufficient credit from our own English Annals, which is this: “In the year 1187. being the 33th year of the Reign of _Henry_ the second, near unto _Oreford_ in _Suffolk_, certain Fishers of the Sea took in their nets a fish having the shape of a man in all points, which fish was kept by _Bartholomew de Glanvile_, Custos of the Castle of _Oreford_, in the same Castle, by the space of six months and more for a wonder; he spake not a word. All manner of meats he did gladly eat, but most greedily raw fish after he had crushed out all the moisture. Oftentimes he was brought to the Church where he shewed no tokens of adoration. At length when he was not well looked to, he stole away to the Sea, and never after appeared.” The learned Antiquary Mr. _Camden_ tells this same story from _Radulphus Coggeshall_, an ancient writer, and that “_Capillos habebat, barbam prolixam & pineatam, circa pectus nimium pilosus erat, & hispidus_: and concludeth: _Quicquid nascatur in parte naturæ ulla, & in mari esse, & non omnino commentitium est_.”

[Sidenote: _Lib. de Spectr. prim. part._ _c._ 11. _p._ 61.]

By all which examples we may be rationally satisfied, that though these creatures have a real existence in nature, yet because of their strange natures, shapes and properties, or by reason of their being rarely seen, they have been and often are not only by the common people but even by the learned taken to be Devils, Spirits or the effects of Inchantment and Witchcraft. And therefore men that would judge aright must take heed that they be not deceived and imposed upon by relations of this nature, and also of all such things as may be acted by Imposture and confederacy, and those other Physical things that are brought to pass by natural causes, divers sorts of which are recited by _Ludovicus Lavaterus_ very largely, to which I recommend those that desire further satisfaction in those particulars.

CHAP. XVI.

_Of Apparitions in general, and of some unquestionable stories that seem to prove some such things. Of those apparitions pretended to be made in Beryls and Crystals, and of the Astral or Sydereal Spirit._

In this Treatise we have before sufficiently proved that the denying of the existence of such a Witch as doth make a visible contract with the Devil, or upon whose body he sucketh, or that hath carnal copulation with a Demon, and that is transubstantiated into a Cat or a Dog, or that flyeth in the air; doth not inferr the denial of Spirits either good or bad, nor utterly overthrow the truth of apparitions, or of such things as seem to manifest some supernatural operations. And therefore here we shall fully handle the question of Apparitions, and things that seem to be of that nature, and that in this order.

1. We shall not meddle with Apparitions in the large extent of the word, for so it may comprehend the appearing of new Stars, Comets, Meteors and other Portents, and Prodigies, which (though unusual and wonderous) have yet their production from natural causes. But only here we shall treat of such apparitions as are taken to be performed by supernatural creatures, or in such a way and by such creatures as we commonly account to be different from (if not above) the power of ordinary and visible nature, as of Angels good or bad, the Souls of men departed, or their Astral Spirits, or of some other creatures that are, or may be of a middle nature.

[Sidenote: Judg. 13.]

[Sidenote: Luke 2. 26. to 39.]

[Sidenote: Math. 1. 20.]

[Sidenote: Math. 2. 12, 13, 19.]

2. As for the apparitions of good Angels sent by God in times past, both in sleep and otherwise, the Scriptures do give us most full and ample assurance, as these few instances may undeniably demonstrate. 1. That _an Angel of the Lord_ (that is a good Angel) _did appear_ visibly _unto Manoah and his wife_, and did vocally and audibly talk and discourse with them both, and did after in both their sights openly and visibly _ascend in the flame that did arise from the altar_. Now a more plain and indubitable apparition visibly seen and audibly heard than this cannot be found nor read of, having the unquestionable authority of sacred writ to avouch it. 2. Another parallel unto it, and of equal authority, verity and perspicuity, is the sending of the Angel _Gabriel_ unto the Virgin _Mary_, her seeing of him, hearing of his salutation, having discourse with him, and seeing his departure, both which are undoubted testimonies of the true, and real appearance of good Angels even to sight and hearing. 3. That sometimes the good Angels have been sent to the servants of God, and have appeared and spoken unto them in dreams; as that _the Angel of the Lord appeared unto Joseph in a dream, and bade him to take unto him Mary his wife_, which was a blessed, and clear apparition, though in a dream in his sleep. And likewise by the appearing of an Angel unto him in a dream, _he was warned to take the child, and his mother, and to flee into Ægypt_, and also again _was commanded by an Angel, after the death of Herod, that appeared in a dream, and bade him to take the young child and his mother, and to go into the land of Israel_.

[Sidenote: Luk. 8 .26. to 37.]

3. Of the visible apparition of evil Angels we scarce have any evidence at all in the Scriptures, except we should take supposals for proofs, or disputable places to be certain demonstrations, or wrest and hale the word of God to make it serve our preconceived opinions. For I do not find any one place in all the Scriptures, where plainly and positively any apparition of evil spirits is recorded, or that by any rational and necessary consequence such a visible appearance can be deduced or proved: For we have clearly proved that the tempting of _Evah_ by the Serpent doth not necessarily inferr, that it was by a visible apparition, but by a mental delusion; and that that of _Saul_ and the Woman of _Endor_, or the Mistriss of the bottle, was neither _Samuel_ in Soul and Body, nor his Soul alone, neither the Devil in his shape we suppose we have evinced past answer; and that the tempting of our blessed Saviour by Satan was internal or at least the greatest part of it; so that there doth remain but little of certain proof of the apparition of Devils in that gross manner, and so common and frequent as many do too peremptorily affirm: yet for all this we think it rational to grant, that as God hath in times past often sent messages by good Angels, for the teaching, counselling and comforting of his servants, both audibly and visibly to be perceived; so also that sometimes God might not only send evil Spirits internally and mentally to deceive and seduce the wicked, as in the case of the lying spirit in the mouth of _Ahabs_ Prophets, but also visibly to appear to terrifie, punish and destroy the wicked, or to make way for the manifestation of his glory. And the Scriptures that mention Demoniacks, and such as are commonly said to be possessed, (though that were not by an essential inhesion, but by an effective operation both upon the Souls and Bodies of the persons that were so affected and afflicted) do plainly shew that the operative effects of the Devils power was both heard and seen by their words and actions. So the Devils using the organs of the man in whom was the legion of them, _they besought Christ not to command them to go out into the deep, but besought him to suffer them to go into the herd of swine_: Which “plainly sheweth that their words were audible, and were heard of the multitude that were by, and the acts that they performed were visible enough, for by the power of the Devil _he brake the chains_ and fetters, wherewithal he was bound, _and was driven of the Devil into the wilderness_, and that these Devils went forth of the man, _and entered in amongst the herd of swine_, by whose effective power _the swine ran violently down a steep rock into the sea, and were drowned_.” And this doth plainly manifest the present operation of the Devils, that was apparent both by the words and actions, that were both to be seen and heard; so that this in that large sense, that it is usually taken in, was a real apparition of Devils, or at least equivalent thereunto. For we do but here inquire after such appearances of Devils, that do necessarily infer their presence in operating so in and upon creatures or corporeal matter, that by sight, hearing, or other of the senses, it may certainly be manifest to work above the ordinary power of nature, and may induce us rationally by the testimony of our senses, to believe that those things are brought to pass by those creatures that we call Demons, as many of these persons, who were said to have been or to be afflicted with Devils, were in the days of our blessed Saviours remaining in the flesh.

[Sidenote: Heb. 1. 14.]