_Of divers Creatures that have a real existence in Nature, and yet by
reason of their wonderous properties, or seldom being seen, have
been taken for Spirits, and Devils._
[Sidenote: _Hist. 1._]
Before we come to speak of Apparitions in general, we shall premise some
few things by way of caution, because there is not one subject (that we
know of) in the World that is liable to so many mistakes, by reason of
the prepossessed fancies of men, in adhering to those fictions of
Spirits, Fairies, Hobgoblins, and many such like, which are continually
heightned by ignorant education, and vain melancholy fears. We shall not
mention those many apparitions that are frequently practised by forgery
and confederacy, for base ends and interests, as have been commonly used
in the time of Popery, and attempted in our dayes, though with little
success. As also by other persons for base lucre or worse intents, of
which we have known some notorious ones that have been discovered.
Neither shall we speak of those feigned ones that have been practised to
hide thievery and roguery, as we once knew that certain persons who
stole mens sheep in the night, did carry them away upon a thing made
like a Bier covered with a white sheet, by which means those that saw
them took it to be an apparition, and so durst not come near them, and
so the most part of the people of 3 or 4 Villages were terrified, and
the report was far spred that it was a walking spirit, and yet at last
discovered to be a cunning piece of knavery to hide their theft withal.
Neither shall we say any thing of those ludicrous apparitions that are
often practised to terrifie, abuse, and affright others. But we shall
here give the relation of some strange creatures, that seldom being seen
or found, have induced more ignorant persons to take them for Demons,
and these we shall enumerate in this order.
[Sidenote: _Hist. 2._]
[Sidenote: _Centur._ 1. _Hist._ 9. _p._ 18.]
1. It hath been, and still is a strong opinion amongst the vulgars and
Witchmongers also, that Witches transforming themselves into diverse
shapes, did in the night time enter into peoples houses, and then and
there suck the breasts or navils of infants in their Beds or Cradles,
that thereby they were weakned or consumed away; which inveterate
opinion was the more firmly believed, because children that at night
were very well, in the morning were found to be very ill, and to have
been sucked in the places aforesaid. To clear which point take this
Observation from the learned pen of _Thomas Bartholinus_ that was
Physician to _Frederick_ King of _Denmark_, in English thus. “Three
infants (he saith) of the _Pastor Fionens_ at _Lyckisholm_, which is a
noble Mannor belonging to the very illustrious Lord _Christian Thomæus
Sehsted_, the Kings Chancellor, _Eques Auratus_, and a most renowned
Senator of _Denmark_, my _Mecænas_, that were sleeping in their
accustomed Chamber, were not long after troubled with an unwonted
bewailing and inquietude, that they felt themselves to be sucked or
milked of something. The nipples of their breasts being diligently
handled by the Parents did confirm the Childrens suspicion, because they
did hang out like a Womans that did give suck. And to prevent this
fascination, the nipples of the breasts were anointed with preservatives
against poyson and other bitter things. Hereupon their Navils were so
worn with vehement suction, that not only they were prominent or did
hang out, but also did as it were shew the greatness of the mouth that
had sucked by the impression remaining. But the Infants being carried
forth of the Chamber, did from thenceforth rest free from any suction,
especially being carried in peoples arms. And this _Caprimulgus_ or
Goat-milker, is by _Bellonius_ said to be in _Crete_ of the bigness of a
Cuckow, being very hurtful to the Goats, insomuch that it sucketh milk
from their dugs on the nights.” By which we may plainly understand, how
Creatures that are but seldom seen, or whose properties are unknown, may
easily effect those things that ignorant heads may impute unto
Witchcraft.
[Sidenote: _De quadr._ _l._ 1. _p._ 862.]
[Sidenote: Isai. 34. 14.]
[Sidenote: Isai. 13. 21.]
[Sidenote: Levit. 17. 7.]
[Sidenote: Deut. 32. 17.]
[Sidenote: Psal. 106. 37.]
[Sidenote: 2 Chron. 11. 15.]
2. It is no less believed by many, that those kind of Creatures which
are called Satyres are but a kind of Demons; for learned Gesner
reckoning them to be a kind of Apes, doth tell us this: “Even as (he
saith) the Apes _Cynocephali_, or with Dogs-heads, have given the
occasion of the Fable, that some have thought such to be men: So Satyrs
being also a rare kind of Apes, and of greater admiration, some have
believed them to be Devils: also of some men deluded by the Poets and
Painters, as also Statuaries, who have feigned that they had Goats feet
and horns, the more to augment the admiration and superstition, they
have been thought Devils: when in Ape-Satyres there is no such thing to
be seen.” And this opinion hath been the more strengthened because the
most of the Translators have in the Old Testament rendered the word
שָׂעִיר (which properly signifieth an happy man or beast) a Goat, a
Satyre, (as _Gen._ 27. _ver._ 11. _Esau my Brother is a hairy man_;
where the very same word is used) Demon, or Devil. But it is plain that
it did and doth signifie no more but only Satyrs, as will appear by
these reasons. 1. First, as our English Translators have truly rendred
it in that of _Isaiah_, _And the Satyre shall cry unto his fellow_: for
it is certainly related, both by ancient and modern Navigators, that in
those desolate Islands where there are store of them, they will upon the
nights make great shouting and crying, and calling one unto another. And
in another place of the same Prophet it is said by the same Translators,
_and Satyres shall dance there_; dancing being one of the properties of
that hairy Creature, as a thing it is much delighted with, and so are
but Satyres that are natural Creatures and not Devils. 2. And though the
same Translators have rendred the plural of the same word, by the name
Devils, yet it there properly signifieth also Satyres; for though in
another place it be said; _they sacrificed to devils, not to God_, and
so again by the Psalmist, for _they sacrificed their sons and daughters
unto devils_; where in both places the word is שֵדִים _vastatoribus_,
to the destroyers or to Devils; because in those Idols the Devils were
worshipped, and thereby destroyed the souls of men: 3. Yet it is
manifest that their Idols were formed in the shape of Satyres, in a most
terrible manner; for the late and most credible travellers that have
been in those parts of _Asia_, where those Idolatries are still
upholden, do unanimously relate that they make their Images or Idols
that they worship, as terrible and frightful as they can devise, as may
be seen in the relations of the Travels of _Vincent le Blanc_,
_Mandelslo_, and _Ferdinand Mendez Pinto_, and M^r _Herbert_ our
Countryman gives us the Idol of the Bannyans in the ugly shape of a
monstrous Satyre. 4. So that though this worshipping and sacrificing, in
respect of its abominableness, filthiness and Idolatrousness, was
yielded to Devils, which spiritually and invisibly ruled in these
Children of disobedience, and was the Author of all those delusions and
impostures; yet it doth no where appear, that it was Demons in the
corporeal shape of Satyres (as many have erroneously supposed) no more
than the golden Calves that _Jeroboam_ made, were real Devils: but these
Idols were made in the figure or shape of Satyrs or hairy Creatures, as
saith the Text: _And he ordained him Priests for the high places_, and
for the hairy Idols or Satyres, _and for the Calves that he had made_.
It is the same Hebrew word here that our English Translators render
Devils, that in the two former places of _Isaiah_ they translate
Satyres; and as the Calves are not rendred Devils, why should the Images
that were like Satyres be translated so? Surely the Devil was as much in
the Calves, and as much worshipped in those dumb Idols as he was in the
dumb and dead Idols or Images of the Satyres, and so no more reason to
call the one Devils than the other. But that which totally overthrows
the conceit that they should be real Devils in corporeal shapes and
figures, is this, that both the Calves and the Images of these Satyres
were made by _Jeroboam_: now it is manifest that he could not make a
real Devil, but only Images of Calves and Satyres, wherein and whereby
the Devils might be worshipped in those Idolatrous ways.
[Sidenote: _Hist. 3._]
[Sidenote: _Observ. Medic._ _lib._ 3. _c._ 56. _p._ 283.]
So that it is most apparent, that these Satyres being seldom seen and of
strange qualities, have made many to believe that they were Demons; nay
it seems their Images and Pictures have been taken for Devils, and yet
are but meer natural Creatures, and by learned men accounted a kind of
Apes, which we shall now prove by an undeniable instance or two; and
first this from the pen of that learned Physician _Nicholaus Tulpius_,
who saith thus: “In our remembrance (he saith) there was an Indian
Satyre brought from _Angola_; and presented as a gift to _Frederick
Henry_ Prince of _Aurange_. This Satyre was four-footed and from the
humane shape which it seems to bear, it is called of the Indians _Orang
antang_, _homo silvestris_, a wild man, and of the Africans _Quoias
morron_, expressing in longitude a Child of three years old, and in
crassitude, one of six years. It was of body neither fat nor lean, but
square, most able and very swift. And of its joints so firm, and the
Muscles so large, that it durst undertake and could do any thing; on the
foreparts altogether smooth, and rough behind, and covered with black
hairs. Its face did resemble a man, but the nose broad and crooked
downwards, rugged and a toothless female. But the ears were not
different from humane shape. As neither the breast, adorned on both
sides with a swelling dug (for it was of the feminine Sex) the belly had
a very deep navil; and the joints, both those above and those below, had
such an exact similitude with man, that one egg doth not seem more like
another. Neither was there awanting a requisite commissure to the arm,
nor the order of fingers to the hands, nor an humane shape to the thumb,
or a prop of the legs to the thighs, or of the heel to the foot. Which
fit and decent form of the members, was the cause that for most part it
did go upright: neither did it lift up any kind of weight less heavily
than remove it easily.
When it was about to drink it would hold the handle of the Kan with the
one hand, and put the other under the bottom of the Cup, then would it
wipe off the moysture left upon its lips, not less neatly than thou
shouldest see the most delicate Courtier. Which same dexterity it did
observe when it went to bed. For lying her head upon the Pillow, and
fitly covering her body with the Cloaths, it did hide it self no
otherwise, than if the most delicate person had laid there.
[Sidenote: _Hist. 4._]
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.