Book II, chapters 17–20: Mingling and generating living creatures

CHAP. XVII.

How we may produce new and strange Monsters.

STrange and wonderful monsters, and aborsements, or untimely births, may be gendred of living Creatures, as by those wayes of which we spake before, namely, the commixtion of divers kinds; so also by other means, as by the mixture of divers seeds in one wombe, by imagination, or such like causes. Concerning Imagination, we will speak hereafter. Now at this time let us see the wayes of engendring such monsters, which the Ancients have set down, that the ingenious Reader may learn by the consideration of these wayes, to invent of himself other wayes how to generate wonderful monsters. Democritus, as Aristotle saith, held that the mixture of many seeds, when one is received into the wombe before, and another not long after, so that they are meddled and confounded together, is the cause of the generation of many Monsters, that sometimes they have two heads, and more parts then the nature of their kinde requires. Hence it is that those birds which use often coitions, do oftentimes bring forth such births. But Empedocles, having forecast all scruples and doubts within himself, seems to have attained the truth in this case: for he saith, that the causes of the generation of monstrous Creatures, are these; either if the seed be too much, or if it be too little, or if it light not in the right place, or if it be scattered into many parts, or if the congredients be not rightly affected to procreate according to the ordinary course of nature. And Straton assignes many reasons, why such monsters are generated; as, because some new seed is cast upon the former, or some of the former seed is diminished, or some parts transposed, or the wombe puffed up with winde. And some Physitians ascribe it principally to the place of conception, which is oft-times misplaced, by reason of inflations. Aristotle saith, that such Creatures as are wont to bring forth many young ones at one burthen, especially such as have many cells or receipts for seed in their wombe, do most commonly produce monsters: for in that they bring forth some that are not so fully perfect, thereby they degenerate more easily into monsters: especially of all other, the Pigs that are not farrowed at their due time, but some certain dayes after the rest of the litter; for these cannot chuse but be monsters in one part or other; because whatsoever is either more or less then that which the kind requires, is monstrous, and besides Nature. And in his book of Problems he saith, that small four-footed Creatures bring forth monsters: but Man, and the greater sorts of four-footed beasts, as Horses and Asses, do not produce them so often. His reason is, because the smaller kinds, as Bitches, Sows, Goats, and Ewes, are far more fruitful then the greater kinds are; for, of those, every one brings forth at least one, and some bring forth for the most part, many at once. Now Monsters are wont to be produced then, when there is a commixtion or confusion of many seeds together, either by reason of sundry copulations, or because of some indisposition in the place of conception. Hence it is, that birds also may bring forth monsters; for they lay egges sometimes that have a double yelk: and if there be no small skin that keeps both the yelks asunder, then the confusion of them causeth the breed to become monstrous. Nature is earnest in the fashioning of a living Creature; and first shapes out the principal parts of the body: afterwards she worketh sometimes more, sometimes lesse, as the matter can afford which she works upon, still framing her self thereunto: whereby it cometh to passe, that if the matter be defective, then she cannot have her forth; if it be overmuch, then is nature overcome, and so both wayes hindered of her purpose, and thereby brings forth monstrous broods, as in artificial births hath been often seen; some being defective, as having but one leg, or but one eye; some exceeding the ordinary course, as having four eyes, or four arms, or four feet, and sometimes having both sexes in them, which are called Hermaphrodites: and so, look how your art disposes and layes things together, and after the same manner, Nature must needs accomplish her work, and finish your beginnings. But whosoever wouldst bring forth any monsters by art, thou must learn by examples, and by such principles be directed, as here thou mayest find. First, thou must consider with thy self, what thing are likely and possible to be brought to passe: for if you attempt likely matters, Nature will assist you, and make good your endeavours, and the work will much delight you: for you shall see such things effected, as you would not think of; whereby also you may find the means to procure more admirable effects. There be many reasons and wayes, whereby may be generated

Monsters in Man.

First, this may come by reason of inordinate or unkindly copulations, when the seed is not conveyed into the due and right places: again, it may come by the narrownesse of the wombe, when there are two young ones in it, and for want of room, are pressed and grow together: again, it may come by the marring of those thin skinnes of partition, which nature hath framed in a womans wombe, to distinguish and keep asunder the young ones. Pliny writes, that in the year of Caius Laelius and Lucius Domitius Consulship, there was born a maid-child that had two heads, four hands, and was of double nature in all respects: and a little before that, a woman-servant brought forth a child, that had sour feet, and four hands, and four eyes, and as many ears, and double natured every way. Philostratus in the life of Apollonius writes, that there was born in Sicily, a boy having two heads. I my self saw at Naples, a boy alive, out of whose breast came forth another boy, having all his parts, but that his head only stuck behind in the other boyes breast; and thus they had sticken together in their mothers wombe, and their navils also did cling each to other. I have also seen divers children having four hands and four feet, with six fingers upon one hand, and six toes upon one foot, and monstrous divers other wayes, which here were too long to rehearse. By the like causes may

Monsters be generated in Beasts.

We shewed before, that such beasts as bring forth many young ones at one burthen, especially such as have many cells or receits in their wombe for seed, do oftenest produce Monsters. Nicocreon the Tyrant of Cyprus, had a Hart with four horns. Aelianus saw an Oxe that had five feet; one of them in his shoulder, so absolutely made, and so conveniently placed, as it was a great help to him in his going. Livy saith, that at Sessa-Arunca a City in Italy, there was eaned a Lambe that had two heads; and at Apolis, another Lambe having five feet; and there was a kitling with but three feet. Rhases reports, that he saw a Dog having three heads. And there be many other like matters which I have no pleasure to speak of. But it may seem that

Monsters in Birds may be more easily produced;

both in respect that they are more given to lust, and because also they bear in their bodies many egges at once, whereby they may stick together, and easily cleave each to other: and besides this, those birds that are by nature very fruitfull, are wont to lay egges that have two yelkes. For these causes, Columella and Leontinus the Greek, give counsel to air and purge the houses where Hennes are, and their nests, yea and the very Hennes themselves, with Brimstone, and pitch, and torches; and many do lay a plate of iron, or some nailes heads, and some Bay-Tree boughs upon their nests; for all these are supposed to be very good preservatives against monstrous and prodigious births. And Columella reports farther, that many do strew grasse, and Bay-Tree boughs, and heads of Garlick, and iron nails, in the Hens nests; all which are supposed to be good remedies against thunder, that it may not marre their egges; and these also do spoil all the imperfect chickens, if there be any, before ever they grow to any ripenesse. Aelianus reporteth out of Apion, that in the time of Oeneus King of the South, there was seen a Crane that had two heads; and in another Kings daies, another bird was seen that had four heads. We will shew also how to hatch

A chicken with four wings and four feet,

which we learn out Aristotle. Amongst egges, some there are oft-times that have two yelkes, if the Hennes be fruitful: for two conceptions cling and grow together, as being very near each to other; the like whereof we may see in the fruits of Trees, many of them being twins, and growing into each other. Now, if the two yelks be distinguished by a small skinne, then they yield two perfect chickens without any blemish: but if the yelks be meddled one with another, without any skinne to part them, then that which is produced thereof, is a Monster. Seek out therefore some fruitful Hennes, and procure some of the perfectest egges that they lay: you may know which are for your purpose, by the bignesse of them; if not, then hold them against the Sun, and you shall discern, both whether there be in them two yelks, and also whether they be distinguished or no: and if you finde in them such plenty of matter, that you see they are for your turn, let them be sitten upon, their due time, and the chickens will have four wings and four legges: but you must have a special care in bringing them up. And as some egges have two yelkes, so there are some that have three: but these are not so common; and if they could be gotten, they would yield chickens with six wings and sixs legges, which be more wonderful. There hath been seen a small Duck with four feet, having a broad thin bill, her fore-parts black, her hinder-parts yellow, a black head, whitish eyes, black wings, and a black circle about her neck, and her back and tail black, yellow feet, and not standing far asunder; and she is at this day kept to be seen at Torga. No question but she was generated after the same manner as we spake even now of chickens. So they report of a Pigeon that was seen which had four feet. And many such monsters we have oft-times hatcht at home for pleasure sake. So also are Serpents generated, having many heads and many tailes. Aristotle writes of certain Serpents, that they may be generated after the same manner, to have many heads. The Poets, and the ancient devisers of Fables, do speak much of that Hydra L[…]rnaea, which was one of Hercules labours to overcome: which Fiction was without all question occasioned by these kinds of Monsters. And whilst I was imployed about the writing of this present work, there was in Naples a Viper seen alive, which had two heads, and three cloven tongues, and moved every one of them up and down. I my self have seen many Lizards that had two or three tails, which the common people most foolishly esteem to be a jest; and it cannot be but these were generated of such egges as had two yelks.

CHAP. XVIII.

Of certain other waies how to produce monstrous births.

WE may also produce Monsters by another way then that which we spake of before; for even after they are brought forth, we may fashion them into a monstrous shape, even as we list: for as we may shape young fruits as they grow, into the fashion of any vessel or case that we make for them to grow into; as we may make a Quince like a mans head, a Cucumber like a Snake, by making a case of that fashion for them to grow in; so also we may do by the births of living Creatures. Hippocrates in his book of Air, and Water, and Places, doth precisely set down the manner hereof; and sheweth how they do it, that dwell by the River Phasis, all of them being very long-headed, whereas no other Nation is so besides. And surely Custom was the first cause that they had such heads; but afterward Nature framed her self to that Custome; insomuch that they esteemed it an honourable thing to have a very long head. The beginning of that Custome was thus. As soon as the child was new born, whiles his head was yet soft and tender, they would presently crush it in their hands, and so cause it to grow out in length; yea they would bind it up with swathing bands, that it might not grow round, but all in length: and by this custom it came to passe, that their heads afterward grew such by nature. And in process of time, they were born with such heads, so that they needed not to be so framed by handling; for whereas the generative seed is derived from all the parts of the body, sound bodies yielding good seed, but crazie bodies unsound seed; and oftentimes bald fathers beget bald children; and blear-eyed fathers, blear-eyed children; and a deformed father, for the most part a deformed childe; and the like also cometh to passe concerning other shapes: why should not also long-headed fathers generate long-headed children? But now they are not born with such heads, because that practise is quite out of use; and so nature, which was upheld by that custom, ceaseth together with the custom. So if we would produce a two-legged Dog, such as some are carried about to be seen; we must take very young whelps, and cut off their feet, but heal them up very carefully: and when they be grow to strength, join them in copulation with other dogs that have but two legs left; and if their whelps be not two-legged, cut off their legs still by succession, and at the last, nature will be overcome to yield their two-legged dogs by generation. By some such practise as you heard before, namely by handling, and often framing the members of young children, Mid-wives are wont to amend imperfections in them; as the crookednesse or sharpnesse of their noses, or such like.

CHAP. XIX.

Of the wonderful force of imagination; and how to produce party-coloured births.

PLutark in his rehearsal of the opinions of Philosophers, writes, that Empedocles held that an infant is formed according to that which the mother looks upon at the time of conception: for, saith he, women were wont to have commonly pictures and images in great request, and to bring forth children resembling the same. Hippocrates, to clear a certain womans honesty that had brought forth children very unlike their parents, ascribed the cause of it to a certain picture which she had in her chamber. And the same defence Quintilian useth on the behalf of a woman, who being her self fair, had brought forth a Black-moor, which was supposed by all men to be her slaves son. Damascen reports, that a certain young woman brought forth a child that was all hairy; and searching out the reason thereof, he found the hiary image of Iohn Baptist in her chamber, which she was wont to look upon. Heliodorus begins that excellent history which he wrote, with the Queen of Aethiopia, who brought forth Chariclea a fair daughter; the cause whereof was, the fable of Andromeda pictured in that chamber, wherein she lay with the King. We read of some others, that they brought forth horned children, because in the time of their coition they looked upon the fable of Actaeon painted before them. Many children have hare-lips; and all because their mothers being with child, did look upon a Hare. The conceit of the mind, and the force of Imagination is great; but it is then most operative, when it is excessively bent upon any such thing as it cannot attain unto. Women with child, when they long most vehemently, and have their minds earnestly set upon any thing, do thereby alter their inward spirits; the spirits move the blood, and so imprint the likenesse of the thing mused upon, in the tender substance of the child. And surely all children would have some such marks or other, by reason of their mothers longing, if this longing were not in some sort satisfied. Wherefore the searchers out of secrets have justly ascribed the marks and signes in the young ones, to the imagination of the mother; especially that imagination which prevails with her in the chiefest actions, as in coition, in letting go her seed, and such like: and as man of all other living creatures, is most swift and fleeting in his thoughts, and fullest of conceits; so the variety of his wit affords much variety of such effects; and therefore they are more in mankind, then in other living creatures: for other creatures are not so divers minded, so that they may the better bring forth every one his like in his own kind. Iacob was well acquainted with this force of imagination, as the Scriptures witnesse: for endeavouring

To bring forth party-coloured Sheep,

he took that course which I would wish every man to take, that attempts any such enterprize. He took certain Rods and Poles of Popler, and Almond-tree, and such as might be easily barked; and cut off half the rine, pilling them by white strakes, so that the Rods were white and black in several circles, like a Snakes colour. Then he put the Rods which he had pilled, into the gutters and watering-troughs, when the Sheep came to drink, and were in heat of conception, that they might look upon the Rods. And the Sheep conceived before the Rods, and brought forth young of party-colours, and with small and great spots. A delightful sight it was. Now afterward, Iacob parted these Lambes by themselves, and turned the faces of the other Sheep towards these party-coloured ones, about the time of conception: whereby it came to passe, that the other Sheep in their heat, beholding those that were party-coloured, brought forth Lambs of the like colour. And such experiments might be practised upon all living Creatures that bear wool; and would take place in all kinds of beasts; for this course will prevail even in

Generating party-coloured Horses;

A matter which Horse-keepers, and Horse-breeders do practise much; for they are wont to hang and adorn with tapestry and painted clothes of sundry colours, the houses and rooms where they put their Mares to take Horse; whereby they procure Colts of a bright Bay colour, or of a dapple Gray, or of any one colour, or of sundry colours together. And Absyrtus teacheth the same in effect; counselling us to cover the Mares body with some stuff of that colour, which we would have the Colt to be of: for look what colour she is set forth in, the same will be derived into the Colt; for the horse that covers her, will be much affected with the sight of such colours, as in the heat of his lust he looketh on; and will beget a Colt of the same hue as the example then before his eyes doth present unto him. Oppianus in his first book of Hunting, writes the same argument. Such is, saith he, the industry and practisednesse of mans wit, that they can alter the colour of the young ones from the mother, and even in the wombe of their Dam procure them to be of divers colours: for the Horse-breeder doth paint the Mares back with sundry colours, (even such as they would procure to be in the Colt,) against the time that both she desires horse, & the Stallion is admitted to cover her. So the Stallion, when he cometh and sees such goodly preparation as it were for his wedding, presently begins to some at the mouth, and to neigh after her, and is possessed with the fire of raging lust throughout his whole body, raving and taking on, that he cannot forthwith satisfie himself upon his bride. At length the Horse-breeder takes off their fetters, and lets them loose together; and the Mare admits him, and afterward brings forth a Colt of as many colours as she beheld in the time of her copulation; for as she conceives the Colt, so withal she conceives those colours which she then looks upon.

How to procure white Pea-cocks.

Informer times, white Pea-cocks were such a rare sight in Colen, that every one admired them as a most strange thing: but afterward they became more common, by reason that merchants brought many of them out of Norway: for whereas black or else party-coloured Peacocks were carried into that Country to be seen, presently as they came thither, they waxed white; for there the old ones sit upon their eggs in the air, upon the tops of very high mountaines, full of snow; and by continual sitting there, it causeth some alteration in their own colour; but the young which they hatch, are white all over. And no doubt but some such courses will take good effect in all kinds of birds; for if we take their Cages or Coops wherein they are kept, and their nests wherein they sit, and white them on the inside with some plastering work, or else cover them all over with white clothes or curtains, and so keep them in with grates, that they may not get out, but there couple and sit, and hatch their egges, they will yeeld unto us white broods. So if you would,

Procure Pigeons of party colours,

you must take that course which Oppianus hath set down. At such time, as they fall to kissing their mate, and are desirous of copulation, let him that keeps them lay before their eyes sundry clothes of the bravest colours they can get, but especially purple: for the pigeons will in their heat of lust be much affected and delighted with the sight thereof, and the young ones which they bring forth, shall resemble the same colours. The subtil Fowler, saith he, that gives himself to take and to bring up birds, is well acquainted with, and is wont to practise such experiments, and very artificially procures fine colours in young Pigeons: he casteth before their sparkling eyes fine wrought tapestry, and red coverlets, and purple garments; and so whiles he feeds their eyes with pleasing sights, he steals away their imagination to the colours which they look upon, and thereby derives the very same colours into the young ones.

How to procure a shag-hair'd Dog.

In […]a[…]ting time you must strew their kennels, and the places where they lie and couple, and usually haunt, with the fleeces and hides of beasts; and so, while they continually look upon those sights, they will beget shag whelps like Lions. This we heard came to passe by chance, and without any such intended purpose, that a little Bitch lying continually in a Rams fleece, when she came to be with whelp, she brought forth puppies of the like hair as the fleece was.

How to procure Swine, and other beasts to be white.

Swine-herds, and Keepers of beasts, when they would have white litters, are wont to beautifie, and to build the stables and places whither the beasts resort to lye, with white roofs and white eaves; and the Swine which were brought forth in such white sties, and the other beasts likewise that were brought forth in such whited places, became thereby white all over.

CHAP. XX.

How it may be wrought, that Women should bring forth fair and beautiful children.

BY this which hath been spoken, it is easie for any man to work the like effects in mankind, and to know how to procure fair and beautiful children. Nay, Writers make mention, that these things which we speak of, have oftentimes fallen out by chance. Wherefore it was not here to be omitted. The best means to produce this effect, is to place in the bed-chambers of great men, the images of Cupid, Adonis, and Ganymedes; or else to set them there in carved and graven works, in some solid matter, that they may alwayes have them in their eyes: whereby it may to passe, that whensoever their wives lie with them, still they may think upon those pictures, and have their imagination strongly and earnestly bent thereupon: and not only while they are in the act, but after they have conceived and quickned also: so shall the child when it is born, imitate and expresse the same form which his mother conceived in her mind, when she conceived him, and bare in her mind, while she bare him in her wombe. And I know by experience, that this course will take good effect; for after I had counselled many to use it, there was a woman, who had a great desire to be the mother of a fair Son, that heard of it, and put it in practise; for she procured a white boy carved of marble, well proportioned every way; and him she had always before her eyes: for such a Son it was that she much desired. And when she lay with her Husband, and likewise afterward, when she was with child, still she would look upon that image, and her eyes and heart were continually fixed upon it: whereby it came to passe, that when her breeding time was expired, she brought forth a Son very like in all points, to that marble image, but especially in colour, being as pale and as white, as if he had been very marble indeed. And thus the truth of this experiment was manifestly proved. Many other women have put the like course in practise, and their skill hath not failed them. Oppianus mentions this kind of practise, that it is usual amongst the Lacedaemonians: for they, saith he, when they perceive that their wives are breeding young bones, hang up fine pictures, and place goodly images in their sight; some, of the most beautiful and handsome young men that ever mankind afforded, as of Nireus, Narcissus, and valiant Hyacinthus, and of other young lusty gallants that were most comely and beautiful in face, and very sightly for all the parts of their body; and some, of such excellent gods as was Apollo crowned with a garland of fresh coloured Bay, and Evan that had a Diadem of Vine-leaves about his head, and goodly hair hanging down under it: and this they did, that while their Wives stood gazing continually upon such brave pictures, and comely portraitures, they might breed and bring forth children of the same comlinesse and beauty.