Mr Bagnall,
Pray resolve me in your next Weeks Paper, whether there be any such Thing in Nature as Mermen and Mermaids, I being not yet satisfied in the verity thereof, notwithstanding the Reports of Seamen and others, who have maintain'd the Affirmative, and if you can make it appear there has been such, whether they may be thought to have more Reason than other Fishes, in which you will oblige,
Your Humble Servant and Customer, N.B.
Sir, I am a little surprized at your sudden demand in so curious a Question, which more properly belongs to a learned Casuist than a News-Monger; however, to oblige a Friend, I shall insert such unquestionable Instances, as may in some measure gratify the curiosity of the Inquirer, and accordingly shall first shew you what may be thought of their Nature and Production; some thing 'em not to be Creatures ab initio, but Monsters got since by unnatural Copulation; some think 'em to be very Devils from the strange Effects attributed to 'em; some that when the Angels fell, those that light in the Sea were turn'd into Mermen; and some, that the Devils begat them of Fishes; some that Fishes generating in the Deluge, and seeing drowned Men, by strength of Imagination got something like 'em.
But we see no reason but that they were created at first amongst that infinite number of other Fishes in the Sea, which bear some resemblance to the Creatures on Earth. Alexander ab Alexandro affirms he has known a Merman steal a Woman Causa concubitus, which if true, strengthens the Argument.Ferdinand Alvares, Secretary to the Store-house of the Indians, says, he saw a young Merman came out of the Water to steal Fishes from the Fishermen, and eat 'em. Olaus magnus says many things of 'em, but his Credit is questionable. Philosoph. Tract. mentions a Merman taken in a River in Virginia with a Pyramidal Head and Fish Tail: In our English Chronicles 'tis affirmed a Man-fish was taken at Orford in this County of Suffolk, kept six Months on shore, and stole again to Sea;
but the most authentick and particular Relation we meet with, is in the History of the Netherlands, viz. The Dikes were broken down near Campen by an Inundation in 1403, and when the Inundation returned, a Merwoman was left in Dermert Mere, and the Milkmaids who us'd to cross the Mere with Boats when they went to Milk, saw a human Head above Water, but believed their Eyes deceived 'em, till the repeated sight confirmed their assurance, whereupon they resolved one night to watch her, and saw that she repaired to a seggy or flaggy place, where it was ebb and near the side; whereupon, early in the Morning they got a great many Boats together, and environed the place in the form of a half Moon, and disturbed her, but she attempting to get under the Boats, and finding her way stopt up by staves and other things on purpose fastend, began to flounce and make an hideous deafning Noise, and with her Hands and Tail sunk a Boat or two,
but at last tyred out and taken; the Maids used her kindly, and cleansed the Sea Moss and Shells from off her, and offered her Water, Fish, Milk, Bread, &c. which she refused, but with good usage in a Day or two, they got her to eat and drink, though she endeavoured to make her escape again to the Sea; her Hair was long and black, her Face humane, her Teeth very strong, her Breasts and Belly to her Navel were perfect; the lower parts of her Body ended in a strong Fish Tail. The Magistrates of Harlem commanded her to be sent to them, for that the Mere was in their Jurisdiction;
When she was brought thither, she was put into the Town house and had a Dame assigned to teach her. She learnt to Spin and show Devotion at Prayer, she would laugh, and when Women came into the Town house to Spin with her for Diversion, she would signify by Signs she knew their meaning in some sort, though she could never be taught to Speak. She would wear no Cloths in Summer; part of her Hair was fillited up in a Dutch Dress, and part hang'd long and naturally. She would have her Tail in the Water, and accordingly had a Tub of Water under her Chair made on purpose for her. She eat Milk, Water, Bread, Butter and Fish; she lived thus out of her Element (except her Tail) fifteen or sixteen Years: Her Picture was painted on a Board with Oyl, and hangs now in the Town house of Harlem, with a Subscription in Letters of Gold, giving an Account when she was taken, how long she lived, and when she died, and in what Church-yard she was buried. Their Annals mention her, and their Books have her Picture; and travelling Painters drew her Picture by the Table.
By the above-mentioned Relation the Querist may be satisfied that she exceeds all other Creatures in cunning and docility, that have ever yet been known, and probably by her Burial might be reckoned in the Classes of Rationals, by the Magistrates who knew her Life, and suffered a place in the Church yard for her Interment.
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| The Zennor mermaid. CC image by Sarah Smith. |
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