Strange Newes from Scotland
Anonymous
Created as an assignment for Literature and Digital Diversity, Northeastern University, Spring 2021.
Strange newes from Scotland, or, A Strange relation of a terrible and prodigious monster, borne
to the amazement of all those that were spectators, in the kingdome of Scotland, in a village neere Edenborough,
call'd Hadensworth, Septem. 14. 1647. and the words the said monster spake at its birth.
E.P.
London
1647
Transcribed from a facsimile in Early English Books Online.
Strange Newes from
Scotland
or,
A strange Relation of a terrible and
prodigious Monster, borne to the amazement
of all those that were spectators, in the Kingdome of
Scotland, in a Village neere Edenborough, call'd
Hadensworth, Septem. 14 1647 and the word
the said Monster spake at its birth.
A framed drawing of the monster described in the text standing on a patch of grass.
The being has two heads, one appearing to be female with long hair and pronounced eyelids,
the other appearing to be male with little hair. Both heads have long ears. The necks of
each head come down to a circular torso that features two nipples and a bellybutton. The
being has two arms, both with five claws or talons on each hand. The pelvic area of the
being appears to be covered in long locks of hair. The being has two legs, each with one
cloven hoof at the bottom an human arms protruding from each kneecap.
Printed according the Originall Relation sent over to
a great Divine hereafter mentioned.
Strange Newes
from Scotland
In Hadensworth, neere
Edendorough, (for so
the Village was called)
as it was certified by
the Minister of the Pa-
rish, (a man of gravi-
tie, and good estimati-
on amongst his neigh-
bours, and of good
repute generally; as
also by the Church-wardens of the same Pa-
rish, and other people of good qualitie and
esteeme, and the Relation sent hither to a friend
of his, on M. Obadiah Slingsby, a pious and a
painfull Minister of Gods Word) was borne
a Child, or rather a Monster, (I think Lerna nor
Egyptian Nyle ever produced the like) with two
heads growing severally, somewhat distant one
from the other, bearing the similitude of man
and woman, the one face being all over-grown
with long haire, the other more smooth & more
effeminate, the eares of both long, (like as the
Poets fancy Mydas his eares, who was
Judge between Pan and Apollo) standing bolt
upright, in shape and length much like unto an
Asses; the Eyes standing in the middest
of the Fore-head (they having but one a
piece) cannot unfitly bee paralelled with
that horned Monster Polyphemus (spoken of
by Homer, which Ulysses exitinguisht the sight
of, by thrusting a Fire-brand into the Eye),
they being bigge and round, like unto Saw-
cers: His Body shap'd or rather having no
shape round like the truncke of a Tree or
Barrell: The Neckes to support this horned
structure (I meane the Heads) were strong,
sinewie and short, like to a stong neckt Bull:
The Armes had their growthes from severall
places; being of great dimensions, but very
small, having annexed to their wrists great
Tallons, like to a Griffins. From the Se-
cret parts (which shewed it to bee both
Male and Female) downewards, all hairie,
like your Satyres, of Sylvane Gods: The
Legges long and cloven, like an Oxes Foot,
and out of the knees, or upper part of the
legges, bracht out hands, shap'd and co-
loured like a Monkeyes: In short, all the
parts about it were monstrous and ill-shapen;
insomuch, that it strooke into a quaking ter-
rour all those that were eye-witnesses of this
horned production, some betaking themselves
to their prayers; others, that wanted faith and
confidence to pray, to flight, and the rest
standing amazed, as if they had beholden
Gorgon (a Monster that had this propertie an-
nexed to her, that whosoever chanced to cast
his eye upon her, was suddenly metamorpho-
sed into a stone).
At the birth of this Monster, Nature seem-
ed to bee disquieted and troubled; insomuch,
that the Heavens proclaimed its entrance
into the World with a lowd peale of Thun-
der, seconded with such frequent flashes of
Lightning, that it was credibly beleeved of all
(whose fences were not ravished from them
with the sudden apprehenstion of feare) that the
latter day was now come upon them; in the
height of which confused noyse, the Monster
with a hoarse, but lowd voyce) was heard to
speak these words, being ever after silent, I am
thus deformed for the sinnes of my Parents. The
Mother, what with the extremitie of the paine
and horrour of the sight, after some few ex-
pressions, gave up the Ghost; the words shee
used before breath left her body, were these,
Good people (says shee) pray for mee as I shall
doe for my selfe; this Judgement is quellion-
lesse fallen upon mee for my sinnes, which are many
and grievous, for I have often wisht this or some
such like judgement might befall me, (which might
not onely be a terror to my selfe, but all other that
should behold it) rather than any Child borne of my
Body should receive those Christian Rites which by
the Lawes and ancient Customes of England and
Scotland were given Children at the Front, at their
Baptisme: And I confess, that I did vehemently
desire (being seduced by Hereticall factious fellowes,
who goe in Sheepes cloathing, but are naught but
ravening Wolves) to see the utter ruine and subver-
sion of all Church and State-Government (which too
many in these times have desired, as the late unhappie
differences can testifie) and to be an eye witnesse of
the destruction of the Ministerie, who ere not of our
faction; all which ungodly wishes (I am confident)
have occasioned this horrid judgement to be so hea-
vily inflicted upon me: Therefore I desire you (deare
friends) as you tender your being here, and your well-
being hereafter, if any here amongst us be guiltie of
the same sinnes (as I feare they are too generall) to
recant in time those dangerous errors, calling to God
call to Heaven for vengeance lest this Sceane be con-
tinued from me to you, and so to your posteritie,
till a length this Nation be pestered with as many
Serpents as — But before shee could put a
Period to her speech, Death put an Exit to her
dayes.
Thus ended the Tragedie of this afflicted
Woman: I would to God it might (as I hop
it may) serve as a meanes to dehort those peo-
ple, who, through for the present they labour
not with the same Births, (yet too many, I
feare, with the same Disease) whose out-sides
though they appeare not so horrid to the Eye
as this mishapen Monster, I feare their in-sides
are hung Round with all sorts of crying sinnes.
Let such take this dying Womans counsell
into their considerations before it be
too late, calling to Heaven for
Mercie, before their sinnes
call to Heaven for
Judgement.
F I N I S.
Printed at London by E.P.
for W. Lee, 1647.
Although this pronoun is almost certainly being used in
the plural form to refer to the Monster's two heads, it is important to make note of it as a possible instance of referring
to one being of disputed gender with a gender neutral pronoun.
Interestingly, this is the only time the Monster of the story
is referred to using masculine pronouns.
"Sylvane Gods" refers to the Roman deity of the woods, Silvanus,
dieties who were primarily concerned with nature. Though this deity is not a Christian one, it is noted here as a religious
word because of its theological nature, as well as to draw attention to the comparison made between beings of the woods and the
Monster described in the text.
It is unclear if this play on words is intended, with 'labour'
meaning hard or difficult work as well as giving birth, making it a notable part of the text.
References to physical features
Gendered language or language relating to gender
References to religion
Language dealing with children or childbirth
References to an inidvidual's ethnicity
Singlular pronouns