But for the ordinary size of Mankind, in all Probability, it was always (as I said) the same, as may appear from the Monuments, Mummies, and other ancient Evidences to be seen at this Day. The most ancient Monument at this Day, I presume is that of Cheops, in the first and fairest Pyramid of Ægypt; which was, no doubt, made of Capacity every Way sufficient to hold the Body of so great a Person as was intended to be laid up in it. But this we find by the nice Measures of our curious Mr. Greaves, hardly to exceed our common Coffins. The hollow Part within (saith he) is in Length only 6,488 Feet, and in Breadth but 2,218 Feet: The Depth 2,860 Feet. A narrow space, yet large enough to contain a most potent and dreadful Monarch, being dead; to whom living, all Ægypt was too streight and narrow a Circuit. By these Dimensions, and by such other Observations, as have been taken by me from several embalmed Bodies in Ægypt, we may conclude there is no decay in Nature (though the Question is as old as Homer) but that the Men of this Age are of the same Stature they were near 3000 Years ago, vid. Greaves of the Pyr. in 1638, in Ray’s Collect. of Trav. Tom. 1. pag. 118.
To this more ancient, we may add others of a later Date. Of which take these, among others, from the curious and learned Hakewill. The Tombs at Pisa, that are some thousand Years old, are not longer than ours; so is Athelstane’s in Malmesbury-Church; so Sehba’s in St. Paul’s, of the Year 693; so Etheldred’s, &c. Apol. 216, &c.
The same Evidence we have also from the Armour, Shields, Vessels, and other Utensils dug up at this Day. The Brass Helmet dug up at Metaurum, which was not doubted to have been left there at the Overthrow of Asdrubal, will fit one of our Men at this Day.
Nay, besides all this, probably we have some more certain Evidence. Augustus was 5 Foot 9 Inches high, which was the just Measure of our famous Queen Elizabeth, who exceeded his Height 2 Inches, if proper Allowance be made for the Difference between the Roman and our Foot. Vid. Hakew. ib. p. 215.
[d] To the Stature of Men in [the foregoing Note], we may add some Remarks about their unusual Strength. That of Sampson (who is not said to have exceeded other Men in Stature as he did in Strength) is well known. So of old, Hector, Diomedes, Hercules, and Ajax are famed; and since them many others; for which I shall seek no farther than the before commended Hakewill, who by his great and curious Learning, hath often most of the Examples that are to be met with on all his Subjects he undertakes. Of the After-Ages he names C. Marius, Maximinus, Aurelian, Scanderberge, Bardesin, Tamerlane, Siska, and Hunniades. Anno 1529, Klunher, Provost of the great Church at Misnia, carry’d a Pipe of Wine out of the Cellar, and laid it in the Cart. Mayolus saw one hold a Marble Pillar in his Hand 3 Foot long, and 1 Foot diameter, which he toss’d up in the Air, and catched again, as if it were a Ball. Another of Mantua, and a little Man, named Rodamas, could break a Cable, &c. Ernando Burg, fetched up Stairs an Ass laden with Wood, and threw both into the Fire. At Constantinople, Anno 1582, one lifted a Piece of Wood, that twelve Men could scarce raise: then lying along, he bare a Stone that ten Men could but just roll to him. G. of Fronsberge, Baron Mindlehaim, could raise a Man off his Seat, with only his middle Finger; stop an Horse in his full Career; and shove a Cannon out of its Place. Cardan saw a Man dance with two Men in his Arms, two on his Shoulders, and one on his Neck. Patacoua, Captain of the Cossacks, could tear an Horse-Shoe (and if I mistake not, the same is reported of the present King Augustus of Poland.) A Gigantick Woman of the Netherlands could lift a Barrel of Hamburgh Beer. Mr. Carew had a Tenant that could carry a But’s Length, 6 Bushel of Wheaten Meal (of 15 Gallon Measure) with the Lubber, the Miller of 24 Years of Age, on the top of it. And J. Roman of the same County, could carry the Carcass of an Ox. Vid. Hakewill, ib. p. 238.
Viros aliquot moderna memoria tam à mineralibus, quàm aliis Seuthia & Gothia provinciis adducere congruis, tantâ fortitudine præditos, ut quisque eorum in humeros sublevatum Equum, vel Bovem maximum, imò vas ferri 600, 800, aut 1000 librarum (quale & alique Puellæ levare possunt) ad plura stadia portaret. Ol. Mag. ubi supr.
[e] Grew’s Cosmol. Sacr. B. 1. ch. 5. §. 25.
CHAP. V.
Of the Structure of the Parts of Man’s Body.
Having thus taken a View of the Posture, Shape, and Size of Man’s Body, let us in this Chapter survey the Structure of its Parts. But here we have so large a Prospect, that it would be endless to proceed upon Particulars. It must suffice therefore to take Notice, in general only, how artificially every Part of our Body is made. No Botch, no Blunder, no unnecessary Apparatus (or in other Words) no Signs of Chance[a]; but every Thing curious, orderly, and performed in the shortest and best Method, and adapted to the most compendious Use. What one Part is there throughout the whole Body, but what is composed of the fittest Matter for that Part; made of the most proper Strength and Texture; shaped in the compleatest Form; and in a word, accouter’d with every Thing necessary for its Motion, Office, Nourishment, Guard, and what not! What so commodious a Structure and Texture could have been given to the Bones, for Instance, to make them firm and strong, and withal light, as that which every Bone in the Body hath? Who could have shaped them so nicely to every Use, and adapted them to every Part, made them of such just Lengths, given them such due Sizes and Shapes, chanelled, hollowed, headed, lubricated, and every other Thing ministring, in the best and most compendious manner to their several Places and Uses? What a glorious Collection and Combination have we also of the most exquisite Workmanship and Contrivance in the Eye, in the Ear, in the Hand[], in the Foot[c], in the Lungs, and other Parts already mention’d? What an Abridgment of Art, what a Variety of Uses[d], hath Nature laid upon that one Member of the Tongue, the grand Instrument of Taste, the faithful Judge, the Centinel, the Watchman of all our Nourishment, the artful Modulator of our Voice, the necessary Servant of Mastication, Swallowing, Sucking, and a great deal besides? But I must desist from proceeding upon Particulars, finding I am fallen upon what I propos’d to avoid.