It is, however, with the contemporary monstrosity that we have chiefly to deal, and a very rare tract in the Bodleian Library[F. 32] gives "A certaine Relation of the Hog faced Gentlewoman called Mistris _Tannakin Skinker_, who was borne at _Wirkham_ a Neuter Towne betweene the Emperour and the Hollander, scituate on the river Rhyne. Who was bewitched in her mothers wombe in the yeare 1618, and hath lived ever since unknowne in this kind to any, but her Parents and a few other neighbours. And can never recover her true shape tell she be married &c. _Also relating the cause, as it is since conceived, how her mother came so bewitched._ _London._ Printed by _J. O._ and are to be sold by _F. Grove_,[F. 33] at his shop on _Snow-hil_ neare _St Sepulchers Church_." 1640. This veracious history gives an account of various remarkable births. "But I come now to humane Births, beginning with those forraigne, and ending with the domesticke; about the beginning of the Marsick Warre, one _Alcippe_, a woman of especiall note, at the time of her childing, was delivered of an Elephant; and another (whose name is not left unto us) of a Serpent. In _Thessaly_, one was brought to bed of an infant which had the shape of an Hypocentaure, and expired the same day that it received breath," etc. After thus paving the way for his own particular marvel, the writer goes on: "I fall now immediatly upon the party before propounded. In a place in _Holland_ called _Wirkham_, being a neuter Towne; as lying between _Holland_ and those parts belonging to the Empire, on the River _Rhine_, lived one _Ioachim Skinker_, whose wife's name was _Parnel_, a man of good revenue, but of a great estate in money and cattle; these two having very loving lived together without any issue to succeed them in their goods and inheritance: it being no small griefe unto them, that either strangers, or some of their owne ungrateful kindred should after death enjoy those meanes, for which they had so laboriously travail'd: When they were in their greatest despaire, it hapned thus, she found herselfe conceived with childe, which was a greater joy and comfort to her and her husband: But whether they were unthankful for such an unexpected blessing, or what other thing was the cause, I am not able to determine; but it so hapned, that in the yeere 1618, she was safely delivered of a Daughter, all the limbes and lineaments of her body well featured and proportioned, only her face, which is the ornament and beauty of all the rest, had the Nose of a Hog, or Swine: which was not only a stain and blemish, but a deformed uglinesse, making all the rest lothsome, contemptible and odious to all that lookt upon her in her infancie.