It was August, in the English county of Hertfordshire. The story, as told by the anonymous author of the pamphlet, starts with a dispute between a rich farmer, and a poor neighbour. The farmer, whose field of oats were ready to be harvested, asked the neighbour to mow the field on his behalf. The neighbour, who often worked the fields during the harvest, agreed to do the work, asking for what he considered to be a fair price.
However, the rich farmer instead offered a much lower price, which offended the neighbouring worker, resulting in some "sharp words" between them. However, realising that he might now be out of work, the neighbour finally conceded, and said he'd mow the field for a lower price.
Unfortunately, the rich farmer was already too enraged by the former altercation, and exclaimed that he would rather the Devil mowed the field, than the poor neighbour having anything more to do with it.
Then, that very night, some passers-by claimed that they witnessed the farmer's field ablaze with light, as if it were on fire. When the news of this reached the farmer the next morning, he quickly went to the field, expecting to find his crop destroyed by flames.
However, to the land owner's amazement, instead he found his crop of oats neatly mowed down in strange circles, with each straw placed in such an exact way, that would have taken a single worker an age to complete.
Now remembering his own angry words from the previous day, the farmer couldn't help but believe that this otherworldly mowing had been performed by none other than the Devil himself! As such, the farmer found himself too afraid to remove the large crop of freshly harvested oats.
Depiction of the Mowing-Devil, 1678.
The connections between the modern crop circle phenomenon and the tale of the Mowing-Devil are hard to deny, from the disturbing illustration of the Devil cutting a circle of oats on the cover of the pamphlet, to the description within the text of the field being eerily illuminated at night, and the subsequent discovery of unexplained circles cut within the oats, with the straws placed down with an unearthly exactness.
However, no other evidence exists besides the pamphlet to corroborate the story, so we only have the author's word to accept it as truth. The pamphlet also contains a large amount of moral, political, and religious perspectives, using the story to illustrate these. This could mean that the tale was nothing more than a fabricated fable, building on ancient folklore, and printed with the intention of promoting the author's personal beliefs.
The story also differs from modern crop circles in that the oats were allegedly cut down, rather than simply flattened, as is witnessed in the current-day phenomenon.
However, there are also reasons to think that there could be some truth to the story. The tale is a very peculiar one from a morality point of view. If the author wanted to invent a story to promote the notion of greedy land owners getting their comeuppance, then perhaps it would make more sense to have the field of oats destroyed at the end, rather than just neatly cut down for free, ready for the farmer to take them.
The text also infers that this event was well known, and the whole country was talking about it. This could of course be a fabrication as well, but it is also possible that the author of the pamphlet heard of the story second-hand, and then decided to use it to promote their own perspectives.
Whatever the truth may be, we will probably never know. However, if nothing else, the tale remains an intriguing insight into the religious and philosophical perspectives of 17th century folk – and perhaps, just perhaps, it is also an early documentation of a strange and unexplained occurrence, that momentarily peeled back the veil between our physical reality, and the dimensions that lie beyond.
Full Transcript of the Original Document
Click here to view the PDF source, hosted by Lehigh University.
The Mowing-Devil:
Or, Strange NEWS out of
Hartford-shire.
Being a True Relation of a Farmer, who Bargaining with a Poor Mower, about the Cutting down Three Half Acres of Oats; upon the Mower's asking too much, the Farmer swore, That the Devil should Mow it, rather than He: And so it fell out, that that very Night, the Crop of Oats shew'd as if it had been all of a Flame; but next Morning appear'd so neatly Mow'd by the Devil, or some Infernal Spirit, that no Mortal Man was able to do the like.
Also, How the said Oats ly now in the Field, and the Owner has not Power to fetch them away.
Licensed, August 22th. 1678.
(2)
as there is a Hell, there must be a Heaven, and consequently a GOD; and so all the Duties of Christian Religion as indispensable subsequents necessarily follow. The first of which Propositions, this ensuing Narrative does not a little help to Confirm.
For no longer ago, than within the compass of this present month of August, there hapned so unusual an Accident in Hartfordshire, as it is not only the general Discourse, and Admiration of the whole Country; but may for its Rarity Challenge any other event, which has for these many years bin Produc't in any other County whatsoever. The Story thus.
In the said County, Lives a Rich industrious Farmer, who perceiving a small Crop of his (of about three Half-Acres of Land which he had Sowed with Oats) to be Ripe and fit for Gathering, sent to a poor Neighbour whom he knew worked commonly in the Summer-time at Harvest Labor, to agree with him about Mowing, or Cutting the said Oats down; The poor Man as it behoov'd Him, endeavour'd to fell the Sweat of his Brows and Marrow of his Bones at as dear a Rate as reasonable he might, and therefore askt a good round Price for his Labour, which the Farmer taking some exceptions at, bid him much more under the usual Rate than the poor Man askt above it; So that some sharp Words had past when the Farmer told
(3)
told him he would Discourse with him no more about it. Whereupon the honest Mower recollecting with himself, that if he undertook not that little Spot of Work, he might thereby lose much more Business which the Farmer had to employ him in beside, ran after him, and told him, that, rather than displease him, he would do it at what rate in Reason he pleas'd; and as an instance of his willingness to serve him, propos'd to him a lower price, than he had Mowed for any time this Year before. The irretated Farmer with a stern look, and hasty gesture, told the poor man, That the Devil himself should Mow his Oats before he should have anything to do with them, and upon this went his way, and left the sorrowful Yeoman, not a little troubled that he had disoblig'd one in whose Power it lay to do him many kindnesses.
But how ever, in the happy series of an interrupted prosperity, we may strut, and plume our selves over the miserable Indigencies of our necessitated Neighbours; yet there is a just God above, who weighs us not by our Bags, nor measures us by our Coffers; but looks upon all men indifferently, as the common Sons of Adam; so that he who carefully Officiates that Rank or Station wherein the Almighty has plac't him, tho but a mean one, is truly more worthy the Estimation of all Men, than he who is prefer'd to superior dignities, and abuses them: And what greater abuse, than the contempt of Men below him: the relief of whose common necessities is none of the least Conditions wherby he holds all his Good things; which when that
A3
(4)
that Tenure is forfeited by his default, he may justly expect some Judgement to ensue; or else that those riches wherby he prizes himself so extravagantly, may shortly be taken from him.
We will not attempt to fathom the cause, or reason of Preternatural events; but certain we are, as the most Credible and General Relation can inform us, that the same night this poor Mower, and Farmer parted, his Feild of Oats was publickly beheld by several Passengers, to be all on a Flame, and so continued for some space, to the great consternation of those that beheld it.
Which strange news being by several carried to the Farmer next morning, could not but give him a great Curiosity to go and see what was become of his Crop of Oats, which he could not imagin, but was totally devour'd by those ravenous Flames which were observ'd to be so long resident on his Acre and half of Ground.
Certainly a reflection on his suddain and indiscreet expression, [That the Devil should Mowe his Oats before the poor Man should have any thing to do with them] could not but on this occasion come into his Memory. For if we will but allow our selves so much leisure, to consider how many hits of providence go to the production of one Crop of Corn, such as the aptitude of Soyl, the Seasonableness of Showers, Nourishing Solstices and Salubreous winds, etc. we should rather welcome Maturity
(5)
Maturity with Devout Acknowledgments than prevent our gathering of it by our profuse wishes.
But not to keep the Curious Reader any longer in suspense, the inquisitive Farmer no sooner arriv'd at the place where his Oats grew, but to his admiration he found the Crop was Cut down ready to his hands; and as if the Devil had a mind to shew his dexterity in the art of Husbandry, and scorn'd to mow them after the usual manner, he cut them in round Circles, and plac't every straw with that exactness that it would have taken up above an Age, for any Man to perform what he did in that one night: And the man that ows them is as yet afraid to remove them.
F I N I S.
Click here to view the PDF source, hosted by Lehigh University.
Or, Strange NEWS out of
Hartford-shire.
Also, How the said Oats ly now in the Field, and the Owner has not Power to fetch them away.
as there is a Hell, there must be a Heaven, and consequently a GOD; and so all the Duties of Christian Religion as indispensable subsequents necessarily follow. The first of which Propositions, this ensuing Narrative does not a little help to Confirm.
For no longer ago, than within the compass of this present month of August, there hapned so unusual an Accident in Hartfordshire, as it is not only the general Discourse, and Admiration of the whole Country; but may for its Rarity Challenge any other event, which has for these many years bin Produc't in any other County whatsoever. The Story thus.
In the said County, Lives a Rich industrious Farmer, who perceiving a small Crop of his (of about three Half-Acres of Land which he had Sowed with Oats) to be Ripe and fit for Gathering, sent to a poor Neighbour whom he knew worked commonly in the Summer-time at Harvest Labor, to agree with him about Mowing, or Cutting the said Oats down; The poor Man as it behoov'd Him, endeavour'd to fell the Sweat of his Brows and Marrow of his Bones at as dear a Rate as reasonable he might, and therefore askt a good round Price for his Labour, which the Farmer taking some exceptions at, bid him much more under the usual Rate than the poor Man askt above it; So that some sharp Words had past when the Farmer told
told him he would Discourse with him no more about it. Whereupon the honest Mower recollecting with himself, that if he undertook not that little Spot of Work, he might thereby lose much more Business which the Farmer had to employ him in beside, ran after him, and told him, that, rather than displease him, he would do it at what rate in Reason he pleas'd; and as an instance of his willingness to serve him, propos'd to him a lower price, than he had Mowed for any time this Year before. The irretated Farmer with a stern look, and hasty gesture, told the poor man, That the Devil himself should Mow his Oats before he should have anything to do with them, and upon this went his way, and left the sorrowful Yeoman, not a little troubled that he had disoblig'd one in whose Power it lay to do him many kindnesses.
But how ever, in the happy series of an interrupted prosperity, we may strut, and plume our selves over the miserable Indigencies of our necessitated Neighbours; yet there is a just God above, who weighs us not by our Bags, nor measures us by our Coffers; but looks upon all men indifferently, as the common Sons of Adam; so that he who carefully Officiates that Rank or Station wherein the Almighty has plac't him, tho but a mean one, is truly more worthy the Estimation of all Men, than he who is prefer'd to superior dignities, and abuses them: And what greater abuse, than the contempt of Men below him: the relief of whose common necessities is none of the least Conditions wherby he holds all his Good things; which when that
that Tenure is forfeited by his default, he may justly expect some Judgement to ensue; or else that those riches wherby he prizes himself so extravagantly, may shortly be taken from him.
We will not attempt to fathom the cause, or reason of Preternatural events; but certain we are, as the most Credible and General Relation can inform us, that the same night this poor Mower, and Farmer parted, his Feild of Oats was publickly beheld by several Passengers, to be all on a Flame, and so continued for some space, to the great consternation of those that beheld it.
Which strange news being by several carried to the Farmer next morning, could not but give him a great Curiosity to go and see what was become of his Crop of Oats, which he could not imagin, but was totally devour'd by those ravenous Flames which were observ'd to be so long resident on his Acre and half of Ground.
Certainly a reflection on his suddain and indiscreet expression, [That the Devil should Mowe his Oats before the poor Man should have any thing to do with them] could not but on this occasion come into his Memory. For if we will but allow our selves so much leisure, to consider how many hits of providence go to the production of one Crop of Corn, such as the aptitude of Soyl, the Seasonableness of Showers, Nourishing Solstices and Salubreous winds, etc. we should rather welcome Maturity
Maturity with Devout Acknowledgments than prevent our gathering of it by our profuse wishes.
But not to keep the Curious Reader any longer in suspense, the inquisitive Farmer no sooner arriv'd at the place where his Oats grew, but to his admiration he found the Crop was Cut down ready to his hands; and as if the Devil had a mind to shew his dexterity in the art of Husbandry, and scorn'd to mow them after the usual manner, he cut them in round Circles, and plac't every straw with that exactness that it would have taken up above an Age, for any Man to perform what he did in that one night: And the man that ows them is as yet afraid to remove them.
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