ON the 26th of July last, one Thomas Davis and Andrew Simpson being at Four a Clock in the Morning about their ho­nest [Page 4] vocation of Fishing, in which they laboured an hour to no purpose; but at length they perceived afar off somewhat move in the water, of an unu­sual shape and bigness; upon which they made unto it, but as soon as it saw them it dived down into the water: so that after a tedious and vain search, they returned back to the Town and informed one Mr. Rocke, a responsible Inhabitant there, of what they had seen; who with Three of his Servants came forth with Muskets char­ged, one standing on the shore, and the other two in the Boat with the Fisher-men, with whom also was Mr. Rocke. They [Page 5] had not long rowed about the River, but they again perceived its head popping up and down, at which they discharged their Pieces, but to little effect: For it dived again out of their view, and did not appear in an hours time after; but upon its rising again they shot it into the back; whereupon it made with all possible speed towards land, where (though with great dif­ficulty) it was taken.

The description of its parts is as follows.

[Page 6] On the head of this wonder­ful Creature (which can be no nearer resembled to any thing, than the head of a man) was long black Hair: its Face had the exact shape of a Lion; so terrible and grim, that it struck terrour on all that beheld it. It had two fore-feet like those of a Bull, cloven; its hinder feet being like unto an Eagles Talons, with very long and sharp Nails; so that where Na­ture commonly orders Fins, there were perfect Feet of o­ther Creatures of a clean con­trary Element. His mouth was guarded with three long sharp Horns, with which when he [Page 7] was on Land he so dangerously wounded one of the foresaid Mr. Rock's servants in the thigh, that he remains very ill of the same, insomuch that his Reco­very is much doubted by all, notwithstanding the Advice and Assistance of the most skil­ful Chirurgeons in those parts. On its Back was the perfect re­semblance of an Hour-glass, and the appearance (as some fancied) of a Spade and Deaths head, to the amazement of all its Spectators.

It is in length Twelve Foot, and Five in bredth.

On each side its Brest are two Paps, like unto those of wo­men.

[Page 8] Its Belly is smooth, being be­speckled with spots of divers colours.

When this Letter came away it was not quite dead, though it had been much wounded; but is with much ado brought into the aforesaid Town of Kin­sale, where it now remains the Wonderment of all its nume­rous beholders.