The true description of this marvelous strange Fish, which was taken on thursday was seven-night, the xvi day of June, this present month, in the year of our Lord God. M. DLX. ix.  
 

¶ A declaration of the taking of this strange Fish, with the length & breadth. etc.  
Doing you to understand, that on thursday the xvi day of this present month of June, in the year of our Lord God. MD. LV. ix. This strange fish (which you see here picttured) was taken between Calais, and Dover, by certain English fisher men, which were a fishing for mackerel. And this strange & marvelous Fish, following after the schools of Mackerel, came rushing in to the fisher men's Nets, and broke and tore their nets marvelously, in such sort, that at the first they wear much amazed there at: and marveled what it should be, that kept such a stir with their Nets, for they were very much harmed by it, with breaking and spoiling their Nets.  
And then they seeing, and perceiving that the Nets would not serve by reason of the greatness of this strange Fish, than they with such instruments, engines, & things that they had: made such shift that they took this strange Fish. And upon fridaye the morrow after brought it up to Billingsgate in London, which was the xvii day of June, and there it was seen and vewid of many which marveled much at the strangeness of it. For here hath never the like of it been seen: and on saturday, being the xviii day, certain fish mongers in new Fishstreat, agreeid with them that caught it, for, and in consideration of the harm, which they received by spoiling of their Nets, and for their pains, to have this strange fish. And having it, did open it and flaied of the skin, and saved it hole. And adjudging the meat of it to be good, broiled a piece and tasted of hit, and it looked whit like Veal when it was broiled, and was good & savoury, (though somewhat strange) in the eating, and then they sold of it that same saturday, to such as would buy of the same, and they themselves did bake of it, and eat it for dainty: and for the more serteintaintie and opening of the truth, the good men of the Castle and the kings head in new Fish street, did but a great deal & baked of it, and this is most true.  
THis strange Fish is in length xvii foot, and iii foot broad, and in compass about the body vi foot. and proportioned as you see here by this picture, and is round snouted, short headdid as you see, having iii ranks of teeth on either jaw, marvelous sharp and very short ii eyes growing near his snout, & as big as a horses eyes, and his heart as big as an Ox's heart, & like wise his liver and lights big as an Ox's, but all the garbage that was in his belly beside, would have gone in to a felt hat. Also ix fins, & ii of the foremost be iii quarters of a yard long from the body: & a very big one on the fore part of his back, as you see h●●● by this picture, blackish on the back & a little whitish on the belly, a slender tail, and had but one bone & that was a great ridge bone running a long his back, from the head unto the tail, and had great force in his tail when he was in the water. Also it hath .v. gills of each side of the head, shoing white as you see. There is no proper name for it that I know but that certain men of Captain Haukinses, doth call it a Shark. And it is to be seen in London, at the red Lion, in Flete street.   
Fininis.  
Qd. C. R.   

Imprinted at London. in Fleetstreate, beneath the conduit, at the sign of Saint John Evangelist, by Thomas Colwell.