The description of a rare or rather most monstrous fish taken on the East cost of Holland the xvii of November, Anno 1366.  
The Works of God how great and strange they be  
A picture plain behold hear may you see.  
 depiction of a giant squid-like sea creature  
Hear thou hast (gentle friend) the picture shape and fashion of a fish strange and marvelous taken (as is said) in Holland, having on his fins hard scales in form much like the beggars dishes, which in that country they were wont to wear in scoff & derision, his eyes like an owl & mouthed as a Popin gay his tail reed and four cornered like to a priests Cap, which fish hath been seen and viewed of most Nobles and Pears of Flaunders, who hath plucked of his scales like to dishes and keeps them for a show and for the more credit hereof, ye shall understand that the vii of December the said fish was brought to the City of Antwarpt where it was openly showed and seen aswell of English men as other strangers what this monster with other uncouth sights seen of late do Prognosticate and signify unto us, that I leave to thy conjecture (loving Reader) beseeching God the Lord and governor of all creatures not to deal with us according to our deserts but for Christ his sons sake to power his mercy upon us and grant us Grace to amend and to do those things which are pleasant and acceptable in his sight thorough jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.  

AS thou this formed fish dost see  
I Changed from his state  
So many men in each degree.  
From kind degenerate,  
To monsters men are turned now,  
Disguised in their ray.  
For in their fond inventions new  
They keep no mean ne stay,  
Their manners mad and monstruous,  
what should I now descry?  
Or yet their cates delicious,  
why should I them espy?  
If one that lived in this land,  
A forty years before:  
Can be released from the band,  
To be as he was yore.  
would he not wonder wondrously,  
when he our monsters spied,  
In so small time so foolishly  
From auntiant custom flyed?  
These monsters therefore God doth send,  
To put us all in mind.  
Such shaples shapes for to amend,  
which now are out of kind,  
Or else the God of kind and shape  
will shaples us detest,  
And with his plague will punish us.  
But more to speak I rest.    

Imprinted at London in Paul's Churchyard by Thomas Purfoote at the sign of the Lucrece.   
¶ Secretary. 
¶ What needs assault, I dare say she will consent  
That ye shall enter by a reasonable pointment  
And than take heed, for in keeping of this ward & hold  
Is more danger than in getting a thousand fold.  ¶ jealousy. 
¶ She that is of mind somewhat reckless  
giving herself all to idleness  
And loveth to lie long in her bed  
Who waiteth a time, shall he not be sped.  ¶ Secretary. 
¶ Time may nay, wait if she be in good mode  
For out of the church, all times be good  
But pass not thereon, though she say nay  
For so she will, when she hath best lust to play.  ¶ jealousy. 
¶ She that can no counsel keep  
And lightly will sob and weep  
Laugh again, and wot not why  
Will she not be soon tyced to folly.  ¶ Secretary. 
¶ The tears betoken a gracious couroge  
And laughing doth all malice assuage  
When she is in that taking, mark well mark  
Let slip, spare not for one course in her park.  ¶ jealousy. 
¶ She that is fair, lusty and young  
And can common in terms with filed tongue  
And will abide why spering in the ear  
Think ye her tail is not light of the sear.  ¶ Secretary. 
¶ By all these seemly touches, me thinketh surely  
Her own tail she should occupy  
Sometime for need, her honesty saved  
She will wash often, or she be once shaved.  ¶ jealousy. 
¶ She that painteth her in staring apparel  
Use hot wines, and daily far well  
And loveth to sleep at after none tide  
Who list to strike, trow ye she will not strided.  ¶ Secretary. 
¶ I can not say, if she will strided  
But if reason be offered, nothing shall fall beside  
For of troth, as frost engendereth hail  
Ease and rank feeding, doth cause a liquorous tail.   

¶ Imprinted at London in Crede Lane, by john king.