A great Miracle AT SEA: OR, A perfect Relation of a mighty Whale, which was pursued in the Sea, and encountered by multitudes of other Fishes, As it was certified by divers Mariners of Weymouth Sailing from France in a Ship called the Bonanaventure, did shoot the Whale, Which making to Land (as all Whales do when they are mortally wounded) was found dead upon the Shore within three miles of Weymouth.  
Where the Country people (after many day's labour upon this mighty fish) having opened its belly, found a Romish Priest, with a black Box of Pardons from the Pope for many Papists in England and Ireland, whose Names are here printed.  
Also the names of the Seamen who were present, and will make attestation of this wonderful truth.   

A great wonder at Sea.  
THat Antichrist or the Pope is the Beast of Rome, hath been abundantly declared by all reformed Writers; but that this Beast is odious not only to men and Creatures upon earth, but even to Fishes in the Sea this age only can give an illuctration of it, and that in such a miraculous manner as never age can produce the like. We will describe unto you the full manner of it, and you shall have it really and plainly related as we have received the truth from many who were the present Spectators of this wonderful sight, and we shall desire only from you but the gentleness to receive it, and the credence to believe it.  
On the 10 of October 1645 being the Lords Day, the good Shipp called The Bonaventure of Weymouth, being bound for England, was bringing home her Merchandise from France, which was Wines, Linnen-Cloth, and abundance of Walnuts: the day was very fair, and no wind stirring, so that the Ship for above three hours' space lay hulling upon the Seas, being not able to move either one way or other, for want of wind, although she was full Sailed and prepared to take the advantage of every Gale. Being put to some inconvenience by reason of this great Calm, the Seamen for the present had nothing else to do but to look about them, many of them, as the manner is at Sea, wishing rather for a Tempest, then being Wind-bound to stare about them, and do nothing, when behold not fare from them they saw a mighty rolling, and working upon the water; and being amazed at the strangeness of the sight, they called unto one another, and were all come above Board, expecting what should occasion so strange a motion in the water, they found it to draw nearer to them, which made them the more eager to apprehend the cause, at length they perceived it to be a Whale, and that of no small proportion, but (as it were the Leviathan of the Sea) to transcend all other Whale's in length and compass. The Whale made towards the Ship, which put the Mariners into a great fear, being not able to get from it, but they perceived the Monster of the sea to come to them rather for refuge, than offence, for they saw it was followed by a infinite company of other Fish, as if all the fishes of the Sea were in the pursuance of it: There were to be seen Fishes of all sorts, only the Remora was absent, which the Seamen afterwards conceived was got under their Ship. There was the Swordfish, the Thornbacke aimed with his Prickles, the fair Balena, the filthy Phocae, and such a fry of Sea-Monsters (the old ones following after) as the like was never seen nor can be represented, but only by those men who were the Spectators of it. In a most violent manner they did beat against the Whale, making a most hideous and fearful noise, and falling upon her, she made what haste she could to get from them: some of these fishes were in one shape, and some in another, but all most wonderful to behold, who in great fury did use whatsoever weapons of offence that nature had afforded them to assault this Whale: nay, many of them were so eager in their fight, that they were seen to leap above the water, and as if they had gained an advantage of strength, they did throw themselves with greater rage against it, who being but one against so many thousands, was not able to wirstand their fury, but making a most terrible cry, did what she could to come near the Ship. On this the amazed and distracted Seamen, fearing the Whale should overturn their ship, and so drown them all, discharged divers of their muskets against it, which it seemeth took effect, for presently they saw so great store of Blood that the sea was much coloured, and the Whale which before seemed to draw more near the Ship for a safety, did now steer another course through the bloody and foaming waters. The infinite shoals of fish, which in incredible numbers did follow the Whale, were no way dismayed at the noise of the Muskets, nor at the fire which was given, but perceiving the wounded Whale to make away from the Ship, in greedy throng they pressed after it.  
This made the Seamen to wonder more, for many of them whose Names are here subscribed, having been often at Sea, never beheld the like thing before, nor never saw such diversity of pertentous Fishes, following troops on troops, one after another, as if they were in emulation who first should exercise their greatest fury and revenge upon it; Besides, they do profess, that it did increase their wonder, to see this contestation which is against the usual way of nature, it being common and ordinary for the Whale to pursue other Fishes, and to devour them, and not to see a multitude of other Fishes (as if they were confederate all in one obligation) to pursue the Whale, and to do the uttermost of their endeavour to destroy it. In this manner they followed the Whale, and used what violence they could against it, as far as their eyes could reach, the sea beating up and down, and the waters labouring as they passed through them, yet still in choleric tumults pursued the chase, leaving a great trale upon the waters, which for a long way was to he seen as they passed.  
By this the evening coming on, the wind did begin to rise, which blowing from the Southeast was very welcome to the Seamen, who making their best advantage of it, they came on the next morning (being Monday Octob. 20. 1645.) unto Weymouth, where they were no sooner landed but they understood that a Whale of a mighty bigness was cast up three miles from that place, who coming in with the Tide, and being sorely wounded with Musket shots, did make what haste she could to Land, and finding the Tide to forsake her, she made a mighry roar, that the noise thereof (as the country people do report) was heard two miles from it: on the next morning she was found dead, like a mighty ruin lying all along upon the shore, the country people coming from all places in multitudes to behold it.  
On Friday following these Seamen (having dispatched their business at Weymouth, went nine of them together in one company to see the Whale, and the rather because they did truly conjecture it to be the same Whale which on Sunday before they saw pursued by such monstrous multitudes of fishes; corceiving also, that by reason of the many wounds which she received by the shots from the Muskets, that she made haste to the next shore to die on, for the Whale, although when she is living will be covered with the Sea, yet when she feeleth death coming on, she doth renounce that watery Element, and will admit no coverture but the wide Vault of Heaven. These mariners being come they found the Countrypeople very active in cutting up the Whale, some busy on one part of the body, some on another, the better sort standing by and wondering at the mighty compass and proportion of it, and encouraging the Countrypeople to proceed in their unaccustomed work. The honest people partaked in the labour, the better sort in the profit, and all in the grievousness of the smell, which to speak the truth was so excessive, that if it be true Philosophy, that a violent subject or sensible doth destroy the Sensory or the sense, it may be a question whether these Noses can ever have the capacity of scenting any thing that is sweet again. Had you been there you might have seen Greenland near Weymouth, such a noise and a quarter they make when they do hue the Whales in pieces in that Northern Climate, where there is but one night and one day in a whole year.  
Their strength being lost with labour, and their spirits with the odious importunity of the increasing favour which proceeded from the corruption of that mighty Carcase, they relieve themselves (according to the accustomed practice) with the strength of Hot-Waters: and now being armed against all ingredients of ill savours, they distribute the fish in prepared Cauldrons, which by the benefit of the fire must be improved into Oil,  
While the labourers are boiling the Fish, the Merchants are compounding for the Spelme or seed thereof; and this commonly is called Parmacity, some part thereof they design to Falmouth, some part to Exeter, some part to Weymouth, and very like some part to Bristol and London:  
The belly of this Whale being opened, and the vast Ribs being taken asunder there was discovered in the Bowels of it a man, who it seems had not long lain buried, his head was shaved, he was surely some Priest, and the hair on his Crown since his death was not much grown.  
They found also with this man a black Box made of Leather, wherein were divers Pardons for several Papists now in England and in Ireland, as for john Flower and Humphrey Vaux] in England (it is thought that this Vaux is of kin to Guido Vaux, who endeavoured to have blown up the Parliament House in the year 1605.) Also many Pardons for Papists in Ireland, who have laboured to the uttermost of their endeavours to blow it up again, as to one Preston, the same who is now expected to come over into England with Forces; also an exhortation to him to proceed in the Wars he had undertaken, with assurance of the benediction of his Holiness. A Pardon for one Muskerry, a Pardon for one Oneal, for Mac Magennis, and one for divers others, which was read by a Scholar, who was then present, as those Seamen have affirmed, but being themselves but unexperienced men in Letters, they are sorry they cannot deliver the particulars so fully as they desire.  
It may evidently appear, that the reason why these multitudes of Fishes before related did so prosecute this Whale, was by reason of the person in its Belly, who it seems was cast into the sea by some shipwreck, and then swallowed by this great Whale.  
The Pardons were for these men, viz.  
Englishmen 


john Flower  
Humphrey Vaux     
Irishmen 


john Muskerry  
William Preston  
Patrick Oneal  
james Macgennis     
The Names of the Seamen who affirm this, and were eye witnesses, are William Lelo Master of the ship, Tho: Chibnall Boteswain, Francis Sero, Tho: Taylor.  
FINIS.