A True and perfect Relation Of a monstrous and Prodigious WHALE Lately cast on Shore at RINGSEND NEAR Dublin in Jreland: With the manner of its taking. ALSO, An Account of what Damages happened to several Ships in those parts by a great Storm.  
Sent over in Letters from DUBLIN, to several Merchants and others in LONDON.  With Allowance. 
LONDON, Printed for T. N. 1679.   

A True and Perfect Relation of a Strange and Monstrous Whale, cast upon the Shore at Ringsend near Dublin in Ireland, the beginning of January 1678/9.  
SIR,  
IF your more weighty Employments, to which great Worth and approved Abilities have deservedly called you, can admit of any Divertisement, I hope you will not take it ill if I endeavour to contribute towards it: Especially having Engaged myself to give a just and due account of such Occurrenc s as in this juncture of Affairs shall happen here in Ireland.  
I should be loath to disturb your more serious hours with Feigned Rumours, Chimaeras and Prodigious Trifles of that nature to make up a Pamphlet; but such things as have really happened, and are worthy of Observation; and whereof many thousands in this Nation have been Witnesses, I may be the more confident to relate as real Truths; and consequently more fit to be communicated to your Knowledge.  
About the latter end of the last Month, the year ended in an Angry humour; God grant the next may shine upon us with more Benevolent Stars, and Crown the best of Kings His most Gracious Majesty, with Length of days, Happy ensuing years, against all the malice of His Enemies and Envious Conspirators.  
On the 22d. of December last, the Wind being at W.S.W. it blew a great Storm, but we heard of no loss of Shipping, only some few Merchantmen that fell foul one of another in our Harbour. This high Wind brought down such a vast quantity of Snow, as hath not been seen in this Country for many years; which in few days being washed away with the abundance of Rain that succeeded, and the great Floods that fell from the Mountains, caused so great a Fresh, that several Meadows and Islands about the River Liffy were overflown.  
But what was the most remarkable and worthy Observation in this Occurrence, was a man who Swom down the River on a Haycock. This man near a place called Killmanum near Dublin above the Bridge, endeavouring to save a Cock of Hay that the Water had encompassed, leapt thereon with a Pole in his hand; his Ship was now afloat, and he had no sooner got one foot aboard, but he was launched forth into the main Current, and driven on with that success, that he passed the Bridge without any Damage: When he arrived on the other side the Bridge, there were several Attempts made to save him, but the Rapidness of the Stream would admit of no help; only one Boat, which meeting full side with the Hay-Cook, was overturned with two men it, who were both lost. At last more obliged to Providence then his skill in Steerage, when he expected no less than the Main Ocean for his Refuge, he was left in a safe Harbour on Clantarf Island betwixt Clantarf and Ringsend.  
This Adventure of the Hay-Merchant was the whole Discourse and wonder of the Town, and had continued so yet, if the Sea, more fertile in Monstrous Productions than the Land, had not afforded them new cause of Admiration: For the next day, (as if the Floods were weary of their Load and willing to discharge themselves of so great a Burden) was thrown on the Shore a Whale of so vast a Magnitude, as never yet was discovered in these parts, or hardly ever seen in Bermudas their Native Coast.  
It was taken up by Ringsend, within two Miles of Dublin, where it lies as yet, the wonder and amazement of all Spectators, who flock from all parts both of City and Country to satisfy their Curiosity with the sight of this Prodigious Spectacle.  
This Immense Body of boundless Nature's begetting, as it exceeds all other Creatures in quantity of it exceeds almost all possibility of enforcing a belief of the vastness of its Dimensions on any save those only that have been Spectators, and which I would not undertake to describe unto you, had I not myself been an Eye Witness.  
It is in Length 52 Foot, in Breadth proportionable, the Tail is 14 Foot broad when it is extended, the Fins of a Prodigious Length and Breadth, and the Head answerable to the Bulk of the Body 〈◊〉 his upper Jaws are supported from the under part of his Mouth with a Beam of Oak of eight Foot long; the Tongue was in Length eight Foot and a half, of a proportionable Tinckness and Breadth; The Tongue being cut ou●, I have seen many people pass through his Jaws, and several stand upright in his Mouth at the same time.  
But the most surprising thing was this, when they had Dissected him of several Shoales of Fish, which they found in his Belly of all sorts whole and Undigested, together with a Seaman entire in his , (which being laid on the Shore by the side of the said Whale) was soon discovered by his Wi●e and several other saint … ing by, ●o be one of the two men that were overturnd by the Haycock the day before.  
Many strange Conjectures have been made of this prodigious Bulk; Astronomers and Astrologers have passed their Judgements upon it, and scarce an 〈◊〉 wife of Cobbler in Town but have had something to say to it; and no doubt but it will serve the whole 〈…〉 with Rashers and Discourse for many days to come.  
But for my part, all the Prediction I shall draw from it; is that our King's most Sacred Majesty shall be now restored to a state of greater Glory and Security, (as he was formerly) to his lawful Kingdoms and Loyal People; delivered from the hands of all His Enemies and Bloody Conspirators, against the Life and Sacred Person of so Good, so Gracious, and so Indulgent a Prince.  
Their design being to Subvert Monarchy, and alter the Government, which by God and the Laws are Established in these His Majesty's Realms.  
Such a Whale was cast up in England in the time of the late Usurpation, a little before the time of His Majesty's blessed Restoration: And another was cast ashore at Carrig-Fergus in the North of this Country in the year 40. but that was very small in Comparison of this.  
And we His Majesty's Faithful Subjects do hearty wish here, that this Miraculous Prodigy cast on this Shore, may be a true Omen, and Presage the Downfall of all such as were Consenters, Abetters, or Contrivers for carrying on this Horrible Plot, either against our most Gracious King or Government, whom that God may long preserve against all their Conspiracies, is the Hearty Prayers and Wishes of  
Sir Your Affectionate Friend and Humble Servant. J. M.