Museum Notes  By A. L. LEACH, F.G.S., Hon Curator. 
A TALE OF THE SEA.  
A few weeks ago these Notes contained an account of the Merman of Linney Head, taken from a strange story related by a farmer who claimed to have seen the creature in December, 1781. An earlier story of one of these perplexing appearances has now come to light according to Mr. H. M. Vaughan, who writes as follows:  

A MERMAID AT PENDINE.  
A curious and indeed unique little pamphlet recently purchased by the National Library of Wales, is an account of the appearance of a Mermaid off the coast at Pendine over 340 years ago. This pamphlet, which was unknown at the British Museum, where the authorities are greatly interested in its discovery, consists of four leaves octavo with the text in black letter and a picture of the Mermaid on the title page. It is shown as" Imprinted at London, 1603, for W.B." The title runs" A most strange and true Report of a monstruous Fish that appeared in the form of a Woman from her waist upwards, seen in the Sea by diverse men of good reputation on the 17 of February 1603, near Gylmanes point in the parish of Pendine in the County of Carmarthen."  
The account of the Mermaid is contained in a letter by" Mr. P. G." to his cousin" Mr. H. P." in London, and from internal evidence it appears to be based on a careful inquiry made by Mr. William Sandars, of Pendine, a magistrate and otherwise a person of local influence, but he did not make his investigation until several weeks after the event. Many witnesses were then examined and the report contains the names of thirteen of these in full. Here is the substance of the story.  
The creature was first observed by one Thomas Raynold, yeoman, who after watching it for two hours, fetched several friends and neighbours so that they might see the weird object and bear witness to its reality. It had" the shape of a lively Woman from her waist upwards which was all above the water; her colour brown: a very large and fair [head of] Hair: her breasts round and very white with two fair hands: everything formally as a Woman." This description tallies with the figure on the title page. Various people watched the strange obect until darkness set in: than it was lost to sight and was not seen or heard of again.  
What did all these people see? Was it a dugong or manatee or other visitor from tropical seas, or was it, as the picture seems to suggest, an unusually large seal? The chief hindrance to an acceptance of these naturalistic explanations arises from the very human hands and arms. Much imagination would need to be called into play to convert a seal's paddles into the" too fair hands" shown in the drawing. But apart from these features the figure might be interpreted as a representation of a seal.  
I hope to obtain from the National Library a photostat facsimile of this rare if not unique pamphlet concerning the Mermaid. This copy will be placed in the Library of the Tenby Museum.  
It is a curious coincidence that the narratives of the Pendine Mermaid and the Linney Head Merman both begin with stories told by local farmers, Raynold and Reynold respectively, bearing names so unusual in this district that neither of them appears in the current list of Electors in the parish of St. Mary's-in-Liberty. Again in each case the creature had human hands and arms, and the descriptions of its appearance were written not by the chief witnesses but by local persons of importance. May it not be that the Linney Head story is a distorted version, told long afterwards, of the Pendine event and that this may have arisen from an exaggerated and imaginative account of a very large seal?    

A most strange and true report of a monstruous Fish, who appeared in the form of a Woman, from her waste upwards.   depiction of a mermaid 
Imprinted at London for W.B.   

A most strange and true report of a monstruous Fish, that appeared in the form of a Woman, from her waist upwards: Seen in the Sea by divers men of good reputation, on the 17. of February last past 1603▪ near Gylmanes point, in the parish of Pendine in the County of Carmarthen.  
To his loving Kinsman and Friend M. H. P. at his lodging in London, these. etc.  
MY most loving Cousin,  
like the touch of the purest Arabian Gold, have I ever found your Love, which so often having approved, in all true friendship hath obliged me by all bonds of gentility and honesty unto you (especially) for your kindly and painful participating from time to time, all those honourable services done his most excellent Majesty, from place to place (in your Letters) so largely describing his royalty, and the subjects duty: with the cheering whereof, our hearts were no less replenished with all comfort and true affection of loyalty, than you, the most happy beholders thereof: with remembrance of those happy tidings, such a simphanie of true zeal and duty comoyning, as brought more comfort to our grieved hearts, which care had over charged with imaginations, That the care of the one, was expelled by the joy of the others: and our decayed spirits revived, as Aqua Celestis the body, resigning his latest gasp to his maker.  
For these, and millions of other your kind favours (my good Cousin) set me lad you with thanks, and so many wishes of happiness & prosperity from all your Friends, in the Western Mountains of Wales, as we desire: then should you not need (in aught that should either concern the worlds felicity, or heavens biessednesse) but all in all should concur to make you happy, both with God and men? The time is short of my Messengers stay: his haste on his journey requiring haste, yet could I not omit this opportunity, to gratify your London News of joy, with a most rare and strange matter here in our confines, not long sithence happening.  
Strange things many have published, as monsteerous Births, strange Beasts, taking of Whales and other strange Fishes▪ fiery Dragons, & strange sights in the Air, some by nature, (others, as tokens of Gods powerful Majesty) all great and admirable for men to wonder at, and exalt his glory, to the abating of men's pride, and for warning or us that our sinful lives may be amended, that true repentance may follow, and pride▪ whoredom, bribery, extortion, covetousness, lechery, and such like pernicious damnable vices, may be utterly abolished: retaining in their place, the fear of God's wrath for sin, charitable love amongst men, and all other holy prescriptions from God, our gracious Sovereign, and Preachers of his sacred word.  
I am somewhat tedious, good Cousin: therefore I refer you to the true report of this most admirable and strange news, which on my credit I writ you: but impart it with the best of our & your good friends, as followeth. Viz.  
ON Friday the xvij. day of February last past 1603. about three of the clock in the after noon, one Thomas Raynold of Pendine, (a Village in the County of Carmarden) a very honest and substantial Yeoman, walking near the shores side, not far from a high Land or Point in the same parish, called Hollogoho, between Gylmanes Point and Tolwen, he saw swimming in the Sea (near the Point) a most strange and wonderful thing: the greatness and rareness whereof, being of that form and length, albeit he was a man of good sense and sprite, having reason and judgement, more than many of no better education, drove him so to admire there at, that he spent the better part of two hours viewing of it, as it drove with the Tide towards the shore, between the two Points: where he did discover it at his full pleasure in this form.  
The shape of a very lively Woman, from her waist upwards, which was all above the water: her colour brown: a very large and fair Pair: over which (to his seeming) was a thing like a Hood, about her neck in manner of a white Band, her Breasts round and very white, with two fair hands, every thing formally as a Woman.  
Thomas Raynold having with great wonder noted all this, near two hours space, in good fight, and took good notice thereof, imagining what might be thought, of unbelieving people, if he should report it, having no body to justify his words, although he be a man of credit: yet leaving it for a time, as weighing his reputation, speedeth him in all haste to the Town, where, so many of his honest neighbours and coosens as he could suddenly find, he caused to go with him to the Point, where he left it, to witness what he had seen: who likewise had good view thereof half an hour and more, never changing any shape, but as Raynold had seen it. A most dreadful wonder to many of those beholders, which diversly censured thereof: some being afraid, lest it might be otherwise then it showed: Standing thus amazed at the sight, with turning of the Tide, it made way from the place where they saw it swimming: then in swimming, (which was more admirable) it appeared in colour grey, with ears like a Hound, but somewhat greater and shorter: her back like unto a Cockboat, a full yard or more in breadth: her tail to their seeming, two fothomes in length: in her swimming she went Soth-east to the Sea: Then came she north-east to Tolwen, where she continued until night: at which time, the darkness of the night approaching, the beholders lost her sight, and from that time, was never seen more, or heard of as yet, about all the coast. Three hours full or more, they had perfect sight of her, as I have written.  
The people, as a wonder, filled the parish with the rumour of this strange sight, and far and near went the report. Amongst many others which came, and sent to Pendine, to hear the certain news hereof, one M. William Sandars, of the same Parish, having been for his majesties business at Garmarthen that day, at his home coming hearing a rumour hereof by his servants, and knowing well Thomas Raynold to be a man of good name amongst them, desirous to be resolved of the truth hereof, on the morrow following sent for him, and examined him of every part and particularity hereof, as you have heard, who confirmed the same unto him: and for the better satisfaction of the said M. Sandars, Raynold sent for all those, or the better sort, which were present with him, who confirmed under their hands, what Raynold had spoken: whose names I likewise send you, as they were subscribed. Viz.  

The Examiner M. William Sandars of Penden.  
Examinates. 

Thomas Raynold.  
William Raynold.  
john Raynold the elder.  
john Raynold the younger.  
David Moris' Smith.  
Morish Webb.  
Harry Mores of Morras.  
Alice Row.  
joane Mories.  
Anne Mories.  
Elinor Bullock.  
Kath●rine Griphine.  
Philip Day.     
With many others, both of Penden and other places.  
What this wonder may pretend, to his Majesty that made us all, it is best known: but with us, greatly admired. Accept this (good Cousin) which am at your service, and let us all, as our bounden duty, beseech God all powerful, and full of might, to bless and preserve our royal and most gracious king, the Queen, and all their Princely progeny: strengthen our taythes, and continue our peace, to his eternal glory, & our comforts in jesus Christ.  
Your Cousin, and ever devoted Friend: P. G.  
FINIS.