The Bishop-fish. 
385 
writers and by the philosophers of the sixteenth century, 
that every creature that has life upon the Monk figh 
earth or in the air, has its counterpart in the 
water. Du Bartas puts into rhyme this fanciful notion, 
which may be found stated in prose by other writers 
of his time:— 
ff Seas have (as well as skies) sun, moon, and stars : 
(As well as ayre) swallows, and rooks, and stares: 
(As well as earth) vines, roses, nettles, millions [melons]. 
Pinks, gilliflowers, mushroms, and many millions 
Of other plants (more rare and strange than these) 
As very fishes living in the seas: 
And also rams, calfs, horses, hares, and hogs. 
Wolves, lions, urchins, elephants, and dogs, 
Yea men and mayds; and (which I more admire) 
The mytred bishop, and the cowled fryer : 
Whereof, examples (but a few years since) 
Were shew’n the ISTorways, and Polonian prince.” 
(Page 39.) 
The curiosity referred to in the last two lines was 
probably the Bishop, or Monk-fish, a species of shark. 
A specimen of this fish, according to Bondeletius, was 
taken in the year 1531, in Polonia, and brought alive to 
the king. After due inspection it was considerately 
restored to its own habitation. The monk-fish is a strange 
looking creature, with large wing-like fins. It may be 
the origin of some of the wonderful stories told by the 
old chroniclers of seamen. Stow tells us that a bishop- 
fish which was caught was actually taken as a compliment 
to the nearest church, where, to the chronicler’s astonish¬ 
ment, he “ showed no signs of adoration.” 
<c Fair Queen, forbear to angle for the fish 
Which, being caught, strikes him that takes it Torpedo, 
dead; 
I mean that vile Torpedo, Gaveston, 
That now I hope floats on the Irish seas.” 
(Marlowe, Edward II., i. 4.) 
2 c 
