The Cambridge 'Book-Fish' of 1626: A Miraculous Discovery

History is filled with peculiar anecdotes, but few are as strange as the incident that occurred in a Cambridge market in 1626. In a remarkable intersection of nature and literature, a cod-fish was found to have swallowed a book, which was later discovered intact within its stomach. This event was not only a local curiosity but also led to the republication of the book, a religious text by the Protestant martyr John Frith. The discovery was seen by some as a miraculous event, preserving a significant work in a most improbable manner.

Discovery of the Book in the Cod-Fish

An artistic rendering of the moment a fish-woman at the Cambridge market discovers a sail-cloth-wrapped book inside the maw of a cod-fish in 1626, as astonished onlookers gather.

A Remarkable Find in the Market

The event took place on June 23, 1626, at a market in Cambridge^[1]. A local fish-woman was preparing a large cod-fish for sale when she made the unusual discovery. Upon cutting the fish open, she found a book lodged in its maw, the cavity behind the mouth^[1].

The book was protected by a covering of sail-cloth, which likely helped preserve it from complete destruction inside the fish^[1]. Despite being soiled, the text was identifiable as a collection of religious treatises written by the notable English Protestant priest and writer, John Frith^[1].

An Eyewitness Account

The veracity of this seemingly incredible story is supported by a contemporary written account from an eyewitness. Mr. Mead of Christ Church, Cambridge, documented the event in a letter that is now preserved in the British Museum^[1]. He confirmed the key details of the discovery, lending significant credibility to the incident.

In his letter, Mr. Mead attests to the authenticity of the find, stating, "I saw all with mine own eyes—the fish, the maw, the piece of sail-cloth, the book—and observed all I have written"^[1]. He clarified that he did not witness the exact moment the fish was opened, as this happened at the fish-woman's stall when she cut off its head and found the maw unusually stuffed^[1]. He dismissed any notion of a hoax, remarking that anyone who had smelled the items would be "persuaded there was no imposture here"^[1]. The letter also notes that the fish had come from the port town of Lynn^[1].

Poetic Justice and 'The Voice of the Fish'

A particularly poignant detail of the story is the connection between the author and the circumstances of the book's discovery. The author, John Frith, had reportedly written the treatises while he was imprisoned in a fish-cellar at Oxford^[1]. The conditions were so poor that many of his fellow prisoners died from the "impurities of the fishy exhalations"^[1]. The recovery of his work from the belly of a fish was seen as a form of poetic justice or divine providence.

The discovery caused such a stir that the authorities at Cambridge decided to reprint the book^[1]. In honor of its extraordinary recovery, the new edition was given the title Vox Piscis, or The Voice of the Fish. This reprinted version also included a woodcut illustration depicting the fish-stall, the book itself, and the knife used to open the cod^[1].

Conclusion

The 1626 discovery of a book inside a cod-fish remains one of history's most curious tales. Verified by an eyewitness account, the event transcends simple folklore, highlighting a bizarre moment where the natural world and human endeavor converged. The subsequent reprinting of John Frith's work as Vox Piscis ensured that this strange incident was immortalized, serving as a testament to the improbable ways in which knowledge and history can be preserved and rediscovered.

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