''Bishop'' Fish

By Crusader1307

This is an example of how such strange and fantastic creatures were often created in The Middle Ages for many Bestiaries. A story developed in the 15th Century, telling of a race of small sea creatures with intelligence called Sea Bishops (so called for their shark-like hide that was shaped as a Bishop's Mitre (or Crown). Also, their flesh hung around their small frames just as a Clerics Robes. A living example was take to The King of Poland. The fish bowed and begged to be released. The King agreed, and the fish was taken back to the Ocean. Just prior to it's diving back beneath the waves, it made the Sign of The Cross. A similar story was found from the 14th Century, telling of The Sea Monk (a very similar tale). BOTH of these stories (we now know), are based on sea like life that resemble the stories told (but are simply fish).