James Ussher and Samuel Ward were British (Irish and English) theologians and clergymen in the 17th cent. They were good friends and wrote many letters to one another, several of which can still be read today. In one interesting exchange in 1626, Ward tells Ussher about a strange discovery. After discussing some of the latest text-critical work on classical manuscripts, Ward reports a recent news story about a book turning up inside the belly of a codfish :
There was the last week a Cod-fish brought from Colchester to our Market to be sold; in the cutting up which, there was found in the Maw of the Fish, a thing which was hard; which proved to be a Book of a large 16o, which had been bound in Parchment, the Leaves were glewed together with a Gelly. And being taken out, did smell much at the first; but after washing of it, Mr. Mead did look into it. It was printed; and he found a Table of the Contents. The Book was intituled, A preparation to the Cross, (it may be a special admonition to us at Cambridg). Mr. Mead, upon Saturday, read to me the Heads of the Chapters, which I very well liked of. Now it is found to have been made by Rich. Tracy, of whom Bale maketh mention, Cent. 9. p. 719. He is said to flourish then 1550. But, I think, the Book was made in King Henry the Eighth’s Time, when the six Articles were a-foot. The Book will be printed here shortly.
Richard Tracy was a Protestant layman, theologian, and member of parliament who was involved in the early stages of the English Reformation. You can read more about him here. His book in question, A Preparation to the Cross and to Death, was originally published in 1540. Tracy had been an active polemical writer for decades prior to that, and so Ward was correct in his guess. Some 80 years later, Tracy’s book was rediscovered at the fish market, covered in “gelly.” The event was discussed in many places at the time, as it stirred up a fair amount of excitement.
Ussher, suitably impressed, replied to the tale with this interpretation and exhortation, noting that Mead himself had also written to him about it:
I Received your Letter, wherein you signify unto me the News of the Book taken in the Fishes Belly: and another Letter from Mr. Mead touching the same Argument. The Accident is not lightly to be passed over, which (I fear me) bringeth with it too true a Prophesy of the State to come; And to you of Cambridg (as you write) it may well be a special Admonition, which should not be neglected. It behoveth you who are Heads of Colledges, and… to stick close to one another, and (quite obliterating all secret Distasts, or privy Discontentments which possibly may fall betwixt your selves) with joint consent to promote the Cause of God. Mr. Provost, I doubt not, will, with great alacrity, in hoc incumbere.
What else could such a thing be but a prophecy about the dangers of civil and ecclesiastical unrest? As it turns out, Ussher was also right.