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O Rara Show, A Rara Shight! A Strange Monster, (the like not in EUROPE) To be seen near Tower-hill, a few doors beyond the Lions Den.
IT hath the shape of a Man, but in its Nature is a meer Savage Beast; looks as fierce as a Tyger, but has scarce the Courage of a Mouse. It has vast Lungs, but no Heart; has wild gogling Eyes, but they are very short-sighted: It has a huge ravenous Mouth, but that being an open Sepulchre of Religion and Law, and having the Poison of Malice under its Lips, sends forth a Breath very offen∣sive. It hates all other Creatures, and delights much in their Blood, but is very fearful of seeing its own. It has fed so much for five Years last past upon Blood and Corruption, that it looks as ghastly as Envy and Despair without, and is as black as Hell within.
An Account of the Birth and Growth of this Monster.
IT was whelp'd and bred in Wales, where it ate so much Goats Milk, that it has been very subject of late Years to have Horns sprout forth of its Head. It gave early Proofs of a hardy substantial Impudence, and was never known to blush, tho sometimes to look pale. Its peculiar Talent appear'd to be Yelling aloud; and that by a wealthy Citizens means, preferr'd it to be the Common Barker of Guild-hall, and after∣wards to be the Foul Mouth of the City, in which place it continu'd, till having confede∣rated with some Wolves, and prey'd upon some Sheep Skins that contain'd the City Charter, three or four hundred Men from Westminister hunted it from thence. But this Vertue of Falshood to its Trust soon advanc'd it to be chief Inquisitor of the Nation, and then it and its Confederate Wolves fell upon the old Sheep Skins in the Tower, and devour'd Magna Charta. And now it rang'd into the Western Forest, attended with Jack-calls to hunt down its Game, and was so ravenous, that if great quantities of Gold and Silver had not been chuck'd into its Mouth, to blunt the Edg of its Teeth, and fill its Maw, it was thought it would have suck'd up the Blood of the whole Coun∣try. At its return, this Monster was dignified with a fine Collar and a Pouch, to the great Dishonour and Scandal of both; and was trusted with the Custody of a certain large Conscience, for which it was a proper Keeper, and had room enough, having none of its own. It exposed this Conscience to Sale for three Years together, and to such as would give its own lusty Price, it retail'd it pretty civilly; but at such as begg'd any, or offer'd an under-rate, it roar'd hideously, even to the disturbance of the whole Neigh∣bourhood.
The Great and Brave Monster-Hunter of Europe being arriv'd in England to hunt here, our Monster drop'd its gay Trappings, and cteeping into poor Weeds, resolved (con∣trary to its fearful Temper) to take the Water, in hope to escape; but Nature recoyling at the danger, it first sneaked into a little Ale-house to fortify it self with a Noggin of Brandy, whither it was trac'd by its strorng Scent of Mans Blood, and of its Posteriors, and deliver'd to the Masters of the Game to be kept for the Chase.
It is agreed to give this Monster fair Law, tho it never gave any to other Creatures; but it is fear'd the weight of its Paunch will disable it for leaping over the Toils, and that it will run its Head into a Noose.
The Price is two Pence for each Spectator; but they are desired not to delay time, for it will not be to be seen in this place above a Month or six Weeks longer.