Pliny the Elder [1st century CE] (Natural History, Book 9, 2; 9, 3; 9, 6; 9, 88): [Book 9, 2] But the largest number ot animals and those of the largest size are in the Indian sea, among them whales covering three acres each... [Book 9, 3] The largest animals in the Indian Ocean are the shark and the whale; the largest in the Bay of Biscay is the sperm-whale [physeter], which rears up like a vast pillar higher than a ship's rigging and belches out a sort of deluge... [Book 9, 6] Whales have their mouths in their foreheads, and consequently when swimming on the surface of the water they blow clouds of spray into the air. It is universally admitted that a very few other creatures in the sea also breathe, those whose internal organs include a lung, since it is thought that no animal is able to breathe without one. ... Whales do not possess gills, nor do dolphins. These two genera breathe with a tube that passes to the lung, in the case of whales from the forehead and in the case of dolphins from the back. [Book 9, 88] But on the other hand instances of friendship, in addition to the creatures whose alliance we have mentioned, are the whale and the sea-mouse: because the whale's eyes are overburdened with the excessively heavy weight of its brows the sea-mouse swims in front of it and points out the shallows dangerous to its bulky size, so acting as a substitute for eyes. - [Rackham translation]

Gaius Julius Solinus [3rd century CE] (De mirabilibus mundi / Polyhistor, Chapter 52.42): Indian seas have whales bigger than four acres in size. They are called physeterae, and are huge beyond the bulk of mighty pillars. They lift themselves above the yard-arms of ships, and discharge such a tide (which they have sucked up) from their water-pipes that they often sink the mariners’ ships with their rainy floods. - [Arwen Apps translation, 2011]

Saint Ambrose [4th century CE] (Hexameron, Book 5, 11.32): We wish, now, to return to the Atlantic Ocean. What whales are found there, of huge bulk and measureless size! If they were to float on the surface of the sea, you would imagine that they were islands or extremely high mountains whose peaks reach to the sky! These animals are said to appear, not on the coast or on shore, but in the depths of the Atlantic Ocean. To catch sight of them sailors are enticed to risk navigation within those regions. But these elemental mysteries are not likely to be faced without experiencing mortal terror! - [Savage translation, 1961]

Isidore of Seville [7th century CE] (Etymologies, Book 12, 6:7-8): [Book 12, 6.7] Whales [ballena] are beasts of enormous size, named from casting forth and spraying water, for they throw waves higher than the other sea animals; in Greek fálaina means "cast forth". [Book 12, 6.8] The sea-monster [cetus, cete] is named kítos, that is, on account of its vastness. These are huge types of sea-monsters [bellua], and their bodies are the same size as mountains. Such a cetus swallowed Jonah; its belly was so big that it resembled hell, as the prophet says [Jonah 2:3]: "He heard me from the belly of hell". - [Barney, Lewis, et. al. translation]

Thomas of Cantimpré [circa 1200-1272 CE] (Liber de natura rerum, Marine monsters 6.6, 6.40; 7.19): [Thomas describes the whale under the names cetho/ballena, pyster (as marine monsters) and cethe (as a fish).] [Marine monsters 6.6] The whale [cetho/ballena] is the largest of all fishes, as Isidore says. This fish that lives in the sea and is four acres in size. They have narrow mouth passages, from which they only swallow small fish, which they attract with the scent of their mouth and drag them into their belly. For in his throat it has a kind of skin like a membrane, and this, being pierced by many passages, does not allow anything of great size to enter its belly. But it has a large and open mouth, and the prophet Jonah is believed to have been swallowed by it: apparently a sufficient dwelling for such a guest. In youth it has black teeth, which of course become white in old age. It has a mouth on its forehead. Sometimes these fish, drawing in water, belch up the waves in such a way that the snowy alluvium generally sinks the fleet of sailors, but also ships are sunk by earthquakes and storms. Therefore, when a storm arises in the sea, whales raise themselves above the waves. And as the Experimentator says, when their offspring are small, whales receive them in the mouth. It does the same thing when it sees a storm approaching; and after the storm it throws them out. When the baby whales are prevented from following their mother because of the shallowness of the water, the mother throws the water she has collected in her mouth like a river towards the babies, so that they are free from the land. They accompany the adults for a long time. They grow up quickly, growing in ten years. Having no gills, they breathe through a tube; and this is done by only a few other beasts of the seas. Some cetaceans are so large that they seem like islands or mountains. Isidore: Sometimes whales carry sand on their backs, with which, in a pressing storm, they deceive sailors who rejoice that they have found land, that they may rest from the waves; but when the beast feels them, it sinks and drags both ships and men into the depth. Basil says the same thing as Isidore, that the whale carries sand in great quantity on its back. When you see the whales crowded together in the most dense grouping, you will think that a torrent is flowing very fast. I looked at this and marveled at the wisdom of God. These monsters in the Atlantic sea, as Ambrose says, are of infinite size, so that if you see them you think mountains stand out with their highest peaks towards the sky. The capture of whales is done in this way. Cetus, after it is three years old, mates with a female whale. Nor does the delay in intercourse itself destroy the virtue of the female, so that she can no longer copulate, but upon entering the deep sea she grows to such an extent that no human skill can capture her. It may therefore be taken below three years of age, in this way: the fishermen, marking the place where the whales are, gather there with many ships, and by making a concert of trumpets and pipes around them they attract a whale: for it delights in such sounds. And when the fishermen see a horrible thing near the ships, surprised by the sound of the melody, they secretly throw an instrument prepared for this purpose, like a rake with iron teeth sharpened, on the back of the whale, and make their escape. Without delay the whale seeks the bottom of the sea, and, rubbing its back against the ground, pushes itself violently against the wounds of the iron, until iron has pierced the fat and penetrated the living flesh inside, and thus, following the iron, the salt water of the sea enters the wound and kills the wounded whale. And the dead body floats on the sea until the fishermen notice, then go with ropes and drag the dead whale to the shore with a great celebration. [Marine monsters 6.40] Pyster [sperm whale] is a huge beast, as Pliny says, in that part of the ocean which faces Gaul [Bay of Biscay]. This one is of such height that, raising itself above the waves, it resembles of a huge pillar, higher than the sails of ships, and from it a kind of belching flood makes the waves tremble. I would truly call Augustine the most blessed, who rightly towers over the rest of the expositors as the strongest and highest pillar in the house of God, and by belching forth abundant streams of doctrine, he irrigated the whole Church, and refuted the fluctuating heretics with frequent insults and debates. [Fish 7.19] [In this chapter Thomas repeats much of what he said in the Marine monsters 6.6 chapter, with a few additions.] The whale is the greatest of all fishes, as Isidore says. This fish of the sea is four acres in size. They have narrow passages in the mouth, so it only swallows small fishes, which it swallows and draws towards itself into its belly with the scent of its mouth. For in its throat he has a kind of membrane-like skin, and this, being pierced by many passages, does not allow anything of great thickness to enter his belly. But it has a large and open mouth, and it is believed that the prophet Jonah was swallowed by it: it is evidently a sufficient dwelling for such a guest. In youth it has black teeth, which become white in old age. It has a mouth on its forehead. These fish are sometimes drawn up, so that the waves belch them up, so that the snowy alluvium generally sinks the fleet of sailors, but also the ships are sunk by earthquakes and storms. Therefore, when a storm arises in the sea, they raise themselves above the waves. Whales, as Pliny says, carry their young when they are weak and infirm. And as the Experimentator says, if they are small, they receive their young in their mouth. It does the same thing when it sees a storm approaching; and after the storm it throws them out. When the young whales are prevented from following their mother because of lack of water, the mother throws the water she has received in her mouth like a river towards the young, so as to free them from the land. The young accompany adults for a long time, they grow up quickly, they grow up for ten years. Having no gills, they breathe through a tube; and this is done by a few of the marine animals. Some whales are so large that they seem like islands or mountains. Isidore: Sometimes they carry sand on their backs; in a pressing storm the sailors, rejoicing that they have found land, think they may rest from the waves; which, when the beast had felt them, suddenly and rapidly it moves and sinks, dragging both ships and men into the depths. Basil the Great says the same thing as Isidore, that the whale carries the sand in great quantity on its back. The same: when you see the whales crowded together in the most dense grouping on the way back, you will think that a torrent is flowing very fast. I looked at this and marveled at the wisdom of God. These monsters in the Atlantic sea, as Ambrose says, are of infinite size, so that if you see them, you think that mountains are standing out with their highest peaks towards the sky. The capture of whales is done in this way. The male whale, after he is three years old, mates with a female whale. Nor is the delay in intercourse itself impaired by the virtue of the virgin's genitalia, so that she can no longer copulate, but on entering the deep sea she grows to such an extent that no human skill can capture her. She must therefore be taken below three years of his age, and this, as he says [i.e. Liber rerum], in this way: the fishermen, marking the place where the shoal is, gather there with many ships, and by making a concert of pipes and flutes around it they attract the whale: for it delights in such sounds. And when the fishermen see the horrid things near the ships, astonished by the sound of the melody, they secretly throw an instrument prepared for this purpose, like a rake, sharpened with iron teeth, on the back of the whale, and flee with a cry. Nor does he delay, if he has given the instrument a certain place for the wound, he seeks the bottom of the sea, and rubbing his back against the ground, pushes himself violently against the wounds of the iron, until it pierces the fat and penetrates the living flesh inside, so that, following the iron, the salt water of the sea enters the wound and kills the wounded whale. So the dead whale floats on the sea. When the fishermen notice, they come with ropes and drag the dead whale to the shore with a great dance, as if they were sure to succeed with so many forces. - [Badke translation/paraphrase]

Bartholomaeus Anglicus [13th century CE] (Liber de proprietatibus rerum, Book13.26): And hée sayeth, that there is a great fish in the sea that is called Belua, that casteth out water at his jawes, with vapour of good smell, & other fish feele the smell, and follow him, & enter and come in at his jawes following after the smel: and he swalloweth them, and is so fed with them. ... Also the Whale and Balena is al one, and Balene be anou great and huge, and be called Belue ab emittendo, of outcasting and shedding of water. For they throwe water higher then other greate Fishes of the Sea. For Balen is understoode out casting. And the whale is called Cete for hugenesse of bodye, as Isidore sayth libro. 22. Also in libro Jorath it is sayde. That the Whale hath great plentye of spearme. And after that hee gendereth with the Female, superfluitye thereof fleeteth above the water: And if it be gathered and dryed, it tourneth to the substaunce of Ambre. And when the Whale hungereth sore, hée casteth out of his mouth a vapour, that smelleth as the smell of Ambre. And Fish have liking in that smell, and for the odour and smell of that vapour, they goe into the Whales mouth, and bée so deceyved and eaten. Also (as he sayth) in this fish earthly matter hath more mastrye then watrye: And therefore hée is soone great and fatte. And so in age for greatnesse of bodye, on his ridge powder and earth is gathered, and so digged together, that hearbes and small trees and bushes grow thereon: so that that great Fish séemeth an Ilande. And if shippe men come unwarily thereby, unneth they scape without perill. For hée throweth so much water out of his mouth upon the shippe, that he overturneth it somtime or drowneth it. Also hée is so faste, that when hée is smit with Fishers dartes, he feeleth not the wounde, but it passeth through out the fatnesse: But when the inner Fish is wounded, then he is most easily take. For hée may not suffer the bitternesse of the Salt water, and therefore he draweth to the shoare warde. And also hée is so huge in quantitie, that when he is taken all the Countrey is the better for the taking. Also he loveth his whelpes with a wonderfull love, and leadeth them about in the Sea long time. And if it hapneth that his whelpes bée let with heapes of gravell, and by defaut of water: hée taketh much water in his mouth, and throweth uppon them, and delivereth them in that wise out of perill, and bringeth them againe into the déepe sea. And for to defende them, hée putteth himself against al things that hée meeleth, if it bée noyfull to them, and setteth them alway betwéene himselfe and the Sunne on the more safer side. And when strong tempest ariseth while his whelpes bee tender and young, he swalloweth them up unto his owne wombe: and when the tempest is gone and faire weather come, then he casteth them up whole & sound, as he sayth. Also Jorath sayth, That against the Whale fishteth a Fish of Serpentes kind, and is venimous, as the Crocodile: and then other fish come to the Whales tayle, and if the Whale be overcome, the other Fish die: and if the venimous Fish maye not overcome the Whale, then he throweth out of his jawes into ye water a fumous smell most stinking: and the Whale throweth out of his mouth a swéete smelling smoake, and putteth off the stinking smell, and defendeth and saveth himselfe and his, in that manner wise. - [Batman]