Suffolk, Grand Treasurer of England under James I., bears witness that

in the one year, 1615, fifty-two flasks, bladders, and tarred vessels,

containing mention of sinking ships, were brought and registered in the

records of the Lord High Admiral.

Court appointments are the drop of oil in the widow's cruse, they ever

increase. Thus it is that the porter has become chancellor, and the

groom, constable. The special officer charged with the appointment

desired and obtained by Barkilphedro was invariably a confidential man.

Elizabeth had wished that it should be so. At court, to speak of

confidence is to speak of intrigue, and to speak of intrigue is to speak

of advancement. This functionary had come to be a personage of some

consideration. He was a clerk, and ranked directly after the two grooms

of the almonry. He had the right of entrance into the palace, but we

must add, what was called the humble entrance--humilis introïtus--and

even into the bed-chamber. For it was the custom that he should inform

the monarch, on occasions of sufficient importance, of the objects

found, which were often very curious: the wills of men in despair,

farewells cast to fatherland, revelations of falsified logs, bills of

lading, and crimes committed at sea, legacies to the crown, etc., that

he should maintain his records in communication with the court, and

should account, from time to time, to the king or queen, concerning the

opening of these ill-omened bottles. It was the black cabinet of the

ocean.

Elizabeth, who was always glad of an opportunity of speaking Latin, used

to ask Tonfield, of Coley in Berkshire, jetsam officer of her day, when

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The Man Who Laughs