' TELL IT TO THE MARINES '

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXXV, Issue 19, 9 May 1907, Page 37

' TELL IT TO THE MARINES '

' Ah, tell that to the marines ! ' is a quotation often used when an improbable story is told ; but ' very < a m° ? m jP I°y1 °y tlh ' c expression know its origin, (saysi title Charles 11. of Eng-la/iud was one day strolling in bis gardien with Mr. Pepys, secretary to the Admiralty, who was anxious to entertain his Majesty. 1 I 'bad speech yesbere'en,' said Mr. Pepys, * with ifce captain* of the ' Defiance,' who has just come from, the indies, and he told me the most wonderful thins I ever heard in my life/ ' An.i what was this extraordinary thing ? ' asked the " king. ' Why your Majesty,' answered 'the amiable Mr. Pepys, <hp told me he had seen fish flying in the

1 Fish flying in the air !' exclaimed 'King Charles. 1 That is a quaint conceit, too good to spoil with keeping. Come heie, sir,' and he beckoned to Sir William Kdlligrew, who commanded a newly-raised maritime regiment. 'We would discourse with you on a matter concerning your element, the water. What would you say, Colonel, if a man should swear that he had seen fishes flying in the air ?l? l ' I should say, sire,'" answered the sea colonel, very quietly, ' that .the man you speak of had sailed 'in sooitihern seas, For when I myself diid sail there of late upon your Majesty's business I did frequently see more flying fish in, an hour than there are hairs upon my head.' King Charles locked at the colonel's honest face, then turned to "Mr. Pepys. 'Mr. Pepys,' he sai', ' your story is doubtless true, for the officers of our brave maritime regiments have wide knowledge of all that pertains to the sea. From this time forth when any one doubts a tale that Seems to lack likelihood, it shall fl'rst be told to the marines.'