In his little book, 'Shakspere's Sea Forms Explained,' (Bristol, 1910) Mr. W. B. Whall, master mariner, expresses his belief that Shakspere's use of sea phrases is copious and accurate. He declares that "Words and phrases of an extremely technical nature are scattered thru" Shakspere's plays; "and a mistake in their use is never made." Then he asks: "Could a mere lubber have steered clear of error in the use of such terms?" (p. 6). Mr. Whall had earlier noted that there are seven years of Shakspere's life as to which we have scarcely any information, and that one of these years was the year of the Armada, 1588, when he had only just attained his majority. Where was Shakspere and what was he doing? "There was a hot press for men to man the fleet. Is it possible that he was among the prest?" (p. 5). It was a time of exaltation of all things pertaining to sea things; and it is no wonder that the playwrights of the day, Heywood for one, made frequent use of sea words. "The wonder is that without professional acquaintance" Shakspere "should always use these terms correctly," (p. 18). He abounds in "Elizabethan sailor talk pure and simple." And a little later Mr. Whall draws attention to the fact that "sea expressions crop up in quite unexpected places"--just as theatrical expressions crop up; "and that they are all phrased _as by a sailor_," (p. 19). Then Mr. Whall quotes a remark from another master mariner, Captain Basil Hall, who had earlier noticed this striking characteristic: "One would like to know how Shakspere pickt it up." When he comes to deal with the 'Tempest' Mr. Whall cites the saying of Lord Mulgrave, some time first Lord of the Admiralty: "The first scene of the 'Tempest' is a very striking instance of the great accuracy of Shakspere's knowledge in a professional science." With this Mr. Whall disagrees: "Now this does not of necessity follow. A playwright with any sense would, if about to write such a scene, obtain professional assistance unless he himself had professional knowledge to steer clear of error. The whole scene is graphic, accurate and correct in the terms of nautical speech.... But it is by no means such a proof of the writer's sea knowledge as are the scattered and wholly unexpected nautical references in many other plays, every one of which might have been written by an experienced seaman." The most recent and the most careful consideration of Shakspere's acquaintance with seafaring life is contained in Mr. L. G. Carr Laughton's essay on 'The Navy: Ships and Sailors,' contributed to 'Shakspere's England,' (Oxford University Press, 1916), 141-170. A. H. T. OF THIS BOOK THREE HUNDRED AND THIRTY-THREE COPIES WERE PRINTED FROM TYPE BY CORLIES, MACY AND COMPANY IN SEPTEMBER : MCMXVI