It was yellower, and penned in a hand so crabbed that for a long time I could not make out in what language it was written. “Below were seven scrawly signatures in that strange old Elizabethan hand.” “Below were seven scrawly signatures in that strange old Elizabethan hand.” The Tickencote Treasure] [Chapter IV The Tickencote Treasure Chapter IV At last I decided that the first portion was in the abbreviated Latin of old documents, for after much puzzling I deciphered that the first words read “In Dei Nomine, Amen.” At foot was an endorsement in old English, which I deciphered, making a covenant between certain parties, and below were seven scrawly signatures in that strange old Elizabethan hand, namely of Geo. Greene, Gilbert Kanadale, John Ffreeman, Alex. Stephen Wyon, John Dollington, Clement Wollerton, and George A. Dafte, hys mark. The bottom of the parchment had been cut until a short strip an inch wide hung from it, and upon this the round seal of yellow wax had been impressed, the device upon it being a shield with a leopard rampant, together with a fleur-de-lys. That is how best I can describe it, not being versed in heraldic terms. That the two documents were precious ones could not for a moment be doubted when I recollected how carefully they had been preserved: first in that leathern bag and secondly in the treasure-chest. To me, however, they presented no appearance of value. “What are they all about, doctor?” inquired the skipper, puffing at his pipe. “At present I can’t tell. They’re both in Latin,” I answered, “and we must wait until we get a proper translation. This”—and I held the second document in my hand—“was written in the time of Queen Elizabeth, and seems to be a covenant, or something of the sort.” “I suppose we can get some lawyer chap to puzzle ’em out?” Seal said. “Oh, I don’t anticipate any difficulty,” I answered. “Only if there is any secret attached to them we don’t want to give it away.” “Ah! I never thought of that,” remarked the skipper. “It is, as you say, very probable that some
Prev.
Back
Top