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Edward Carson was the barrister who defended Queensbury in Oscar Wilde's ill-fated litigation. The two men were at college together, prompting Wilde to observe "No doubt he will perform his task with all the added bitterness of an old friend."

That is well attested. Less well attested, and probably completely untrue (though none the worse for it) is the line attributed to Churchill, who late one morning was languishing in a bath in the Cabinet War Rooms having not long since risen with a hangover. His secretary knocked on the door to announce the the Lord Privy Seal was in attendance and requested audience.

"Kindly inform him that I am myself sealed in the privy, and can only attend to one sh*t at a time."