The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1897-02-01
THE ADMIRAL'S PLAYERS.
A Scene in Coventry During tn
DAVIS of Good Queen Bess.

The ancient city of Coventry stands
upon a little hill, with old st. Mi
chael's steeple and the spire of Holy
Trinity church rising above it against
the sky; and, as the master player and
the boy came climbing upward from
the south walls, towers, chimneys and
red-tlled roofs were turned to gold by
the glow of the setting sun. writes John
Bennett, in the st. Nicholas.
To Nick it seemed as if a halo over
hung the town-a rudy glory and a
wonder bright, for here the Grey FriarS
of the great monastery had played
their holy mysteries and miracles for
over hundred years; here the trade
guilds had held their pageantS when
the friars day was done; here were
all the wonders that old men told by
winter fires.
People were coming and going
through the gates. like bees about
hive; and in the distance Nick could
hear the sound of many voices, the
rush of feet. wheels and hoofs, and
the shrill pipe of music. Here and
there were little knots of country folks
making holiday-a father and mother
with a group of rosy children; a lad
and his lass. spruce in merry finery.
and gay with bits of ribbon-merry
groups that were ever changing. Gay
banners tapped on tall ash slaves. The
and tents and stalls and butts for
archery. The very air seemed eager
with the eve of holiday.
But what to Nick was breathleSS
wonder was to Carew only a twice
told tale; so he pushed through the
crowded thoroughfares, amid throng
that made Nick's head spin round, and
came quickly to the Blue Boar inn.
The court was crowded to the gates
with horses, travellers and serving men;
and here and there and everywhere
rushed the busy inn-keeper, with a
linen napkin fluttering on his arm, his
cap half off, and in his hot hand a
pewter flagon, from which the brown
ale dripped in spatters on his fat legs
as he flew.
They're here" said Carew, looking
shrewdly about; for there is Greg
DRY, Goole, my groom, and Stephen
Magelt, the fireman. In with thee,
Nicholas"
He put Nick before with a little air
of patronage, and pushed him into the
room.
1t was a large, low chamber, with
heavy beams overhead, hung with lea
Their jacks and pewter tankards.
Around the walls stood rough tables.
at which a medley of guests sat eat
ing. drinking, dicing, playing at cards.
and talking loudly all at once, while
the tapster and the cooks knave sped
wildly about.
At a great table in the midst of the
riot sat the lord high admiral's play
ers-a score or more embarrassing gall
lants, richly clad in rufus and bands,
embroidered shirts, Italian doublets
slashed and laced, Venetian hose, gay
velvet caps with jeweled bands, and
every man a poniard or rapier at
his hip. Nick felt very much like a
little brown sparrow in a flock of In
dian birds.
meat and drink; and some of the play
ers were eating with forks, a new
trick from the London court, which
Nick had never seen before. But all
the diners looked up when Carew's
face was recognized, and welcomed
him with a deafening shout.
He waved his hand for silence
Thanks for these kind plaudits. gen.
tie friends, said he, with a hooking
air; Il have returned"
Yes, we see that you have. Gas
ton." they all shouted and laughed
again.
AYE" said he, thrusting his hand
into his pouch; we fed, and left me
to be spoiled by the spoiler, but We see
1 have left the spoiler spoiled"
Lifting his hand triumphantly, he
shook in their faces the golden chain
that the burgesses of Stratford had
given him, and then, laying his hand
upon Nick's shoulder, bowed to them
all, and to him with courtly grace
and said: "Be known, be known ALL
my lord admiraPs players,
Master Nicholas Skylark. the sweet
est singer in all the kingdom OF Eng
landr
Nicks cheeks flushed holly and his