Griggs courier., 1897-01-15
rnk LORD AoM,aAL.s PLAYERS.

rAE lord ApMlRAL.S PLAYERS.
They Made Brave showing In the Good
Old Days Of Queen Bess.
At early dawn the Oxford carrier
had brought the news that the players
of the lord high admiral were coming
up to Stratford out of London from the
south to play on May day there; and
this was what had set the town to buzz
zing like n swarm. For there were in
England then but three great COM
panies, the high chamberlain's, the earl
of Pembroke's men, and the stage-play-
ers of my Lord Charles Howard, high
admiral of the realm; and the day on
which they came into Midland mar.
ket-town to play was one to mark with
red and gold upon the calendar of the
uneyentful year.
Away by the old mill-bridge there
were fishermen angling for dace and
perch; but when the shout came down
from the London road they dropped
their poles and ran, through the will
lows and over the gravel, splashing and
thrashing among the rushes and sandy
shadows not to be last when the play
ers came. And old John Carter, com
ing down the Warwick road with load
of hay, laid on the lash until piebald
Dobbin snorted in dismay and broke
into a numbering run to reach the old
stone bridge in time.
| The distant horsemen now were COM
ing on again, riding in double file.
They had flung their banners to the
breeze, and on the changing wind, with
the humping of horses hoofs, came by
snatches the sound of kcttledrum-
ner drawing his drumhead tight, and
beating us he drew, and the muffled
blasts of q trumpeter proving his lips.
The first of the riders had reached old
Clopton bridge; and the banners
strained upon their slaves in the fresh
ening river wind. The trumpeters and
the drummers led, their horses pranc-
ing, white plumes waving in the breeze
and the April sunlight dancing on the
brazen horns and the silver bellies of
the kettledrums.
Then came the banners of the COM
pany, curling down with silky swish,
and unfurling again with snap like q
broad-lashed whip. The greatest one
was rosy-red,. and on it was gallant
ship upon flowing sea, bearing upon
its mainsail the arms of my Lord
Charles Howard, high admiral of Eng
land. Upon it's mate was a giant beard-
ed man with fish's tail, holding a
trident in his hand and blowing upon
shell, the Triton of the seas which
England ruled; this flag was bright sea-
blue. The third was white, and on it
was red wild rose with golden heart,
the common standard of the company.
After the flags came two-score men,
the players of the admiral, the tiring-
men, grooms, horse-boys and serving
knaves, we'll mounted on good horses.
and all of them clad in scarlet tabards
blazoncd with the coat-armor of their
master. Upon their caps they wore the
famous badge Of the Howards, a ram
pant silver demi-lion; and beneath their
tabards at the side could be seen their
jenkins of many colored silk, their sill
ver-buckled belts, and long, thin Span
ish rapiers, slapping their horses on the
fanks Mt every stride. Their legs were
cased in high topped riding-boots OF
tawny cordovan, with gilt spurs, and
the housings of their saddles were OF
blue with the gilt anchors of the ad-
miralty upon them. On their bridles
were jingling bits of steel, which made
q constant tinkling like thousand lit
tie bells very far away.
Some had faces as smooth as boys.
and were quite young; and Others wore
sharp-pointed Ecards with stiff waxed
mustaches, and were older men with q
tinge of iron in their hair and lines of
iron in their faces, hardened by the life
they led, and some again were smooth
shaven, so often and SO closely that
their faces were blue with the beard be-
meath the skin. But, oh, to Nicholas
Atwood and the rest of Stratforti
boys, they were a dashing, rakish, ad-
mirable lot, with the air of something
even greater than lords, and keen
l.nowingness in their sparkling, world
ly eyes that made a common wise man
seem almost fool beside them!-John
Bennet, in st. Nicholas.