The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1897-01-05
THE LORD AOMIRAL's PLAYERS.
They Made . Brave Showing In the Goo<
Old Days Of Queen Bess.

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 q 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
uneventtul 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, splsshing 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 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
matches the sound of a kettledrum-
mer drawing his drumhead tight, and
beating as he drew, and the muhied
blasts of trumpeter proving his lips.
The first OF the riders bad 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 a silky swish,
and unfuriing again with a snap like
broad-iashed whip The greatest one
was rosy-red, and on IL was gallant
snip upon a flowing sea, bearing upon
Its mainsail the arms of my Lord
Charles Howard. high admiral OF Eng
land. Upon its mate was giant beard
ed man with fsh's tai, hoidiDg
trident in his hand and blowing upon
q shell. the Triton OF the scar which
England ruled: this flag was bright sea
blue. The third was white. sDc on IL
was red wild rose with a golden heart
To. common standard Of tie company.
After the flags came two-seore men,
the players of TIE admiral. tie firing
men. groou.S, horse-5oys and serving
knsyes, well mounted OF good horses.
and all OF them clad IL scarlet iaosros
blazoned with the coaf-aTIao< q their
master Upon their e1lss they wore the
famous hedge OF the Towards a ran
pant silver derni-iion: and beneath their
fabaris az the SIDE could DC sesn their
jerkius % many colored si4k- tSs~lr 81
er-bslckled bcIts. and long. tsIE span
ish rapiers. slaPring their horses OF fae
tanks ~ every stride. Their legs were
raaed IN high topped riclDz-eoots o.
.swnv eorsioEsn. With gilt spurs. ard
the housings o. Their saddles were q
blue with Tie gilt anchors &C the al
rirzI,y uroz fhen- o. ibcl- hsso.rs