MASTER SKYLARK A Story of Shakspere’s Time BY JOHN BENNETT ILLUSTRATIONS BY REGINALD B. BIRCH [Illustration: “‘MASTER SKYLARK, THOU SHALT HAVE THY WISH,’ SAID QUEEN ELIZABETH.”] ALL THAT NICHOLAS ATTWOOD’S MOTHER WAS TO HIM, AND MORE, MY OWN MOTHER HAS BEEN TO ME AND TO HER HERE I INSCRIBE THIS BOOK WITH A NEVER-FAILING LOVE CONTENTS I THE LORD ADMIRAL’S PLAYERS II NICHOLAS ATTWOOD’S HOME III THE LAST STRAW IV OFF FOR COVENTRY V IN THE WARWICK ROAD VI THE MASTER-PLAYER VII “WELL SUNG, MASTER SKYLARK!” VIII THE ADMIRAL’S COMPANY IX THE MAY-DAY PLAY X AFTER THE PLAY XI DISOWNED XII A STRANGE RIDE XIII A DASH FOR FREEDOM XIV AT BAY XV LONDON TOWN XVI MA’M’SELLE CICELY CAREW XVII CAREW’S OFFER XVIII MASTER HEYWOOD PROTESTS XIX THE ROSE PLAY-HOUSE XX DISAPPOINTMENT XXI “THE CHILDREN OF PAUL’S” XXII THE SKYLARK’S SONG XXIII A NEW LIFE XXIV THE MAKING OF A PLAYER XXV THE WANING OF THE YEAR XXVI TO SING BEFORE THE QUEEN XXVII THE QUEEN’S PLAISANCE XXVIII CHRISTMAS WITH QUEEN BESS XXIX BACK TO GASTON CAREW XXX AT THE FALCON INN XXXI IN THE TWINKLING OF AN EYE XXXII THE LAST OF GASTON CAREW XXXIII CICELY DISAPPEARS XXXIV THE BANDY-LEGGED MAN XXXV A SUDDEN RESOLVE XXXVI WAYFARING HOME XXXVII TURNED ADRIFT XXXVIII A STRANGE DAY XXXIX ALL’S WELL THAT ENDS WELL LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS “MASTER SKYLARK, THOU SHALT HAVE THY WISH,” SAID QUEEN ELIZABETH THE LORD ADMIRAL’S PLAYERS. THE TRUMPETERS AND THE DRUMMERS LED, THEIR HORSES PRANCING, WHITE PLUMES WAVING IN THE BREEZE “WHUR BE-EST GOING, NICK?” ASKED ROGER DAWSON “WHAT! HOW NOW?” CRIED THE STRANGER, SHARPLY. “DOST LIKE OR LIKE ME NOT?” “NICK THOUGHT OF HIS MOTHER’S SINGING ON A SUMMER’S EVENING—DREW A DEEP BREATH AND BEGAN TO SING “NOBODY BREAKS NOBODY’S HEARTS IN OLD JO-OHN SMITHSES SHO-OP,” DRAWLED THE SMITH, IN HIS DEEP VOICE; “NOR STEALS NOBODY, NOTHER” “DICCON HAD OFTEN MADE NICK WHISTLES FROM THE WILLOWS ALONG THE AVON WHEN NICK WAS A TODDLER” NICK PUT ONE LEG OVER THE SILL AND LOOKED BACK “OH, NICK, THOU ART MOST BEAUTIFUL TO SEE!” CRIED CICELY “THAT VOICE, THAT VOICE!” NAT GILES PANTED TO HIMSELF NICK GAVE THE SILVER BUCKLE FROM HIS CLOAK TO A BOY WHO STOOD CRYING WITH COLD AND HUNGER IN THE STREET SO NICK RODE HOME UPON THE BACK OF THE EARL OF ARUNDEL’S MAN-AT-ARMS “WHY, SIR, I’LL SING FOR THEE NOW,” SAID NICK, CHOKING “DO NA THOU STRIKE ME AGAIN, THOU ROGUE!” SAID NICK “OH, NICK, WHAT IS IT?” SHE CRIED MASTER SHAKSPERE MET THEM WITH OUTSTRETCHED HANDS MASTER SKYLARK CHAPTER I THE LORD ADMIRAL’S PLAYERS There was an unwonted buzzing in the east end of Stratford on that next to the last day of April, 1596. It was as if some one had thrust a stick into a hive of bees and they had come whirling out to see.