CONTENTS
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.