audience.
‘Giddy is not quite so giddy, my friends,’ he announced in an unwavering voice. ‘I’m as sober as the best among you and ready to share in your great adventure.’
Elias led the applause. ‘It was all a jest!’ he shouted.
Nicholas did not join in the general laughter. Relieved that Mussett was there, he was quietly angry at the way they had all been kept waiting so that the clown could make an impact on his first appearance. He resolved to make his feelings known to Mussett when they had a chance to speak alone. Firethorn, on the other hand, had no such reservations about their new clown.
‘Welcome to the company,’ he said, striding forward to shake Mussett’s hand. ‘We are pleased to have you with us, Giddy.’
‘Not as pleased as I am to be here, Master Firethorn.’
‘You were born to entertain.’
‘Laughter is meat and drink to me.’
Replacing his hat, he executed a little dance then did a handstand to show off the two bells attached to his heels. After clicking them several times to pick out a simple tune, he rolled forward and sprang to his feet. Another round of clapping broke out and he bowed to acknowledge it. Mussett had achieved an instant popularity. Other members of the company gathered around to offer their own welcome. Some, like Elias and Hoode, already knew him but most were meeting the newcomer for the first time. Mussett’s gratitude was obvious. While others were still locked away in the filthy cell at the King’s Bench Prison, he was about to set out with the most celebrated theatre company of them all. His commitment to Westfield’s Men seemed wholehearted.
Nicholas was keen to be on the way. There was a long journey ahead of them and a protracted leave-taking would only produce more sadness among those left behind. After giving Anne a kiss of farewell, he called the others to order and told them to clamber aboard the wagons that had been allotted to them. A flurry of embraces with loved ones followed before the departing actors were ready. Nicholas signalled to Mussett to join him on the first wagon and the four apprentices were delighted to have the clown besidethem. Firethorn, Elias and James Ingram mounted their horses. For reasons that remained undisclosed, Hoode had decided to travel on a donkey. They were all sorry to be leaving the comforts of London and the security of their playhouse at the Queen’s Head. Travel would be arduous and it was uncertain how well they would be received in the various towns where they intended to play. Unseen hazards might lie ahead. Subduing their individual fears, they put on a brave face for their departure.
At the last moment, however, it was unexpectedly delayed. Out of the stream of traffic that had been rattling south over London Bridge since dawn came a small cart that was moving at some speed. The driver, a stout man in his fifties, yelled aloud and waved to them with his whip. When he reached the wagons, he took his cart in a circle before bringing it to a halt. Lying on straw in the rear and propped up on a leather trunk was Barnaby Gill, his broken leg still held fast between splints.
‘Wait!’ he called. ‘I’ll come with you.’
‘That’s madness, Barnaby,’ said Firethorn.
‘I insist. If someone else is to take my roles, I wish to be there to make sure that he does not abuse them.’ His eye flicked over the assembly. ‘Where is the knave?’
‘Here, Barnaby,’ said Mussett, standing up to give him a cheerful wave. ‘It’s good to see you again.’
‘I take no delight in seeing
you
,’ said Gill sharply. ‘Now, help me, someone. Get me and my baggage off this cart and onto the most comfortable wagon.’
‘Is it wise to travel in that condition?’ asked Nicholas.
‘If both my legs were broken, I’d happily endure the pain.’
‘No,’ said Firethorn. ‘We’ll not let you suffer so, Barnaby. We’re actors. We have no skills as nurses. You need care and attention.’
‘I need to
‘Giddy is not quite so giddy, my friends,’ he announced in an unwavering voice. ‘I’m as sober as the best among you and ready to share in your great adventure.’
Elias led the applause. ‘It was all a jest!’ he shouted.
Nicholas did not join in the general laughter. Relieved that Mussett was there, he was quietly angry at the way they had all been kept waiting so that the clown could make an impact on his first appearance. He resolved to make his feelings known to Mussett when they had a chance to speak alone. Firethorn, on the other hand, had no such reservations about their new clown.
‘Welcome to the company,’ he said, striding forward to shake Mussett’s hand. ‘We are pleased to have you with us, Giddy.’
‘Not as pleased as I am to be here, Master Firethorn.’
‘You were born to entertain.’
‘Laughter is meat and drink to me.’
Replacing his hat, he executed a little dance then did a handstand to show off the two bells attached to his heels. After clicking them several times to pick out a simple tune, he rolled forward and sprang to his feet. Another round of clapping broke out and he bowed to acknowledge it. Mussett had achieved an instant popularity. Other members of the company gathered around to offer their own welcome. Some, like Elias and Hoode, already knew him but most were meeting the newcomer for the first time. Mussett’s gratitude was obvious. While others were still locked away in the filthy cell at the King’s Bench Prison, he was about to set out with the most celebrated theatre company of them all. His commitment to Westfield’s Men seemed wholehearted.
Nicholas was keen to be on the way. There was a long journey ahead of them and a protracted leave-taking would only produce more sadness among those left behind. After giving Anne a kiss of farewell, he called the others to order and told them to clamber aboard the wagons that had been allotted to them. A flurry of embraces with loved ones followed before the departing actors were ready. Nicholas signalled to Mussett to join him on the first wagon and the four apprentices were delighted to have the clown besidethem. Firethorn, Elias and James Ingram mounted their horses. For reasons that remained undisclosed, Hoode had decided to travel on a donkey. They were all sorry to be leaving the comforts of London and the security of their playhouse at the Queen’s Head. Travel would be arduous and it was uncertain how well they would be received in the various towns where they intended to play. Unseen hazards might lie ahead. Subduing their individual fears, they put on a brave face for their departure.
At the last moment, however, it was unexpectedly delayed. Out of the stream of traffic that had been rattling south over London Bridge since dawn came a small cart that was moving at some speed. The driver, a stout man in his fifties, yelled aloud and waved to them with his whip. When he reached the wagons, he took his cart in a circle before bringing it to a halt. Lying on straw in the rear and propped up on a leather trunk was Barnaby Gill, his broken leg still held fast between splints.
‘Wait!’ he called. ‘I’ll come with you.’
‘That’s madness, Barnaby,’ said Firethorn.
‘I insist. If someone else is to take my roles, I wish to be there to make sure that he does not abuse them.’ His eye flicked over the assembly. ‘Where is the knave?’
‘Here, Barnaby,’ said Mussett, standing up to give him a cheerful wave. ‘It’s good to see you again.’
‘I take no delight in seeing
you
,’ said Gill sharply. ‘Now, help me, someone. Get me and my baggage off this cart and onto the most comfortable wagon.’
‘Is it wise to travel in that condition?’ asked Nicholas.
‘If both my legs were broken, I’d happily endure the pain.’
‘No,’ said Firethorn. ‘We’ll not let you suffer so, Barnaby. We’re actors. We have no skills as nurses. You need care and attention.’
‘I need to
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