Free The Princess of Denmark by Edward Marston Page A

a brief tussle but Nicholas’s superior strength soon brought the fight to an end. Forcing this adversary to drop the knife, he flung him against the wall again then struck him with a relay of punches that left him cowering on his knees against the brick. Whimpering piteously, the man begged for mercy.
    Owen Elias had been hidden in the cart. When he joined his friend, he was not happy about his accommodation.
    ‘I swear that those sacks were filled with horse manure at some point,’ he said, curling his nose. ‘I must stink to high heaven.’
    ‘Your efforts were rewarded, Owen. We caught him.’ Nicholas hauled the young man to his feet and held him by the throat. ‘This is one piece of business that is now finished.’

Chapter Five
    George Dart was the smallest and most timid member of the company. As an assistant stagekeeper, he performed a whole array of menial tasks with a willingness that never flagged. On occasion, much to his discomfort, he was also compelled to take part in a play, albeit in a very minor capacity. For the most part, however, he loved his work and looked upon Westfield’s Men as his true family even though the apprentices sometimes teased him and the actors frequently used him as their whipping boy. Expecting to be discarded for the visit to Denmark, he was overwhelmed to be one of those selected to go. Dart was bursting with gratitude.
    ‘A thousand thanks, Nicholas,’ he said.
    ‘It was not my decision, George.’
    ‘But you spoke up for me. I know that. If it had been left to Master Firethorn and the others, they would not have given me a second thought – except to laugh at me.’
    ‘I know your true worth,’ said Nicholas fondly. ‘You dothe work of three men and are always ready to learn. Dear old Thomas Skillen is our stagekeeper but you do most of the tasks that should rightly be his. Since his ancient bones would never survive a voyage across the North Sea, he urged that you should go in his place.’
    Dart was amazed. ‘But all that he ever does is box my ears.’
    ‘That is his means of instruction.’
    The two of them had come to the Queen’s Head to take away the scenery and properties that would be needed on tour. There was a limit to how much they could carry. Weight and bulkiness were thus crucial factors. Guided by their book holder, Lawrence Firethorn and the others had chosen to perform plays on tour that could share many of the same items as well as most of the same costumes. Duplication would simplify matters. Nicholas took out the key. When he unlocked the room where everything was stored, there was barely enough space among the clutter for them to stand side by side.
    ‘Read out the list, George,’ said the book holder, handing him a scroll. ‘I’ll try to find the things we need.’
    Dart unrolled the paper. ‘
Item
, one Pope’s miter, one imperial crown, one throne.’
    ‘The throne is far too heavy. If we play in a castle, I’m sure that we can borrow a high-backed chair that will serve our purposes.’
    ‘They may also furnish us with a crown.’
    ‘That would be too much to ask,’ said Nicholas, taking two objects down from a shelf. ‘It would be impertinent of us to ask King Christian to abdicate for a couple of hoursso that we could make use of his crown.’ He put the objects aside. ‘Here we are – one miter, one crown. What’s next?’
    ‘
Item
, one rock, one tomb, one cauldron.’
    ‘The tomb must come – it’s used in three separate plays – but we will have to find a rock in Denmark – a real one, probably. It is so with the cauldron. The castle kitchens will furnish that.’
    ‘What about the steeple and maypole for
Love and Fortune
?’ asked Dart. ‘I doubt that we will find those so easily. Big as they are, we’ll have to take them with us.’
    ‘No,’ said Nicholas, putting the wooden tomb outside the door so that it would not impede them, ‘they will stay here. When we reach the castle, Oswald Megson will make us