Thomas is falconer to Sir Robert Vicary of Petbury, a minor lord who has made some influential friends. Sir Robert takes Thomas with him to stay with Lord Edmund, the Earl of Reigate, a decadent and pompous noble who is keen to impress Queen Elizabeth. Lord Edmund's plan is to stage a sumptuous house party involving a re-enactment of the recently foiled Spanish Armada, as well as a giant model... (more)