Footman

You’ll be lucky to see Siencyn ap Gwilym about the Manor or perhaps not so lucky if he challenges you to a game of “Hazard”! Many of the servants marvel that this roguish Footman is still employed by the Colonel. Always up to some mischief, getting into scrapes and so lazy.

It was by misfortune that Siencyn came to work in the Manor, for whilst out hunting one day Edward Prichard’s brother William, shot Siencyn’s father in the foot, thus rendering him a cripple and unable to fully support his large family. Being of a charitable nature and in need of a Footman, the Colonel took Siencyn on, in order to help the family out.

But what a family! Wastrels all according to some folk! There’s Arthur, a younger brother, dismissed from his job as Turnspit, for almost burning the Manor down, and there’s Jacob, Seincyn’s twin brother (you’d be hard pressed to tell them apart!). He ran away to Devon after some scandal concerning Jane “Nant Ddu”. It’s said that he joined, and deserted from, both armies – King and Parliament! Of course there’s Dorcas, Siencyn’s sister. She went off with the King’s Baggage Train – they say she’d never desert an army! There are others, but doubtless the servants will tell you all about them.

And yet, it’s a wonder to many that such a scoundrel as Siencyn has the gift of music and can play the lute so well as to please the Mistress, and for all his many faults, he’s loved by everyone.

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