Capture of vessel by bounder calls for ensemble of fools (3,3,5)
I believe the answer is:
cap and bells
'ensemble of fools' is the definition.
The definition suggests a singular noun which matches the answer.
'capture of vessel by bounder calls' is the wordplay.
'capture of' is an insertion indicator (inserted letters are captured).
'vessel' becomes 'pan' (vessel or container for cooking).
'by bounder' becomes 'dbe' (I can't explain this - if you can you should believe this answer much more).
'pan'+'dbe'='pandbe'
'pandbe' put within 'calls' is 'CAP AND BELLS'.
'for' is the link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for cap and bells that I've seen before include "Jester's insignia" , "Insignia of a professional jester - bland places (anag)" , "Court jester's headgear" .)