18th century, English, Europe, historical figure, primary source, quotes, Scotland, stories
This tale of a fool throttling goslings in his care is told here of the Scottish jester Jamie Fleeman, but it bears such a striking resemblance to a better known gosling throttler, namely the German jester Claus Narr, that it may be a fictive attribution; there are...
14th century, 15th century, court accounts, Europe, France, French, historical figure, primary source, quotes
European court and household account books are a gold mine for fool sleuths: they provide details of emoluments paid or provided to jesters, and in many cases give us names of jesters and whom they served, which might not be otherwise recorded. Here a list of...
12th century, England, Europe, French, primary source, quotes, stories
The twelfth century Anglo-Norman chronicler Geoffrey Gaimar records in his verse history of the English (Lestorie des Engles ), the assassination of the English king Edward the Martyr (r. 975-78), allegedly lured to his death by his dwarf who clearly had the...
15th century, Europe, fooleum, illumination, Latin, manuscript, Netherlands, primary source
This 15th century illumination of the Pietà is by the Master of the Lee Hours, an anonymous Flemish artist who contributed to a book of hours for Charles the Bold, Duke of Burgundy (r. 1467-77) and his wife Isabelle of Bourbon. The J. Paul Getty Museum, its current...
15th century, Europe, fooleum, France, illumination, Latin, manuscript, primary source
Fools frequently pop up in various guises in medieval illuminations, sometimes with a scriptural connection, illustrating the line from Psalm 53 in which the fool is one who denies God: ‘The fool says in his heart “There is no God.”‘...
13th century, Europe, fooleum, France, illumination, manuscript, primary source
​This outstanding illumination has a double dose of fools. The first is the fool who would presume to menace Christ, perhaps unique among fools for sporting a dog’s face, let alone his winged headgear. He also has what appears to be a fool’s...
Europe, German, Germany, primary source, quotes
This German proverb begs the question as to what exactly the wise should learn from fools. Perhaps, for starters, how not to appear too wise, thereby alienating or annoying those who might benefit from your wisdom. And wrap your wisdom in a joke so that it flies...
18th century, Europe, fictive fool, primary source, quotes, Wales, Welsh
Speaking the truth, especially to power, is a risky business, occasionally even life-threatening. Better leave it to the professionals who know how to wrap it in humour so the receiver laughs before they have chance to chop anyone’s head off. This from an...
