16th century, Europe, France, French, primary source, quotes
The king-fool duopoly seems, according to the reliable Rabelais, to have a celestial underpinning. I trust that ‘king’ is used capaciously to include queens and other rulers … Kings and fools are born under the same horoscope. Un mesme...
17th century, England, English, Europe, primary source, quotes, Stuart
This parting shot, the conclusion of a fictive quest in search of the ‘veriest fool in England’, has one of the fools name poets as being the greatest of fools, recommending they form a ‘parliament of poets’ to serve the interests of the...
17th century, dramatic character, England, English, Europe, play, primary source, quotes, Stuart
​In this play about Will Somers, the long-serving jester of Henry VIII (r. 1509-47), we have art imitating life, showing the spectrum of fiction-to-fact which a famous historical fool can encompass; Somers is not the only household name to have plays written about...
16th century, England, English, Europe, historical figure, primary source, quotes, Tudor
Sir Thomas More warns of the dangers of having ‘fun’ with the king. More had enough wit and humour to have been himself occasionally likened to a jester, and had his own jester at home. You often boast to me that you have the king’s ear and often have...
17th century, England, English, engraving, Europe, fooleum, historical figure, portrait, primary source, Stuart
Unlike the portrait of Will Somers (d. 1560) in the Psalter of Henry VIII, this engraving is posthumous, though clearly resembles those done during his lifetime. Noteworthy is the background street scene, which seems to feature people in various forms of play and...
20th century, dramatic character, Europe, French, play, primary source, quotes
​A not uncommon trope in the jester-king relationship is the reversal of their roles, either in jest, or to provide a corrective to the king, or if the king is forced to take on the role of jester, as in Frank Wedekind’s play King Nicolo (1901). In another...
4th century BCE, Europe, Greece, Greek, primary source, quotes, stories
Philip, who pitches up at Xenophon’s symposium in search of a decent meal, seems to be a fall-flat flailing fool, and bears some resemblance to the parasite dinner-guest who sings (or jokes) for his supper. I love Philip’s sulking stance when nobody...
16th century, England, Europe, fooleum, historical figure, manuscript, primary source, Tudor
The Psalter of Henry VIII (r. 1509-47) was commissioned by the king who strongly identified with King David. This illumination has him playing the harp, as David did to ward off evil. It also features Will Somers, the king’s long-standing jester, whose...
