17th century, England, English, Europe, historical figure, primary source, quotes, Scotland, stories, Stuart
All kinds of stories are told about the background from which various court jesters emerged, and some may even be true. Or we know at least that the jester was for real but we can’t be sure about the recruitment trajectory. This is one of the more original...
17th century, correspondence, England, Europe, historical figure, primary source, quotes, stories
A curious and detailed note from Robert Cecil, Earl of Salisbury (1563-1612), a close advisor to James I, and son of an even closer advisor to Elizabeth I, William Cecil. Here he has to deal with a diplomatic issue which he’d rather not have to, as he takes...
16th century, English, Europe, folk fool, primary source, quotes, Scotland
A fine story-telling version of the many tales about George Buchanan, celebrating him as the king’s fool. Buchanan (1506-82) is one of those tricky characters who begin life as an historical, living person and somehow, over centuries, morph into a jester of...
