Court jesters

Anne Wroe writes that Edward IV's favorite jester
accompanied Margaret of York on her voyage to
Burgundy. (The Perfect Prince, p. 516)

P. M. Kendall writes that after Charles the Bold's
defeat at Grandson, his jester said: "My Lord, we are
well Hannibaled this time." (Warwick the kingmaker,
p. 394, Epilogue, note 1)

I can't remember reading about Richard's jester
anywhere. Does anyone know if he had one? Are there
any stories about him?

Howabout other 15th century jesters? Can anyone share
a jester story (or 2) with the list?

TIA!

Marion

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I can't remember reading about Richard's jester
anywhere. Does anyone know if he had one? Are there
any stories about him?



I have a vague memory of reading of Richard having a Jester named Martin - probably remembered because of it being my brother's name.

The whole idea of the Court Jester is an interesting one I think. I have wondered about the whole idea behind the insitution.

Helen



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Helen wrote: I have a vague memory of reading of
Richard having a Jester named Martin -
probably remembered because of it being my brother's
name.

The whole idea of the Court Jester is an interesting
one I think. I have wondered about the whole idea
behind the insitution.

***

I've just done a web search for jesters. The Jester
Pages, called "best-known of the jester sites on the
Net" by The Jester's Mask site, is down right now.

But The Jester's Mask site is worth a visit. The URL
is http://www.thenoodlebowl.com/jesters/

It covers jesters world-wide.

The closest it comes to a 15th century jester is a
Polish jester called Stanczyk, "who was court jester
to the Polish King Sigismund I [1467-1548], he had a
reputation for pretending to be foolish while actually
very wise."

The site lists two books I'd like to investigate. One
is by Robert Armin, one of the fools that Shakespeare
wrote for. Armin specialized in court jester roles
and wrote a book on famous court jesters. Any
surviving copies are probably well protected in rare
book libraries or private collections. The other,
"Fools and jesters at the English court," by John and
Joan Southworth, seems to be more accessible. It's
listed on abe.com and in at least one library catalog.

I'll look for Martin if I can get a copy of either of
these.

Marion







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--- In , marion davis
<phaecilia@y...> wrote:
> Helen wrote: I have a vague memory of reading of
> Richard having a Jester named Martin -
> probably remembered because of it being my brother's
> name.
>
> The whole idea of the Court Jester is an interesting
> one I think. I have wondered about the whole idea
> behind the insitution.
>
> ***
>
> I've just done a web search for jesters. The Jester
> Pages, called "best-known of the jester sites on the
> Net" by The Jester's Mask site, is down right now.
>
> But The Jester's Mask site is worth a visit. The URL
> is http://www.thenoodlebowl.com/jesters/
>
> It covers jesters world-wide.
>
> The closest it comes to a 15th century jester is a
> Polish jester called Stanczyk, "who was court jester
> to the Polish King Sigismund I [1467-1548], he had a
> reputation for pretending to be foolish while actually
> very wise."
>
> The site lists two books I'd like to investigate. One
> is by Robert Armin, one of the fools that Shakespeare
> wrote for. Armin specialized in court jester roles
> and wrote a book on famous court jesters. Any
> surviving copies are probably well protected in rare
> book libraries or private collections. The other,
> "Fools and jesters at the English court," by John and
> Joan Southworth, seems to be more accessible. It's
> listed on abe.com and in at least one library catalog.
>
> I'll look for Martin if I can get a copy of either of
> these.
>
> Marion

The reference to Martin comes from Harley 433 (vol II p25). A warrant
to the auditors of Middleham for listed expanses, dated 25 September
1483, includes "xijd to Martyn the fole".

So it seems likely that Martin continued to be based at Middleham
after Richard became king, in the Prince's household, in which case
there must have been other jesters at court.

Marie


>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> __________________________________
> Do you Yahoo!?
> Yahoo! Small Business $15K Web Design Giveaway
> http://promotions.yahoo.com/design_giveaway/

--- In , marion davis
<phaecilia@y...> wrote:
> Anne Wroe writes that Edward IV's favorite jester
> accompanied Margaret of York on her voyage to
> Burgundy. (The Perfect Prince, p. 516)
>
> P. M. Kendall writes that after Charles the Bold's
> defeat at Grandson, his jester said: "My Lord, we are
> well Hannibaled this time." (Warwick the kingmaker,
> p. 394, Epilogue, note 1)
>
> I can't remember reading about Richard's jester
> anywhere. Does anyone know if he had one? Are there
> any stories about him?
>
> Howabout other 15th century jesters? Can anyone share
> a jester story (or 2) with the list?
>
> TIA!
>
> Marion


Thomas More had a fool, Henry Patenson, in his household. He appears
in the portrait of More's household done by Hans Holbein the Younger.

Katy

from the desk of Paul Trevor Bale

> --- In , marion davis
> <phaecilia@y...> wrote:
>> Anne Wroe writes that Edward IV's favorite jester
>> accompanied Margaret of York on her voyage to
>> Burgundy. (The Perfect Prince, p. 516)
>>
>> P. M. Kendall writes that after Charles the Bold's
>> defeat at Grandson, his jester said: "My Lord, we are
>> well Hannibaled this time." (Warwick the kingmaker,
>> p. 394, Epilogue, note 1)
>>
>> I can't remember reading about Richard's jester
>> anywhere. Does anyone know if he had one? Are there
>> any stories about him?
>>
>> Howabout other 15th century jesters? Can anyone share
>> a jester story (or 2) with the list?
>>
>> TIA!
>>
>> Marion
>
>
> Thomas More had a fool, Henry Patenson, in his household. He appears
> in the portrait of More's household done by Hans Holbein the Younger.
>
> Katy

Henry VIII's famous one was Will Self I think, or Kemp? He sat at Henry's
deathbed and was the only one who cried when the king died.
Paul

Helen wrote: I have a vague memory of reading of
Richard having a Jester named Martin - probably
remembered because of it being my brother's name.

***

Here's a quote about Martyn from "Fools and Jesters at
the English Court," by John Southworth:

"A fool called Martyn is glimpsed in 1483/4 in the
household of Richard III's seven-year-old heir Edward
of Middleham, who was to disappoint his father's hopes
by dying shortly afterwards; and we know that
Richard's queen, Ann Nevill had her "Mr John" beause
there is a record of his burial at St Margaret's,
Westminster, in 1485--the same year as the death of
the queen."

Here's another interesting quote. In the chapter
called "The Player Fools," Southworth writes:

"...These early players travelled and performed in
groups of three or four, and their use of masks
(visers), enabling them to assume a variety of roles
and to switch roles with ease and rapidity, is often
indicated.

The first of such companies known to have been
retained by magnate patrons were 'my Lord of Essex
men, plaiers' and the four 'pleyers of my lord of
Gloucestres' (the future Richard III) rewarded by Sir
John Howard in 1482. It is not known if Richard
retained his company on becoming king ..."

Marion





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