Chapter Foible to Foot-breadth of F by Brewer's Readers Handbook

Rosen (Kunz von der), a private jester to the emperor Maximilian I.

Scogan, court jester to Edward IV.

Soglia (Cardinal), the fun-maker of pope Gregory XVI. He was succeeded by Aopi.

Somers (Will), court jester to Henry VIII. The effigy of this jester is at Hampton Court. And in Old Fish Street was once a public-house called Will Somers’s tavern (1490–1560).

Stehlin (Professor), in the household of czarina Elizabeth of Russia. He was teacher of mathematics and history to the grand-duke (Peter II.), and was also his licensed buffoon.

Tarleton (Richard), the famous clown and jester in the reign of queen Elizabeth, but not attached either to the court or to any nobleman (1530–1588).

Thom, one of the court jesters of James I. Contemporary with Derrie.

Triboulet, court jester to Louis XII. and Francois I. (1487–1536). Licinio the rival of Titian, took his likeness, which is still extant.

Wallett (W.F.), court jester to queen Victoria. He styles himself “the queen’s jester,” but doubtlessly has no warrant for the title from the lord chamberlain.

Walter, jester to queen Elizabeth.

Will, “my lord of Leicester’s jesting player;” but who this “Will” was is not known. It might be Will Johnson, Will Sly, Will Kimp, or even Will Shakespeare.

Yorick, jester in the court of Denmark. Referred to by Shakespeare in his Hamlet, act v. sc. I.

(Dr. Doran published The History of Court Fools, in 1858.)

Fools’ Paradise, unlawful pleasure; illicit love; vain hopes; the limbus fatuorum or paradise of idiots and fools.

If ye should lead her into a fools’ paradise, it were a gross … behaviour.—Shakespeare: Romeo and Juliet, act ii. sc. 4 (1597).

Foot. The foot of an Arab is noted for its arch, and hence Tennyson speaks of the “delicate Arab arch of [Maud’s] feet.”—Maud, xvi. I.

Foot-breadth, the sword of Thoralf Skolinson “the Strong” of Norway.

Quern-biter of Hakon the Good,
Wherewith at a stroke he hewed
The millstone thro’ and thro’;
And Foot- breadth of Thoralf “the Strong!”—
Were not so broad, nor yet so long,
Nor was their edge so true.
   —Longfellow.