Counselors, Confidants, and Comforters
However, if a fool was lucky enough to be employed by a royal household, they could find that their extracurricular duties were far more significant. Royal Fools were the only ones in the court who could openly mock the monarch- and keep their heads. Will Somer’s, the ‘King’s Fool’ of Henry VIII is just one example. In 1535, Will dared to make a mockery of the King’s then-wife, Anne Boleyn by calling her a ‘ribald’ or a sexually immoral woman- and the King’s daughter Elizabeth a bastard. Henry was so angry that he threatened to kill Will with his own hands. However, Henry soon forgave him.
Fools like Will Somers had such license because they made themselves useful in other ways. For often, they were anything but ‘fools’ and instead were astute, intelligent individuals who acted as unofficial councilors and confidants. Somers was particularly noted for his integrity and discretion. He would use his wit to draw Henry’s attention to matters that the King would otherwise have missed. Thomas Cromwell, Henry’s chief minister, is said to have used him in this way to influence the king on various matters. Likewise, Yu Sze or Twisty Pole, the court jester of Emperor Qin Shi Huang dissuaded his master form the crazy notion of lacquering the entire great wall of China- thus saving thousands of lives.
Some fools were also useful in helping their monarchs mend their ways. George Buchanan was the jester of King James VI of Scotland. James had a bad habit of signing official documents without reading them, which was causing severe problems in the government of Scotland. So George decided to teach him a lesson. One day, he took a document to James and true to form the King signed without reading- only to discover 15 days later that by doing so he had abdicated the rule of Scotland – and made his fool King in his stead. The loyal fool discretely pointed out the error, and from then onwards, James read always read documents before he signed.
But at the end of the day, Royal Fools could also be friends and comforters. In Henry VIII’s declining years, Will Somers was said to be the only person who could make him smile when he was in pain with his ulcerated leg. He was also one of the few people the King truly trusted and confided in. Will served henry loyally until his death. However, other royal fools retired and made a fortune. One Fool, Robert le Pettour was granted 30 acres of land on his retirement by Henry II- on the condition that he returned to court every Christmas day to “leap, whistle and fart.”