Medieval Jesters Part 4 - Richard Tarlton

Richard Tarlton was Jester and Fool to Queen Elizabeth 1st during the 1580's, being one of her favourite entertainers.  He was not only jester to the queen, but also an actor, comedian and member of a touring group of performers - The Queen's Players.  It is believed that he was born in Condover in Shropshire and is believed to have been either a swineherd, or inn keeper or both before becoming an actor and later court jester.
Other skills he had were as an author of ballads and plays and a fencing master. His development of the jig (a performance art involving story, dance and song) together with his other skills led him to have a profound effect on English popular theatre as a performer and comedian. A posthumously published book, "Tarlton's Jests" depicts a few of his examples of fooling at court. One of these was a "drunk act" where he called noisily for someone to bring him beer.  The queen suggested that he shouldn't have any more because he might "play the beast and therefore shame himself". He replied that she should "Fear not, for her beer was small enough".
On another occasion, he planned to play the part of the God Luz, with a piece of bacon tied to his back.  The queen's dog, however, started chasing him to get at the bacon, so Tarlton played about with that instead of following his original plan.
Tarlton made his will, died and was buried on September 3rd 1588 and is buried in the same churchyard as Will Somer at St Lonard's in Shoredith, London.

Richard Tarlton as most often depicted playing pipe and tabor