Jane Foole facts for kids
Jane Foole, also known as Jane The Foole or Jane, The Queen's Fool, was a special entertainer called a court fool in England. She was active between 1543 and 1558. Jane worked for queens Catherine Parr and Mary I, and maybe even for Anne Boleyn.
Today, some performers pretend to be "Jane" at fun events like Renaissance faires, which celebrate the old times.
Contents
Who Was Jane Foole?
Her Early Life
We don't know much about Jane Foole's full name, when she was born, or where she came from. Another fool named Beden the Fool is mentioned in old records, and some people think Beden might have been Jane's last name.
It is believed that Jane might have had a learning disability, which means she learned things differently.
Her Career as a Fool
In the years 1535–1536, records from Queen Anne Boleyn's time show payments for hats for her "female jester." The name of this jester isn't written down, but it might have been Jane.
By 1537, Jane was working for Princess Mary. Princess Mary also had another entertainer named Lucretia the Tumbler. Jane and Lucretia often performed together. Lucretia might have also helped look after Jane.
When Catherine Parr became queen in 1543, Jane may have moved to Catherine's royal household. Jane was a popular fool in Queen Catherine Parr's court. She is mentioned by name as "Jane Foole" in 1543. Some people think she is shown in a painting called Henry the Eighth and His Family (1545). In this painting, the man on the far right is another famous court jester, William Sommers. Jane is thought to be the woman on the far left, matching him. Queen Catherine Parr passed away in 1548. After this, Jane Foole seems to have gone back to working for Mary.
When Mary became Queen Mary I in 1553, Jane was still working for her. Jane seemed to be a favorite of Queen Mary. She was given many valuable clothes and a lot of shoes, which was unusual. Her head was shaved, just like male jesters.
In 1557, Jane hurt her eye. Queen Mary gave special silver gifts to two women who helped Jane get better. One was Mistress Ayer, and the other was a woman from Bury St Edmunds who healed her eye.
Some people have wondered if Jane was married to Will Sommers, but this has not been proven. We do know that Jane and Will Sommers often performed together. They even wore matching outfits, like they did in 1555.
What happened to Jane after Queen Mary died in 1558 is not known.
Jane Foole in Stories
The historical novel The Queen's Fool by Philippa Gregory is about a female jester who worked for Queen Mary I. However, the character in the book is not called "Jane Foole."
Jane Fool also appears as a character in the novel Lamentation by C. J. Sansom.
Images for kids
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Henry the Eighth and His Family (1545); the man at the far-right background is jester Will Somers, and it has been suggested that the woman at the far left is Jane Foole.
