1st April 2016
April Fools' Day this year has made me think of Will Somers, Henry VIII's jester for over twenty years. When Will arrived at court in 1525 Katherine of Aragon was queen – he lasted through all six of Henry's marriages, and aside from an incident over Anne Boleyn was very popular with his master. In Henry's latter years, pain and the impossibility of active pastimes made Will's ability to entertain him all the more important. After his death Will's career continued through the upheaval of the reigns of Edward VI and Mary I, and he retired shortly after Elizabeth came to the throne. He features in my new novel The Taming of the Queen – he's a comfort and a friend to Kateryn Parr, and something of a model for her own survival. The Queen's Fool, published back in 2003, continues both of their stories – my fictional Fool Hannah sees Kateryn before her death, and when Hannah comes to court Will is her friend and mentor. He's thought to be the figure on the right hand side of Henry's famous family portrait, which was used for both books' endpapers. He makes for a wonderful character offering an opportunity to provide light relief and commentary – just as much within the novel itself as within the court. My portrayal of Will is of an empathetic, gentle, shrewd man exhibiting some of the failings of his time – it's been a pleasure to depict him again. This quote is from The Taming of the Queen:
‘We are a pair of young fools,’ Will says, smiling up at his master. ‘As foolish as we were when we were twenty. But at least Your Majesty is wiser than you were then.’
‘How so?’
‘You are more wise and more kingly. You are more handsome and more brave.’
Henry smiles, anticipating the joke. ‘I am indeed.’
‘Your Majesty, there is more of you altogether,’ Will crows. ‘Much more. The queen has more of a husband than most women.’
Henry bellows his deep-throated laugh and loses his breath in coughing. ‘You are a varlet; go and get your dinner with the hounds in the kitchen.’
Will bows gracefully and retires out of the way. As he passes me I catch a quick smile from him, almost as if he was acknowledging to me that he has done his best; all I have to do is to get through dinner. Not for the first time, I wonder how much of a fool Will Somers can be: a long-term survivor of this knife-edge court.
Images: The Family of Henry VIII, c.1545, Royal Collection Trust, RCIN 405796; Henry VIII and his court jester William Sommers, from the Psalter of Henry VIII c.1540–1541, British Library, Royal MS 2 A XVI http://www.bl.uk/manuscripts/Viewer.aspx?ref=royal_ms_2_a_xvi