To Archie Armstrong succeeded Muckle John, the last, perhaps, of the official court fools in England. In the Strafford Papers (vol. ii. p. 154) there is a letter from Mr. Garrard to Lord Strafford, in which the latter is informed, “There is now a fool in his (Archie’s) place, Muckle John, but he will never be so rich, for he cannot abide money.” Love of the precious metals was, indeed, a passion with Armstrong, whose avarice, however, was sometimes disappointed. It was especially so on an occasion when a nobleman placed in Archie’s hand some pieces of money which the jester thought too little for his merits; he expressed his discontent, and the donor, seeming willing to change the silver coin for gold, received it from Archie, but put it into his own pocket. Instead of giving a gold Carolus or two in return, the courtier only bestowed on Armstrong the remark, that whatever wit he might possess as fool, he certainly had not the wit to know how to keep money when it was given to him. Muckle John was of a different quality, inasmuch that he cared nothing at all for money; of which, nevertheless, considerable sums were spent upon him, to make him look like a fool of quality. For the following items of expenses in this respect, extracted from an account-book of the period, I am indebted to Mr. Peter Cunningham, whose ready kindness enables me to show Muckle John equipped from head to foot. “A long coat and suit of scarlet-colour serge for Muckle John, 10_l._ 10_s._ 6_d._ “One pair of crimson silk hose, and one pair of gaiters and roses for Muckle John, 61_s._ “For a pair of silk and silver garters, and roses and gloves suitable for Muckle John, 110_s._ “For a hat covered with scarlet, and a band suitable; and for two rich feathers, one red, the other white, for Muckle John, 50_s._ “Stags’-leather gloves, fringed with gold and silver. “A hat-band for Muckle John. “One pair of perfumed gloves, lined with sables, 5_s._”