The Court Jester

What happens when a medieval peddler entrusts his horse to God and the local lord? And what happens if said horse goes missing? You take God to court. I give you the Poor peddler, a fabliau full of d…

A sly minstrel tries to ruin a clueless groom’s wedding night...but he didn't account for the bride. What follows is a night of escalating revenge, as the bride takes charge, the groom gets creative,…

In this fabliau by Enguerrant d’Oisy, we meet a miller who tries to seduce a girl, only to end up sued over livestock. Based on Le maunier d'Aleus, this is a story of bed swaps and a perfect courtroo…

Or, How to Spy on Your Wife and End Up in a Ditch.

A merchant thinks he’s outwitting his wife. She’s five steps ahead. This fabliau has it all: deception, seduction and medieval sass. 

Apologies for th…

Meet Boivin, a trickster who walks into a brothel,  cons everyone and causes a riot so messy they called the magistrate. Which was, of course, his ticket to fame. 

📜 Text: Translation by Nathaniel E. …

Put your hands together for medievalist, actor and writer Debbie Cannon, who brings the tale of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight to life in a special guest performance. Debbie shares an excerpt from h…

Based on Du Con de la Ringue (Three women who found a ring), this episode features the kind of antics that only medieval literature could get away with. The moral? Trust no one, and especially not yo…

Guest storyteller Maber Slattery brings the house down, medieval-style.

Join us as we discover the misadventures of Dane Hew, the monk who was "hanged once and four times slain"!

And join us over on Pa…

This fabliau has it all: trickery, fine dining, and a wildly escalating prank that ends with gospel readings, public humiliation, and a very confused innkeeper.

I give you Cortebarbe’s Li trois avugle…

This Easter Sunday, the Court Jester has a special treat usually reserved for Patreon supporters—a full bonus episode, free for all listeners!

Join me and the brilliant Peter Konieczny of Medievalists…

Three girls. One magical cosmetic powder. A high-stakes prep session before a big tournament. What could possibly go wrong?

In the fabliau of Les .iii. meschines (The Three Girls), you decide should p…

Ever wondered what medieval students got up to?

In this episode, we follow two broke university lads who find themselves lodging with a peasant named Gombert. From sneaky bed swaps to stolen cookware,…

Give a warm welcome to The Court Jester's first guest storyteller!

Anne Lister, medievalist, storyteller, musician and overall expert in everything there is to know about the Tale of Jaufre, joins us …

A wild story of deception, wit and wicker baskets, Le prestre et la dame proves once more that some women know exactly how to get what they want.

📜 Text: Translation by Nathaniel E. Dubin

🎵 Title music…

The Court Jester was selected by FeedSpot as one of the Top 20 Medieval History Podcasts on the web!

What an absolute surprise! And what excellent motivation for me to tell you a story of a medieval m…

A knight so dim he didn’t know where to put it. A mother-in-law who steps in to help. Two houseguests who suffer... a lot. And one red-hot awl that should’ve stayed in the drawer.

Le sot chevalier (Th…

A mother wants more respect. A bishop wants to help. A random priest ends up financially and emotionally responsible for a complete stranger.

This is Le prestre qui ot mere malgré sien (The priest who…

It’s Good Friday, the church is packed, and the priest has lost the Passion — so naturally, he just starts yelling things until someone stops him. “Barrabam!” echoes off the walls. “Crucifige eum!” s…

A peasant falls ill. Hell prepares to receive him. A devil arrives with a soul-capturing bag… and instead collects something far, far worse.

Le pet au vilain (The peasant’s fart) is a fabliau about di…

A hardworking donkey dies. His priest gives him a saintly burial. The bishop is outraged — until twenty pounds appear, and suddenly the donkey's soul is forgiven, his sins are wiped clean, and divine…