Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 20, Number 36, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 6 January 1899 — SCOGAN, THE FOOL. [ARTICLE]

SCOGAN, THE FOOL.

A Practical Joke that He Played Upon . His Royal Master. Scogan. Seoggin, or Scogin, already mentioned, was principal jester to Edward IV. He is said to have come of a good Suffolk family, was a graduate of Oxford, and for a time was tutor there, but was dismissed on account of his irreligious spirit and unscrupulous conduct. Upon this, he presented himself to Sir William Neville, solicited the place of jester, and was accepted. Sir William was very proud of him, and, one day, wishing to show him off, took him to court and introduced him to the King. Edward was as pleased as Sir William could have wished. In fact, he was so enthusiastic, he was unwilling to have Scogan leave. The King’s wish was all-powerful, and so Sir William left Scogan, receiving in compensation a house in Chea.pside and country mansion in Bury. Scogan loved a practical joke, and one that he perpetrated on the King brings to mind the fun of our burntcork minstrels. He borrowed money of the King. and. when the day for payment came, was unable to make good his word. He feared the King’s anger, and decided to appease him by a joke, Feigning death, he had his friends carry his body before Edward. The King fell a ready victim to the deception, and in his lamentations over the supposed dead fool said he freely forgave the debt. Scogan immediately sprang to his feet, exclaiming: “The news is so reviving that It has called me back to life.”—St. Nicholas.