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The Court Jester Whose Wit Saved His Life

How a court jester slapped the king's butt, then brilliantly convinced him not to kill him Triboulet served as court jester under King Francis I, who ruled France from 1515 to 1547 . Triboulet's quick humor rescued him from Francis I's deadly wrath, not once, but twice. Court jesters hold a unique place in history. Playing the fool for kings and queens meant they were always in close proximity to royalty, but so very far from their rank and station. Comedians often like to push boundaries, but that can be a dangerous business when your job is to entertain the peope who have executioners at their beck and call. Especially when you forget your place—or purposely ignore it, as the case may be—and playfully smack the reigning monarch square on the behind. That little whoopsie was the claim to fame of Triboulet, a court jester who served King Francis I in 16th-century France. But it was how he got away with slapping the king on the butt and living to tell about it that earne...

The mysterious letter

Couple receive mysterious letter informing them of ‘secret rooms’ in their newly purchased home



A couple who recently moved into an old house received a mysterious letter from someone claiming to be from the family that used to own it, telling them about secret rooms and hidden things within the property.

Courtney and Matt have recently moved into a Victorian house that is about 130 years old, but soon after moving in, they received an eerie message from the ‘last surviving member’ of the previous family to own the property.

Now, they’re finding secret compartments, little hiding spots, and even hidden rooms in their house, thanks to this letter.

In a TikTok video on their account @living_in_history, Courtney said: “We got a letter addressed ‘purchaser,’

“It says, ‘Let me introduce myself. I am the last surviving member of the Madison family who once owned the house, and I grew up in it,’

“‘I would like to … tell you about the secret rooms and a few things you may not have been told when you bought the house'.”

Courtney and Matt found a secret drinks cabinet. Credit: TikTok/@living_in_history


In another video, the pair took the camera around their house to show off the home, which they purchased from an historical society, showing off some of the secret features.

Underneath the fireplace, they found a secret liquor cabinet full of old spirits – the alcoholic kind, rather than the ghostly – behind a mirrored panel.

There’s loads of old wine as well as beer, bourbon and sherry.

The letter also mentioned a secret room ‘in the [bathroom], directly opposite the door in the wall'.

Well, it’s not actually a room, more of a hidden crawl space in a bathroom that Courtney described as ‘by far the scariest room’ the house has because of how it is styled.

Courtney and Matt got a letter from a previous occupant of the house. Credit: TikTok/@living_in_history


“My guess is there probably used to be some kind of room up here,” said Courtney, “but really, it’s just a creepy attic space.”

There’s another hidden room downstairs, too. And this one is quite big, as well.

Whilst the pair aren’t sure exactly what to do with it, they’ll find something no doubt.

“There is this huge space,” she continued.

“We’re going to try and figure out how to use this space, but right now it’s just kind of a cool, cool room.”

There were some other things found and exhibited in other videos, too.

For example, the old owners left some old furniture behind, as well as a music box that plays a horrifying version of 'The Wedding March'.

The bigger of the hidden rooms in the basement. Credit: TikTok/@living_in_history


People seem to love the house though, as creepy as it is.

One person said: “I love your house! This is like a treasure hunt!”

Another wrote: “This is my literal dream! So jealous!”

And a third commented: “I love that [the previous owner] mailed you a letter telling you all about the house, so cool!”

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The Court Jester Whose Wit Saved His Life

How a court jester slapped the king's butt, then brilliantly convinced him not to kill him Triboulet served as court jester under King Francis I, who ruled France from 1515 to 1547 . Triboulet's quick humor rescued him from Francis I's deadly wrath, not once, but twice. Court jesters hold a unique place in history. Playing the fool for kings and queens meant they were always in close proximity to royalty, but so very far from their rank and station. Comedians often like to push boundaries, but that can be a dangerous business when your job is to entertain the peope who have executioners at their beck and call. Especially when you forget your place—or purposely ignore it, as the case may be—and playfully smack the reigning monarch square on the behind. That little whoopsie was the claim to fame of Triboulet, a court jester who served King Francis I in 16th-century France. But it was how he got away with slapping the king on the butt and living to tell about it that earne...