Richard Tarlton, the Elizabethan clown, is frequently mentioned in many Elizabethan and Jacobean written works, one of which, Tarlton's Jests, gives accounts of the clown in performance and print. However, these reports are mixed up with popular legends and fables, so at this distance in time and without firm evidence, we cannot be certain that the published document is loyal to the authentic jests of Tarlton. On the other hand, Tarlton's Jests certainly provides clear evidence that the art of clowning in the late Elizabethan age relied heavily on the ability to come up with witty improvised responses to comments or requests from the audience. Its publication in later times also proves that Tarlton's reputation and popularity lived on into the Jacobean age.
Bridging the divide between theatre history and literary criticism, this study takes up the print industry as an agent for tracing the careers of clowns and fools in Renaissance drama. It examines how the image of Tarlton passed into literary texts, especially via jest-book printing. Through an examination of Tarlton's Jests, it also discusses the influence of Richard Tarlton: he was historically accepted as a brand or influential name in literary texts relating to contemporary religious controversy and pamphlet writing. The myths surrounding Tarlton will be deciphered to explain the decisive role played by this instantly recognisable and immortalised clown in the overall evolution of the English clown. Historicised, Tarlton was endowed with a material identity, which completes the coming-into-being of clowns and fools in early modern play texts.