Surname: Armstrong Forename(s): Archibald d. 1672. Nationality: Scottish. VIAF.
Poet and court fool. Born in either Cumberland or Roxburghshire. Son of Archibald
Armstrong. Worked as the court fool for King James VI and I, and leveraged the position
to earn income through begging and selling goods. Discharged from the court in 1637
and lived in London off residual income from owned land. Allegedly the author of A Banquet of Jests (c. 1630’s), a collection of comedic poetry, though some suggest it was published
allonymously. Biographical information: ODNB (BGL)