Tarlton's News out of purgatory (1590) : a modern-spelling edition ...

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of Tarlton's reputation and popularity that Tarlton's Jests
had a longer life than is normal for a jest biography.
According to Tarlton f s Jests Tarlton lived at the Saba
tavern in Gracious [Gracechurch] Street at one time, and whilst
there was appointed scavenger to the ward ( ! How fiddlers fiddled
away Tarlton f s apparell 1 , p.15; 'How Tarlton committed a
raker's horse to ward 1 , p.21). He owned a tavern in Gracious
Street and let it, but there is no indication whether this was
the Saba ('How Tarlton made Armin his adopted sonne, to succeed
him', p.22). He also seems to have kept an ordinary in
Paternoster Row ('How Tarlton jested at his wife', p.21; »A
jest of Tarlton, proving mustard to have wit 1 , p.26). The
Jests speak of Tarlton's father living at Ilford ('Tarlton's
meeting with his countrey acquaintance at Ilford', p.40), and
in the administrative bond given by Robert Adams in the
prerogative Court of Canterbury, dated 6 September 1588, he is
spoken of as 'late of Ilford, in the countie of Essex ...'.
Tarlton's Jests makes it clear that he was a Protestant
('Tarlton's resolution of a question 1 , p.6; 'Howe a poore
begger-man over-reached Tarlton by his wit 1 , p.34; 'How Tarlton
deceived an inne-holder at Sandwich', p.36), an aspect of his
life also suggested by Tarltons Newes Out of Purgatorie.
Tarlton's face was such that he only had to appear for
his audience to roar with laughter. Doubtless he was adept at
pulling faces, but his unfortunate physical appearance must
have assisted in this. In 'Tarlton's jest of a red face' (p. 12),
we are told '..he said little, but with a squint eye, as
custome had made him hare eyed ...'. This is confirmed by
Robert Armin, who probably knew Tarlton personally,