ARMSTRONG, ARCHIBALD (d. 1672), court jester, called "Archy," was a native of Scotland or of Cumberland, and according to tradition first distinguished himself as a sheep stealer; afterwards he entered the service of James VI., with whom he became a favourite. When the King succeeded to the English throne, Archy was appointed court jester. He became presumptuous, insolent and mischievous, excited foolish jealous ies between the King and Henry, Prince of Wales, and was much disliked by the members of the court. In 1623 he accompanied Prince Charles and Buckingham in their adventure into Spain, where he was much caressed and favoured by the Spanish court and, according to his own account, was granted a pension. His conduct here became more intolerable than ever. He rallied the infanta on the defeat of the Armada and censured the conduct of the expedition to Buckingham's face. Buckingham declared he would have him hanged, to which the jester replied that "dukes had often been hanged for insolence but never fools for talking." He retained his post on the accession of Charles I., and accumulated a considerable fortune, including the grant by the King of i,000 ac. in Ireland. After the death of Bucking ham in 1628, whom he declared "the greatest enemy of three kings," the principal object of his dislike and rude jests was Laud, whom he openly vilified and ridiculed. He died at Ar thuret, Cumberland, 1672, and was buried on April I. A Ban quet of Jests: A Change of Cheare, published about 163o, a col lection chiefly of dull, stale jokes, is attributed to him, and with still less reason probably A choice Banquet of Witty Jests . . . Being an addition to Archee's Jests, taken out of his Closet but never published in his Lifetime (166o) .