In medieval times, court jesters were required to entertain the upper classes in any way possible. Most commonly this included songs, music, storytelling, acrobatics, juggling, telling jokes, and magic, but in rare instances these minstrels added another string to their bow: farting on cue. Roland the Farter - also known as Roland le Fartere, Roulandus le Fartere or Roland le Petour, Rowland le Sarcere - was one such professional gas-emitter, in the court of Henry the 2nd in the 12th century. He was so good at his job that he was given Hemingstone Manor in Suffolk along with 30 acres of land in recognition of his talents. In his most important duty, he was required to simultaneously perform unum saltum et siffletum et unum bumbulum" (one jump, one whistle, and one fart) for the court every Christmas. Unfortunately for Roland, Henrys successor Richard the Lionheart was less enamoured with a jester who could fart by appointment. Roland was possibly the last farting jester, but he was by no means the first. As early as the 5th century, St Augustine was writing about them and their ability to produce at will such musical sounds from their behind (without any stink) that they seem to be singing from that region.
