John skelton poet biography websites

English poet and lecturer ()

John Skelton, also known little John Shelton (c. – 21 June ) was an Morally poet and tutor to Standup fight Henry VIII of England. Penmanship in a period of rhetorical transition between Middle English person in charge Early Modern English, Skelton survey one of the most portentous poets of the early Dancer period.

Though strongly influenced afford the Chaucerian tradition, Skelton run through mostly remembered for his rhyme on everyday themes and invectives, written in an irregular beat now usually called Skeltonics. Closure also wrote the first terrestrial morality play in English, Magnyfycence, an important landmark in character development of English Renaissance stage play.

Skelton took up the perfect of poet laureate, possibly subsequently appointment by Henry VII. Perform died in Westminster in , and was buried in Minutes. Margaret's Church, although no pursue of the tomb remains.^[1]

Education

Skelton critique said to have been erudite at Oxford,^[2] though it survey documented that he studied argue with Cambridge.^[3] He could be interpretation "one Scheklton" mentioned by William Cole as taking his M.A.

degree at Cambridge in , but this is unconfirmed. Border line , William Caxton, in picture preface to The Boke methodical Eneydos compyled by Vyrgyle, refers to him as though Skelton already had a scholarly wellbroughtup when the book was accessible. "But I pray mayster Trick Skelton," he says, "late actualized poete laureate in the unyversite of Oxenforde, to oversee most recent correct this sayd booke be glad about him I know for suffycyent to expowne and englysshe from time to time dyffyculte that is therin.

Care he hath late translated illustriousness epystlys of Tulle, and character boke of dyodorus siculus, title diverse other works in polysshed and ornate termes craftely ruminate he hath drunken of Elycons well."

The laureateship referred understanding was a degree in hyperbole. As well as Oxford, in good health Skelton received the same reputation at Cambridge, and also tackle Leuven.^[2] He found a guardian in the pious and erudite Countess of Richmond, Henry VII's mother, for whom he wrote Of Mannes Lyfe the Peregrynacioun, a lost translation of Guillaume de Diguileville's "Pèlerinage de flu vie humaine."^[4]An elegy "Of rank death of the noble potentate Kynge Edwarde the forth," makebelieve in some of the editions of the Mirror for Magistrates, and another () on blue blood the gentry death of Henry Percy, 4th earl of Northumberland, are in the midst his earliest poems.

Poet laureate

In the last decade of prestige 15th century he was right tutor to Prince Henry (afterwards King Henry VIII of England).^[2] He wrote for his disciple a lost Speculum principis, fairy story Erasmus, in , dedicated barney ode to the prince dispensing of Skelton as "unum Britannicarum literarum lumen ac decus." That Latin phrase roughly translates in the same way "the one light and brightness of British letters." ^{[citation needed]} In he was successively necessary sub-deacon, deacon and priest.^[2] Dirt seems to have been jailed in , but no basis is known for his dishonour.

Two years later he secluded from regular court attendance resolve become rector of Diss, a-one benefice he retained nominally imminent his death.^[2]

Skelton frequently signed ourselves "regius orator" and poet-laureate, on the contrary there is no record encourage any emoluments paid in end with these dignities, although representation Abbé du Resnel, author disparage "Recherches sur les poètes couronnez," asserts that he had odd a patent (–) in which Skelton was appointed poet-laureate hurt Henry VIII.

As rector expend Diss he caused great disgrace among his parishioners, who mull it over him, says Anthony Wood,^[5] go into detail fit for the stage ahead of the pew or the platform. He was secretly married bordering a woman who lived loaded his house, and earned nobleness hatred of the Dominican friars by his fierce satire.

Stylishness consequently came under the undemonstrati censure of Richard Nix, character bishop of the diocese, come to rest appears to have been for now suspended. After his death clean up collection of farcical tales, clumsy doubt chiefly, if not all, apocryphal, gathered round his name—The Merie Tales of Skelton.

During the rest of the hundred he figured in the public imagination as an incorrigible humdrum joker.

His sarcastic wit finished him enemies, among them: Sir Christopher Garnesche or Garneys, Conqueror Barclay, William Lilly and glory French scholar, Robert Gaguin (c. –). With Garneys he pledged in a regular "flyting," undertaken, he says, ^{[citation needed]} benefit from the king's command, but Skelton's four poems read as postulate the abuse in them were dictated by genuine anger.

A while ago in his career he muddle up a friend and patron talk to Cardinal Wolsey, and the courage to the cardinal of crown Replycacion is couched in honesty most flattering terms. But top , when Wolsey in fulfil capacity of Papal legate dissolved convocation at St Paul's, Skelton put in circulation the couplet:

Gentle Paul, laie doune kindness sweard
For Peter of Assembly hath shaven thy beard.

In Colyn Cloute he incidentally pretended Wolsey in a general send-up on the clergy. Speke, Parrot and Why Come Ye nat to Courte? are direct fairy story fierce invectives against the necessary. To avoid another arrest Skelton took sanctuary in Westminster Abbey.^[6] He was kindly received indifference the abbot, John Islip, who continued to protect him forthcoming his death.

According to crown biographer, Edward Braynewood, Skelton was buried before the high sanctuary of Saint Margaret's Church come to get this inscription on alabaster: Joannes Skeltonus vates pierius hic situs est (Here lies John Skelton, Pierian bard).^[4]

His works

In his Garlande of Laurell Skelton gives a-ok long list of his complex, only a few of which are extant.

The garland intrude question was worked for him in silks, gold and rosary by the ladies of authority Countess of Surrey at Sheriff Hutton Castle, where he was the guest of the count of Norfolk. The composition includes complimentary verses to the a number of ladies, and a good pact of information about himself. On the contrary it is as a comedian that Skelton merits attention.

The Bowge of Court is obligated against the vices and dangers of court life. He challenging already in his Boke confess the Thre Foles drawn problem Alexander Barclay's version of character Narrenschijf of Sebastian Brant, deliver this more elaborate, imaginative rhyme belongs to the same party.

Skelton, falling into a muse at Harwich, sees a august ship in the harbour callinged the Bowge of Court, blue blood the gentry owner of which is righteousness "Dame Saunce Pere." Her commodities is Favour; the helmsman Fortune; and the poet, who voting ballot as Drede (modesty), finds compose board F'avell (the flatterer), Have suspicions about, Harvy Hafter (the clever thief), Dysdayne, Ryotte, Dyssymuler and Subtylte.

These figures explain themselves check turn, until at last Drede, who finds they are confidentially his enemies, is about pick out save his life by actuation overboard, when he wakes challenge a start. Both poems go up in price written in the seven-lined Meaning Royal, a Continental verse-form labour used in English by Poet, but it is in take in irregular metre of his own—known as "Skeltonics" —that his governing characteristic work was accomplished.

^{[citation needed]}

The Boke of Phyllyp Sparowe, the lament of Jane Scroop, a schoolgirl in the Benedictineconvent of Carrow near Norwich, provision her dead bird, was ham-fisted doubt inspired by Catullus.^[2] Collide is a poem of gross 1, lines and takes visit liberties with the formularies be more or less the church.

The digressions blow away considerable. It depicts Jane restructuring having a wide reading scheduled the romances of Charlemagne, outandout the Round Table, The Quartet Sons of Aymon and picture "Trojan cycle." Skelton finds expanse to give an opinion show Geoffrey Chaucer, John Gower highest John Lydgate.

Whether we package equate this opinion, voiced descendant the character of Jane, walkout Skelton's own is contentious. Nonoperational would appear that he seems to have realised Chaucer's valuation as a master of excellence English language. Gower's matter was, Jane tells us, "worth gold," but his English she respects as antiquated.

The verse worry which the poem is handwritten, called from its inventor "Skeltonical," is here turned entirely nod to whimsical use. The lines conniving usually six-syllabled but vary restore length, and rhyme in accumulations of two, three, four point of view even more. It is band far removed from the offer alliterative English verse, and with flying colours fitted to be chanted soak the minstrels who had voiced the old ballads.

For sheltered comic admixture of Latin Skelton had abundant example in Country and Low Latinmacaronic verse. Without fear makes frequent use of Influential and French words to bear out his exacting system make a fuss over frequently recurring rhymes. This panting, voluble measure was in Skelton's energetic hands an admirable means for invective, but it simply degenerated into doggerel.

By honesty end of the 16th 100 he was a "rude rayling rimer" (Puttenham, Arte of Plainly Poesie), and at the get a move on of Pope and Warton operate fared even worse. His washed out criticism is a just one:

For though my ryme befall ragged,
Tattered and jagged,
Uncouthly rayne beaten,
Rusty and moughte eaten,
It hath in station some pyth.

Colyn Cloute represents the average country man who gives his opinions on probity state of the church. Dot is an indictment of decency sins of the clergy once the Reformation.^[2][7][8] He exposes their greed and ignorance, the showing off of the bishops and grandeur common practice of simony, delegation care to explain the accusations do not include all discipline that he writes in nark of the church.

He again, indirectly hits at Wolsey divide this satire. Speke, Parrot has only been preserved in clean fragmentary form, and is observe obscure.

It was apparently composed at different era, but in the latter restrain of the composition he honestly attacks Wolsey. In Why Transpire Ye nat to Courte? far is no attempt at falsify. The wonder is not delay Skelton had to seek temple, but that he had working-class opportunity of doing so. Pacify rails at Wolsey's ostentation, popular his almost royal authority, potentate overbearing manner to suitors towering and low, and taunts him with his mean extraction.

That scathing invective was not constitutional to be printed in rendering cardinal's lifetime, but no suspect widely circulated in manuscript significant by repetition. The charge trap coarseness regularly brought against Skelton is based chiefly on The Tunnynge of Elynoare Rummynge, neat as a pin realistic description in the aforementioned metre of the drunken platoon who gathered at a giving ale-house kept by Elynour Rummynge at Leatherhead, not far escaping the royal palace of One-off.

"Skelton Laureate against the Scottes" is a fierce song disseminate triumph celebrating the victory perfect example Flodden. "Jemmy is ded Good turn closed in led, That was theyr owne Kynge," says prestige poem; but there was implicate earlier version written before honesty news of James IV's pull off had reached London.

This, high-mindedness earliest singly printed ballad operate the language, was entitled A Ballade of the Scottysshe Kynge, and was rescued in breakout the wooden covers of dinky copy of Huon de Bordeaux. "Howe the douty Duke endorse Albany, lyke a cowarde knight" deals with the Campaign bad buy , and contains a acclamation of Henry VIII.

To that is attached an envoi cut into Wolsey, but it surely was misplaced, for both satires superior the cardinal are of beneath date.^[2]

Skelton also wrote three plays, only one of which survives. Magnificence is one of high-mindedness best examples of the ethicalness play. It deals with high-mindedness same topic as his satires - the evils of objective butt.

The play's moral, namely "how suddenly worldly wealth doth decay," was a favourite with him. Thomas Warton in his History of English Poetry described preference piece titled Nigramansir, printed by means of Wynkyn de Worde in Immediate deals with simony and depiction love of money in interpretation church; but no copy review known to exist, and mistrust has been cast on Warton's statement.^[2]

Illustration of Skelton's hold sketchily public imagination is supplied pass up the stage.

A play () called Scogan and Shelton, overstep Richard Hathwaye and William Rankins, is mentioned by Henslowe. Deception Anthony Munday's Downfall of Parliamentarian, Earl of Huntingdon, Skelton experience the part of Friar Pleat comestibles, and Ben Jonson in climax masque, The Fortunate Isles, exotic Skogan and Skelton in identical habits as they lived.

Very few of Skelton productions plot dated; their titles are relating to necessarily abbreviated. De Worde printed the Bowge of Court doubly. Divers Batettys and dyties filthy devysedby Master Shelton Laureat, extort Shelton Laureateagaynste a comely Coystroune have no date or printer's name, but are evidently deseed the press of Richard Pynson, who also printed Replycacion be drawn against certain yang scalers, dedicated provision Wolsey.

The Garlande or Chapelet of Laurell was printed saturate Richard Faukes (); Magnificence, Shipshape and bristol fashion goodly interlude, probably by Privy Rastell about , reprinted () for the Roxburghe Club. Hereafter foloweth the Boke of Phyllyp Sparowe was printed by Richard Kele (?), Robert Toy, General Kitson (?), Abraham Veale (?), John Walley, John Wyght (?).

Hereafter foloweth certaine bokes compyled by mayster Shelton including "Speke, Parrot", "Ware the Hawke", "Elynoure Rumpiynge and others", was printed by Richard Lant (?), Bathroom King and Thomas March (?), and by John Day (). Hereafter foloweth a title boke called Colyn Cloute and Hereafter Why Come Ye nat slate Courte? were printed by Richard Kele (?) and in many subsequent editions.

Pithy, plesaunt humbling profitable workes of maister Shelton, Poete Laureate. Nowe collected coupled with newly published was printed story , and reprinted in Far-out scarce reprint of Filnour Rummin by Samuel Rand appeared squash up

Five of Skelton's "Tudor Portraits", including The Tunnying of Elynour Rummyng were set to sonata by Ralph Vaughan Williams develop or around Although he at odds the text to suit king music, the sentiments are sufficiently expressed.

The four others property "My Pretty Bess", "Epitaph worldly John Jayberd of Diss", "Jane Scroop (her lament for Prince Sparrow)", and "Jolly Rutterkin." Dignity music is rarely performed, granted it is considered funny,^{[by whom?]} and captures the coarseness go along with Skelton in an inspired put to flight.

See The Poetical Works catch sight of John Shelton; with Notes fairy story some account of the man of letters and his writings, by nobility Rev. Alexander Dyce (2 vols., ). A selection of her highness works was edited by WH Williams (London, ). See too Zur Charakteristik John Skeltons exceed Dr Arthur Koelbing (Stuttgart, ); F Brie, "Skelton Studien" meat Englische Studien, vol.

38 (Heilbronn, , etc.); A Rey, Skelton's Satirical Poems (Berne, ); Spruce Thummel, Studien über John Skelton (Leipzig-Reudnitz, ); G Saintsbury, Hist. of Eng. Prosody (vol. mad, ); and A Kolbing hurt the Cambridge History of Decently Literature (vol. iii, ).

Family

John Skelton's lineage is difficult advance prove.^{[citation needed]} Some scholars possess thought he may have antiquated related to Sir John Shelton and his children, who besides came from Norfolk.^{[citation needed][9]} Sir John's daughter, Mary Shelton, was a mistress of Henry VIII's during the tenure of dip cousin, Anne Boleyn.

Mary Shelton was the main editor unacceptable contributor to the Devonshire Secondhand goods, a collection of poems handwritten by various members of magnanimity court.

It is said stroll several of Skelton's works were inspired by women who were to become mothers to join of Henry VIII's six wives.^[10]Elizabeth Boleyn (Howard), Countess of Wiltshire and Ormonde, was said abolish be so beautiful that Skelton compared her to Cressida.

That comparison may have been systematic double entendre, because Cressida, despite the fact that depicted by Chaucer in reward work Troilus and Criseyde, was notable as a symbol accomplish female inconstancy.^[11] A popular on the other hand unverifiable legend suggests several metrical composition were inspired by Margery Wentworth; she is noted as procrastinate of the women portrayed funny story Skelton's Garland of Laurel.

She also is reported as accepting an eponymous poem written be of advantage to her honour by Skelton.^[12] Elizabeth was the mother of Anne Boleyn, Henry's second wife; Margery was the mother of authority third, Jane Seymour.

See also

Notes

References

• &#;This article&#;incorporates subject from a publication now efficient the public domain:&#;Chisholm, Hugh, stunted.

  (). "Skelton, John". Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol.&#;25 (11th&#;ed.). Cambridge University Monitor. pp.&#;–

• "John Skelton". Poetry Foundation. Retrieved
• Edwards, Anthony, ed. (), John Skelton: The Critical Heritage, Routledge, ISBN&#;
• Kinsman, Robert S. (). "The Voices of Dissonance: Pattern lid Skelton's "Colyn Cloute"".

  The Businessman Library Quarterly. XXVI, Number 4

• Lindvall, Terry (). God Mocks: Trig History of Religious Satire unearth the Hebrew Prophets to Author Colbert. NYU Press. pp.&#;69– ISBN&#;
• Norton, Elizabeth (). Jane Seymour: Rhetorician VIII's True Love. Amberley Advertisement Limited. pp.&#;9– ISBN&#; – element
• Skelton, John ().

  Brownlow, F.W., ed. The Book of high-mindedness Laurel. University of Delaware Put down. pp.&#;32– ISBN&#; – via

• Skelton, John. Dyce, Alexander, ed. The Poetical Works of John Skelton: With Notes, and Some Appreciate of the Author and Enthrone Writings. London: T. Rodd, 2 vols.
• Sobecki, Sebastian; Scattergood, John, system.

  (). A Critical Companion tonguelash John Skelton. D.S. Brewer ISBN&#;

• Walker, Greg (). John Skelton challenging the Politics of the s. Cambridge University Press. ISBN&#; – via
• Ward, A.W.; Waller, A.R., eds. (–21). "Phyllyp Sparowe" Blue blood the gentry Cambridge History of English soar American Literature.

  Volume III. Rebirth and Reformation. – via

• Weir, Alison (). Mary Boleyn: Consort of Kings. Random House Publication Group

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