John Skelton : The Career of an Early Tudor Poet

John Skelton (c.1460-1529) wrote poetry and some prose, in Latin and English, for almost 40 years, circulating his work through manuscript copies and the new medium of print. Skelton was both a priest and a court writer: he was attached to Henry VIII and wrote much at 'the kinges most noble commaundement.' His work deals in praise and blame, the ethical poetic of the Middle Ages: he wrote to promote the good of his country and the moral well-being of the individual. But, within these limits, his work addresses a wide variety of subjects - English relations with France and Scotland, the internal politics of the Tudor court and the ambitions of Cardinal Wolsey, heresy and the threats of Lutheransim - in an astonishing variety of genres and forms. This book traces both the course of John Skelton's public career and his developing personal concerns as he restlessly sought to express ideas which were politically relevant and effective in ways which were also aesthetically satisfying. *** "Scattergood offers a chronological, comprehensive assessment of Skelton's output, with special attention to his social and political contexts, including absorbing comments on pertinent topics as diverse as making ale and teaching Latin. Those new to Skelton will welcome such breadth, and specialists will value Scattergood's measured responses to previous evaluations... Recommended." -- Choice, Vol. 52, No. 9, May 2015 *** "There can be little doubt that John Scattergood's John Skelton will become the definitive book-long treatment of the Tudor poet, if only because this impressive work meets two essential criteria: comprehensiveness and competence." - Speculum 90/3, July 2015 [Subject: Biography, History, Medieval Studies, Literary Criticism] John Skelton (c.1460-1529) wrote poetry and some prose, in Latin and English, for almost 40 years, circulating his work through manuscript copies and the new medium of print. Skelton was both a priest and a court writer: he was attached to Henry VIII and wrote much at 'the kinges most noble commaundement.' His work deals in praise and blame, the ethical poetic of the Middle Ages: he wrote to promote the good of his country and the moral well-being of the individual. But, within these limits, his work addresses a wide variety of subjects - English relations with France and Scotland, the internal politics of the Tudor court and the ambitions of Cardinal Wolsey, heresy and the threats of Lutheransim - in an astonishing variety of genres and forms. This book traces both the course of John Skelton's public career and his developing personal concerns as he restlessly sought to express ideas which were politically relevant and effective in ways which were also aesthetically satisfying. Scattergood offers a chronological, comprehensive assessment of Skelton's output, with special attention to his social and political contexts, including absorbing comments on pertinent topics as diverse as making ale and teaching Latin. Those new to Skelton will welcome such breadth, and specialists will value Scattergood's measured responses to previous evaluations. -- Amazon.com Cover 1 Frontispiece 3 Title page 4 Copyright page 5 Dedication 6 Table of contents 8 List of illustrations 10 List of abbreviations 12 Preface 16 1. Introduction 18 2. At the court of Henry VII (1488–1503): opportunities and positions 50 3. A lament for the earl of Northumberland 64 4. Songs and lyrics 80 5. The Bowge of Courte 105 6. At Diss (1503–12): ‘Sedere ad Eurotam’ 128 7. Ware the Hauke 141 8. Phyllyp Sparowe 159 9. Epitaphe 179 10. At the court of Henry VIII (1512–29): memorials and propaganda 188 11. Three Flytings: Against Venemous Tongues, Agenst Garnesche and Against Dundas 207 12. Elynour Rummynge 220 13. Magnyfycence 234 14. The Grammarians’ War, 1519‒21 261 15. Against Wolsey 276 16. Speke Parott 285 17. Collyn Clout 303 18. Why Come Ye Nat to Courte? 327 19. For Wolsey 352 20. The Garlande of Laurell 357 21. The Douty Duke of Albany 377 22. A Replycacion Agaynst Certayne Yong Scolers Abjured of Late 394 Conclusions 411 Index of manuscripts 418 Index 420 John Skelton (c.1460-1529) wrote poetry and some prose, in Latin and English, for almost 40 years, circulating his work through manuscript copies and the new medium of print. This book traces both the course of his public career and his developing personal concerns as he restlessly sought to express ideas which were politically relevant and effective in ways which were also aesthetically satisfying