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University of Virginia Library

The Poetical Works of John Skelton

principally according to the edition of the Rev. Alexander Dyce. In three volumes

Skelton, John (1460?-1529)

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I.

OF THE DEATH OF THE NOBLE PRINCE, KYNGE EDWARDE THE FORTH, PER SKELTONIDEM LAUREATUM.

SKELTON LAUREAT VPON THE DOULOUR[U]S DETHE AND MUCHE LAMENTABLE CHAUNCE OF THE MOST HONORABLE ERLE OF NORTHUMBERLANDE.

SKELTON LAUREATE AGAYNSTE A comely coystrowne, that curyowsly chawntyd, and curryshly cowntred, and madly in hys musykkys mokkyshly made agaynste the ix Musys of polytyke poems and poettys matryculat.

SKELTON LAUREAT, Vppon a deedmans hed, that was sent to hym from an honorable jentyllwoman for a token, deuysyd this gostly medytacyon in Englysh couenable, in sentence comendable, lamentable, lacrymable, profytable for the soule.

[Womanhod, wanton, ye want]

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Here folowythe dyuers Balettys and Dyties solacyous, deuysyd by Master Skelton, Laureat.

[With, Lullay, lullay, lyke a chylde]

[The auncient acquaintance, madam, betwen vs twayn]

[Knolege, aquayntance, resort, fauour with grace]

[Though ye suppose all jeperdys ar paste]

[Go, pytyous hart, rasyd with dedly wo]

MANERLY MARGERY MYLK AND ALE.

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HERE BEGYNNETH A LYTELL TREATYSE, NAMED THE BOWGE OF COURTE.

THE PROLOGUE TO THE BOWGE OF COURTE.

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HERE AFTER FOLOWETH THE BOKE OF PHYLLYP SPAROWE.

THE COMMENDACIONS.

Thus endeth the boke of Philip Sparow, and here foloweth an adicyon made by maister Skelton.

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HERE AFTER FOLOWETH THE BOOKE CALLED ELYNOUR RUMMYNGE.

1.

2.

Secundus passus.

3.

Tertius passus.

4.

Quartus passus.

5.

Quintus passus.

6.

7.

Septimus passus.

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POEMS AGAINST GARNESCHE.

SKELTON LAURIATE DEFEND[ER] AGENST M[ASTER] GARNESCHE CHALENGER, ET CETERA.

SKELTON LAURYATE DEFENDER AGENST M[ASTER] GARNESCHE CHALANGAR, WITH GRESY, GORBELYD GODFREY [ET] CETERA.

SKELTON LAWRYATE DEFENDER AGENYST LUSTY GARNYCHE WELLE BE SEYN CRYSTEOUYR CHALANNGER, ET CETERA.

SKELTON LAUREATE DEFENDAR AGEINST LUSTY GARNYSHE WELL BESEEN CRYSTOFER CHALANGAR, ET CETERA.

SKELTON LAVREATE, ORATORIS REGIS TERTIUS, AGAINST VENEMOUS TONGUES ENPOYSONED WITH SCLAUNDER AND FALSE DETRACTIONS, &C.

[Ye may here now, in this ryme]

PRAYER TO THE FATHER OF HEAUEN.

TO THE SECONDE PARSON.

TO THE HOLY GOOSTE.

[Woffully araid]

[Now synge we, as we were wont]

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HERE AFTER FOLOWETH THE BOKE ENTYTULED WARE THE HAUKE, PER SKELTON, LAUREAT.

PROLOGUS SKELTONIDIS LAUREATI SUPER WARE THE HAWKE.

Here after followeth the tabull.

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SKELTON LAUREATE AGAINST THE SCOTTES.

When the Scotte lyued.

When the Scot was slayne.

VNTO DIUERS PEOPLE THAT REMORD THIS RYMYNGE AGAYNST THE SCOT JEMMY.

VILITISSIMUS SCOTUS DUNDAS ALLEGAT CAUDAS CONTRA ANGLIGENAS.

Why were ye Calliope embrawdred with letters of golde?

THE BOKE OF THREE FOOLES.

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A replycacion agaynst certayne yong scholers abiured of late, &c.

[A lytell ragge of rethorike]

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[To the honour of our blessed lady]

Tantum pro secundo.

A confutacion responsyue, or an ineuytably prepensed answere to all waywarde or frowarde altercacyons that can or may be made or obiected agaynst Skelton laureate, deuyser of this Replycacyon, &c.

Returne we to our former processe.

Tantum pro tertio.

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II.

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A RYGHT DELECTABLE TRATYSE VPON A GOODLY GARLANDE OR CHAPELET OF LAURELL,

The Quene of Fame to Dame Pallas.

Dame Pallas to the Quene of Fame.

The Quene of Fame to Dame Pallas.

Dame Pallas to the Quene of Fame.

The Quene of Fame to Dame Pallas.

Dame Pallas to the Quene of Fame.

The Quene of Fame to Dame Pallas.

Dame Pallas to the Quene of Fame.

Mayster Gower to Skelton.

Poeta Skelton to Maister Gower.

Mayster Chaucer to Skelton.

Poeta Skelton answeryth.

Mayster Lydgate to Skelton.

Poeta Skelton answeryth.

Occupacyoun to Skelton.

Skelton Poeta answeryth.

Occupacyon to Skelton.

Poeta Skelton answeryth.

Occupacyon to Skelton.

Poeta Skelton answeryth.

Occupacyon to Skelton.

Interpolata, quæ industriosum postulat interpretem, satira in vatis adversarium.

Occupacyon to Skelton.

To the ryght noble Countes of Surrey.

To my lady Elisabeth Howarde.

To my lady Mirriell Howarde.

To my lady Anne Dakers of the Sowth.

To mastres Margery Wentworthe.

To mastres Margaret Tylney.

To maystres Iane Blenner-Haiset.

To maystres Isabell Pennell.

To maystres Margaret Hussey.

To mastres Geretrude Statham.

To maystres Isabell Knyght.

Occupacyon to Skelton.

The Quene of Fame to Skelton.

Skelton Poeta to the Quene of Fame.

The Quene of Fame to Occupacioun.

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Occupacyoun redith and expoundyth sum parte of Skeltons bokes and baladis with ditis of plesure, in as moche as it were to longe a proces to reherse all by name that he hath compylyd, &c.

Skeltonis alloquitur librum suum.

ADMONET SKELTONIS OMNES ARBORES DARE LOCUM VIRIDI LAURO JUXTA GENUS SUUM.

EN PARLAMENT A PARIS.

OUT OF FRENSHE INTO LATYN.

OWT OF LATYNE INTO ENGLYSSHE.

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[Lenuoy primere

Secunde Lenuoy.

Le dereyn Lenveoy.

Distichon miserabile.

Tetrastichon,—Unde species Priami est digna imperio.

Laucture de Parott.

Le Popagay sen va complayndre.

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HERE AFTER FOLOWETH A LYTELL BOKE, WHICHE HATH TO NAME WHY COME YE NAT TO COURTE?

WHY COME YE NAT TO COURT?

DECASTICHON VIRULENTUM IN GALERATUM LYCAONTA MARINUM, &c.

APOSTROPHA AD LONDINI CIVES (CITANTE MULUM ASINO AUREO GALERATO) IN OCCURSUM ASELLI, &c.

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SKELTON, LAUREATE, &c

SKELTON LAUREAT, OBSEQUIOUS ET LOYALL. TO MY LORDE CARDYNALS RIGHT NOBLE GRACE, ETC.

A LAWDE AND PRAYSE MADE FOR OUR SOUEREIGNE LORD THE KYNG.

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POEMS ATTRIBUTED TO SKELTON.

VERSES PRESENTED TO KING HENRY THE SEVENTH AT THE FEAST OF ST. GEORGE CELEBRATED AT WINDSOR IN THE THIRD YEAR OF HIS REIGN.

ELEGY ON KING HENRY THE SEVENTH.

THE MANER OF THE WORLD NOW A DAYES.

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362

ELEGY ON KING HENRY THE SEVENTH.
[_]

The attribution of this poem is questionable.

[OMITTED]orlde all wrapped in wretchydnes,
[OMITTED]hy pompes so gay and gloryous,
[OMITTED]easures and all thy ryches
[OMITTED]y be but transytoryous;
[OMITTED]to moche pyteous,
[OMITTED]e that eche man whylom dred,
[OMITTED]by naturall lyne and cours,
[OMITTED]s, alas, lyeth dede!

[OMITTED]ryall a kynge,
[OMITTED]ianer the prudent Salamon;
[OMITTED]sse and in euery thynge,
[OMITTED]io Crysten regyon,
[OMITTED]not longe agone,
[OMITTED]his name by fame spr[e]de;
[OMITTED]te nowe destytute alone,
[OMITTED]as, alas, lyeth dede!

363

[OMITTED]ater we wretchyd creatures,
[OMITTED]es and tryumphaunt maiestye,
[OMITTED]pastymes and pleasures,
[OMITTED]thouten remedye;
[OMITTED]o wyll the myserable bodye
[OMITTED]n heuy lede,
[OMITTED]lde but vanyte and all vanytye,
[OMITTED]h alas, alas, lyeth dede!

[OMITTED]is subgectes and make lamentacyon
[OMITTED]o noble a gouernoure;
[OMITTED]ayers make we exclamacyon,
[OMITTED]de to his supernall toure:
[OMITTED]dly rose floure,
[OMITTED]yally all aboute spred,
[OMITTED]iated where is his power?
[OMITTED]alas, alas, lyeth dede!

Of this moost Crysten kynge in vs it lyeth not,
His tyme passed honour suffycyent to prayse;
But yet though that that thyng envalue we may not,
Our prayers of suertye he shall haue alwayes;
And though that Atropose hathe ended his dayes,
His name and fame shall euer be dred
As fer as Phebus spredes his golden rayes,
Though Henry the Seuenth, alas, alas, lyeth dede!

But nowe what remedye? he is vncouerable,
Touchyd by the handes of God that is moost just;
But yet agayne a cause moost confortable
We haue, wherin of ryght reioys we must,
His sone on lyue in beaute, force, and lust,
In honour lykely Traianus to shede;
Wherfore in hym put we our hope and trust,
Syth Henry his fader, alas, alas, lyeth dede!

And nowe, for conclusyon, aboute his herse
Let this be grauyd for endeles memorye,

364

With sorowfull tunes of Thesyphenes verse;
Here lyeth the puyssaunt and myghty Henry,
Hector in batayll, Vlyxes in polecy,
Salamon in wysdome, the noble rose rede,
Creses in rychesse, Julyus in glory,
Henry the Seuenth ingraued here lyeth dede!