Skip directly to:Main content Main navigation

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)

collapse section

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]

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

MANERLY MARGERY MYLK AND ALE.

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

HERE AFTER FOLOWETH THE BOKE OF PHYLLYP SPAROWE.

HERE AFTER FOLOWETH THE BOOKE CALLED ELYNOUR RUMMYNGE.

POEMS AGAINST GARNESCHE.

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]

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

SKELTON LAUREATE AGAINST THE SCOTTES.

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.

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

II.

collapse section

Collapse All | Expand All expand section

221

THE BOKE OF THREE FOOLES.

M. SKELTON, POETE LAUREATE, GAUE TO MY LORD CARDYNALL.

THE FYRST FOOLE.

The man that doth wed a wyfe
For her goodes and her rychesse,
And not for lygnage femynatyfe,
Procureth doloure and dystresse,
With infynyte payne and heuynesse;
For she wyll do hym moche sorowe,
Bothe at euyn and at morowe.

THE SECONDE FOOLE.

The dartes ryght cursed of Enuye
Hath rayned sythe the worlde began,
Whiche bryngeth man euydently
Into the bondes of Sathan;
Wherfore he is a dyscrete man
That can eschewe that euyll synne
Where body and soule is lost in.

THE THYRD FOOLE.

Dyuers by voluptuousnes
Of women, the which be present,

222

Be brought into full great dystres,
Forgettyng vertues excellent
Of God, the whych is permanent,
And suffreth themselfe to be bounde
In cordes, as it were a hounde.