The Poetical Works of John Skelton principally according to the edition of the Rev. Alexander Dyce. In three volumes |
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 | II. |
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| POEMS ATTRIBUTED TO SKELTON. |
 | The Poetical Works of John Skelton |  |
343
POEMS ATTRIBUTED TO SKELTON.
345
VERSES PRESENTED TO KING HENRY THE SEVENTH AT THE FEAST OF ST. GEORGE CELEBRATED AT WINDSOR IN THE THIRD YEAR OF HIS REIGN.
O moste famous noble king! thy fame doth spring and spreade,
Henry the Seventh, our soverain, in eiche regeon;
All England hath cause thy grace to love and dread,
Seing embassadores seche fore protectyon,
For ayd, helpe, and succore, which lyeth in thie electyone.
England, now rejoyce, for joyous mayest thou bee,
To see thy kyng so floreshe in dignetye.
Henry the Seventh, our soverain, in eiche regeon;
All England hath cause thy grace to love and dread,
Seing embassadores seche fore protectyon,
For ayd, helpe, and succore, which lyeth in thie electyone.
England, now rejoyce, for joyous mayest thou bee,
To see thy kyng so floreshe in dignetye.
This realme a seasone stoode in greate jupardie,
When that noble prince deceased, King Edward,
Which in his dayes gate honore full nobly;
After his decesse nighe hand all was marr'd;
Eich regione this land dispised, mischefe when they hard:
Wherefore rejoyse, for joyous mayst thou be,
To see thy kynge so floresh in high dignetye.
When that noble prince deceased, King Edward,
Which in his dayes gate honore full nobly;
346
Eich regione this land dispised, mischefe when they hard:
Wherefore rejoyse, for joyous mayst thou be,
To see thy kynge so floresh in high dignetye.
Fraunce, Spayne, Scoteland, and Britanny, Flanders also,
Three of them present keepinge thy noble feaste
Of St. George in Windsor, ambassadors comying more,
Iche of them in honore, bothe the more and the lesse,
Seeking thie grace to have thie noble begeste:
Wherefore now rejoise, and joyous maiste thou be,
To see thy kynge so florishing in dignetye.
Three of them present keepinge thy noble feaste
Of St. George in Windsor, ambassadors comying more,
Iche of them in honore, bothe the more and the lesse,
Seeking thie grace to have thie noble begeste:
Wherefore now rejoise, and joyous maiste thou be,
To see thy kynge so florishing in dignetye.
O knightly ordere, clothed in robes with gartere!
The queen's grace and thy mother clothed in the same;
The nobles of thie realme riche in araye, aftere,
Lords, knights, and ladyes, unto thy greate fame:
Now shall all embassadors know thie noble name,
By thy feaste royal; nowe joyeous mayest thou be,
To see thie king so florishinge in dignety.
The queen's grace and thy mother clothed in the same;
The nobles of thie realme riche in araye, aftere,
Lords, knights, and ladyes, unto thy greate fame:
Now shall all embassadors know thie noble name,
By thy feaste royal; nowe joyeous mayest thou be,
To see thie king so florishinge in dignety.
Here this day St. George, patron of this place,
Honored with the gartere cheefe of chevalrye;
Chaplenes synging processyon, keeping the same,
With archbushopes and bushopes beseene nobly;
Much people presente to see the King Henrye:
Wherefore now, St. George, all we pray to thee
To keepe our soveraine in his dignetye.
Honored with the gartere cheefe of chevalrye;
Chaplenes synging processyon, keeping the same,
With archbushopes and bushopes beseene nobly;
Much people presente to see the King Henrye:
Wherefore now, St. George, all we pray to thee
To keepe our soveraine in his dignetye.
362
ELEGY ON KING HENRY THE SEVENTH.
[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]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!
[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]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!
[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!
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!
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,
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!
Let this be grauyd for endeles memorye,
364
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!
428
THE MANER OF THE WORLD NOW A DAYES.
So many poynted caps
Lased with double flaps,
And so gay felted hats,
Sawe I never:
So many good lessons,
So many good sermons,
And so few devocions,
Sawe I never.
Lased with double flaps,
And so gay felted hats,
Sawe I never:
So many good lessons,
So many good sermons,
And so few devocions,
Sawe I never.
So many gardes worne,
Jagged and al to-torne,
And so many falsely forsworne,
Sawe I never:
So few good polycies
In townes and cytyes
For kepinge of blinde hostryes
Sawe I never.
Jagged and al to-torne,
And so many falsely forsworne,
Sawe I never:
So few good polycies
In townes and cytyes
For kepinge of blinde hostryes
Sawe I never.
So many good warkes,
So few wel lerned clarkes,
And so few that goodnes markes,
Sawe I never:
Such pranked cotes and sleves,
So few yonge men that preves,
And such encrease of theves,
Sawe I never.
So few wel lerned clarkes,
And so few that goodnes markes,
Sawe I never:
429
So few yonge men that preves,
And such encrease of theves,
Sawe I never.
So many garded hose,
Such cornede shoes,
And so many envious foes,
Sawe I never:
So many questes sytte
With men of smale wit,
And so many falsely quitte,
Sawe I never.
Such cornede shoes,
And so many envious foes,
Sawe I never:
So many questes sytte
With men of smale wit,
And so many falsely quitte,
Sawe I never.
So many gay swordes,
So many altered wordes,
And so few covered bordes,
Sawe I never:
So many empti purses,
So few good horses,
And so many curses,
Sawe I never.
So many altered wordes,
And so few covered bordes,
Sawe I never:
So many empti purses,
So few good horses,
And so many curses,
Sawe I never.
Such bosters and braggers,
So newe fashyoned daggers,
And so many beggers,
Sawe I never:
So many propre knyves,
So well apparrelled wyves
And so yll of theyr lyves,
Saw I never.
So newe fashyoned daggers,
And so many beggers,
Sawe I never:
So many propre knyves,
So well apparrelled wyves
And so yll of theyr lyves,
Saw I never.
So many cockolde makers,
So many crakers,
And so many peace breakers,
Saw I never:
So much vayne clothing
With cultyng and jagging,
And so much bragginge,
Saw I never.
So many crakers,
And so many peace breakers,
Saw I never:
So much vayne clothing
With cultyng and jagging,
And so much bragginge,
Saw I never.
430
So many newes and knackes,
So many naughty packes,
And so many that mony lackes,
Saw I never:
So many maidens with child
And wylfully begylde,
And so many places untilde,
Sawe I never.
So many naughty packes,
And so many that mony lackes,
Saw I never:
So many maidens with child
And wylfully begylde,
And so many places untilde,
Sawe I never.
So many women blamed
And rightuously defaimed,
And so lytle ashamed,
Sawe I never:
Widowes so sone wed
After their husbandes be deade,
Having such hast to bed,
Sawe I never.
And rightuously defaimed,
And so lytle ashamed,
Sawe I never:
Widowes so sone wed
After their husbandes be deade,
Having such hast to bed,
Sawe I never.
So much strivinge
For goodes and for wivinge,
And so lytle thryvynge,
Sawe I never:
So many capacities,
Offices and pluralites,
And chaunging of dignities,
Sawe I never.
For goodes and for wivinge,
And so lytle thryvynge,
Sawe I never:
So many capacities,
Offices and pluralites,
And chaunging of dignities,
Sawe I never.
So many lawes to use
The truth to refuse,
Suche falshead to excuse,
Sawe I never:
Executers havinge the ware,
Taking so littel care
Howe the soule doth fare,
Sawe I never.
The truth to refuse,
Suche falshead to excuse,
Sawe I never:
Executers havinge the ware,
Taking so littel care
Howe the soule doth fare,
Sawe I never.
Amonge them that are riche
No frendshyp is to kepe tuche,
And such fayre glosing speche
Sawe I never:
So many pore
In every bordoure,
And so small soccoure,
Saw I never.
No frendshyp is to kepe tuche,
And such fayre glosing speche
Sawe I never:
431
In every bordoure,
And so small soccoure,
Saw I never.
So proude and so gaye,
So riche in araye,
And so skant of money,
Saw I never:
So many bowyers,
So many fletchers,
And so few good archers,
Saw I never.
So riche in araye,
And so skant of money,
Saw I never:
So many bowyers,
So many fletchers,
And so few good archers,
Saw I never.
So many chepers,
So fewe biers,
And so many borowers,
Sawe I never:
So many alle sellers
In baudy holes and sellers,
Of yonge folkes yll counsellers,
Sawe I never.
So fewe biers,
And so many borowers,
Sawe I never:
So many alle sellers
In baudy holes and sellers,
Of yonge folkes yll counsellers,
Sawe I never.
So many pinkers,
So many thinkers,
And so many good ale drinkers,
Sawe I never:
So many wronges,
So few mery songes,
And so many yll tonges,
Sawe I never.
So many thinkers,
And so many good ale drinkers,
Sawe I never:
So many wronges,
So few mery songes,
And so many yll tonges,
Sawe I never.
So many a vacabounde
Through al this londe,
And so many in pryson bonde,
I sawe never:
So many citacions,
So fewe oblacions,
And so many newe facions,
Sawe I never.
Through al this londe,
And so many in pryson bonde,
I sawe never:
So many citacions,
So fewe oblacions,
And so many newe facions,
Sawe I never.
432
So many fleyng tales,
Pickers of purses and males,
And so many sales,
Saw I never:
So much preachinge,
Speaking fayre and teaching,
And so ill belevinge,
Saw I never.
Pickers of purses and males,
And so many sales,
Saw I never:
So much preachinge,
Speaking fayre and teaching,
And so ill belevinge,
Saw I never.
So much wrath and envy,
Covetous and glottony,
And so litle charitie,
Sawe I never:
So many carders,
Revelers and dicers,
And so many yl ticers,
Sawe I never.
Covetous and glottony,
And so litle charitie,
Sawe I never:
So many carders,
Revelers and dicers,
And so many yl ticers,
Sawe I never.
So many lollers,
So few true tollers,
So many baudes and pollers,
Sawe I never:
Such treachery,
Simony and usury,
Poverty and lechery,
Saw I never.
So few true tollers,
So many baudes and pollers,
Sawe I never:
Such treachery,
Simony and usury,
Poverty and lechery,
Saw I never.
So many avayles,
So many geales,
And so many fals baylies,
Sawe I never:
By fals and subtyll wayes
All England decayes,
For more envy and lyers
Sawe I never.
So many geales,
And so many fals baylies,
Sawe I never:
By fals and subtyll wayes
All England decayes,
For more envy and lyers
Sawe I never.
433
So new facioned jackes
With brode flappes in the neckes,
And so gay new partlettes,
Sawe I never:
So many slutteshe cookes,
So new facioned tucking hookes,
And so few biers of bookes,
Saw I never.
With brode flappes in the neckes,
And so gay new partlettes,
Sawe I never:
So many slutteshe cookes,
So new facioned tucking hookes,
And so few biers of bookes,
Saw I never.
Sometime we song of myrth and play,
But now our joy is gone away,
For so many fal in decay
Sawe I never:
Whither is the welth of England gon?
The spiritual saith they have none,
And so many wrongfully undone
Saw I never.
But now our joy is gone away,
For so many fal in decay
Sawe I never:
Whither is the welth of England gon?
The spiritual saith they have none,
And so many wrongfully undone
Saw I never.
It is great pitie that every day
So many brybors go by the way,
And so many extorcioners in eche cuntrey
Sawe I never.
To thé, Lord, I make my mone,
For thou maist healpe us everichone:
Alas, the people is so wo begone,
Worse was it never!
So many brybors go by the way,
And so many extorcioners in eche cuntrey
Sawe I never.
To thé, Lord, I make my mone,
For thou maist healpe us everichone:
Alas, the people is so wo begone,
Worse was it never!
Amendment
Were convenient,
But it may not be;
We have exiled veritie.
God is neither dead nor sicke;
He may amend al yet,
And trowe ye so in dede,
As ye beleve ye shal have mede.
After better I hope ever,
For worse was it never.
Were convenient,
But it may not be;
We have exiled veritie.
God is neither dead nor sicke;
He may amend al yet,
And trowe ye so in dede,
As ye beleve ye shal have mede.
After better I hope ever,
For worse was it never.
J. S.
Finis.
| The Poetical Works of John Skelton | |