John Skelton profile
John Skelton profile

John Skelton was born in 1460 and died June 21, 1529 in London. There are no records of his birth or baptism although references in his work suggest he was born in the North of England, possibly Yorkshire. Skelton was an English Tudor poet and Satirist (writer of satire) in both political and religious subjects. Skelton had his own individual poetic style of short rhyming lines, based on natural speech rhythms and has been given the title ‘Skeltonics’. Skelton is responsible for introducing 1500 new words into the English language due to his great understanding of Latin. He is known for his work in poems such as ‘A lawde and prayse’ and ‘To Mistress Margaret Hussey’.He was the poet laureate (worthy of greatest distinction) of England under Henry the 7th and had also tutored the young prince Henry later to become the duke of York and the infamous Henry the 7th.A difficulty in understanding Skelton is that very little is known of his life, and the absence of facts has been filled in over centuries with quite possibly legend and myth. An example of questionable evidence is that there were about one hundred people born with the name of John Skelton born in the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries. Having said this, there are also numerous accounts of public figures referring to him along the likes of “the incomparable light and glory of the English letters”. Skelton’s reputation declined rapidly during 16th century England; however a new appreciation of his qualities had emerged during the 20th century.

A lawde and praise

The poem ‘A lawde and prayse’ is written by renowned English poet John Skelton. The poem is most likely about the new king Henry the 8th in which he is praised and honoured. The troubles prior to Henry the 8th are also mentioned within the poem. In the first stanza “the rose both white and rede” refers to the war of the roses which was fought between the houses of Lancaster and York for the throne. Their heraldic symbols were both white and red roses. This war resulted in Social and financial problems following the hundred year war. The victory went to Henry Tudor of a Lancastrian descent. in the second stanza Skelton goes on to praise Henry the 8th whose line is of the most noble of the kings and a great title and prosperity to which he accords. In the third Stanza Henry is compared to Astraea who is the daughter of Zeus in Greek mythology. Henry is being described as a man who is not known aspy meaning he is not known at a glance. Henry being in charge will result in the people(foxes) sharing and the people of higher class(wolves) as well .The foxes and wolves that put together much care and brought England in grief will not have to worry anymore and there will be an end to betrayal. The noble king Henry will enforce the law and make people accountable for their actions and crimes committed for they will have no witnesses and will be given pain that they brought themselves into. Years of grace are to come and England will truly be restored to its former glory. Roses of new seasons, princes of high honour, a great emperor and abundant wealth are all to be in place. Kings henry’s reign will make the people’s hearts glad. And King Henry will be the greatest king they have ever had.