The Poetical Works of John Skelton, Volume 2 (of 2)

In Short

This second volume of John Skelton’s poetry captures the fiery, erratic genius of Henry VIII’s poet laureate as he navigates the treacherous waters of Early Modern English politics. Through satire, allegory, and courtly panegyric, the collection takes aim at the arrogance of churchmen, the vanity of courtiers, and the cowardice of foreign adversaries. Skelton weaves classical allusions, street-level slang, and Latin liturgical verse into a distinctively manic poetic rhythm. What has preserved his work across centuries is not merely its historical value as a portrait of Cardinal Wolsey’s era, but its boundless verbal energy, fierce moral conviction, and unmatched mastery of raw, uninhibited satire.

The Story

The volume opens in the cage of a clever, jewel-adorned bird who speaks Hebrew, Latin, Greek, French, and Dutch. Named Parrot, this feathered creature sits in a carved silver enclosure, fed almonds and dates by ladies of high estate. Yet beneath Parrot's charming display lies a sharp political commentary aimed directly at the rise of ambitious churchmen and the vanity of the Tudor court. Through enigmatic verse and multilingual proverbs, the poem exposes the corruption of powerful figures who manipulate the kingdom for personal gain.

As the text unfolds, the focus shifts to direct broadsides against political and religious opponents. In Latin verse and scathing English rhymes, Skelton attacks the vanity of prelates afflicted with pride, detailing their greed and spiritual ruin. He mocks those who pretend to authority while bankrupting the nation or fleeing from battle. When the Duke of Albany retreats across the Scottish border, Skelton launches a relentless tirade, painting the fleeing duke as a coward who abandons his men and runs from English might. The poet celebrates the triumph of King Henry and the red rose, grounding his loyalty in fiercely partisan English pride.

The collection then moves into elegiac and allegorical territory. Skelton mourns noble figures like Margaret Beaufort, Countess of Richmond and Derby, praising her piety, royal lineage, and quiet majesty in dignified Latin verse. In contrast to these stately memorials, he turns his lens toward social folly in The Boke of Three Fooles, dissecting the traps of marrying for money, harboring envy, and pursuing worldly pleasure.

Within the grand courtly vision of Magnyfycence, the story becomes a dramatic struggle over a prince’s soul. The title character, representing royal dignity, is misled by a rogue’s gallery of courtly vices—Fancy, Counterfeit Countenance, and Crafty Conveyance—who disguise themselves to gain influence. They convince Magnyfycence to abandon measure and moderation in favor of extravagant spending and reckless vanity. Slanted sleeves, ostentatious daggers, and absurd fashions become the outward badges of their corruption. Magnyfycence falls into poverty and ruin, only to be confronted by Adversity and Despair before ultimately being restored through Measure and Good Hope.

In Colyn Cloute and the surrounding satirical pieces, the narrative returns to the voice of the common man. Colyn Cloute wanders through the realm observing the breakdown of the church, where worldly friars and ambitious bishops ignore their flocks to build grand palaces, wear expensive robes, and trade holy sacraments for profit. The ordinary people whisper in secret, terrified of heat and persecution, while flatterers grow fat.

Finally, in Garlande of Laurell, the tone lifts into self-celebratory allegory. Skelton envisions himself summoned before the Queen of Fame and Dame Pallas. In a grand palace lined with tapestry and jewel-encrusted floors, noble ladies stitch a laurel wreath for his brow, securing his place alongside Chaucer, Gower, and Lydgate in the hall of immortal poets.

How It Unfolds

The bird speaks Parrot introduces himself from his silver cage, showing off his knowledge of multiple languages and courtly manners. Behind his playful antics, he delivers a encoded critique of Tudor politics and rising prelates.

The coward flees Skelton turns his pen against the Duke of Albany, mocking his sudden retreat across the River Tweed. He celebrates the English victory and commends his small book to spread the truth of Scottish cowardice.

The noble dies In solemn Latin verse, the poet laments the passing of the king's grandmother, the Countess of Derby. He compares her virtue to ancient heroines while placing her soul in the heavenly realm.

The prince falls In the morality play Magnyfycence, courtly flatterers trick a noble prince into throwing away his wealth and dignity. Dressed in ridiculous French fashions, the corrupted ruler descends into ruin before learning moderation.

The shepherd strays Through the eyes of Colyn Cloute, the poem exposes the widespread corruption of the clergy. Bishops line their pockets and build opulent houses while ordinary believers are left without true spiritual guidance.

The poet crowned Skelton travels to the realm of Fame, where noble ladies weave him a laureate crown. He reflects on his life's writings and secures his place among England's legendary bards.

The People

• Parrot: A brilliantly colored, highly educated bird living in a silver cage. He wants to entertain his courtly mistresses while covertly exposing the corruption of royal advisors. He uses his mastery of foreign tongues to deliver sharp political critiques under the guise of innocent chatter.
• Magnyfycence: A noble prince who desires to govern with royal splendor. What stands in his way is his own susceptibility to flattery and reckless extravagance. After being tricked into poverty by corrupt courtiers, he learns humility and returns to a life governed by measure.
• Fancy: An unpredictable, foolish courtier who disguises himself as "Largesse" to trick Magnyfycence. He wants total freedom to pursue senseless whims and luxury, driving the prince into financial ruin before abandoning him in his time of need.
• Colyn Cloute: An outspoken representative of the common English people. He wants to speak the plain truth about church corruption, but is hindered by the fear of retaliation from powerful prelates. He remains a quiet, persistent witness to social injustice.
• John Skelton (The Laureate): The authorial persona who appears within his own allegorical visions. He seeks eternal poetic fame and recognition from the Queen of Fame, facing off against envious detractors and rival scribes until he is ultimately crowned with a laurel wreath.

In Its Own Voice

"My name is Parrot, a byrd of paradyse, / By nature deuysed of a wonderous kynde, / Dyentely dyeted with dyuers dylycate spyce"

Parrot introduces his exotic origins and pampered courtly lifestyle before launching into his complex, multilingual commentaries.

"Though your Englishe be rude, / Barreyne of eloquence, / Yet, breuely to conclude, / Grounded is your sentence / On trouthe"

Addressing his own verse at the end of a political attack, Skelton defends his unadorned style because it serves the ultimate cause of truth.

"I sowe sedycyous sedes of dyscorde and debates"

In the drama Magnyfycence, a treacherous courtier openly reveals his true intentions to corrupt the court and destroy harmony among the ruling class.

What It's Really About

Beneath its intricate allegories, satirical jibes, and tumbling rhymes, this collection examines the fragile nature of earthly power and the corrupting influence of unbridled ambition. Skelton continually asks what happens to a kingdom when those entrusted with spiritual and political authority abandon moral restraint for personal gain. Through characters like Magnyfycence, the text argues that true governance requires "measure"—a balance of generosity, prudence, and self-control—without which both princes and nations fall into ruin.

Another central theme is the power and responsibility of the poet. Skelton presents the writer not merely as a court entertainer, but as a moral watchdog and truth-teller. Whether speaking through the disguised voice of a caged parrot, the plain-spoken observer Colyn Cloute, or his own laureate persona, he asserts that poetry must expose hypocrisy and defend the common good, even when facing powerful enemies.

Why Read It Today

Readers drawn to Tudor history, political satire, or the evolution of English verse will find much to admire in Skelton's work. To read this volume is to experience the transition between medieval allegory and Early Modern satire firsthand. Skelton writes with a frantic, short-line rhythm—often called "Skeltonic verse"—that bounces off the page with raw energy, humor, and biting sarcasm.

However, modern readers should be prepared for real historical friction. The collection relies heavily on early sixteenth-century vocabulary, archaic spelling, Latin liturgical passages, and obscure political references that require careful attention to the editor's notes. Period attitudes—including fierce anti-Scottish sentiment and deep-seated religious biases—are prominent throughout the text. Yet for those willing to navigate these historical obstacles, the volume offers an unvarnished, intensely vital look at Tudor England through the eyes of one of its most original and fearless poets.

<ElicitationsGroup message="Where would you like to go next?">

<Elicitation label="Explore the major themes of Tudor political satire" query="Can you analyze the key themes and strategies of Tudor political satire as seen in Skelton's works?"/>

<Elicitation label="Compare Skelton's style with Chaucer and Lydgate" query="How does John Skelton's poetic style and use of meter compare to earlier English poets like Geoffrey Chaucer and John Lydgate?"/>

<Elicitation label="Break down the plot and structure of Magnyfycence" query="Could you provide a detailed breakdown of the plot, characters, and structure of Skelton's morality play Magnyfycence?"/>

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