John Skelton and the Politics of the 1520sThe series of satirical poems and invectives written against Thomas, Cardinal Wolsey, the chief minister of Henry VIII, by the poet John Skelton has long been used by scholars as evidence of the sins and follies of Wolsey's regime. Yet the poems have never undergone serious political analysis. At the heart of this book is a detailed examination of these texts which aims to rectify that omission. For the first time they are subjected to a close reading which both elucidates their major themes and purpose, and sets them firmly in their political context. The book questions the orthodoxies of previous scholarship and challenges received opinions concerning the poet's status at the court of Henry VIII, his employment by the noble house of Howard, and his motives for launching the satirical assault upon Wolsey. From this analysis emerges a very different Skelton to that provided by earlier accounts. |
Contents
Introduction | 1 |
5 | 36 |
conventional | 124 |
So mangye a mastyfe curre the grete greyhoundes | 154 |
Skeltons political work under | 188 |
Conclusion | 211 |
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Common terms and phrases
Agaynst Albany Albany's allegations allusions ambassadors Amicable Grant André anti-clerical apparent argument assertion attack attempt audience B.L. Cotton Calais Calais conference Cardinal Cardinal's career cited clearly clerical Collyn Clout concerning conventional Cotton MS Caligula Court criticism Crown despatch Douty Duke Duke of Albany Earl Edwards English envoys evidence example F. J. Furnivall favour French further Garlande Grace Hall hath Heiserman Hence Henry VIII Henry's honour Ibid indicate informed invective John Skelton King King's Kyng Laureate Letters lines literary loans London Lord Lyke noble Parott passage patronage Plowman's Tale poem Poet Laureate Poet of Tudor poet's political Pollet Polydore Vergil Prince Rawdon Brown readers realm reference role royal satires Scattergood Scots seems Sheriff Hutton simply Skel specific Speke stanzas suggest Surrey Surrey's theyr Thomas Howard tradition trans Tudor England verses Wark whilst William Cornysh wolde Wolsey satires Wolsey's write Ye Nat