John Skelton, also known as John Shelton (c. 1463 – 21 June 1529) was an English poet and tutor to King Henry VIII of England. Writing in a period of linguistic transition between Middle English and Early Modern English, Skelton is one of the …

No one can deny the power, endurance, and memorable lines of the work of John Skelton; he is indisputably the first major Tudor poet, writing during the reigns of Edward IV, Richard III, and (for most of his career) Henry VII and Henry VIII.

John Skelton (born c. 1460—died June 21, 1529, London) was a Tudor poet and satirist of both political and religious subjects whose reputation as an English poet of major importance was restored only in the 20th century.

Poems by John Skelton. Skelton, John, 1460-1529, English poet and humanist. Tutor to Prince Henry (later Henry VIII), he later (c.1502) became rector of Diss, Norfolk.

While much is alluded to about the life of John Skelton not much is actually known, and what is known is conflicting (John Skelton, and its variants, being common names) or omitted by him throughout the breadth of his works.

Briefly put, pronunciation, grammar and vocabulary were evolving in such a way that linguists mark the end of the Middle English period c. 1475–1500, and categorise English from 1500 onwards as ‘early Modern’.

The Skelton Project is a research tool which provides full-text glossed editions of poem and background information on the life and works on the late-medieval poet laureate John Skelton. The website also offers a bibliography with links to secondary literature.

John Skelton, Renaissance English poet, playwright, and wag. Life, works, resources.

Skelton was the first major Tudor poet. He was an erudite Latin scholar who translated Cicero and whose poems are lyrical, passionate, learned, satirical, often vitriolic, and sometimes grotesque and obscene. Erasmus described him “the one light and glory of British letters”.

John Skelton (c. 1463–1529) was an English poet and tutor to King Henry VIII, notable for his unique and vigorous style and his important role in the development of English literature during the early Tudor period.