John Skelton

John Skelton (about 1463–1529) was an English poet of the early Tudor court. Educated at Cambridge and honored as laureate by Oxford, Louvain and Cambridge, he was tutor to the young Prince Henry, the future Henry VIII, took holy orders in 1498 and in 1504 became rector of Diss in Norfolk, where his conduct scandalized his parishioners. He called himself orator regius and wrote in a headlong, short-lined, heavily rhymed verse that bears his name: Phyllyp Sparowe, The Tunnyng of Elynour Rummynge, The Bowge of Court and the satires against Cardinal Wolsey, Colin Clout, Speke Parrot and Why Come Ye Not to Court. He died in sanctuary at Westminster.