The Poetical Works of John Skelton (Vol. 1&2). John Skelton
but see Notes, vol. ii. 177.
[82] Hall’s Chron. (vi. yere Hen. viii.), fol. xlviii. ed. 1548.
[83] MS. Cott. Calig. B. vi. fol. 112.
[84] Auditor’s Calendar of Files from 1485 to 1522, fol. 108 (b).
[85] Privy Purse Accounts, A. 5. 16. p. 21.
[86] Auditor’s Calendar, &c. fol. 162 (b).
[87] Auditor’s Patent Book, No. 1. fol. 6 (b).
[88] In an account of the visit of the Emperor Charles the Fifth to England in June 1522, among the lodgings which were occupied on that occasion at Greenwich we find mention of “Master Garnyshe house.” See Rutland Papers, p. 82 (printed for the Camden Society). That a knight was frequently called “Master,” I have shewn in Notes, vol. ii. 178.
[89] Privy Purse Accounts, A. 5. 17. p. 175.
[90] Teller’s Book, A. 3. 24. p. 293.
[91] To these notices of Garnesche I may add the following letter, the original of which is in the possession of Mr. J. P. Collier:
“Pleas it your grace, We haue Receyued the Kyngs most graciouse letres dated at his manour of grenwich the xᵗʰ day of Aprill, Wherby we perceyue his high pleasour is that we shulde take some substanciall direccion for the preparacion and furnyshing of all maner of vitailles aswell for man as for horse, to bee had in Redynesse against the commyng of his grace, his nobles with ther trayn; Like it your grace, so it is We haue not been in tymes past so greatly and sore destitute this many yeres past of all maner of vitailles both for man and beist as we be now, not oonly by reason of a gret murryn of catall which hath ben in thies partes, but also for that the Kings takers, lieng about the borders of the see coste next adionyng vnto vs, haue takyn and made provision therof contrarie to the olde ordnannce, so that we be vtterly destitute by reason of the same, and can in no wise make any substanciall provision for his highnes nor his trayn in thies partes, for all the bochers in this toun haue not substaunce of beoffs and motones to serue vs, as we be accompanyed at this day, for the space of iii wekes att the most. And also as now ther is not within this toun of Calais fewell sufficient to serue vs oon hole weke, the which is the great daunger and vnsuretie of this the Kings toun. Wherfore we most humbly besuch your grace, the premisses considered, that we by your gracious and fauorable helpe may haue not oonly Remedy for our beiffs and motones with other vitailles, but also that all maner of vitaillers of this toun may repair and resorte with ther shippes from tyme to tyme to make ther purueyance of all maner of fewell from hensfurth for this toun oonly, without any let or Interrupcionn of the kings officers or takers, any commandment hertofore giffen to the contrarie not withstanding, for without that both the Kings Highnes, your grace, and all this toun shalbe vtterly disappoynted and disceyved both of vitailles and fewell, which god defend. At Calais, the xviiiᵗʰ day of Aprill,
By your seruants,
John Peache,
Wyllm Sandys,
Robert Wotton,
Edward Guldeferd,
Crystoffyr Garneys.
To my Lorde cardynalls grace,
Legate a Latere and chanceler
of England.”
In Proceed. and Ordin. of the Privy Council (vol. vii. 183, 196), 1541, mention is made of a Lady Garnishe (probably the widow of Sir Christopher) having had a house at Calais; and in Privy Purse Expenses of the Princess Mary (p. 120) we find under June 1543,
| “Item my lady garnyshe seruaunt for bringing cherys | xii d.” |
[92] “Contra Skeltonum, Lib. i.” Script. Illust. Brit. p. 723. ed. 1559.
[93] fol. 259. ed. 1570.
[94] vol. i. 411.
[95] i.e. snipe.
[96] See Notes, vol. ii. 159. If this line alludes to Skelton, it preserves a trait of his personal appearance.
[97] i.e. deprived, devoid.
[98] sig. c. v. ed. 1570.
[99] Vol. i. 376.
[100] Vol. i. 409.
[101] In a volume of various pieces by Gaguin, dated 1498, is a treatise on metre, which shews no mean acquaintance with the subject.
[102] “Inuectiuam In Guil. Lilium, Lib. i.” Script. Illust. Brit., &c. p. 652. ed. 1559. The reader must not suppose from the description, “Lib. i.,” that the invective in question extended to a volume: it was, I presume, no more than a copy of verses. Wood mentions that this piece was “written in verse and very carping.” Ath. Ox. i. 52. ed. Bliss: but most probably he was acquainted with it only through Bale. He also informs us (i. 34) that Lily wrote a tract entitled
| “Apologia ad | { Joh. Skeltonum. |
| { Rob. Whittington.” |
for a copy of which I have sought in vain.
[103] See Weever’s Fun. Monum. p. 498. ed. 1631; Stowe’s Collections, MS. Harl. 540. fol. 57; and Fuller’s Worthies (Norfolk), p. 257. ed. 1662. “And this,” says Fuller, “I will do for W. Lilly, (though often beaten for his sake,) endeavour to translate his answer:
“With face so bold, and teeth so sharp,
Of viper’s venome, why dost carp?
Why are my verses by thee weigh’d
In a false scale? may truth be said?
Whilst thou to get the more esteem
A learned Poet fain wouldst seem,
Skelton, thou art, let all men know it,
Neither learned, nor a Poet.”
[104] Vol. i. 419.