John Skelton is one of the most fascinating figures of the Tudor age - and somehow, one of the most overlooked. Poet, scholar, tutor to the future Henry VIII, and professional troublemaker, Skelton spent his life using words to entertain, provoke, and occasionally land himself in serious trouble.

In this episode, Amy McElroy joins me to explore the life and career of a man who was praised by scholars, admired by royalty, and feared by those who found themselves on the receiving end of his sharp tongue. We look at Skelton's role in the education of Prince Henry, his unique style of poetry, his clashes with powerful churchmen, and how he managed to survive in the turbulent world of Tudor politics.

Was John Skelton a loyal servant of the Crown, a fearless critic, or simply someone who couldn't resist stirring the pot? Join us as we uncover the story of one of Tudor England's most colorful characters.

Here is the link for the book.

Commentu[m] familiare in Ciceronis Officia / cum Petri Marsi exactissima explanatione, ab ipso recognita et diligenter annotata ; cumq[ue] de Amicitia, Senectute, [et] Paradoxis eiusdem Ciceronis non penitendis commentarijs et omnium tum rerum, tum, verborum, indice | Digital Collections

There is another link with a little more info about the book:

Prince Henry’s “boke” | Folger Shakespeare Library

EXTRA NOTE FROM AMY:

Although Skelton was not married there is historical lore that he lived with a woman who in some records has been labelled as a secret wife or a concubine, there is no record of his marriage. The lore also references Skelton taking a child into a church which led to allegations the child was his but there is no substantive evidence to confirm this.

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Host: Rebecca Larson

Co-Host/Guest: Amy McElroy