Here after foloweth a little booke, whiche hath to name Whi come ye not to courte, compiled by mayster Skeltō Poete Laureate.
Colophon,
Imprynted at London in Paules churche yarde at the Sygne of the Rose by John Wyght.
12mo, n. d. On the reverse of the title-page is a woodcut, which I am unable to describe, because in the copy used by me it was much damaged as well as pasted over.
Here after foloweth a litle boke whyche hathe to name, whye come ye not to Courte. Compyled by mayster Skelton Poete Laureate.
Colophon,
Imprynted at London in Poules church yard at the syne of the sunne by Anthony Kytson.
Colophon in some copies,
Imprynted at London in Poules church yard at the syne of the Lamb by Abraham Veale.
Colophon in some other copies,
Imprynted at London in Foster lane by John Wallye.
12mo, n. d.
An edition, Imprynted at London, in Paules church yarde at the Sygne of the Bell by Robert Toy, is mentioned in Typogr. Antiq. iii. 576. ed. Dibdin.
Pithy pleasaunt and profitable workes of maister Skelton, Poete Laureate. Nowe collected and newly published. Anno 1568. Imprinted at London in Fletestreate, neare vnto saint Dunstones churche by Thomas Marshe. 12mo.
On the reverse of the title-page are the Latin lines, “Salve, plus decies,” &c. (see vol. i. 177); next, Churchyard’s verses, “If slouth and tract of time,” &c. (see Appendix I. p. lxxvi.); and then the contents of the volume are thus enumerated;
“Workes of Skelton newly collected by I.S. as foloweth.
1. The crowne of lawrel.
2. The bouge of court.
3. The duke of Albany.
4. Speake parrot.
5. Edward the fourth.
6. Against the Scottes. [Chorus de Dys contra Scottes, &c. Chorus de dis, &c. super triumphali victoria contra gallos, &c.]
7. Ware the hauke. [Libertas veneranda, &c. All noble men of this take hede, &c.]
8. Howe euery thinge must haue a time.
9. A prayer to the father of heauen.
10. To yᵉ second person.
11. To the holy ghost.
12. The tunning of Elinour Rumming.
13. The relucēt mirror.
14. Why come ye not to court.
15. Colyn Clout.
16. Philip sparowe.
17. Of a comly Coystrowne. [Contra alium Cantitātem & Organisantem Asinum, &c.]
18. Upō a deadmās heed.
19. To maistris Anne.
20. Of thre fooles.
21. En parlement a Paris.
22. Epitaphes of two knaues of dise. [Diligo rustincum, &c.]
23. Lamentation for Norwiche.
24. Against yᵉ Scottes [i.e. against Dundas].
25. Praise of yᵉ palmtre. [Diligo rusticum, &c.]
26. Bedel quōdā Belial.
27. The dolorus death of the Lord Percie Erle of Northumberlande. [Ad magistrum Rukshaw.]
28. Epitaphium Margarete countisse de Derbi.
29. Epita. Hen. septi.
30. Eulogium pro suorum temporum.
31. A parable by William Cornishe in yᵉ Fleete.
32. Against venemous tongues.
33. Of Calliope.
How the very dull poem (31) by William Cornishe came to be inserted in this collection, I know not: but I may just observe that it is found (with a better text) in MS. Reg. 18. D ii. where it immediately precedes Skelton’s verses on the Death of the Earl of Northumberland.
“Now synge we, as we were wont,” &c.—in an imperfect volume (or fragments of volumes) of black-letter Christmas Carolles—Bibliograph. Miscell. (edited by the Rev. Dr. Bliss), 1813, 4to, p. 48.
The Maner of the World now a dayes—Imprinted at London in Flete Strete at the signe of the Rose Garland by W. Copland, n. d.—known to me only from Old Ballads, 1840, edited by Mr. J.P. Collier for the Percy Society.
I now greatly doubt if this copy of verses be by Skelton: see Notes, vol. ii. 199.
Concerning the comparatively modern edition of Elynour Rummynge, 1624, 4to (celebrated for the imaginary portrait of Elynour), see Notes, vol. ii. 152 sqq.
Wood mentions as by Skelton (Ath. Oxon. i. 52. ed. Bliss)—
Poetical Fancies and Satyrs, Lond. 1512, oct.
Tanner mentions (Biblioth. p. 676)—
Miseries of England under Henry vii. Lond. … 4to. [Qy. is it the same piece as Vox Populi, Vox Dei?]
Warton mentions (Hist. of E.P. ii. 336, note, ed. 4to)—
A collection of Skelton’s pieces printed for A. Scolocker, 1582, 12mo.
Bliss mentions (add. to Wood’s Ath. Oxon. i. 53)—
A collection of Skelton’s pieces printed in 12mo by A. Scholoker, n. d., and
Another by John Wight in 8vo, 1588.
Of Skelton’s drama, The Nigramansir, the following account is given by Warton:—
“I cannot quit Skelton, of whom I yet fear too much has been already said, without restoring to the public notice a play, or Morality, written by him, not recited in any catalogue of his works, or annals of English typography; and, I believe, at present totally unknown to the antiquarians in this sort of literature. It is, The Nigramansir, a moral Enterlude and a pithie written by Maister Skelton laureate and plaid before the king and other estatys at Woodstoke
