Chapter Skelton to Smith of S by Biographical Dictionary of English Literature

Skelton to Smith

Skelton, John (1460?-1529).—Poet, born in Norfolk, and educated at Oxford and Cambridge, of both of which he was created Poet Laureate, and perhaps held the same office under the King. He was appointed tutor to Henry VIII., and notwithstanding his sharp tongue, enjoyed some favour at Court. In 1498 he entered the Church, and became Rector of Diss in his native county. Hitherto he seems to have produced some translations only, but about this time he appears to have struck upon the vein which he was to work with such vigour and popularity. He turned his attention to abuses in Church and State, which he lashed with caustic satire, conveyed in short doggerel rhyming lines peculiar to himself, in which jokes, slang, invectives, and Latin quotations rush out pell-mell. His best works in this line are Why come ye not to Court? and Colin Clout, both directed against the clergy, and the former against Wolsey in particular. Piqued at his inconstancy (for Skelton had previously courted him) the Cardinal would have imprisoned him, had he not taken sanctuary in Westminster, where he remained until his death. Other works of his are The Tunning (brewing) of Elynor Rummynge, a coarsely humorous picture of low life, and the tender and fanciful Death of Philip Sparrow, the lament of a young lady over her pet bird killed by a cat.

Skelton, Sir John (1831-1897).—Miscellaneous writer. born in Edinburgh, educated at the University there, and called to the Scottish Bar 1854, he was Sec. and ultimately Chairman of the Local Government Board for Scotland. He wrote Maitland of Lethington and the Scotland of Mary Stuart (1887), The Crookit Meg (1880), and The Table Talk of Shirley. He contributed to Fraser’s and Blackwood’s Magazines. He received the degree of LL.D. from Edinburgh 1878, and was made K.C.B. 1897.

Skene, William Forbes (1807-1892).—Historian, 2nd son of James Son of Rubislaw, friend of Sir Walter Scott, was a Writer to the Signet in Edinburgh, and Clerk of the Bills in the Court of Session. He wrote and edited historical works of considerable authority, The Highlanders of Scotland (1837), and his most important work, Celtic Scotland (1876-80), and edition of The Four Ancient Books of Wales (1868), and other Celtic writings.

Skinner, John (1721-1807).—Historian and song-writer, son of a schoolmaster at Birse, Aberdeenshire, was educated at Marischal College Brought up as a Presbyterian, he became an Episcopalian and ministered to a congregation at Longside, near Peterhead, for 65 years. He wrote The Ecclesiastical History of Scotland from the Episcopalian point of view, and several songs of which The Reel of Tullochgorum and The Ewie wi’ the Crookit Horn are the best known, and he also rendered some of the Psalms into Latin. He kept up a rhyming correspondence with Burns.

Skipsey, Joseph (1832-1903).—Poet, born near North Shields, and from childhood worked in the mines. He published a few pieces of poetry in 1859, and soon after left working underground and became caretaker of Shakespeare’s house at Stratford-on-Avon. During the last 30 years of his life he published several vols. of poetry, including The Collier Lad and Carols from the Coal Fields; and he edited some vols. for the “Canterbury Poets.” Memoir by R. S. Watson (1908).

Smart, Christopher (1722-1771).—Poet, son of the steward to Lord Vane, was born at Shipbourne, Kent, and by the bounty of the Duchess of Cleveland sent to Cambridge Here his ill-balanced mind showed itself in wild folly. Leaving the University he came to London and maintained himself by conducting and writing for periodicals. His Poems on Several Occasions, which contained “The Hop Garden,” was issued in 1752, and The Hilliad in 1753 against “Sir” John Hill, a notoriety of the day who had attacked him. His mind ultimately gave way, and it was in confinement that he produced by far his most remarkable work, the Song to David, a most original and powerful poem. Unfortunate to the last, he died in the King’s Bench prison, to which he had been committed for debt. He also translated Horace.

Smedley, Frank (1818-1864).—Novelist, was the author of several novels which had considerable popularity, including Frank Fairleigh (1850), Lewis Arundel (1852), and Harry Coverdale’s Courtship (1855). Smedley was a life-long cripple.