Tudor History – Interesting Literature

A Short Analysis of Sir Thomas Wyatt’s ‘They Flee from Me’

By Dr Oliver Tearle (Loughborough University)

The story of Sir Thomas Wyatt’s possible romantic involvement with Anne Boleyn, second wife of King Henry VIII, is a drama all in itself. But what is remarkable about Wyatt’s poetry – especially ‘They Flee from Me’ – is the way he dramatises life at court, and personal relationships, in a short poem, using language in a direct, muscular way that was largely new in English verse. But Wyatt was writing nearly five centuries ago, so a few words by way of analysis are necessary to tease out the meaning of his work.

They flee from me that sometime did me seek
With naked foot, stalking in my chamber.
I have seen them gentle, tame, and meek,
That now are wild and do not remember
That sometime they put themself in danger
To take bread at my hand; and now they range,
Busily seeking with a continual change.

A Very Short Biography of Sir Thomas Wyatt

By Dr Oliver Tearle (Loughborough University)

Sir Thomas Wyatt (1503-42) was one of the most accomplished English poets of the Renaissance. Writing over half a century before Shakespeare, Wyatt helped to popularise Italian verse forms, most notably the sonnet, in Tudor England. In this post we offer a very brief introduction to Sir Thomas Wyatt’s life, paying particular attention to the most interesting aspects of his career.

Born at Allingham Castle in Kent, England in 1503, Wyatt first joined the court of King Henry VIII as ‘Sewer Extraordinary’ – this, disappointingly, had nothing to do with lavatories and was instead the title for a servant who waited at table.

Five Fascinating Facts about John Skelton

By Dr Oliver Tearle (Loughborough University)

1. John Skelton was King Henry VIII’s Poet Laureate.

Although the role of Poet Laureate only came into being officially in the late seventeenth century, when John Dryden was appointed King Charles II’s Poet Laureate in 1668, John Skelton (c. 1463-1529) held the same post in all but name, some 150 years earlier during the reign of Henry VIII. He was, if you will, English literature’s first de facto Poet Laureate – that is, he held the office in fact if not in name.

A Very Short Biography of Anne Askew

By Dr Oliver Tearle (Loughborough University)

Who was Anne Askew (c. 1521-46)? Askew was one of the first female poets to compose in the English language. In this very short biography of Anne Askew, we sketch out the interesting and noteworthy highlights from her life and work.

Askew (sometimes spelt Ayscough or Ascue) was born in 1520 or 1521, the daughter of William Askew, who was one of the jurors at the trial of Anne Boleyn’s co-accused. She is now chiefly remembered for ‘The Ballad Which Anne Askew Made and Sang When She Was in Newgate’, which begins:

Five Fascinating Facts about John Heywood

By Dr Oliver Tearle (Loughborough University)

Who is being described here? A provincial lad from Warwickshire in England, this poet and dramatist left the sticks for London, where he performed at the royal court, writing and acting in his own plays, including at the court of Queen Elizabeth I. No, not Shakespeare of course, but … John Heywood.