Skelton was the poet laureate of England under Henry VII;
he also tutored the young Prince Henry, duke of York, who became the infamous Henry VIII.

> > > To Mistress Margaret Hussey
> > > Merry Margaret,
> > > As midsummer flower,
> > > Gentle as falcon
> > > Or hawk of the tower;
> > > With solace and gladness,
> > > Much mirth and no madness,
> > > All good and no badness;
> > > So joyously,
> > > So maidenly,
> > > So womanly
> > > Her demeaning
> > > In every thing,
> > > Far, far passing
> > > That I can endite,
> > > Or suffice to write
> > > Of merry Margaret,
> > > As midsummer flower,
> > > Gentle as falcon
> > > Or hawk of the tower.
> > > As patient and as still
> > > And as full of good will
> > > As fair Isaphill;
> > > Colyander,
> > > Sweet pomander,
> > > Good Cassander;
> > > Steadfast of thought,
> > > Well made, well wrought,
> > > Far may be sought
> > > Ere that ye can find
> > > So courteous, so kind
> > > As merry Margaret,
> > > This midsummer flower,
> > > Gentle as falcon
> > > Or hawk of the tower.

> > > To Mistress Isabell Pennell
> > > By Saint Mary, my lady,
> > > Your mammy and your dady
> > > Brought forth a goodly baby!
> > > My maiden Isabell,
> > > Reflaring rosabell,
> > > The flagrant camamell,
> > > The ruddy rosary,
> > > The sovereign rosemary,
> > > The pretty strawberry,
> > > The columbine, the nepte,
> > > The jeloffer well set,
> > > The proper violet;
> > > Ennewèd your colour
> > > Is like the daisy flower
> > > After the April shower;
> > > Star of the morrow gray,
> > > That blossom on the spray,
> > > The freshest flower of May:
> > > Maidenly demure,
> > > Of womanhood the lure;
> > > Wherefore, I make you sure,
> > > It were an heavenly health,
> > > It were and endless wealth,
> > > A life for God himself,
> > > To hear this nightingale
> > > Among the birdes smale
> > > Warbling in the vale,
> > > Dug, dug, jug, jug,
> > > Good year and good luck,
> > > With chuck, chuck, chuck, chuck!
> > > With Lullay, Lullay, Like A Child
> > > With lullay, lullay, like a child,
> > > Thou sleepèst too long, thou art beguiled!

> > > "My darling dear, my daisy flower,
> > > Let me," quoth he, "lie in your lap."
> > > "Lie still," quoth she, "my paramour,
> > > Lie still hardily, and take a nap."
> > > His head was heavy, such was his hap,
> > > All drowsy, dreaming, drowned in sleep,
> > > That of his love he took no keep,
> > > With hey, lullay, etc.

> > > With ba, ba, ba, and bas, bas, bas!
> > > She cherished him both cheek and chin
> > > That he wist never where he was;
> > > He had forgotten all deadly sin!
> > > He wanted wit her love to win:
> > > He trusted her payment and lost all his pay;
> > > She left him sleeping and stale away,
> > > With hey, lullay, etc.

> > > The rivers rough, the waters wan;
> > > She sparèd not to wet her feet.
> > > She waded over, she found a man
> > > That halsèd her heartily and kissed her sweet;
> > > Thus after her cold she caught a heat.
> > > "My lief," she said, "rowteth in his bed;
> > > Iwys he hath an heavy head,"
> > > With hey, lullay, etc.

> > > What dreamest thou, drunkard, drowsy pate?
> > > Thy lust and liking is from thee gone;
> > > Thou blinkard blowboll, thou wakèst too late;
> > > Behold thou liest, luggard, alone!
> > > Well may thou sigh, well may thou groan,
> > > To deal with her so cowardly.
> > > Ywis, pole-hatchet, she blearèd thine eye!
> > > Quoth Skelton Laureate.

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