“a frere of Fraunce men call sir Gagwyne,
That frownyd on me full angerly and pale;”[99]
and in the catalogue of his own writings which is subsequently given in the same poem, he mentions a piece which he had composed against this personage,
“The Recule ageinst Gaguyne of the Frenshe nacyoun.”[100]
Robert Gaguin was minister-general of the Maturines, and enjoyed great reputation for abilities and learning.[101] He wrote various works; the most important of which is his Compendium supra Francorum gestis from the time of Pharamond to the author’s age. In 1490 he was sent by Charles the Eighth as ambassador to England, where he probably became personally acquainted with Skelton.
That Skelton composed certain Latin verses against the celebrated grammarian William Lily, we are informed by Bale,[102] who has preserved the initial words, viz.
“Urgeor impulsus tibi, Lilli, retundere:”
and that Lily repaid our poet in kind, we have the following proof;
“Lilii Hendecasyllabi in Scheltonum ejus
carmina calumniantem.[103]