Cyriack Skinner Explained

Cyriack Skinner (1627 - 1700) was a friend, pupil and amanuensis of the English poet John Milton, and the author of an anonymous biography of the poet.

Biography

Cyriack Skinner was the third son of William Skinner, a Lincolnshire squire who died in 1627. His mother was Bridget Coke, daughter of the famous jurist Sir Edward Coke.^[1] Skinner was admitted to Lincoln's Inn on 31 July 1647 and became a lawyer by profession.He came to live near Milton in 1654 and probably began to help the poet at that time.^[2] After the Rump Parliament had been reconstituted in 1659 following the death of Oliver Cromwell, Skinner joined the Rota Club. This group met each night at the Turk's Head Coffee House to debate proposals by Milton's opponent, the republican James Harrington, and was often chaired by Skinner.^[3] Skinner would have kept Milton informed of the progress of these discussions.He remained close to Milton during the difficult period that followed the Restoration of the Monarchy in 1660 and was present at Milton's deathbed in 1674.^[2]

Cyriack Skinner has been identified as the author of the anonymously published book The Life of Mr. John Milton, an important source of first-hand information on the poet.^[4] Milton's later assistant Daniel Skinner may have been his relative, notable for first attempting to publish some of Milton's state papers, then attempting to suppress them.^[5]

Sonnets

Two of Milton's Sonnets are addressed to Skinner:^[6]

Sonnet XVIII

Cyriack, whose Grandsire on the Royal BenchOf British Themis, with no mean applausePronounc't and in his volumes taught our Lawes,Which others at their Barr so often wrench:To day deep thoughts resolve with me to drenchIn mirth, that after no repenting ;Let Euclid rest and Archimedes pause,And what the Swede intend, and what the French.To measure life, learn thou betimes, and knowToward solid good what leads the nearest way; For other things mild Heav'n a time ordains,And disapproves that care, though wise in show,That with superfluous burden loads the day,And when God sends a cheerful hour, refrains.

Sonnet XXII

Cyriack, this three years' day these eyes, though clearTo outward view of blemish or of spot,Bereft of light, their seeing have forgot;Nor to their idle orbs doth sight appearOf sun or moon or star throughout the year,Or man or woman. Yet I argue notAgainst Heav'n's hand or will, not bate a jotOf heart or hope, but still bear up and steerRight onward. What supports me, dost thou ask?The conscience, friend, to have lost them overpliedIn liberty's defence, my noble task,Of which all Europe talks from side to side.This thought might lead me through the world's vain maskContent, though blind, had I no better guide.

Notes and References

1. Web site: The Life of John Milton Vol. 3 1643-1649 . David Masson . David Masson . 2010-09-25.
2. Book: The life of John Milton: a critical biography . Barbara Kiefer Lewalski . Wiley-Blackwell . 2002 . 1-4051-0625-5.
3. Book: 102 . Harrington and His Oceana . H. Russell Smith . BiblioBazaar, LLC . 2009 . 978-1-113-75008-2.
4. Web site: The Legacy of T.S. Eliot to Milton Studies . Beverley Sherry . Literature & Aesthetics 18 (1) . June 2008 . 2010-09-25 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110723015826/http://www.arsversificandi.net/current/Versification%205%20%282010%29%20Sherry.pdf . 2011-07-23 .
5. Web site: MILTON AND DE DOCTRINA CHRISTIANA . GORDON CAMPBELL . THOMAS N. CORNS . JOHN K. HALE . DAVID HOLMES . FIONA TWEEDIE . 5 October 1996 . . 2010-09-25 . 2007-12-12 . https://web.archive.org/web/20071212162402/http://www.bangor.ac.uk/english/publicat/ddc/ddc.htm . dead .
6. Book: The complete poetical works: Together with a life of the author . John Milton . Crosby and Nichols . 1863.