Secretary to King Charles II, Skelton spent many years roving between German courts in his capacity as envoy.
Louis XIV, however, was well aware of the English King's intention, and declared that, was an attempt by England made to poison France against the Dutch, 'he would act as if his own crown was attacked.
'[1] James was forced to publicly deny the charge of insincerity towards Holland, and hastened to find a scapegoat – Skelton became that man.
He followed James into exile and continued to be one of his leading diplomats, becoming envoy to the court at Versailles and comptroller of the royal household at Saint-Germain-en-Laye.
Due to his long-standing Royalist connections, Skelton became a significant hate figure for Williamite supporters after the Revolution, and the subsequent Whig demonisation of him has tended to colour history's view of the man.