he
remarkably succeeded. The affair of Anne Bullen came on, when he made
some opposition to the King's passion for her, that was likely to
prove fatal to him; but by his prudent behaviour, and retracting
what he had formerly advanced, he was restored again to his royal
patronage. He was cotemporary with the Earl of Surry, who held him in
high esteem. He travelled into foreign parts, and as we have observed
in the Earl of Surry's life, he added something towards refining the
English stile, and polishing our numbers, tho' he seems not to have
done so much in that way as his lordship. Pitts and Bale have entirely
neglected him, yet for his translation of David's Psalms into English
metre and other poetical works, Leland scruples not to compare him
with Dante and Petrarch, by giving him this ample commendation.

Let Florence fair her Dantes justly boast,
And royal Rome, her Petrarchs numbered feet,
In English Wyat both of them doth coast:
In whom all graceful eloquence doth meet.

Leland published all his works under the title of Naenia. Some of his
Biographers (Mrs. Cooper and Winstanley) say that he died of the
plague as he was going on an embassy to the Emperor Charles V. but
Wood asserts, that he was only sent to Falmo by the King to meet the
Spanish ambassador on the road, and conduct him to the court, which it
seems demanded very great expedition; that by over-fatiguing himself,
he was thrown into a fever, and in the thirty-eighth year of his age
died in a little country-town in England, greatly lamented by all
lovers of learning and politeness. In his poetical capacity, he does
not appear to have much imagination, neither are his verses so musical
and well polished as lord Surry's. Those of gallantry in particular
seem to be too artificial and laboured for a lover, without that
artless simplicity which is the genuine mark of feeling; and too
stiff, and negligent of harmony for a His letters to John Poynes and
Sir Francis Bryan deserve more notice, they argue him a man of great
sense and honour, a critical observer of manners and well-qualified
for an elegant and genteel satirist. These letters contain
observations on the Courtier's Life, and I shall quote a few lines as
a specimen, by which it will be seen how much he falls short of
his noble cotemporary, lord Surry, and is above those writers that
preceded him in versification.

The COURTIERS LIFE.

In court to serve decked with fresh araye,
Of