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This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1858 edition. Excerpt: ... The poetical works of Sir Thomas Wyatt Sir Thomas Wyatt amtt!) iHemotc anli Critical >feSertattcm, BY THE REV. GEORGE GILEILLAN. EDINBTJEGH: JA.MES NICHOL, 104 HIGH STREET. LONDON: JAMES NISBET & CO. DUBLIN: W. ROBERTSON. M.DCCC.LVIII. THE LIFE OF SIE THOMAS WYATT. Sir Thomas Wyatt ranks with Henry, Earl of Surrey, as one of the best of our early poets; and with Surrey, Byron, Walpole, and some others, as one of the comparatively few of our aristocracy who have contributed much of value to thestores of English literature. He was descended from an ancient and noble family, which had been settled for several successive generations at Southange, in the county of York. His father, Sir Henry, had been faithful to the cause of the House of Lancaster during its darkest days; had been imprisoned in the Tower by Eichard III., and even, it is said, tortured in the Usurper's presence. It is stated by tradition, and is inscribed oil his monument in Kent, that, during his imprisonment, a cat brought him daily a pigeon from a neighbouring dove-cot, which served amply to supply his wants! When the sun began to shine on the Lancastrian side of the hedge, Henry VII. did not forget the loyalty of the able, prudent, and wise Sir Henry Wyatt, but appointed him one of his Privy Councillors, and afterwards one of the executors to his will. In the year 1493, we find him rich enough to purchase the estate of Allington, near Maidstone, in Kent, which became the residence of the family; and about the same time he also bought from the Marquis of Dorset the estate and mansion of Mole, lying a little to the east of Maidstone, and which fell afterwards into the possession of the Earl of Eomney. After Henry VII.'s death, Wya