the King died after the date of the commission; likewise that he only
empowered them to give his consent; but did not give it himself; and
that it did not appear by any record that they gave it. Moreover, that
the King did not sign the commission with his own hand, his stamp
being only set to it, and that not to the upper part, but to the
nether part of it, contrary to the King's custom.'

Besides the amorous and other poetical pieces of this noble author, he
translated Virgil's Æneid, and rendered (says Wood) the first, second,
and third book almost word for word:--All the Biographers of the
poets have been lavish, and very justly, in his praise; he merits the
highest encomiums as the refiner of our language, and challenges the
gratitude and esteem of every man of literature, for the generous
assistance he afforded it in its infancy, and his ready and liberal
patronage to all men of merit in his time.


[Footnote 1: Dugdale's Baronage.]

* * * * *


Sir THOMAS WYAT.

Was distinguished by the appellation of the Elder, as there was one of
the same name who raised a rebellion in the time of Queen Mary. He
was son to Henry Wyat of Alington-castle in Kent. He received the
rudiments of his education at Cambridge, and was afterwards placed at
Oxford to finish it. He was in great esteem with King Henry VIII. on
account of his wit and Love Elegies, pieces of poetry in which he