General Notes

Name Prefix:<NPFX> Sir Knight Poet
Wyatt also spelled WYAT, poet who introduced the Italian so
nnet and terza rima verse form and the French rondeau int
o English literature.
Wyatt was educated at St. John's, Cambridge, and became a m
ember of the court circle of Henry VIII, where he seems t
o have been popular and admired for his attractive appearan
ce and skill in music, languages, and arms. During his care
er, he served a number of diplomatic missions and was knigh
ted in 1537, but his fame rests on his poetic achievements
, particularly his songs. His poems are unusual for their t
ime in carrying a strong sense of individuality. They consi
st of Certayne Psalmes . . . drawen into Englyshe meter (15
49); three satires, and Songes and Sonettes, published in T
ottel's Miscellany (1557); and songs identified in manuscri
pt, published in 19th- and 20th-century editions.
(Research):NOTE* Son of Sir Henry Wyatt and Anne, daughte
r of John Skinner of Reigate, Surrey, was born about 1503 a
t his father's residence, Allington Castle, Kent. The 'inqu
isition post mortem' of his father, dated 1537, inaccuratel
y describes him as then aged 'twenty-eight years and upward
s'.
At twelve years of age Thomas was admitted of St. John's Co
llege, Cambridge. He graduated there B.A. in 1518, and M.A
. in 1520. There is a vague tradition that he also studie
d at Oxford. Playmate and friend of Anne Boleyn, had an ear
ly love affair with her. He married early in 1520 to Elizab
eth, daughter of Thomas Brooke, Lord Cobham. Marriage arran
ged by parents and was unhappy. Separated soon after birt
h of a son, Thomas, the younger. Presumed that Thomas stil
l retained affection for Anne Boleyn, and long after the da
te of his marriage Wyatt was regarded as her lover. Sevente
en years after his marriage, the then Lord Cobham, Elizabet
h’s brother wrote complaining that Thomas Wyatt still refus
ed to make any financial provision for his wife.
He soon sought official employment, and became Esquire of t
he Body to Henry VIII. In 1524 he was appointed clerk of th
e King's jewels, but the statement that he succeeded his fa
ther as treasurer to the King's chamber is an invention o
f J.P.Collier, who forged entries in official papers in sup
port of it (Trevelyan Papers, Camd. Soc.; SIMONDS, Sir Thom
as Wyatt and his Poems).
At Christmas 1525 he distinguished himself at a court tourn
ament. Next year he accompanied Sir Thomas Cheney on a dipl
omatic mission to France and to the Flemish Court.
In Jan 1526-7 he accompanied Sir John Russell, the ambassad
or, to the papal court. The story is told that Russell in h
is journey down the Thames encountered Wyatt, and, 'after s
alutations, was demanded of him whither he went, and had an
swer, "To Italy, sent by the King". "And I", said Wyatt, "w
ill, if you please, ask leave, get money, and go with you"
. "No man more welcome", answered the ambassador. So, thi
s accordingly done they passed in post together (Wyatt MSS.
). While abroad at this time, Wyatt visited Venice, Ferrera
, Bologna, Florence, and Rome. Russell broke his leg at Rom
e, and Wyatt undertook to negotiate on his behalf with th
e Venetian republic. On his return journey towards Rome h
e was taken captive by the imperial forces under the consta
ble Bourbon, and a ransom of three thousand ducats was dema
nded. Wyatt, however, escaped to Bologna.
On settling again in England Wyatt rejoined the court, bu
t in 1529 and 1530 he chiefly spent his time at Calais, whe
re he accepted the post of high-marshall. His relations wit
h Anne Boleyn continued close until her favours were sough
t by Henry VIII. Sir Thomas wrote her a sonnet complainin
g of the broken affair. Then it is said that he frankly con
fessed to Henry the character of his intimacy with her, an
d warned him against marrying a woman of blemished characte
r. In 1533 he was sworn of the privy council, and at Anne'
s coronation on White