Thomas Wyatt was born at Allington Castle in Kent, and educated at St John's College, Cambridge. While travelling as a diplomat for Henry VIII he developed his interest in Continental poetry; he was the first English poet to use the Italian forms of the sonnet and terza rima, and the French rondeau. His translation of the Penitential Psalms is based on a version by the Italian poet Pietro Aretino.
In the course of his career Wyatt served his King Henry in a variety of offices, including those of Marshal of Calais, Sheriff of Kent and Ambassador to Spain, and he was also jailed several times. His first imprisonment, in 1534, was for brawling; two years later his relationship with the disgraced Anne Boleyn resulted in a short spell in the Tower of London. Thomas and Anne had been lovers before her marriage to Henry, and his sense of loss at their separation forms the subject of the famous sonnet 'Whoso List To Hunt'.
Wyatt was restored to favour and knighted in 1537, and spent the next two years on his embassy to the court of Charles V of Spain. In 1540 however, his trusted patron Thomas Cromwell was executed, leaving him without an ally at court. The following year Wyatt was accused of treason by his enemies and imprisoned in the Tower once more. He managed to secure his own release but died of a fever soon afterwards.
Poems by this Poet
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Mye love toke skorne my servise to retaine | 29 November 2013 |
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Sonnet: ‘Each man me telleth’ | 29 November 2013 |
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Speak thou and speed, where will or power ought help'th | 29 November 2013 |
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Since ye delight to know | 29 November 2013 |
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Thou sleepest fast and I with woeful heart | 29 November 2013 |
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Full well it may be seen | 29 November 2013 |
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To my mishap, alas, I find | 29 November 2013 |
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O, cruel heart, where is thy faith? | 29 November 2013 |
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I might by no means surmise | 29 November 2013 |
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Though I myself be bridled of my mind | 29 November 2013 |
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