A certain Treatise called _The Art of_ English _Poetry_, alledges,
_That Sir_ Thomas Wiat _the Elder, and_ Henry _Earl of_ Surrey _were
the two Chieftains, who having travelled into_ Italy, _and there tasted
the sweet and stately Measures and Style of the_ Italian _Poesie,
greatly polished our rude and homely manner of vulgar Poesie from what
it had been before; and may therefore justly be shewed to be the
Reformers of our_ English _Meeter and Style_.

I shall only add an Epitaph made by this Noble Earl on Sir _Anthony
Denny_, Knight (a Gentleman whom King _Henry_ the _8th._ greatly
affected) and then come to speak of his Death.

Death and the King did as it were contend,
Which of them two bare _Denny_ greatest Love;
The King to shew his Love, gan far extend,
Did him advance his Betters far above:
Near Place, much Wealth, great Honour eke him gave,
To make it known what Power great Princes have.

But when Death came with his triumphant Gift,
From worldly Cark he quit his wearied Ghost,
Free from the Corps, and streight to Heaven it lift,
Now deem that can who did for _Denny_ most;
The King gave Wealth, but fading and unsure,
Death brought him Bliss that ever shall endure.

But to return, this Earl had together with his Learning, Wisdom,
Fortitude, Munificence, and Affability; yet all these good and
excellent parts were no protection against the King's Displeasure; for
upon the _12th_ of _December_, the last of King _Henry_ the _8th._ he,