SOURCE: Howard, Henry, Earl of Surrey. “Surrey on Wyatt and on his Penitential Psalms.” In Wyatt: The Critical Heritage, edited by Patricia Thomson, pp. 28-31. London: Routledge & Kegan Paul, 1974.

In the following poems, Surrey pays homage to his friend Wyatt. The first three derive from undated manuscripts; the fourth was printed in 1542 under the title An excellent Epitaffe of syr Thomas Wyat.

The great Macedon that out of Perse chasyd Darius of whose huge power all Asy Rang, In the riche arke if Homers rymes he placyd, Who fayned gestes of hethen Prynces sang, 

What holly grave, what wourthy sepulture, To Wyates Psalmes shulde Christians purchace? Wher he dothe paynte the lyvely faythe and pure, The stedfast hoope, the swete returne to grace 

Of iust Dauyd by parfite penytence, Where Rewlers may se in a myrrour clere The bitter frewte of false concupyscence, How Jewry bought Vryas deathe...