OHN HEYWOOD, or Heewood, one of the most ancient Dramatick Writers in the English language, was born in the city of London, and educated in the University of Oxford, at the antient Hoftle called Broadgate's, in St. Aldgate's Parish. He was in his time more celebrated for his wit than his learning; and having fome fair poffeffions at North Mims, he refided there after he left Oxford, and became intimately acquainted with Sir Thomas More, who lived in that neighbourhood. Here the latter wrote his celebrated work called Utopia, and is fuppofed to have affifted Heywood in the compofition of his Epigrams. Through Sir Thomas More's means, it is probable our Author was introduced to the knowledge of King Henry the Eighth, and of his daughter the Princefs, afterwards Queen Mary: by the former, of whom he was held in much efteem for the mirth and quickness of his conceits; and fo much § valued by the latter, that he was often, after she came to the throne, admitted to the honour of waiting upon and exercifing his fancy before her, even to the time he lay languishing on her death bed. His education having been in the Roman catholick faith, he continued fteadily attached to the tenets of that religion; and during the *Wood, in his Athenæ Oxonienfes, vol. I. p. 149. pofitively fixes his birth at this place. Other writers have made him a native of North Mims in Hertfordshire, but apparently without any authority. Bale, who lived nearest to the Author's time, calls him Civis Londinenfis; which words, though they do not abfolutely prove that he was born in London, yet furely are fufficient in a matter of this uncertainty to warrant any one to conclude that he was a native of that city, as no circumftance appears to induce a belief that he acquired the title of Citizen of London otherwife than by birth. + Peacham's Compleat English Gentleman, 4to, 1627, p. 95. Gabriel Harvey's Mf. Note to Speyght's Chaucer, as quoted in Mr. Steevens's Shakspeare, vol. V. Athen, Oxon. vol. I. p. 149. reign of Edward the Sixth, fell under the fufpicion of practifing against the government, and narrowly escaped the halter. After the death of his patronefs the queen, he left the nation, fays Wood +, for religion fake, and fettled at Mechlen in Brabant, where he died about the year 1565, leaving feveral children; one of whom, Jafper Heywood, tranflated three of Seneca's Plays, and wrote feveral Poems, printed in the Paradife of Dainty Devifes, 4to, 1578. This Jasper Heywood was, according to Fuller, executed in the reign of Queen Elizabeth; but more probably, as Sir Richard Baker afferts, was among thofe who were taken in 1585, and sent out of England. John Heywood appears to be the fecond English dramatick writer. Oldys § fays, he began to write about the year 1530, but that he could not find he published any thing fo early. The following is a Lift of his Works: "A Play betwene Johan the Husband, Tyb the Wife, and "Sir Johan the Priest, by John Heywood, 4to. Imprynted "at London by William Raftall, the 12 Day of February, "1533." (Oldys's Mf. Notes, and Companion to the Playhouse). A Mery Play betwene the Pardoner and the Frere, the "Curate, and neybour Pratte, 4to. Imprynted by Willm "Raftell, 5th of April, 1533." (Ames, 182. Oldys's Mí. Notes, and Companion to the Playhouse). "The Playe called the Foure P. P. A newe and a very (6 mery Enterlude of A Palmer, A Pardoner, A Potycary, "A Pedler. Made by John Heewood, 4to. Imprynted at "But to ftep backe to my tefke (though everie place I ftep to, yeeldes "me sweeter difcourfe), what thinke you by Haywood, that fcaped hang"ing with his mirth; the King being graciously and (as I thinke) truly perfwaded, that a man that wrate fo pleasant and harmeleffe verses, "could not have any harmefull conceit against his proceedings, and fo by "the honelt motion of a gentleman of his Chamber faved him from the jerke of the fix-string'd whip." Harrington's Metamorphofes of Ajax, 1596, p. 25. + Athen. Oxon. vol. I. p. 149. Dr. Palfgrave, whofe Play of Acolaftus was printed in the year 1529, feems to have been the first. See Ames, 166. Mf. Notes on Langbaine, 3 "London "London in fleteftrete, at the fynge of the George, by "Wyllyam Myddylton, 4to. no date." Alfo, "A Play of Genteelnefs and Nobilitie. An Interlude "in two Parts, 4to. no date." (Companion to the Playhoufe). "A Play of Love. An Interlude, 4to. 1533." (Companion to the Playhouse). A Play of the Weather, called A new and a very merry "Interlude of all manner of Weathers, 1553, Fo." (Companion to the Playhouse. Oldys's Mf.). Alfo in 12mo. printed by Robert Wyer, no date. (Ames, 157). "The Spider and the Flie, a Parable, made by John Hey"wood. Imprinted by Tho. Powell, 1556, B. L. 4to." 66 John Heywood's Woorkes. A Dialogue conteyning the "Number of the effectual Proverbes in the English Tongue, compacte in a matter concerning two Maner of Mariages : "with one Hundreth of Epigrammes; and three Hundreth "of Epigrammes uppon three Hundred Proverbes, and a fifth "hundred of Epigrammes. Whereunto are newly added, "a fixte hundred of Epigrammes, by the faid John Hey"woode. Imprinted by Tho. Marthe, 1576, 4to. B. L." Another Edition was printed by Felix Kyngfton, in 4to. B. L. 1598. "A Brefe Balet, touching the trayterous takynge of Scar"borow Castle. Imprinted at London by Thomas Powel." On a broad fide of two Columns, B. L. (Among the Folio Volumes of Dyfon's Collections, in the Library of the Society of Antiquarians.) Tho. Stafford, who took that Caftle 23 April, 1557, and proclaimed himself Protector of the realm, was beheaded 28 May following, and three of his accom plices were hanged. Oldys's Mf. "A Balade of the meeting and marriage of the King and "Queenes Highness. Inprinted by W. Ryddel." One fide of a large half sheet. Oldys. Winftanly hath expressed a doubt, whether the Author of the Epigrams and of the Plays were not different perfons. The following Epigram will be fufficient to fet that fact beyond contradiction, and at the fame time exhibit a fpecimen of the Author's manner : *Lives of English Poets, p. 45. Art Art thou Heywood, with thy mad merry wit? Yea, forfooth, Master, that name is even hit. you. ? Winstanly and Phillips afcribe to him, I think, falfely, The Pinner of Wakefield and Philotus, printed at Edinburgh, 1603. Dr. Fuller mentions a Book written by our Author, intitled, Monumenta literaria; which are faid to be Non tam labore condita, quam lepore condita. * Vol. III. Worthies, p. 221. |