Although his early life is somewhat a mystery, John Heywood was a significant writer for the Tudor court. He was most likely born in 1497 in Coventry, and eventually studied at Oxford, though there is no evidence he ever earned a degree. In 1519, he was employed by King Henry III's court, and he was a court playwright and poet for Henry, Edward VI, Mary I, and Elizabeth I before his death in 1580.
His talent must have been profound, as his family (and himself) were devout Catholics during the turbulent time of reformation in England. Heywood's marriage to Jane Rastell (the niece of Sir Thomas More) was likely a factor of his acceptance into the court. Heywood's religious faith was a theme in many of his works, in which he drew inspiration from medieval morality plays. Where the plays are simple in plot, they are deep in philosophical thought. Eventually, Heywood was forced to flee England because of his Catholic faith. He never returned, and died in Belgium.
Continuing his literary legacy, Thomas Heywood was the father of writer and translator Jasper Heywood. His grandson was John Donne, the metaphysical poet.
More about John Heywood
