Background
He was son of John Heywood, and became a fellow of Merton College, Oxford, but was compelled to resign in 1558.
He was son of John Heywood, and became a fellow of Merton College, Oxford, but was compelled to resign in 1558.
He is known as the English translator of three Latin plays of Seneca, the Troas (1559), the Thyestes (1560) and Hercules Furens (1561). On his way back to the Continent, a violent storm drove him back to the English coast. He was arrested on the charge of being a priest, but, although efforts were made to induce him to abjure his opinions, he remained firm.
He was condemned to perpetual exile on pain of death, and died at Naples on 9 January 1598.