Heywood, John (c. 1497–c. 1580)

English poet and playwright. He is chiefly remembered as a writer of interludes, which differed from those of his predecessors in that he portrayed social types rather than qualities personified. He also excelled as a writer of epigrams.

Among his works are The Pardoner and the Frere (1533), Johan Johan (1533), The Play of the Wether (1533), The Four PP (c. 1545), Proverbs (1546), Two Hundred Epigrams (1555), and the allegorical poem The Spider and the Flie (1566).

Heywood was probably born in London. He seems to have been introduced at court by Thomas More and to have been a favourite in the time of Henry VIII, Edward VI, and Mary, on account of his ready wit and skill in music. When Elizabeth I ascended the throne, however, he retired to Belgium.