Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Heywood, Robert
HEYWOOD, ROBERT (1574?–1645), poet, eldest son of Peter Heywood of Heywood Hall, Lancashire, was born about 1574. He married Margaret, daughter and coheiress of John Asheton of Penketh, Lancashire, and in 1611 rebuilt Heywood Hall. In 1636 he entertained the scholar and poet, Richard James [q. v.], who recorded the chief events of his visit in his ‘Iter Lancastrense.’ He was called by the nonconformist Oliver Heywood [q. v.] ‘a pious reverend old gentleman, and an excellent poet.’ His poetry was supposed to have perished until in 1868 a transcript turned up in a sale at Sotheby's, with the title of ‘Observations and Instructions, Divine and Morall.’ This was printed, under the editorship of James Crossley, by the Chetham Society in 1869. The verses, which are not without vigour or point, are arranged in five ‘centuries.’ Heywood died in 1645, aged 71.
[Crossley's Notes, op. cit.; James's Iter Lancastrense, in Chetham Soc. vol. vii.]