Jasper Heywood
Encyclopedia
Jasper Heywood, SJ son of John Heywood
, translated into English three plays of Seneca
, the Troas (1559), the Thyestes (1560) and Hercules Furens (1561).
He was a fellow of Merton College, Oxford
, but was compelled to resign from that society in 1558. In the same year he was elected a fellow of All Souls College, but, refusing to conform to the changes in religion at the beginning of the reign of Elizabeth I
, he gave up his fellowship and went to Rome
, where he was received into the Society of Jesus
.
For seventeen years he was professor of moral theology
and controversy in the Jesuit College at Dillingen, Bavaria
. In 1581 he was sent to England
as superior of the Jesuit mission, but his leniency in that position led to his recall.
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 extraordinary 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 the 9th of January 1598.
His verse translations of Seneca were supplemented by other plays contributed by Alexander Neville
, Thomas Nuce
, John Studley
and Thomas Newton
. Newton collected these translations in one volume, Seneca, his tenne tragedies translated into Englysh (1581). The importance of this work in the development of English drama can hardly be over-estimated.
He also wrote four poems published in 1576 in the Elizabethan collection known as The Paradise of Dainty Devices.
His nephew was the poet and preacher John Donne
.
John Heywood
John Heywood was an English writer known for his plays, poems, and collection of proverbs. Although he is best known as a playwright, he was also active as a musician and composer, though no works survive.-Life:...
, translated into English three plays of Seneca
Seneca the Younger
Lucius Annaeus Seneca was a Roman Stoic philosopher, statesman, dramatist, and in one work humorist, of the Silver Age of Latin literature. He was tutor and later advisor to emperor Nero...
, the Troas (1559), the Thyestes (1560) and Hercules Furens (1561).
He was a fellow of Merton College, Oxford
Merton College, Oxford
Merton College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England. Its foundation can be traced back to the 1260s when Walter de Merton, chancellor to Henry III and later to Edward I, first drew up statutes for an independent academic community and established endowments to...
, but was compelled to resign from that society in 1558. In the same year he was elected a fellow of All Souls College, but, refusing to conform to the changes in religion at the beginning of the reign of Elizabeth I
Elizabeth I of England
Elizabeth I was queen regnant of England and Ireland from 17 November 1558 until her death. Sometimes called The Virgin Queen, Gloriana, or Good Queen Bess, Elizabeth was the fifth and last monarch of the Tudor dynasty...
, he gave up his fellowship and went to Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
, where he was received into the Society of Jesus
Society of Jesus
The Society of Jesus is a Catholic male religious order that follows the teachings of the Catholic Church. The members are called Jesuits, and are also known colloquially as "God's Army" and as "The Company," these being references to founder Ignatius of Loyola's military background and a...
.
For seventeen years he was professor of moral theology
Theology
Theology is the systematic and rational study of religion and its influences and of the nature of religious truths, or the learned profession acquired by completing specialized training in religious studies, usually at a university or school of divinity or seminary.-Definition:Augustine of Hippo...
and controversy in the Jesuit College at Dillingen, Bavaria
Bavaria
Bavaria, formally the Free State of Bavaria is a state of Germany, located in the southeast of Germany. With an area of , it is the largest state by area, forming almost 20% of the total land area of Germany...
. In 1581 he was sent to England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
as superior of the Jesuit mission, but his leniency in that position led to his recall.
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 extraordinary 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
Naples
Naples is a city in Southern Italy, situated on the country's west coast by the Gulf of Naples. Lying between two notable volcanic regions, Mount Vesuvius and the Phlegraean Fields, it is the capital of the region of Campania and of the province of Naples...
on the 9th of January 1598.
His verse translations of Seneca were supplemented by other plays contributed by Alexander Neville
Alexander Neville (scholar)
-Life:He was brother of Thomas Neville, dean of Canterbury, and son of Richard Neville of South Leverton, Nottinghamshire, by Anne, daughter of Sir Walter Mantell of Heyford, Northamptonshire. His mother's sister Margaret was mother of Barnabe Googe...
, Thomas Nuce
Thomas Nuce
-Life:He matriculated at Peterhouse, Cambridge in 1559. He then graduated B.A. from Pembroke Hall in 1562, M.A. 1565, and B.D. in 1572. He was in 1562 a fellow of Pembroke....
, John Studley
John Studley
John Studley was an English academic, known as a translator of Seneca. He contributed to the Seneca his tenne tragedies translated into English , compiled by Thomas Newton and the sole printed translations of Seneca available in Elizabethan England; some echoes of his work have been detected in...
and Thomas Newton
Thomas Newton (poet)
Thomas Newton was an English physician, clergyman, poet, author and translator.-Life:The eldest son of Edward Newton of Park House, in Butley, a part of the parish of Prestbury, Cheshire, he was educated first at the Macclesfield grammar school by John Brownsword, a much-praised schoolmaster...
. Newton collected these translations in one volume, Seneca, his tenne tragedies translated into Englysh (1581). The importance of this work in the development of English drama can hardly be over-estimated.
He also wrote four poems published in 1576 in the Elizabethan collection known as The Paradise of Dainty Devices.
His nephew was the poet and preacher John Donne
John Donne
John Donne 31 March 1631), English poet, satirist, lawyer, and priest, is now considered the preeminent representative of the metaphysical poets. His works are notable for their strong and sensual style and include sonnets, love poetry, religious poems, Latin translations, epigrams, elegies, songs,...
.
See also
- Canons of Elizabethan poetry