John Hayward (historian)

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Willem de Passe
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Sir John Hayward (c. 1564 – 27 June 1627) was an English historian, lawyer and politician.

Biography

Hayward was born at or near Felixstowe, Suffolk, where he was educated, and afterwards went to Pembroke College, Cambridge, where he was awarded BA in 1581, MA in 1584 and LLD in 1591.[1]

In 1599 he published The First Part of the Life and Raigne of King

Francis Bacon to search for passages in it that might be drawn within a case of treason being compiled against the Earl of Essex.[2] Specifically, Hayward was suspected of prophesying the failure of Essex's military campaign in Ireland through a description of the ill-starred efforts of Richard II in that country.[3] On 11 July 1599, following the seizure and burning of a corrected edition of the book, Hayward was interrogated before the Star Chamber.[4] The Queen, "argued that Hayward was pretending to be the author in order to shield 'some more mischievous' person, and that he should be racked so that he might disclose the truth".[5] Bacon reported of the evidence for treason, "surely I find none, but for felony very many", referring to the fact that many of the sentences were stolen from Tacitus. The influence on Hayward of the works of Tacitus, which had only lately been published in English, marked a new departure in British historiography, whereby the character and behaviour of historical actors assumed a causal importance in the affairs of state.[4] In 1600, Essex was convicted on charges of abusing his power, and in the following year of treason, whereupon he was put to death. At both trials, Hayward's book was produced in evidence. Hayward himself was remanded to the Tower in July 1600, where he remained until after the death of Elizabeth.[1][4]

A treatise of union of the two realmes of England and Scotland, 1604

When

Master in Chancery. He was admitted at Gray's Inn on 1 August 1619 and was knighted on 9 November 1619.[1]

Hayward died in 1627 and was buried in parish of

Exclusion Bill
.

Hayward was conscientious and diligent in obtaining information, and although his reasoning on questions of morality is often childish, his descriptions are generally graphic and vigorous. Notwithstanding his imprisonment under Elizabeth, his portrait of the qualities of the queen's mind and person is flattering rather than detractive. He also wrote several works of a devotional character. During his confinement in the Tower, he published The Sanctuarie of a Troubled Soule (1601), which went through a dozen editions and issues. Other similar works proved equally popular, and he was acclaimed as, "a learned and godly man, being better read in theological authors than in those belonging to his own profession."[4]

Hayward should not be confused with his namesake, Sir John Hayward of Shropshire (c.1591-1636), who sat as MP for Bridgnorth in 1621 and Saltash in 1626. See Andrew Thrush and John P. Ferris (eds.), The History of Parliament: The House of Commons, 1604-1629 (Cambridge UP, 2010), IV, 605

References

  1. ^ a b c d e "Hayward, John (HWRT580J)". A Cambridge Alumni Database. University of Cambridge.
  2. ISBN 978-0-670-91482-1
    .
  3. JSTOR 2873207
    .
  4. ^
    doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/12794. (Subscription or UK public library membership
    required.)
  5. ^ Sohmer, Steve. "12 June 1599: Opening Day at Shakespeare's Globe." Early Modern Literary Studies 3.1 (1997): 1.1-46
  6. ^ "Hawten-Hider | British History Online". www.british-history.ac.uk.

External links

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