Fieldes have eies and woods have eares. ~John Heywood, 1565 John Heywood (1497 – 1580) was an English writer known for his plays, poems, and collection of proverbs.He was born in or near London, but fled to Europe to avoid religious persecution for his Roman Catholic faith and is believed to have died in Mechelen, Belgium. His son was the poet and translator Jasper Heywood, his daughter was Elizabeth Heywood, and his grandson was the poet and preacher John Donne.