A Dictionary of Music and Musicians/Wydow, Robert
WYDOW, Robert, Mus.B. (also spelt Wedow, Widows, Wydewe, etc., and latinized into Viduus). According to Leland he was born at Thaxted, in Essex. He was educated by his step-father, the master and proprietor of a school at Thaxted, who ultimately sent him to Oxford to complete his studies. While there he distinguished himself in literature and the arts, especially in poetry and music, finally taking the degree of Bachelor of Music. After his stepfather's death Robert Wydow succeeded him as master of the school, and is said to have turned out several illustrious pupils. Among his patrons, Wydow numbered Edward IV; and, as Edward had some connection with Thaxted, being lord of a third of the manor, it is not unreasonable to suppose that it was owing to that monarch's good offices that he obtained the presentation to the vicarage of Thaxted on Dec. 22, 1481. This living, which was then worth about £28, Wydow resigned on Oct. 1, 1489. It was probably at this period that he travelled in France and Italy for the purposes of study, and added to those stores of learning which gained him the appellation of 'Grammaticus'; and it was perhaps on his return from the Continent that he was made 'Penitentiarius' in St. Paul's Cathedral, if, as is generally believed, he really held that post. On Nov. 19, 1493, he was collated rector of Chalfont St. Giles, in Buckinghamshire, a place afterwards associated with the more illustrious names of John Milton and William Penn. After enjoying that living for rather more than three years, he was installed by proxy Canon and Confrater of Comba II. in Wells Cathedral, on March 27, 1497; and a few months later (Sept. 10) was appointed Succentor in the place of Henry Abyngdon [vol. i. p. 6]. On Sept. 21, 1499, he obtained the vicarage of Chew Magna, in Somersetshire, which he held till his death. In 1499–1500 he was made one of the residentiary canons, and on May 25 in the latter year was installed Sub-Dean and Prebendary of Holcombe Burnell, in Devonshire. About the same time Robert Wydow was made deputy for the transaction of affairs between the Pope and the Cathedral and Chapter of Wells; he was also granted the advowson of Wookey, in Somersetshire, the rectory and vicarage of which were together worth about £15. He also held about this time the offices of 'Scrutator Domorum' and Librarian in the Chapter House. On Sept. 21, 1502, Wydow was made Seneschal, and shortly after Auditor, of the Chapter House. On Oct. 1, 1503, he was presented to the perpetual vicarage of Buckland Newton, in Dorsetshire, which is the last event recorded in his life, for he died Oct. 4, 1505. He was a man of some wealth, if we may judge from his benefactions to the Carthusian Priory of Henton, near Bath, which were so considerable that a Requiem was ordered to be sung for his soul in every house of the Order throughout the kingdom. Edward Lee, Archbishop of York, who in his younger days had met Wydow, called him 'facile princeps' among the poets of his day. Holinshed speaks of him as an 'excellent poet,' and classes him among the celebrities of Henry VII.'s reign. Wydow's chief poetical work was a rhythmical life of Edward the Black Prince, to which Leland refers in these words:—
Contulit Hectoreis arguta voce triumphis
Eduerdum Viduus doctissimus ille Nigellum
Et facti pretium tulit immortals poeta.