Arthur Wilson
Arthur Wilson was a notable English historian, poet, and playwright born in 1595 in Yarmouth, England. He gained significant recognition for his extensive historical work, "The History of Great Britain, Being the Life and Reign of King James the First," published in 1653. In addition to his historical contributions, Wilson was a discerning poet, remembered for his poem included in the 1633 edition of John Donne's works. His theatrical works, including plays like "The Inconstant Lady: Or, Better Late than Never," showcase the typical themes of Caroline drama, emphasizing moral lessons and the complexities of identity. Wilson's career was marked by varied experiences; he worked as a secretary for the third earl of Essex and later for Robert Rich, the second earl of Warwick. His life included formal education at Trinity College, Oxford, where he dedicated time to his historical studies. Wilson's writings often reflect a nuanced perspective on authority and governance, advocating against rebellion despite the flaws of rulers. He passed away in 1652, leaving behind a legacy as a multifaceted figure in early modern English literature and history.
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Arthur Wilson
- Born: December 14, 1595 (baptized)
- Birthplace: Yarmouth, England
- Died: 1652
- Place of death: Felsted, Essex, England
Biography
Arthur Wilson established his reputation as an historian with the publication of his monumental study, The History of Great Britain, Being the Life and Reign of King James the First, Relating to What Passed Him from His First Access to the Crown, Till his Death (1653). Besides the celebrity this study brought him, Wilson was a poet of discernment whose poem, “Upon Mr. J. Donne and His Poems,” is included in the 1633 edition of John Donne’s Poems. Three of Wilson’s plays were recorded in the Stationer’s Register, protecting them from presentation or publication without his consent.
Wilson was born in 1595 in Yarmouth, England, the son of John and Suzan Wilson, both commoners. The few known details of his early life are described in Wilson’s autobiographical essay, “Observations of God’s Providence in the Tract of My Life.” When he was fourteen, Wilson went to France, where he lived for two years. On his return to England, he studied calligraphy, which secured him a position in the Exchequer Office. He was fired after two years because he had written some religious poetry that his employers considered offensive.
Unemployed and not yet twenty, Wilson arranged through a relative to visit the estate of the third earl of Essex at Chartley. While there, he rescued a damsel who fell into the moat, thereby attracting the earl’s favorable attention. Essex hired him as his personal secretary, a position Wilson held for the next fifteen years, traveling extensively as part of the Essex retinue and observing firsthand many of Britain’s most influential people. This exposure provided him with compelling background for his renowned history. When Essex’s bride crossed swords with Wilson, Essex dismissed him, giving him a generous pension. Wilson entered Trinity College, Oxford University, where, for the next two years, he worked on his history of Great Britain.
By this time, Wilson is known to have written at least one play, a tragicomedy entitled The Inconstant Lady: Or, Better Late than Never, probably staged at the estate of Essex’s grandmother, the countess of Leicester, where Essex was a regular visitor. This play was also presented by the King’s Men at Hampton Court. Wilson may well have written his other two plays, The Swisser and The Corporal, at this time, although they could have been written, or at least revised heavily, during his Oxford sojourn. These plays follow many of the facile formulas of Caroline drama: good versus evil with good triumphing, confusion about one’s heritage, mistaken identity, and material redemption through discovering one’s true identity. One message comes through in all of Wilson’s work and with particular emphasis in The Swisser: no matter how unfair, unjust, and uncaring sovereigns may be, there is never any justification for rising up against them. Wilson compares the sovereigns’ royal blood to the tears of saints. Wilson spent his final years in the service of Robert Rich, second earl of Warwick, a cousin of the third earl of Essex, Wilson’s previous employer. Wilson died in 1652.