Arthur Wilson

Son of Rich. Wilson of Yarmouth in Norfolk Gent. was born in that County, became a Gent. Com. of Trin. Coll. in the year 1631 being then about 33 years of age, where spending more than two years, was all the Academical education that he ever received, but whether he took a degree, or was actually created M. of A. as some of his relations hath told me, it doth no where appear in the registers. During his stay in the said Coll. he was very punctual in frequenting the Chappel and Hall, and in observing all orders of the College and University. He had little skill in the Lat. tongue, less in the Greek, a good readiness in the French, and some smattering in the Dutch. He had travelled in Germany, France and Spain in the quality of a Servant to Robert Earl of Essex, and was well seen in the Mathematicks and Poetry, and somthing in the Common Law of the Nation. He had composed some Comedies, which were acted at the Black-friers in Lond. by the Kings players, and in the Act time at Oxon, with good applause, himself being present; but whether they are printed I cannot yet tell: sure I am that I have seen several specimens of his poetry printed in divers books. His carriage was very courteous and obliging, and such as did become a well-bred Gentleman. He also had a great command of the English tongue, as well in writing as speaking, and had he bestowed his endeavours on another subject than that of History, they would have without doubt seemed better. For in those things which he hath done, are wanting the principal matters conducing to the completion of that faculty, viz. matter from record, exact time, name and place; which, by his endeavouring too much to set out his bare collections in an effected and bombastic style, are much neglected. The capacious title of these collections, is,

The History of Great Britaine, being the life and raign of K. James the first, relating to what passed from his first access to the crown, till his death. Lond. 1653. fol. In which History (which some call an infamous Pasquil) you’ll find the Author to favour Rob. D’evereux the last Earl of Essex and his allies, and to underprize such as were more in the Kings favour than he. The reason is, because he from his youth had attended that Count in his chamber, and had received an annual pension from him several years. After his death, he was received into the Family of Robert Earl of Warwick, and by him made his Steward; of whose Father, named Robert also, he maketh honourable mention in the said History; in which may easily be discerned a partial Presbyterian veine that constantly goes throughout the whole work. And it being the Genie of those People to pry more than they should into the Courts and Comportments of Princes, do take occasion thereupon to traduce and bespatter them. Further also, our Author having endeavour’d in many things to make the world believe that K. James, and his Son after him, were enclined to popery, and to bring that Religion into England, hath made him subject to many errors and misrepresentations. He gave way to fate at Felsted, near to Little Lighes (the seat of the Earl of Warwick) in the County of Essex, about the beginning of October in sixteen hundred fifty and two,1652. and was buried in the Chancel of the Church there. After his death the said History coming into the hands of a certain Doctor, had some alterations made therein (as ’tis ((d))((d)) See in Will. Sandersons Proem to The reign and death of K. James. printed 1656. fol. said) by him, who shaped it according to his desire. In the year before the said Hist. was published, came out a most desperate and libellous book, full of lyes, mistakes, nonsense, &c. entit. The divine Catastrophe of the Kingly family of the house of Stuarts: or, a short History of the rise, raigne and ruin thereof. Wherein the most secret and Chamber-abominations of the two last Kings (Jam. 1. and Ch. 1.) are discovered, &c. Lond. 1652. oct. written by one who pretended to be a diligent observer of the times, named Sir Edw. Peyton Knight and Baronet, the same who had written and published A discourse concerning the fitness of the posture necessary to be used in taking the bread and wine at the Sacrament. Lond. 1642. qu. The said book called The divine Catastrophe, &c. being highly resented by the Royalists, the Author of it therefore was condemn’d of great baseness and ingratitude. His puritanical education had been at Cambridge for a time, and therefore he being out of my road, I have no more to say of him but this, that he was bred in Grammar Learning at S. Edmunds Bury, that after he had left the University, he setled on his patrimony in Cambridgshire, (in which County, I suppose, he was born) that afterwards he served in one or more Parliaments in the latter end of Jac. 1. and in others after, and was Custos Rotulorum for Cambridgshire, of which office he was deprived by the endeavours of the great favourite of K. Jam. 1. called George Duke of Buckingham. At length he siding with the Presbyterians in the time of grand rebellion, had his share of sufferings for that cause while the war lasted, wrot a sharp Pamphlet against the Kings violation of the rights and privileges of Parliament (as he calls them) by endeavouring to seize upon, and imprison five of the members thereof, 4. Jan. 1641. and was ready upon all occasions to blast the reputation of his Majesty and his followers. At length having lived to see the Line of the Steuarts extirpated for a time, died at Wicket in Cambridgshire in the beginning of the year 1657.