James Wright (antiquarian)

James Wright (1643–1713), was an antiquary and writer, author of the notable Historia Histrionica. Though evidently a good scholar, he was not of either university; but in 1666 he became a student of New Inn, migrating in 1669 to the Middle Temple, by which society he was called to the bar in 1672. 'During the fluctuations of government and afterwards,' says Warton, 'he was attached to the principles of monarchy in their most extensive comprehension, and from this circumstance he might have derived his predilection for the theatre which had been suppressed by the republicans.' Besides the theatre he was much attached to country life, and dwelt often with his father at Oakham. He was 'a skilful antiquary and not a bad poet,' and possessed many rare and valuable old manuscripts, being 'one of the first collectors of old plays since Cartwright,' but all his literary curiosities, among which was an excellent transcript of Leland's 'Itinerary' of the age of Queen Elizabeth, and consequently made before the present mutilations and corruptions, were unfortunately consumed in the fire of the Middle Temple of 1678. (Hearne, Collections, ii. 227). Thomas Hearne wrote of him in October 1713 as recently dead. I am told, he adds, that 'he dyed a papist, and yt he continued always so from his first turning, which was I hear in K. Charles IInd's time' (Hearne, Collections, ed. Rannie, iv. 252).

A versatile writer with a lucid style and a genuine touch of humour, especially as an essayist, Wright was author of:

Besides these works, Wright prepared an accurate epitome in English of Dugdale's ‘Monasticon’ (London, 1693, fol.), in the dedication of which he remarks: ‘Warwickshire has produced two of the most famous and deserving writers in their several ways that England can boast of—a Dugdale and a Shakespeare.’ Wood cites a distich of an elegy written by Wright upon John Goad Hearne, who respected Wright, having corresponded with him upon the subject of Leland, informs us that he wrote strictures upon Wood's 'Athenæ,' but never published them. From a manuscript entry by Hearne, dated 1719, in Dr. Rawlinson's copy of Wright's 'Ruins in St. Paul's Cathedral,' it appears that Wright, a few years before his death, gave Hearne a complete catalogue of his works; and that upon a previous application he had at a former date refused this favour to Wood as being an injudicious and partial biographer' (cf. Hearne, Collections, iii. 372).

Hazlitt doubtfully attributes to Wright a volume of translations entitled 'Sales Epigrammatum: Being the choycest Distichs of Martials Fourteen Books of Epigrams & of all the Chief Latin Poets that have writ in these two last Centuries. Together with Cato's Morality,’ London, 1663, and 1664, 4to; this volume is dedicated to Sir William Bromley in June 1663 by ‘James Wright M. Arts.’ The same signature is affixed to a version of Ovid's ‘Epistles,’ 1683.

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