A hitherto unrecognized Cavalier dramatist: James Compton, Third Earl of Northampton

Abstract

• ON 8 March 1978 there was offered for sale at Christie's, as lot 293, a large collection originating from Castle Ashby in Northamptonshire of plays and other writings in manuscript that had largely been lost sight of since Thomas Percy, the literary historian and editor of the Reliques of Ancient English Poetry first noted their existence during his residence in the area as Vicar of Easton Maudit between 1753 and 1782. They had been recovered as recently as September 1977 by the present Marquess of Northampton from the back of a drawer in the house, and their rediscovery had been announced in The Times Literary Supplement of 9 December that year by Professor William P. Williams, and American scholar whose inquiry regarding their whereabouts had prompted this fortunate event. The whole collection was subsequently purchased by the British Library (Add. MSS. 60273-85).