Biographical

I. Sir John Davis (or Davys or Davies) of Pangbourne, Berkshire,who 'sleeps well' under a chalk-stone monument in the parish churchthere. He was mixed up with the 'Plots' (alleged and semi-real),of the Elizabethan-Essex period. Many of his Letters--various verylong and matterful and pathetic--are preserved at Hatfield among theHistorical Manuscripts" (3rd, 1872), makes a strange jumble of our SirJohn and this Sir John's Letters (see Index, s. n.). He was Masterof the Ordnance 31st January, 1598, and was knighted at Dublin 12thJuly, 1599. His Will is dated 6th April, 1625, and it was proved atLondon ... May, 1626. Our Sir John was appointed one of his executors.Arms: Sable, a griffin, segt., or. He is supposed to have been ofShropshire descent.

II. Sir John Davies (or Davys or Davis) Knight-Marshal of Connaught andThomond: temp. Elizabeth. He had large grants of lands in Roscommon.He is now represented by the family of Clonshanville (or Loyle) inRoscommon, who are of Shropshire descent (see Archdall's Peerage ofIreland.) His Will is dated 14th February, 1625. He died 13th April,1626. His Will was not proved (at Dublin) until 17th November, 1628.Arms: Sable, on a chevron, argent, three trefoils slipped, vert.:crest; a dragon's head erased, vert.

The spelling of the family name, which is now Davies, varies very much.I have found it as Dyve, Dayves, Davyes, Dauis, Davis, and Davies.Usually our Worthy signs 'Dauyes;' but in his books changes, e.g., in'Nosce Teipsum' of 1599, to the verse-dedication to Elizabeth, it is'Dauies;' in 1602 'Dauys,' and in 1608 'Davis,' and so diversely in hisProse.

Davis bapt.

This 'entry' renders null all speculations as to whether by 'NewInn' were not intended 'New Hall' Oxford, &c. &c.; and it is a thirdcorrection of important biographical errors hitherto.

It is to be regretted that other Records of New Inn commence only withthe year 1674. So that we are without light on the residence in theMiddle Temple.

"You know the modest Sunne full fifteene timesBlushing did rise, and blushing did descend,While I in making of these ill made rimes,My golden howers unthriftily did spend:Yet, if in friendship you these numbers prayse,I will mispend another fifteene dayes."

"O ignorant poor man! what dost thou beareLockt vp within the casket of thy brest?What iewels and what riches hast thou there!What heauenly treasure in so weake a chest!

Looke in thy soule, and thou shalt beauties find,Like those which drownd Narcissus in the flood:Honour and Pleasure both are in thy mind,And all that in the world is counted good.

Thinke of her worth, and think that God did meane,This worthy mind should worthy things imbrace;Blast not her beauties with thy thoughts vnclean,Nor her dishonour with thy passions base:

Kill not her quickning powers with surfettings,Mar not her sense with sensualitie;Cast not her serious wit on idle things:Make not her free-will, slaue to vanitie.

And when thou think'st of her eternitie,Thinke not that death against her nature is,Thinke it a birth; and when thou goest to die,Sing like a swan, as if thou went'st to blisse.

Take heed of over-weening, and compareThy peacock's feet with thy gay peacock's traine;Study the best and highest things that are,But of thyselfe an humble thought retaine."

"Then to what spirit shall I these noates commend,But unto that which doth them best expresse;

Who will to them more kind protection lend,Than Hee which did protect me in distresse."

London, but the King gave him "dispensation" that he might return to