John Davies

, an excellent Mathematician, as the learned Camden (a)(a) Cam [•] . in A [••] al. R. Elizab. sub an. 1601. stiles him, was the Son of John Davies of London, in which City he was born, at about six of the clock in the evening of the eighth of Feb. in 1559-60. and educated in Gramaticals there. In 1574. he made his first entry into this University, and setling in Gloucester hall under the tuition of one that was much enclined to the Rom. Perswasion, made great proficiency in his studies; and Mr. Tho. Allen of that house finding that his Genie was much addicted to the Mathematicks, instructed him therein, and gave him all the incouragement imaginable to proceed in that noble Science. In 1581. he proceeded M. of A. as a Member of Glouc. hall, continued there for some time after, and then retiring to the great City was instructed in Astrological matters by one Dr. Sim. Forman, a very able Astrologer and Physician, as it appears by the MS. books (b)(b) In bib. Eliae Ashmole Arm. he left behind him when he died, tho a certain (*)(*) Sir Ant. W [•] ldan in T [•] e Court and Character of K. James. Lond. 1650. in oct. p. 110. author tells us he was a very silly fellow. In Feb. 1587. he was first of all introduced into the Royal Court, where he was made known to, and received with great courtsie by, that popular Count, Robert Earl of Essex. In 1589. he travelled into France, and made a voyage into Portugal, whereby he advanced his knowledge, as to men, and the Languages of those Countries very much. In 1596. after he had been married 3 years, he went under the conduct of the said Count towards Spain, where doing most admirable service at the taking and sacking of Cadiz, he received (c)(c) So ’tis written on his mon [•] ment in the Chancel of Pangbourne Church in Berks. the honour of Knighthood and of Baneret. In 1597. he travelled to the Islands of Terceres, where he performed that employment he went about, to the great honour of himself, and in 1598. Jan. 31. he was made Surveyor of the Ordnance by the endeavours of his singular good Lord, the E. of Essex, under whom, in the year following, he went as a prime Officer into Ireland, where his service was much remarkable against the Rebels. In 1600. he was deeply ingaged in that Earls Teasons, for which he was taken and committed to custody, on the 8. Feb. the same year. About the eleventh of the same month, the Archbishop of Canterbury issued out a Direction for the Ministers and Preachers in his Province, to the end that they give the People a right understanding what the Earl of Essex intended by his treasonable conspiracy; in which Direction I find these matters of Sir Joh. Davies. viz. that he was brought up in Oxford, and was by profession a seller of figures, and on whom that hateful Earl, hoth to God and man, did repose great affiance, insomuch that he made him chief Officer about the Ordnance in the Tower, and thought him one of the faithfull’st Servants he had to make his Keeper, &c. This Davies was one, that favoured nothing less than the Gospel; for being in hold, the chiefest motion that he made to the Gentleman that had the custody of him for that time, was, that if it were possible, he might have a Priest to confess him, &c. In March following he was tried among other Conspirators for his life, and being in a manner convicted by his own Conscience and confession, held his peace; and then being taunted by the way that he was a Papist, he denied not, but that in Oxon he was instructed in the Romish Religion by his Tutor, and confirmed in the same by Sir Christop. Blount one of the Conspirators, while he was in the Irish Wars, At which words, when he perceived Blount was moved, he straight appeased him, affirming that he was confirmed in that Religion, not by Blounts perswasion, but by the example of his Christian and Religious life. Afterwards being condemned to be hang’d, drawn, and quartered, he requested, that altho he was no Nobleman, yet he might suffer as they did, that is, by beheading; if not, not to be quarter’d in pieces, but to be buried Christianly. After sentence, he was remanded to his prison, but by the intercession of Friends, the Queen signed his Pardon, 5. Feb. 1601. which was allowed by the Judges in Westminster hall, on the 12. of the same month. So that being free, he purchased an Estate in the Parish of Pangborne in Berks, where he spent the remainder of his days in a retired and studious condition. This person, who is stiled in literis Mathematicis apprime eruditus, hath written many things of Mathematicks and Astrology, but hath nothing, as I can yet find, that is extant. There went from hand to hand a volume of Letters which were written by this Sir Joh. Davies, Dr. Joh. Dee, and Dr. Mat. Gwinne, concerning Chimical and Magical secrets; which, as some say, (tho I cannot yet be satisfied in it) was given by Dr. T. B. to Cosmo Prince of Tuscany when he was received and entertained by the Univ. of Oxon 1669. But let this report remain with the author, while I tell you that this Sir John Davies giving way to fate in his House called Berecourt, in the parish of Pangbourne in Berks, 14. May in sixteen hundred twenty and five, 1625 was buried in the North side of the Chancel of the Church at Pangbourne. Over his Grave was a very sair Mon. erected, whereon his Statue in Armour lies between the Statues of his two Wives. He left behind him a Son of both his Names, who was a Gent. Com. of Glouc. hall, 1626. and afterwards a Knight, but neither he, nor his Father, was author of the History of the Caribby Islands printed 1666. fol. but another Joh. Davies.