cretary Davison."—Ibid. 291, f. 84. Analytica Politica."-Ibid. 588, f. 3.

And " Tabula

Many of the papers of Secretary Davison now extant, are indorsed by his son Francis; and the following circumstances connected with them may serve to some extent as a clue by which to unravel the mystery in which the poet's fate is involved. The greatest part of his manuscripts, as well as those of his father, were in 1619 in the possession of the indefatigable Ralph Starkey; and on the 10th of August in that year, the privy council issued a warrant, directed to Sir Thomas Wilson, commanding him to repair to Starkey's lodgings, and to seize on all such papers and matters of state as in time past were in the custody of Secretary Davison.* That Francis Davison's manuscripts were once in the hands of Starkey is manifest, from the writing of the latter being in several of them now extant. These afterwards became the property of Sir Simon D'Ewes; and it is difficult, if not impossible, to explain in what way either of the individuals in question became possessed of them; but the conclusion seems evident, that as those belonging to the poet were in the custody of Ralph Starkey in 1619, he must have died before that year.

1633, entitled Profitable Instructions, describing_what special Observations are to be taken by Travellers in all Nations, States, and Countries, pleasant and profitable, by the three much admired Robert late Earl of Essex, Sir Philip Sydney, and Secretary Davison. In Harl. MSS. 6893, is an imperfect copy of the same, styled "Most brief but excellent instructions for a Traveller, written by Secretary Davison for his son." Hence it may be concluded, that Francis Davison transcribed the copy noticed above, from his father's manuscript, for his own use.

*Harl. MSS. 286, f. 160.

The following wretched acrostic by W. Fletcher, on Francis Davison's name, and indorsed by him"W. Fletcher's acrosticke upon my name," is extant in the Harleian Collection* in the British Museum.

"Faithful he is, and fully will perform
Respective promise to his own elect:

A ttend therefore his word, which will us form.
Not any person is of true respect

Country or nation, with the Holy one,
(I n all on earth) respect of persons none.
Since it so, let all submission make

Desiring God to guard us in his fear.
A ssuring then ourselves for Christ's sake
Visions by night will then to us appear.
In hope whereof I do my prayers rear
S ith nothing else, in me contignate is,
Once every day to pray, I will not fail

N ot friend nor foe 'gainst Davison prevail.

Secretary Davison left by Katherine Spelman before mentioned, four sons; Francis, Christopher, William, and Walter; and two daughters,

ley, and Katherine, who married

wife of TownDuncombe,

......

and obtained letters of administration to her father's will; but no account of either of his children besides what is contained in these pages, has been discovered. The ancestry of the Secretary is conjectured to have been obscure, from the circumstance of his having in 1586 received a grant of arms; namely, Gules, a Stag trippant, Or. Crest, on a wreath of the colours a Stag's head, couped at the shoulders, and winged, Or; † pre+ vious to which he had used for his crest, a Stag trippant, pierced through the neck with an arrow.‡

* In Harl. MSS. 347, f. 148.

+ Cook's Grants, in the College of Arms.

seum,

Vide his seal attached to several letters in the British Mu

CHRISTOPHER DAVISON.

CHRISTOPHER DAVISON was, as has been just observed, the second son of Secretary Davison. It is presumed that he was admitted of Gray's Inn in 1597,* from which time, until the death of his father in December 1608, nothing is known of him. By the Secretary's will, he was appointed to execute the office of Custos Brevium of the King's Bench, paying to his brothers certain proportions of the emoluments arising from it.

In March 1610, however, he petitioned parliament, and as that document throws much light on the affairs of his family, it is deserving of notice.

His petition stated, that "Queen Elizabeth, by letters patent, 19th January, 21 Eliz. granted to William Davison, Esquire, the office of Custos Brevium of the King's Bench, habendum after the death of one Richard Payne, then Clerk of the same office. The King's Majesty, after the death of the said Richard Payne, by his letters patent, 25 July, 5 Jaq. confirmed and ratified the Queen's grant, and further (at the humble petition of the said William Davison) granted the reversion of the said office unto George Byng, of Wrotham in Kent, and Henry Byng of Gray's Inn, whose names he used in trust for the benefit of him and his children, and payment of his debts, the greatest part

* Harl. MSS. 1912.

whereof was such debts as were owing to them. William Davison dieth, and (by his will in writing reciteth the said trust) willeth the said George Byng and Henry Byng, or one of them, to exercise his said office until his debts and daughters' portions be paid, and after such payment, or security put in for that purpose, to assign over the said office, with the execution thereof, to Christopher Davison, second son of the said William Davison. After the death of the said William Davison, George Byng and Henry Byng, by virtue of the letters patent, were sworn in and admitted. Since, Christopher Davison hath offered payment of all sums of money and charges whatsoever to the Byngs, owing or by them disbursed, and to put in security for payment of the other debts, and whatsoever else is required by his father's will; upon performance of which, he desireth (according to his father's will) the said office to be assigned over unto him. Henry Byng, confessing the trust, is well contented; but George Byng, making many pretences, unconscionably refuseth. The humble suit of Christopher Davison unto the High Court of Parliament is, that, after satisfaction of all debts and demands to the said Byngs, and sufficient security put in for the payment of all other the creditors of his father (whom his special desire is to have satisfied), the said office may be settled upon him and his assigns, according to his father's will, during the lives of the said George Byng and Henry Byng, and the longer liver of them. The reason why he is driven to seek an Act of Parliament is, for that he must disburse so great sums of money to the Byngs, which they affirm to amount to £2000 and upwards, and besides to pay the debts of his father, being very great. All which he cannot furnish himself of without the help of his friends, whom (unless it be by Act of Parliament confirmed unto him) he cannot sufficiently secure, for that it is litigious whether the office be in the King's gift, or the Lord Chief Justice's. And the said office hath, in like sort, been heretofore confirmed to one John Payne, by Act of Parliament, 33 Hen. VIII.

"1st. This is all the estate that William Davison hath left his children; and if they should be detained from it, they are all utterly undone.

"2nd. William Davison's creditors, (which are many, and which, by his will, he desireth should be satisfied) by the course which George Byng holdeth (denying the trust) be all defrauded, when Christopher Davison will pay them all, according as his father hath appointed by his will.*

A bill connected with this petition was read on the 14th March, 1610, and again on the 27th of the same month; and on the 10th July following, a motion was made for counsel to be heard upon it; but nothing more on the subject has been discovered, nor does the slightest notice of Christopher Davison occur after this period.

Though, like his brothers Francis and Walter, Christopher Davison was a poet, it does not appear that any of his productions are inserted in the RHAPSODY; and his only literary efforts which are known to be extant, are translations of some Psalms, which will be found in this work, and which are not without merit.

*Lansdowne MSS. 91, f. 56.

+ Journals of the House of Commons, vol. i. p. 448.