John Davies (poet, born 1569) facts for kids

Sir John Davies (born 16 April 1569 – died 8 December 1626) was an important English poet, lawyer, and politician. He was a member of the English Parliament at different times. He also became the top lawyer for the King in Ireland, known as the Attorney General for Ireland. He helped create many of the legal ideas that were used by the British Empire as it grew.

Early Life and Education

John Davies was born in Wiltshire, England. He likely grew up at Chicksgrove Manor. He went to Winchester College for four years, where he became very interested in reading and writing. After that, he studied at the Queen's College, Oxford for about a year and a half.

Davies then decided to become a lawyer. He joined the Middle Temple, which was a special school for lawyers. He was good at his studies but sometimes got into trouble for his behavior. He even had to leave the school for a while because of it.

In 1592, Davies traveled to the Netherlands. There, he met a famous lawyer named Paul Merula.

Becoming a Royal Favorite

In 1594, Davies's poems caught the attention of Queen Elizabeth I. She wanted him to keep studying law. She also made him a special helper in her court. The next year, his poem Orchestra was published. Soon after, he officially became a lawyer. In 1597, he was elected to Parliament for Shaftesbury.

In 1598, Davies focused on writing poetry. His poem Nosce Teipsum (which means "Know Thyself") was published in 1599. Both Queen Elizabeth and a powerful lord named Lord Mountjoy liked this poem very much.

Davies became one of the Queen's favorite writers. He wrote a work called Hymns of Astraea for her in 1599. Later, he was allowed back into the Middle Temple. In 1601, he became a Member of Parliament again, this time for Corfe Castle.

When King James VI of Scotland became the new King of England in 1603, Davies was part of the group that brought him to London. King James also admired Davies's poetry. He rewarded Davies with a special title, a knighthood, making him "Sir John Davies." He also appointed him to important legal jobs in Ireland, first as Solicitor-General and then as Attorney-General.

Work in Ireland

Sir John Davies arrived in Dublin, Ireland, in November 1603. Ireland had just come out of a long war. Davies saw that the country was suffering from disease and hunger. He noticed that the courts were respected, but he thought the churches needed a lot of help.

Davies wanted to make many changes in Ireland. He worked hard to improve the legal system. He traveled around the country to make sure courts were working properly. He believed that strong laws would help Ireland become more stable.

He also wanted to reform religious matters. He believed in making sure everyone attended church services. In 1605, he gave a powerful speech about people who did not follow the King's rules about religion.

Davies reported his progress to important people in England, like the King's secretary, Sir Robert Cecil. He hoped his work in Ireland would help him get a major political job in England.

The Ulster Plantation

Davies played a big part in a plan to settle new people in a part of Ireland called Ulster. This area had recently been in rebellion. In 1607, he reported on a major event called the Flight of the Earls, when many Irish leaders left the country. Soon after, he traveled to their lands to prepare for the new settlements.

In 1608, he traveled with Sir Arthur Chichester, the leader of the government in Ireland, to see these lands. Davies worked hard to promote the Ulster Plantation in England. This project involved bringing English and Scottish settlers to live on Irish land.

In 1610, Davies defended the plans for the plantation against challenges from the Irish people. Around this time, he wrote a book called Discoverie of the True Causes why Ireland was never entirely subdued. This book explained his views on how Ireland should be governed.

Speaker of the Irish Parliament

In 1613, Davies helped prepare for a new Irish Parliament. He was elected to Parliament for County Fermanagh. When the Parliament met, Davies was suggested to be the Speaker, which is like the leader of the Parliament.

However, many Catholic members of Parliament did not want him to be Speaker. They wanted their own candidate, Sir John Everard. A funny and messy scene happened when Everard was put in the Speaker's chair, but he refused to leave. Davies's supporters then picked him up and placed him right into Everard's lap! Everard was then removed, and Davies became the Speaker. He gave an important speech about the history of Parliament in Ireland.

In 1615, Davies's reports on Irish legal cases were published. He had worked on many of these cases himself. These cases helped set important rules for law in Ireland and for how the British government would deal with its colonies.

Later Career and Death

In 1617, Davies tried to get a higher legal job in England but did not succeed. So, he resigned from his job as Attorney-General in Ireland. He made sure his nephew took over his old job. In 1619, he moved back to England permanently. He hoped that being in England would help him get a better position.

He worked as a King's lawyer and later became a judge. He was also one of the people who started the Society of Antiquaries, a group interested in history. In 1621, he was elected to the English Parliament again. He sometimes spoke about Irish matters in Parliament.

Davies retired to Englefield House in Berkshire. He was then appointed to a very important job: Lord Chief Justice. However, he never got to start this new job. On 7 December 1626, after a dinner party, he died suddenly in his bed. He was 57 years old.

His Poetry

Sir John Davies wrote many different kinds of poems. He is most famous for his short, witty poems called epigrams and his sonnets. In 1599, he published Nosce Teipsum ("Know Thyself") and Hymnes of Astraea. Queen Elizabeth I loved his work. The Hymnes of Astraea even had secret messages in them, spelling out "Elisabetha Regina" (Queen Elizabeth).

His most famous poem, Nosce Teipsum, helped him gain the favor of King James I and get his jobs in Ireland. This poem is about understanding yourself and the idea that the soul lives forever. It is known for being easy to read and well-written.

Davies's poem Orchestra, or a Poem of Dancing is also very well-known. It is described as "brilliant and graceful." This poem explores how the natural world and human activities are connected.

Davies's poems are found in many old collections of Elizabethan poetry.

Legacy

Sir John Davies was important in politics because of his work on law and how he helped plan the Plantation of Ulster. This plan became a model for how England set up colonies in other places, like North America.

As a writer, he was a very good poet. For a long time, his poems were not well-known, but later, famous writers like T. S. Eliot helped bring attention back to his work. One of his poems, "I know my soul hath power to know all things," was even turned into music by the composer Hubert Parry.

Family Life

In 1609, Davies married Eleanor Touchet. She was a very active writer in the early 1600s, publishing many pamphlets and prophecies. She was one of the first women in England to have her writings printed.

Eleanor often wrote about her prophecies. This sometimes caused disagreements between her and Davies. They had three children. Their only son who lived past infancy, John, was deaf and could not speak. Their daughter Lucy married Ferdinando Hastings and became a Countess.

Eleanor was known for her strong beliefs and prophecies. She is said to have predicted the date of her husband's death. She wore black clothes for three years before the predicted time. Davies died suddenly in his home on the morning of 8 December 1626.

Eleanor continued to make prophecies until her death in 1652. She was buried next to Davies.