Myles Davies
Encyclopedia
Myles Davies was a British
author of Welsh
birth who published the Athenae Britannicae in three, or perhaps four volumes, around 1716.
in Flintshire
, Wales
. His parents George and Elizabeth Davies lived in Tre'r Abbot. Isaac D'Israeli
said his biography was quite unknown. He was educated at the English Jesuit College in Rome
, and was made a Roman Catholic priest on 17 April 1688. He left Rome on 15 October 1688 to work with the Jesuits in Wales, but soon converted to become a Protestant, and in 1705 published an explanation (apologia) for his surprising conversion in The Recantation of Mr Pollett, A Roman priest.
The preface to one of his books describes him as a gentleman of the Inns of Court
.
He was a learned and erudite scholar, but eccentric to the verge of insanity.
In 1715 he published the first volume of his Athenae Britannicae, a critical history of pamphlets called Icon Libellorum. It was described as "a queer production, but cram full of curious information".
The Libellorum included a French letter and a Latin Ode to Robert Harley, first Earl of Oxford.
Davies decided to become a mendicant scholar, selling his own books.
He would visit the house of a potential patron and send in a bundle of his books, with perhaps an ode to the recipient, in the hope of receiving a gift in return. He was often rejected or insulted when trying to obtain payment or return of his work.
By 1812, his work was described as extremely rare.
The date of his death is not known; it is usually stated as 1715, but he may still have been alive in 1716.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
author of Welsh
Welsh people
The Welsh people are an ethnic group and nation associated with Wales and the Welsh language.John Davies argues that the origin of the "Welsh nation" can be traced to the late 4th and early 5th centuries, following the Roman departure from Britain, although Brythonic Celtic languages seem to have...
birth who published the Athenae Britannicae in three, or perhaps four volumes, around 1716.
Life
Davies was a native of Whiteford, near HolywellHolywell
Holywell is the fifth largest town in Flintshire, North Wales, lying to the west of the estuary of the River Dee.-History:The market town of Holywell takes its name from the St Winefride's Well, a holy well surrounded by a chapel...
in Flintshire
Flintshire
Flintshire is a county in north-east Wales. It borders Denbighshire, Wrexham and the English county of Cheshire. It is named after the historic county of Flintshire, which had notably different borders...
, Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
. His parents George and Elizabeth Davies lived in Tre'r Abbot. Isaac D'Israeli
Isaac D'Israeli
Isaac D'Israeli was a British writer, scholar and man of letters. He is best known for his essays, his associations with other men of letters, and for being the father of British Prime Minister Benjamin Disraeli....
said his biography was quite unknown. He was educated at the English Jesuit College in Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
, and was made a Roman Catholic priest on 17 April 1688. He left Rome on 15 October 1688 to work with the Jesuits in Wales, but soon converted to become a Protestant, and in 1705 published an explanation (apologia) for his surprising conversion in The Recantation of Mr Pollett, A Roman priest.
The preface to one of his books describes him as a gentleman of the Inns of Court
Inns of Court
The Inns of Court in London are the professional associations for barristers in England and Wales. All such barristers must belong to one such association. They have supervisory and disciplinary functions over their members. The Inns also provide libraries, dining facilities and professional...
.
He was a learned and erudite scholar, but eccentric to the verge of insanity.
In 1715 he published the first volume of his Athenae Britannicae, a critical history of pamphlets called Icon Libellorum. It was described as "a queer production, but cram full of curious information".
The Libellorum included a French letter and a Latin Ode to Robert Harley, first Earl of Oxford.
Davies decided to become a mendicant scholar, selling his own books.
He would visit the house of a potential patron and send in a bundle of his books, with perhaps an ode to the recipient, in the hope of receiving a gift in return. He was often rejected or insulted when trying to obtain payment or return of his work.
By 1812, his work was described as extremely rare.
The date of his death is not known; it is usually stated as 1715, but he may still have been alive in 1716.