(_a_) The existence of the 'Metaphrase of the Psalms'--which composes the greater portion of the Manuscript--has long been on record. Thus ANTHONY-A-WOOD in his ATHENÆ states "Besides the before-mentioned things (as also Epigrams, as 'tis said) which were published by, and under the name of Sir John Davies, are several MSS. of his writing and composing, which go from hand to hand, as (I) Metaphrase of several of K. David's Psalms...." (edn. BLISS ii., 403.) The original of the Psalms' MS. was in possession of Sir John's own daughter, the Countess of Huntingdon, as I found in the Carte MSS. Bodleian, Oxford. The others are MSS.--some in part since published--which WOOD describes as formerly in the Library of Sir James Ware, and then in that of the Earl of Clarendon. (_b_) The handwriting of the Manuscript is exactly correspondent with that of its date '1624.' It is uniform from Psalm I. to L. (_c_) Throughout the 'Psalms' and other Poems, favourite words of SIR JOHN DAVIES' occur: in part peculiar to him or used in a peculiar way. I must refer the Student to the Poems themselves for the great majority of examples: but note here half-a-dozen--all the references being to our own edition of the previous Poems. 1. '_Withall_': "... that sinne that we are borne _withall_." ('Nosce Teipsum' page 57, stanza 5th, line 4th.) So in the 'Psalms': "Be merciful and hear my prayer _withall_." (Ps. 4th, line 4th.) 2. '_Wight_': "... this World below did need one _wight_." (page 60: stanza 4th, line 1st.) So in the 'Psalms': "... measures Iustice vnto euery _wight_." (Ps. 9th, line 16th.) 3. '_gray Winter_': "Here flow'ry Spring-tide and there _Winter gray_." (page 63, stanza 1st, line 4th.) So in 'A Maid's Hymne in praise of Virginity': "To whome _graye Winter_ neuer doth apeare." (line 7th.) 4. '_On_' meaning '_o'er_': "Will holds the royall scepter _on_ the soul" ('Nosce Teipsum,' page 79, stanza 2nd, line 3rd.) "And _on_ the passions of the heart doth raigne." (page 79, stanza 2d, line 4th.) So in the 'Psalms': "Let not my foes trihumph _on_ mee againe." (Ps. 35th, line 37th). "In that my foe doth not trihumph _on_ me." (Ps. 41st, line 22d.) 5. '_Detruded_': "... such as me _detruded_ downe to Hell." (page 110, stanza 1st, line 1st.) So in the 'Psalms': Therefore although my soule _detruded_ were euen to Hell's gates.... (Ps. 23rd, line 7th.) 6. '_Center_' meaning '_Earth_': "Suruey all things that on this _center_ here." (page 25th, stanza 1st, line 4th.) So in the 'Psalms': "And all that dwell on his round _Center_ here." (Ps. 23rd, line 16th.) It were easy to multiply these instances from the 'Psalms' and the other Poems.