59 



CHAPTEE III 



CHARLES DAVIS 



Non omnis nioriar, multaqiie i^ars mei 

 Vitabit Libitinam. 



Charles Davis was born at Windsor in January 1788. 

 His good looks gave him his start. It is true that his father 

 hunted the King's harriers/ and that in any event he would 

 probably have entered the Royal service in some capacity or 

 other. But this is Dr. Croft's account of the beginnings of 

 his conspicuous career, as related to him by a very old 

 inhabitant of Bracknell (since deceased), who knew all the 

 circumstances. I give it in his own words : ' Young Davis 

 had been to school at Windsor or Eton, and on returning 

 home one day,, went into the cloisters at the Castle, where 

 he was met by the King. Davis was a slim, good-looking 

 lad, and the King took a fancy to him, spoke to him, asked 

 him what he might be going to do, &c. Davis could not 

 say what he was going to do. The King asked him if he 

 would like to go hunting. Davis's father was at this time 

 huntsman to the King's harriers, but the King did not know 

 that he was talking to his huntsman's son. The boy said he 

 should like to go hunting very much. The King asked him 



' In Davis's diary several mentions of hare-hunting occur, but they are 

 casual and uninteresting. On May 14, 18.32, Davis notes that the Duke of 

 Brunswick and his suite hunted with the harriers in Windsor Great Park. Con- 

 sidering the time of year, and seeing that they turned out three box hares and 

 killed them, it is strange to find him noting it as a good day's sport. 



