Brewer's: David

in Dryden's satire called Absalom and Achitophel, represents Charles II.; Absalom, his beautiful but rebellious son, represents the Duke of Monmouth; Achitophel, the traitorous counsellor, is the Earl of Shaftesbury; Barzillaï, the faithful old man who provided the kind sustenance, was the Duke of Ormond; Hushaï, who defeated the counsel of Achitophel, was Hyde, Duke of Rochester; Zadok the priest was Sancroft, Archbishop of Canterbury; Shimeï, who cursed the king in his flight, was Bethel, the lord mayor; etc. etc. (2 Sam. xvii.-xix.)

Once more the godlike David was restored, And willing nations knew their lawful lord.

Dryden: Absatom and Achitophel, part i.

David (St.)

or Dewid, was son of Xantus, Prince of Cereticu, now called Cardiganshire; he was brought up a priest, became an ascetic in the Isle of Wight, preached to the Britons, confuted Pelagius, and was preferred to the see of Caerleon, since called St. David's. He died 544. (See Taffy.)

St. David's

(Wales) was originally called Menevia (i.e. main aw, narrow water or frith). Here St. David received his early education, and when Dyvrig, Archbishop of Caerleon, resigned to him his see, St. David removed the archiepiscopal residence to Menevia, which was henceforth called by his name.

Source: Dictionary of Phrase and Fable, E. Cobham Brewer, 1894

David and Jonathan

Davenport