, eldest son of Thomas Digges, just mentioned, was born in 1583, and
, eldest son of Thomas Digges,
just mentioned, was born in 1583, and entered a gentleman-commoner of University-college, in Oxford, 1598.
Having taken the degree of B. A. in 1601, he studied for
some time at the inns of court; and then travelled beyond
sea, having before received the honour of knighthood. On
his return he led a retired life till 1618, when he was sent
by James I. ambassador to the tzar, or emperor of Russia.
Two years after he was commissioned with sir Maurice Abbot to go to Holland, in order to obtain the restitution of
goods taken by the Dutch from some Englishmen in the
East Indies. He was a member of the third parliament of
James I. which met at Westminster, Jan. 30, 1621 but
was so rule compliant with the court measures, as to be
ranked among those whom the king called ill-tempered
spirits, he was likewise a member of the first parliament
of Charles 1. in 1626; and not only joined with those eminent patriots, who were for bringing Villiers duke of
Buckingham to an account, but was indeed one of the
most active managers in that affair, for which he was committed to the Tower, though soon released. He was again
member of the third parliament of Charles I. in 1628,
being one of the knights of the shire for Kent; but seemed
to be more moderate in his opposition to the court than
he was in the two last, and voted for the dispatch of the
subsidies, yet opposed all attempts which he conceived to
be hostile to the liberties of his country, or the constitution of parliament. Thus, when sir John Finch, speaker
of the house of commons, on June 5, 1628, interrupted
sir John Elliot in the house, saying, “There is a command
laid upon me, that I must command you not to proceed
”
sir Dudley Digges vented his uneasiness in these words
“I am as much grieved as ever. Must we not proceed
Let us sit in silence we are miserable we know not what
to do.
” In April of the same year, he opened the grand
conference between the commons and lords, “concerning
the liberty of the person of every freeman,
” with a speech,
in which he made many excellent observations, tending to
establish the liberties of the subject. In all his parliamentary proceedings, he appeared of such consequence, that
the court thought it worth their while to gain him over;
and accordingly they tempted him with the advantageous
and honourable office of master of the rolls, of which he
had a reversionary grant Nov. 29, 1630, and became possessed of it April 20, 1636, upon the death of sir Julius
Csesar. But he did not enjoy it quite three years; for he
died March 8, 1639, and his death was reckoned among
the public calamities of those times. He was buried at
Chilham church, in Kent, in which parish he had a good
estate, and built a noble house.