, only son of the preceding Leonard Digges, after a liberal education
, only son of the preceding Leonard Digges, after a liberal education at home, studied for
some time at Oxford; and partly by the improvements he
made there, and the previous instructions of his learned
father, became one of the greatest mathematicians of his
age. Of his history, however, we only know that when
queen Elizabeth sent some forces to assist the oppressed
inhabitants of the Netherlands, he was appointed muster-master general, by which he hud an opportunity of becoming skilled in military affairs. The greater part of his
life must have been spent in his favourite studies, as besides the revising, correcting, and enlarging some pieces
of his father’s, already mentioned, he wrote and published
the following learned works himself: 1. “Alæ sive scalæ
mathematicæ; or mathematical wings or ladders,
” An arithmetical military treatise, containing so much of arithmetic as is necessary towards military discipline,
” A geometrical treatise,
named Stratioticos, requisite for the perfection of soldiers,
”
An
arithmetical warlike treatise, named Stratioticos; compendiously teaching the science of numbers, as well in
fractions as integers, and so much of the rules and equations algebraical, and art of numbers cossical, as are requisite for the profession of a souldier. Together with the
moderne militaire discipline, offices, lawes, and orders in
every well-governed campe and armie, inviolably to be
observed.
” At the end of this work there are two pieces;
the first entitled “A briefe and true report of the proceedings of the earle of Leycester, for the reliefe of the
towne of Sluce, from his arrival at Vlishing, about the end
of June 1587, untill the surrendrie thereof, 26 Julii next
ensuing. Whereby it shall plainlie appear his excellencie
was not in anie fault for the losse of that towne;
” the second, “A briefe discourse what orders were best for repulsing of foraine forces, if at any time they should invade
us by sea in Kent, or elsesvhere.
” 4. “A perfect description of the celestial orbs, according to the most ancient
doctrine of the Pythagoreans,
” &c. This was placed at
the end of his father’s “Prognostication everlasting, &c.
”
printed in Humble motives for association to maintain the religion established,
” Letter to the same purpose to the
archbishops and bishops of England.
” 6. “England’s
Defence; or a treatise concerning invasion.
” This is a
tract of the same nature with that printed at the end of his
Stratioticos, and called, “A briefe discourse,
” &c. It
was written in Parallaticce commentationis praxeosque nucleus quidam,
” Nova Corpora,
” he had by him several mathematical treatises ready for the press; but lawsuits, which probably descended upon him with his patrimony, and were productive of pecuniary embarrassments,
broke in upon his studies, and embittered his days. He
died Aug. 24, 1595, and was buried in the chancel of the
church of Aldermanbury, London. Among his unpublished works, was a Plan for the improvement of the Haven
and Mole of Dover, in 1582, which was communicated to
the Society of Antiquaries, and is printed in the “Archaeologia,
” vol. XI. He married Agnes, daughter of sir William St. Leger, knt.