The baronage of England, or, An historical account of the lives and most memorable actions of our English nobility in the Saxons time to the Norman conquest, and from thence, of those who had their rise before the end of King Henry the Third's reign deduced from publick records, antient historians, and other authorities / by William Dugdale ...

Digby Earl of Bristol.

[15 Iac.]

THe first that attain'd to this honor, was Iohn, the youngest son to Sir George Digby of Co••eshill, in com. Warr. Knight; whose Ancestors, in King Hen∣ry the Second's time, having their chief Seat a 1.1 at Tilton in Leicestershire, were then de∣nominated of that place (which Lordship, till our age, continued to the chief branch of that family:) but, in the time of King Henry the Third, residingb 1.2 at Digby in Lincolnshire, assumed their Surname thence, which since hath not been altered; these of Colesh••ll descend∣ing from Simon a second sonc 1.3 to Sir Everard Digby, then of Tilton, Knight; which Sir Everard, adhering firmly to the Lancastrian In∣terest, lostd 1.4 his life (with three of his Bre∣thren) at Touton Field, in Yorkshire, where King Edward the Fourth, in the first year of His Reign, was Victorious.

Unto which King, Simon (at length) be∣came so obsequious, as that in the 18^th of His R••ign, in consideratione 1.5 of his good service done, and to be done, he obtain'd a Grant f 1.6 of Ten pounds per annum, for life, out of Retford Mills, in Com. Nott. And, within two years after, for the same consideration,g 1.7 the like Granth 1.8 of the Forestership of Thorn∣woods, on the Southern part of Shire∣wo••••, in that County; with the Fee of four pence a day, for executing that Of∣fice.

Nevertheless, no sooner did the Earl of Richmund land in this Realm, though but with a very slender strength, that that he, withi 1.9 his six valiant Brothers; viz. another Sir Everard (then also of Tilton) Iohn Digby of ••etilby; Rouland Digby of Welby, (both in Leicestershire) Lybeus Digby of Luff∣••am, in com. Rotel. Thomas, and Benjamin; not forgetting the old Lancastrian Interest, came ink 1.10 freely unto him; and foughtl 1.11 stout∣ly, on his part, at Bosworth-Field against King Richard; where the Victory falling to that Earl, being thenceforth King, by the name of Henry the Seventh, he advanced m 1.12 Iohn and Thomas to the dignity of Knight∣hood; makingn 1.13 the former also Knight-Mar∣shal of His Houshold; and the other one of the Gentlemen Huishers of His Chamber, confer∣ring o 1.14 on him the Bailywick of ••••ney, in com. Buck. and Keepership of the Park there, where he thenceforth made his residence.

But, none of them had better advantages for their faithful services to that King, than Simon: for, in the first year of his R••ign, he obtained the Stewardshipp 1.15 of certain Lordships, in com. Rutl. viz. Uppingham, Preston, Ba∣rou••hdon, Esenden, and Greteham: and of all the Lands formerly belonging to George Duke of Clarence, to hold for life: as also the like Office▪q 1.16 and Receivership for the Man∣nor of B••dale, in com. Ebor. And, having in the second year of his Reign, been a Com∣mander r 1.17 in His Army at the Battel of Stoke, had, in considerations 1.18 of his acceptable ser∣vices, a Grantt 1.19 of the Mannor of ••avysb••∣ry, in the parish of Micham, in com. Surr. and to the heirs male of his body; and the next ensuing year, a Grantu 1.20 of the Office of Comp∣troller of the Petty-Customes in the Port of London: as alsox 1.21 of the Forestership of Thornwoods in Shirewood, formerly conferred upon him by King Edward the 4^th, and,y 1.22 in 11 H. 7. of the Lordship of Co••e∣shill before-specified, in special Tail (being at that time Deputyz 1.23 to Iohn Earl of Ox∣ford, Constable of the Tower of London.) Which Lordship came to the Crown, by the attainder of Sir Simon Montfort Knight, for his adherence to Perk••n Warbeck.

After this, in 12 H. 7. he had a Commission a 1.24 to exercise Marshal-Law, in the Counties of Devon and Cornwall, against divers Male∣factors: and, having been Sheriffb 1.25 of the Counties of Warwick and Leicester, in the first and ninth years of King Henry the Eighth, by his Testamentc 1.26 bearing date 22 Aug. 9 H 8. bequeathed his body to be buried in the Chancel of the parish Church of Coleshill, un∣der a fair To••b, there erected in his life time; and departedd 1.27 this life 24 Febr. 12 H. 8. leav∣ing issue by Alice his wife, daughtere 1.28 and heir to Iohn Waleys of Est-Raddon, in com. Devon. Esquire, Reginald Digby his son and heir; as also a younger son, called Thomas, from whom the Digby's of Mansfeild-Woodhouse, in com. Nott. are descended.

Which Reginald, by Ann his wife, daugh∣ter f 1.29 and coheir to Iohn Danvers of Cothorpe, in com. Oxon. Esquire, had issueg 1.30 Iohn; who took to wifeh 1.31 Ann the daughter of Sir George Throkmorton of Coughton, in com Warr. K^t: And he George, who being at the siege of ••ut∣phen, in 28 Eliz. had there the honor of Knighthoodi 1.32 conferred on him: and, by Abigail his wife, daughterk 1.33 to Sir Arthur Heveningham of ... in com. Norff. Knight, left issue ^l three sons; Robert, Philip, and this Iohn. Which Robert, being afterwards a Knight, and taking to wife Lettice, the Grandchild and heir female to Gerald Earl of Kildare, in Ireland; left issue Robert his son and heir, createdm 1.34 Lord Digby of Geashill, in that Realm by K. Iames; whose descendents do still enjoy that ho∣nor,

As to the advancement of this Ioh••,* 1.35 it was his own meer merits which brought it to pass. For, having first been* 1.36 a Fellow-Commoner in Magdalen-Colledge, Oxon. and afterwards travelled into France and Italy, whereby he became singularly qualified: upon that designed Insurrection on Dunsmore-Health in War∣wickshire, by those Unparallel'd Gunpow∣der-Conspirators about the beginning of No∣vember, 3 Iac. in order to the surprisal of the Princess Elizabeth (the King's daughter) then residing at Combe in that County, whereof the Lord Harington (her Guardian) had pri∣vate intimation; he was, by that Lord, dis∣patcht to the Court, to acquaint His Majesty therewith. Where his abilities and fidelity being amply discern'd by that prudent King; he was admitted Gentl••man of the privy∣chamber, and one of His Majesties Carvers. Also, upon the sixteenth of March, 4 Iac. Knighted at Whitehall. And, in the moneth

of April, An. 1611. (9 Iac.) imployed Embas∣sador o 1.37 into Spaine; so likewise inp 1.38 Octo∣ber, An. 1614. (12 Iac.)

Moreover, 3 April, An. 1616. (14 Iac.) made Vice-Chamberlainq 1.39 of his Majesties Hou∣shold, and oner 1.40 of his Privy Council. And the next ensuing year (15 Iac.) being sents 1.41 again into Spaine; upon his return, was ad∣vanced t 1.42 to the dignity of a Baron of this Realm, 25 Nov. 16. Iac. by the title of Lord Digby of Shireburne, in com. Dors.

After which, scil. An. 1620. (18 Iac.) he was sent Embassadoru 1.43 to the Arch Duke Al∣bert; and the next year following▪ tox 1.44 Fer∣dinand the Emperor; as also to the Duke of Ba∣varia. Whence returningy 1.45 in October, An. 1621. he was again, scil in An. 1622. (20 Iac.) employed Embassadorz 1.46 extraordinary to the Spaniard, touching a Marriage betwixt Prince Charles, and the Lady Maria, daugh∣ter to Philip the Third, then King of that Realm, and createda 1.47 Earl of Bristol, 15 Sept. the same year.

He marriedb 1.48 Beatrice, daughter to Charles Walcot of Walcot, in com. Salop. Esq widdow of Sir Iohn Dive of Bromham, in com. Bedf. Knight, by whom he had issuec 1.49 two sons; George, born at Madrid, in Spaine, in the month of October, An. 1612. and Iohn, born in England, in March, An. 1617. who dyed in France, unmarried. As also two daughters, Mary, married to Sir Arthur Chichester, now Lord Dunegal in Ireland, and Abigal to George Freake, ••ldest son of Iohn Freake, of Shroughton, in ••om. Dors. Esquire.

And departing this life at Paris in France, 16 Ian. An. 1653. was there buried in the com∣mon burial place of the Hug••enots in that City.

To whom succeed George* 1.50 his son and heir, in∣stalled Knight of the Garter, An. Apr. 1661; which George, married Anne, daughter to Fran∣cis late Earl of Bedford; and by her had issue two sons, viz. Iohn, his son and heir, who first married Alice, the only child of Robert Bourne of Blake-Hall, in the Parish of Bo∣venger, in com. Essex. Esquire, by whom he had no issue; secondly Rachel, daughter of Sir Hugh Windham, Knight, one of the Justices of the Court of Common-Pleas; the name of his second son was Francis, slain in that sharp Fight at Sea against the Dutch, on tuesday 28 Maii, An. 1672 He hath also two daughters, Diana, married to the Baron of Mol, in Flanders, and Anne, to Robert, now Earl of Sunder∣land.

Notes

• a 1.1

  〈…〉〈…〉
• b 1.2

  Rot. Fin. 40 H. 3. m. 7.
• c 1.3

  〈…〉〈…〉 membr. pen•••• Rob. de Digby.
• d 1.4

  〈…〉〈…〉 membr. pen•••• Rob. de Digby.
• e 1.5

  Ex ipso autogr. penes 〈◊〉〈◊〉 D. 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• f 1.6

  Ex ipso autogr. penes 〈◊〉〈◊〉 D. Digby.
• g 1.7

  Pat. 20 P. 4. p. 1. m. 19.
• h 1.8

  Pat. 20 P. 4. p. 1. m. 19.
• i 1.9

  ••x 〈◊〉〈◊〉. vet mem∣bran••.
• k 1.10

  ••x 〈◊〉〈◊〉. vet mem∣bran••.
• l 1.11

  ••x 〈◊〉〈◊〉. vet mem∣bran••.
• m 1.12

  ••x 〈◊〉〈◊〉. vet mem∣bran••.
• n 1.13

  ••x 〈◊〉〈◊〉. vet mem∣bran••.
• o 1.14

  Pat. 8. H 7. p. ••. m 4.
• p 1.15

  Pat. 1 H. 7. p. 3. m. 12.
• q 1.16

  Ib. p. 4.
• r 1.17

  P••l••••. Virg. p•• 573.
• s 1.18

  Pat. 7 H. 7. p. ••. m. 18.
• t 1.19

  Pat. 7 H. 7. p. ••. m. 18.
• u 1.20

  Pat. 4 H. 7. m 8.
• x 1.21

  Ibid, m. 26.
• y 1.22

  Ex autogr. penes praef. D. Digby.
• z 1.23

  Ex vet. ex∣••mpl. penes Sim. Mont∣fort de Bes∣co••e in com. Staff. 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• a 1.24

  Pat. 12 H. 7. p 2
• b 1.25

  Ro••. Pip. de iisd. ann.
• c 1.26

  〈…〉〈…〉
• d 1.27

  〈…〉〈…〉
• e 1.28

  〈…〉〈…〉
• f 1.29

  I••.
• g 1.30

  I••.
• h 1.31

  Ib.
• i 1.32

  Ib.
• k 1.33

  Ib.
• m 1.34

  Pat▪ 16 Jac.
• * 1.35

  Ioh••.
• * 1.36

  Hist. of A••∣tiq. Univers. Oxon, p. 201. a.
• o 1.37

  Ca••al of Nob. by R. B.
• p 1.38

  Ca••al of Nob. by R. B.
• q 1.39

  An••al. R. Jac. p••r Ca••••.
• r 1.40

  A••nal. R. Jac. p••r Ca••••.
• s 1.41

  An••al. R. Jac. p••r Ca••••.
• t 1.42

  Pat. 16 Jac. p. 3.
• u 1.43

  Ca••al. of Nob. ut supra.
• x 1.44

  Ca••al. of Nob. ut supra.
• y 1.45

  Annal. R. Jac u•• supra.
• z 1.46

  Catal. of Nob. by R. B.
• a 1.47

  Pa••. 20 Jac. p. 14.
• b 1.48

  Catal. of Nob. ut supra.
• c 1.49

  Catal. of Nob. ut supra.
• * 1.50

  〈◊〉〈◊〉