Memoires of the lives, actions, sufferings & deaths of those noble, reverend and excellent personages that suffered by death, sequestration, decimation, or otherwise, for the Protestant religion and the great principle thereof, allegiance to their soveraigne, in our late intestine wars, from the year 1637 to the year 1660, and from thence continued to 1666 with the life and martyrdom of King Charles I / by Da. Lloyd ...

THE Life and Death OF JOHN Lord DIGBY, Earl of Bristol.

THis Noble man was the younger Son of an Ancient Family of the Digbies, long flourishing at Coleshull in Warwick-shire, who to pass by his Infancy (all children are alike in their Long-coats) in his Youth, as his Son did, gave pregnant hopes of that eminency, which his Mature Age did produce; and coming to Court with an Annuity of fifty pounds a year, besides a good Address, and choice Abilities, both for Ceremonies and business. He kenned the Ambassadors craft, as well as any man living in his time, em∣ployed by King Iames in several services to forraign Princes, reci∣ted in his Patent, as the main motives of the Honors conferred up∣on him; among which the Spanish Match, managed by him from 1616. to 1623. was his master-piece; wherein, if his Lordship dealt in generalities, and did not press particulars, we may guess the reason of it from that expression of his: I will take care to have my Instructions perfect, and will pursue them punctually. If he held affairs in suspence, that it might not come to a war on our side, it may be he did so, with more regard to his Master King Iames his Inclination, than his own Apprehension: If he said, that howso∣ever the business went, he would make his fortune thereby; it ra∣ther argued the freedom of his spirit that he said so, his sufficien∣cy that he could do so, than his unfaithfulness that he did do so. This is certain, that he chose rather to come home, and suffer the utmost displeasure of the King of England, than stay abroad, and injoy the highest favour of the King of Spain. He did indeed in∣terceed for Indulgence to Papists, but it was, because otherwise he could do no good beyond sea for the Protestants. The worst (saith a learned Protestant, that conversed with him much at Exeter, du∣ring the siege of it, and was invited to live with him beyond Sea after it, he saying, that as long as he had a Loaf, the Doctor should have half of it) I wish, such who causlessly suspect him of Popish Incli∣nations, is, that I may hear from them but half so many strong argu∣ments for the Protestant Religion as I heard from him, who many years after the contract with the Duke of Buckingham, which (the Duke fearing his preventing policy, as he did the Dukes after∣power)

became a drawn battel under the Kings displeasure, and (as the Court-cloud makes the Countries shine) in the peoples fa∣vour; yet bestowed his parts and interest in the beginning of the Long-Parliament, upon the vindication of the Church, as appears by his excellent Speeches for Episcopacy,a 1.1 and the peace of the kingdom, as he shewed in his admirable discourse 1641. ofb 1.2 an Accommodation. The reason which (together with a suspicion that he was the Author of most of his Majesties Counsels and De∣clarations) inrolled him always among the excepted persons, in the number of whom he died banished in France about 1650. ha∣ving met with that respect in Forreign, that he missed in his Na∣tive Country.

1. For whatever was at the bottom of his actions, there was resolution and nobleness at top, being carried from Village to Village after the King of Spain, without the regard due to his per∣son or place; he expressed himself so generously, that the Spa∣nish Courtiers trembled, and the King Declared, That he would not interrupt his pleasures with business at Lerma for any Ambassador in the world, but the English, nor for any English Ambassador, but Don Juan.

2. When impure Scioppius upon his Libel against King Iames, and Sir Humphrey Bennets complaint to the Arch-Duke against him, fled into Madrid; my Lord observing that it was impossible to have justice against•• him from the Catholick King, because of the Je∣suites, puts his Cousien G. Digby upon cutting him; which he did over his Nose and Mouth, wherewith he offended, so, that he car∣ried the mark of his blasphemy to his Grave.

3. Where he was an extraordinary Ambassador in Germany up∣on his return by H••ydel••ergh, observing that Count Mansfield Army, upon whom depended the fortune of the Palsgrave, was like to disband for want of money, he pawned all his Plate and Jewels to buoy up that Sinking Cause for that time.

There were besides him of this Family these famous men.

1. Sir Iohn Digby, a Sommerset-shire Gentleman, of good educa∣tion beyond Seas,c 1.3 and of a great temperance and conduct at home, careful of removing the jealousies got among the people, being of the Earl of Bristol's minde in that, that it is easier to com∣pose differences arising from reasons, yea from wrongs than from jealousies; and that the nicest point in all Treaties is security. Commanding a Tertia of the Kingsd 1.4 Army, which he raised in Sommerset-shire, with great vigilance, activity, and charge, spending 25000l. from the time he waited on his Majesty at Nottingham 1642. having put the Commission of Array in execution in Sommerset∣shire, to the time he 1645. received his deaths wound, in a gallant action at Langfort in the foresaid County, whereof he died.

2. His Brother, for parts as well as bloud, Sir Kenelme Digby, both bred abroad, and both out of gratefulness faithful to King Charles, who restored them upon his Queens Intercession, to what their Father Sir Everar•• Digby, engaged in the Powder-plot, for∣feited to King Iames. A Gentleman of a strong body and brain,

witness his Book of Bodies, and the Immortality of the Soul; his soul being one of those few souls that understand themselves; toge∣ther with his suddain Notes on Religio Medici, of a great correspon∣dence; see Dr. Wallis Commercium Epistoli. Of a fluent invention and discourse, as appears from his long discourse at Montpelier in France, and his entertainments of thea 1.5 Ladies of the several Na∣tions he travelled in; of a great faculty in Negatiations, both at France, Rome, Florence, and most of the States of Italy: of one of the Princes whereof, it is reported, that having no Children, he was very willing his Wife should bring him a Prince by Sir Kenelm, whom he imagined the just measure of perfection. The rest learn from this Epitaph on his Tomb 1665. (when he died, and was bu∣ried with his incomparable Lady at Christ-Church, London, to which he had been a great Benefactor.)

Vnder this Tomb the Matchless Digby lyes, Digby the Great, the Valiant, and the Wise; This Ages Wonder for his Noble Parts, Skilled in six Tongues, and learned in all the Arts; Born on the day he Died, the eleven of June, And that day bravely fought at Scanderoon. It's Rare, that one and the same day should be, His day of Birth, of Death, of Victory!

R. F.

3. Colonel Iohn Digby, the excellent Archer and Improver of Aschams Toxophelus, but many talk of Robin Hood that never shot in his Bow.

4. Mr. Kenelm Digby, eldest Son of Sir Kelnelm, who was then imprisoned at Winchester-house, slain at Saint Neots in Huntington∣shire, in whose Pocket was found, they say, a Lock and Key, with a Chain of ten Links, which a Flea could draw, for which certainly he had been with,

The Little Smith of Nottingham, Who doth the work that no man Can.

5. Sir Io. Digby of Mawfield-woodhouse, County of Nottingham paid composition 1058l. and George Digby of London Stafford, Esq. 1440l.

Martial men it is observed made for, and worn with her, began and expired with Queen Elizabeth; peaceable and soft spirited men with King Iames; and honest publick-spirited Patriots with King Charles I.

6. Sir Herbert and Sir Thomas Lunsford, both of Lunsford Sussex, the first, said by the enemies, to be the fairer, the ••ther the shrewd∣est adversary; the reason why the ones abilities was drowned by the others activity, one grain of the practical man was in all ages too heavy for a pound of the barely knowing; both the biggest men, though twins, you could likely see to (wherefore Sir Thomas was feigned by the Brethren a devourer of Children) both bred in

the Dutch and Germane, Wars, both in command in the Scotch war, Sir Thomas was Lieutenant of the Tower 1639. and displaced to please a jealous multitude, a Prisoner there 1641 for attempting, as was pretended, to draw up a body of Horse, and seize the Ma∣gazines at Kingston upon Thames. His first encounter for his Ma∣jesty was at Westminster, upon the Rabble that came down to cry no Bishops, where he and some other Gentlemen drawing upon them, scattered them, as he did them often afterward in the course of the Wars, when they were modelled into Armies, losing his Brother Col. H. Lunsford by aa 1.6 Canon-shot at Bristow, Iuly 26. 1643. with Col. Trivanian, and Col. Bucke, who make me unwil∣ling to believe the common Proverb; That he was Cursed in his Mothers belly, that was killed with a Canon, though it is sad to see Valour subjected to chance, and the bravest man fall sometimes by the most inconsiderable hand. It was their Fathers observati∣on in Queen Elizabeths time, that God so equally divided the ad∣vantage of weapons between Spain and us, that as their Bilboa Steel makes the best Swords, so our Sussex Iron makes the best Guns.

Notes

• a 1.1

  〈…〉〈…〉.
• b 1.2

  〈…〉〈…〉 Mallo••, be was 〈◊〉〈◊〉 to the Tower.
• c 1.3

  Owing, he said, his accomplish∣ments to hard∣ships.
• d 1.4

  He had been long bred a Souldier in the Spanish Army.
• a 1.5

  That is Commu••es his fault, was 〈◊〉〈◊〉 excell••••cy. Viz. that he c••uld with a grace rela••e, Magna••••m ••••um m••u∣••••, the little circumstances of great 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• a 1.6

  Most of the C••••••s in ••••gl. are cist w••••n a ••••••e of their house where ••••y were ••••••n. Sir T. Luns∣ford was Com∣missioner with Sir J••cob Ashle••, to get the ••••••h into a body a••••er Naseby, where he ••ed bee•• s••abbed but for Sir Jo. ••••••••us.