State-worthies, or, The states-men and favourites of England since the reformation their prudence and policies, successes and miscarriages, advancements and falls, during the reigns of King Henry VIII, King Edward VI, Queen Mary, Queen Elizabeth, King James, King Charles I.

Observations on the Lives of the Digges.

MAster Leonard Digges was one of excellent Learning and deep judgement. His ••i••d most inclined him to the Mathematicks, and he was the best Architect in that age for all manner of Buildings, for conveniency, plea∣sure, state, strength, being excellent at Fortifi∣cations. Lest his Learning should dye with him, for the publick profit, he printed his Tectonicon, Prognostick General, Stratiotick, about the order∣ing of an Army, and other Works. He flourished Anno Dom. 1556. and dyed I believe about the Reign of Queen Elizabeth, when as in most grow∣ing times Arts were drowned in action.

Nothing else have I to observe of his name, save that hereditary Learning may seem to run in the vel••s of his Family; witness Sir Dudly Digs of

Chilham-Castle, made Master of the Rolls, in the year 1636. whose abilities will not be forgotten, whilest our age hath any remembrance. This Knight had a younger son, of a most excellent wit, and a great judgment, Fellow of All-Souls in Oxford, who in the beginning of our Civil Wars wrote so subtile & solid a Treatise of the difference between King and Parliament, that such Royalists who have since handled that Controversie, have written plura non plus; yea aliter rather than alia of that Subject. The Son writes down those Rebel∣lions that the Father countenanced: The Father, I say, who by a bold impeachment against his Maje∣sties chief Minister of State, to his face, taught a discontented People to draw a bolder against his M••jesty himself:—Wherefore it was, that (after his undutiful Prologue Against his Majesties Prero∣gative in favouring his Servants; the Preface to more disloyal methods against his right, in govern∣ing his people) he and Sir Iohn Elliot were whisper∣ed out of the Lords House, when they were hot∣test against the Duke, to speak with a Gentleman, and thence sent immediately by two Pursevants that attended, to the Tower; where, and in the Country, this Gentleman lay under just displeasure, until it was thought fit to take off so dangerous a piece of boldness and eloquence upon the growing distempers of the age by favour and preferment, to a Neutrality at least, if not to the just measures of his duty. But our observation here is this; That faction is one of those sins, whereof the Authors re∣pent most commonly themselves, and their poste∣rities are always ashamed.