handsomest gentleman in England. Sir Everard sufferd as a traytor
in the gunpowder-treason; but king James restored his estate to his
son and heire. Mr. Francis Potter told me that Sir Everard wrote
a booke _De Arte Natandi_. I have a Latin booke of his writing in
8vo:--Everardi[837] Dygbei _De duplici methodo libri duo_, in dialogues
'inter Aristotelicum et Ramistam,' in 8vo: the title page is torne
out.--His second son was Sir John Digby, as valiant a gentleman and as
good a swordman as was in England, who dyed (or was killed[LXV.]) in
the king's cause at Bridgewater, about 1644.
[LXV.] I can easily learne, if you desire it[838].
It happened in 1647 that a grave was opened next to Sir John Digby's
(who was buried in summer time, it seemes), and the flowers on his
coffin were found fresh, as I heard Mr. Harcourt (that was executed)
attest that very yeare. Sir John died a batchelour.
Sir Kenelme Digby was held to be the most accomplished cavalier of his
time. He went to Glocester hall in Oxon, anno <1618> (vide A. Wood's
_Antiq. Oxon._). The learned Mr. Thomas Allen (then of that house) was
wont to say that he was the _Mirandula_ of his age. He did not weare a
gowne there[839], as I have heard my cosen Whitney say.
There was a great friendship between him and Mr. Thomas Allen; whether
he was his scholar I know not. Mr. Allen was one of the learnedest men
of this nation in his time, and a great collector of good bookes, which
collection Sir Kenelme bought (Mr. Allen enjoyeing the use of them for
his life) to give to the Bodlean Library, after Mr. Allen's decease,
where they[840] now are.
He was a great traveller, and understood 10 or 12 languages. He was
not only master of a good and gracefull judicious stile, but he also
wrote a delicate hand, both fast-hand and Roman. I have seen lettres
of his writing to the father[841] of this earle of Pembroke, who much
respected[842] him.
He was such a goodly handsome person, gigantique and great voice, and
had so gracefull elocution and noble addresse, etc., that had he been
drop't out of the clowdes[843] in any part of the world, he would have
made himselfe respected. But the Jesuites spake spitefully, and sayd
'twas true, but then he must not stay there above six weekes. He was
envoyé from Henrietta Maria (then Queen-mother) to Pope <Innocent X>
where at first he was mightily admired; but after some time he grew
high, and hectored with his holinesse, and gave him the lye. The pope
sayd he was mad.
He was well versed in all kinds of learning. And he had also this
vertue[844], that no man _knew better how to abound, and to be abased_,
and either was indifferent to him. No man became grandeur better[845];
sometimes again he would live only with a lackey, and horse with a
foote-cloath.
He was very generous, and liberall to deserving persons. When Abraham
Cowley was but 13 yeares old, he dedicated to him a comedy[846], called
_Love's Riddle_, and concludes in his epistle[847]--'The Birch that
whip't him then would prove a Bay.' Sir K. was very kind to him.
When he was at Rome one time, (I thinke he was envoyé from Mary
the Queen-mother to Pope <Innocent X>) he contrasted[848] with his
holinesse.
Anno ... (quaere the countesse of Thanet) much against his mother's,
etc., consent, he maried that celebrated beautie and courtezane, Mrs.
Venetia Stanley, whom Richard earle of Dorset kept as his concubine,
had children by her, and setled on her an annuity of 500 _li._ per
annum; which after Sir K. D. maried was unpayd by the earle; and for
which annuity Sir Kenelme sued the earle, after mariage, and recovered
it. He would say that a handsome lusty man that was discreet might make
a vertuose wife out of a brothell-house. This lady carried herselfe
blamelessly, yet (they say) he was jealous of her[LXVI.]. She dyed
suddenly, and hard-hearted woemen[849] would censure him severely.
[LXVI.] Richard earle of Dorset invited her and her husband once a
yeare, when, with much desire and passion he beheld her, and only
kissed her hand; Sir Kenelme being still by.
After her death, to avoyd envy and scandall, he retired in to Gresham
Colledge at London, where he diverted himselfe with his chymistry,
and the professors' good conversation. He wore there a long mourning
cloake, a high crowned hatt, his beard unshorne, look't like a hermite,
as signes of sorrowe for his beloved wife, to whose memory he erected
a sumptuouse monument, now quite destroyed by the great conflagration.
He stayed at the colledge[850] two or 3 yeares.
The faire howses in Holbourne, between King's street and Southampton
street, (which brake-off the continuance of them) were, about 1633,
built by Sir Kenelme; where he lived before the civill warres. Since
the restauration of Charles II he lived in the last faire house
westward in the north portico of Convent garden, where my lord Denzill
Hollis lived since. He had a laboratory there. I thinke he dyed in this
house--sed quaere.
He was, 164.., prisoner for the king (Charles I) at Winchester-house,
where he practised chymistry[851], and wrote his booke of[852] Bodies
and Soule, which he dedicated to his eldest son, Kenelme, who was
slaine (as I take it) in the earle of Holland's riseing[853].
Anno 163 ... tempore Caroli Iᵐⁱ he received the sacrament in the
chapell at Whitehall, and professed the Protestant religion, which gave
great scandal to the Roman Catholiques; but afterwards he _looked back_.
He was a person of very extraordinary strength. I remember one
at[854]Shirburne (relating to the earl of Bristoll) protested to us,
that as he, being a midling man, being sett in <a> chaire, Sir Kenelme
tooke up him, chaire and all, with one arme.
He was of an undaunted courage, yet not apt in the least to give
offence. His conversation was both ingeniose and innocent.
Mr. Thomas White, who wrote _de Mundo_, 1641[855], and Mr. ... Hall of
Leige, e societate Jesu, were two of his great friends.
As for that great action of his at Scanderoon, see the Turkish
Historie. Sir <Edward> Stradling, of Glamorganshire, was then his
vice-admirall, at whose house is an excellent picture of his, as he
was at that time: by him is drawen an armillary sphaere broken, and
undernethe is writt IMPAVIDUM FERIENT (Horace). See excellent verses of
Ben: Johnson (to whome he was a great patrone) in his 2d volumne.
There is in print in French, and also in English (translated by Mr.
James Howell), a speech that he made at a philosophicall assembly at
Montpelier, 165.. _Of the sympathetique powder_--see it[856]. He made
a speech at the beginning of the meeting of the Royall Society _Of the
vegetation of plants_.
He was borne to three thousand pounds per annum. His ancient seat (I
thinke) is Gote-herst in Buckinghamshire. He had a fair estate also
in Rutlandshire. What by reason of the civil warres, and his generous
mind, he contracted great debts, and I know not how (there being a
great falling out between him and his _then_ only son, John[LXVII.]) he
settled his estate upon ... Cornwalleys, a subtile sollicitor[857], and
also a member of the House of Commons, who did putt Mr. John Digby to
much charge in lawe: quaere what became of it?
[LXVII.] He married ... sister to this present Henry, duke of Norfolke,
no child living by her. His 2d wife ... Fortescue, by whom he haz ...
Quaere the issue?
Mr. J. D. had a good estate of his owne, and lived handsomely then
at what time I went to him two or 3 times in order to your _Oxon.
Antiqu._; and he then brought me a great book, as big as the biggest
Church Bible that ever I sawe, and the richliest bound, bossed with
silver, engraven with scutchions and crest (an ostrich); it was a
curious velame[858]. It was the history of the family of the Digbyes,
which Sir Kenelme either did, or ordered to be donne. There was
inserted all that was to be found any where relating to them, out
of records of the Tower, rolles, &c. All ancient church monuments
were most exquisitely limmed by some rare artist. He told me that
the compileing of it did cost his father a thousand pound. Sir Jo.
Fortescue sayd he did beleeve 'twas more. When Mr. John Digby did me
the favour to shew me this rare MS., 'This booke,' sayd he, 'is all
that I have left me of all the estate that was my father's!' He was
almost as tall and as big as his father: he had something[859] of the
sweetnesse of his mother's face. He was bred by the Jesuites, and was a
good scholar. He dyed at....
Vide in ... Lives when Sir Kenelme dyed.
Sir John Hoskyns enformes me that Sir Kenelme Digby did translate
Petronius Arbiter into English.
_Notes._
[DU] Aubrey gives in trick the coat:--'azure, a fleur de lys argent
[Digby]; impaling, argent on a bend azure 3 bucks' heads caboshed or
[Stanley]'; and adds the reference 'vide his life in ...' some book,
presumably, whose title he had forgot.
[DV] 'June' was written; but Aubrey noted in the margin 'Quaere Mr.
Ashmole pro nativitate by Dr. <Richard> Nepier.' The answer to this
query is found in MS. Aubr. 23, a slip at fol. 121ᵛ, 'Sir Kenelm Digby
natus July 11, 5ʰ 40´ A.M. 1603; another scheme gives it at 4ʰ A.M.'
Having got this information, Aubrey then struck out 'June' in the text,
and substituted 'July'; and added the paragraph which follows.
=Venetia Digby= (1600-1633).
[860]Venetia Stanley[DW] was daughter of Sir ... Stanley.
She was a most beautifull desireable creature; and being _matura
viro_ was left by her father to live with a tenant and servants
at Enston-abbey[LXVIII.] (his land, or the earl of Derby's) in
Oxfordshire; but as private as that place was, it seemes her beautie
could not lye hid. The young eagles had espied her, and she was
sanguine and tractable, and of much suavity (which to abuse was greate
pittie).
[LXVIII.] At the west end of the church here[DX] were two towers as at
Welles or Westminster Abbey, which were standing till about 1656. The
romes of the abbey were richly wainscotted, both sides and roofe.
In those dayes Richard, earle of Dorset (eldest son[861] and heire to
the Lord Treasurer, vide pedegree) lived in the greatest splendor of
any nobleman of England. Among other pleasures that he enjoyed, Venus
was not the least. [LXIX.]This pretty creature's fame quickly came to
his Lordship's eares, who made no delay to catch at such an opportunity.
[LXIX.] Sam. Daniel:--Cheekes of Roses, locks of amber | To b'emprisond
in a chamber | etc.
I have now forgott who first brought her to towne, but I have heard
my uncle Danvers[862] say (who was her contemporary) that she was so
commonly courted, and that by grandees, that 'twas written over her
lodging one night _in literis uncialibus_,
PRAY COME NOT NEER,
FOR DAME VENETIA STANLEY LODGETH HERE.
The earle of Dorset, aforesayd, was her greatest gallant, who was
extremely enamoured of her, and had[863] one if not more children by
her. He setled on her an annuity of 500 _li._ per annum.
Among other young sparkes of that time, Sir Kenelme Digby grew
acquainted with her, and fell so much in love with her that he
married her, much against the good will of his mother; but he would
say that 'a wise man, and lusty, could make an honest woman out of a
brothell-house.' Sir Edmund Wyld had her picture[LXX.] (and you may
imagine was very familiar with her), which picture is now (vide) at
Droitwytch, in Worcestershire, at an inne, where now the towne keepe
their meetings. Also at Mr. Rose's, a jeweller in Henrietta-street in
Convent garden, is an excellent piece of hers, drawne after she was
newly dead.
[LXX.] Venetia Stanley:--her picture is at the earl of Rutland's at
Belvoir.--From my cosen Montague.--MS. Aubr. 8, fol. 25.
She had a most lovely and sweet-turn'd face, delicate darke-browne
haire. She had a perfect healthy constitution; strong; good skin;
well proportioned; much enclining to a _Bona Roba_ (near altogether).
Her face, a short ovall; darke-browne eie-browe, about which much
sweetness, as also in the opening of her eie-lidds. The colour of her
cheekes was just that of the damaske rose, which is neither too hott
nor too pale. She was of a just[864] stature, not very tall.
Sir Kenelme had severall pictures of her by Vandyke, &c.[LXXI.] He
had her hands cast in playster, and her feet, and her face. See Ben:
Johnson's 2d volumne, where he hath made her live in poetrey, in his
drawing of her both body and mind:--
[LXXI.] Her picture by Vandyke is now at Abermarleys, in
Carmarthenshire, at Mr. Cornwalleys' sonne's widowe's (the lady
Cornwalleys's) howse, who was the daughter and heire of ... Jones, of
Abermarles.
'Sitting, and ready to be drawne,
What makes these tiffany, silkes, and lawne,
Embroideries, feathers, fringes, lace,
When every limbe takes like a face!'--&c.
[865]When these verses were made she had three children by Sir Kenelme,
who are there mentioned, viz. Kenelme, George, and John.
She dyed in her bed suddenly. Some suspected that she was poysoned.
When her head[866] was opened there was found but little braine, which
her husband imputed to her drinking of viper-wine; but spitefull
woemen would say 'twas a viper-husband who was jealous of her that she
would steale a leape. I have heard some say,--e.g. my cosen Elizabeth
Falkner,--that after her mariage she redeemed her honour by her
strick't living. Once a yeare the earle of Dorset invited her and Sir
Kenelme to dinner, where the earle would behold her with much passion,
and only kisse her hand.
[Illustration]
Sir Kenelme erected to her memorie a sumptuouse and stately
monument[867] at ... Fryars[868] (neer Newgate-street) in the east end
of the south aisle, where her bodie lyes in a vault of brick-worke,
over which are three steps[869] of black marble, on which was a
stately altar of black marble with 4 inscriptions in copper gilt
affixed to it: upon this altar her bust of copper gilt, all which
(unlesse the vault, which was onely opened a little by the fall) is
utterly destroyed by the great conflagration. Among the monuments in
the booke mentioned in Sir Kenelm Digby's life, is to be seen a curious
draught of this monument, with copies of the severall inscriptions.
About 1676 or 5, as I was walking through Newgate-street, I sawe Dame
Venetia's bust standing at a stall at the Golden Crosse, a brasier's
shop. I perfectly remembred it, but the fire had gott-off the guilding:
but taking notice of it to one that was with me, I could never see
it afterwards exposed to the street. They melted it downe. How these
curiosities would be quite forgott, did not such idle fellowes as I am
putt them downe!
Memorandum:--at Goathurst, in Bucks[870], is a rare originall picture
of Sir Kenelme Digby and his lady Venetia, in one piece, by the hand of
Sir Anthony van Dyke. In Ben. Johnson's 2d volumne is a poeme called
'Eupheme[DY], left to posteritie, of the noble lady, the ladie Venetia
Digby, late wife of Sir Kenelme Digby, knight, a gentleman absolute
in all numbers: consisting of these ten pieces, viz. Dedication of
her Cradle; Song of her Descent; Picture of her Bodie; Picture of her
Mind; Her being chose a Muse; Her faire Offices; Her happy Match;
Her hopefull Issue; Her ἈΠΟΘΕΩΣΙΣ, or Relation to the Saints; Her
Inscription, or Crowne.'
Her picture drawn by Sir Anthony Vandyke hangs in the queene's
draweing-roome, at Windsor-castle, over the chimney.
Venetia Stanley was (first) a miss to Sir Edmund Wyld; who had her
picture, which after his death, serjeant Wyld (his executor) had;
and since the serjeant's death hangs now in an entertayning-roome at
Droitwich in Worcestershire. The serjeant lived at Droitwich.
_Notes._
[DW] Aubrey gives in trick the coat:--'argent on a bend azure 3 bucks'
heads caboshed or [Stanley, earl of Derby].' Another hand has enlarged
this first sentence to 'daughter of Sir Edward Stanley of Eynstonn in
com. Oxon, son of Sir Thomas Stanley, knight, younger son to Edward,
earl of Derby.' A note by 'E. M.' (? Edmund Malone) says, 'This is
Anthony Wood's handwriting.' It is certainly not; but it very probably
is Sir William Dugdale's, which is sometimes mistaken for Wood's.
[DX] Einsham abbey is the place meant. See the facsimile in Clark's
Wood's _Life and Times_, i. 228.
[DY] In MS. Aubr. 6, fol. 70ᵛ also, this is quoted, but there scored
out, as 'Eupheme, being a poem left to posterity,' &c. There, for 'a
Muse,' Aubrey reads 'his Muse.'
=Leonard Digges= (15..-1571?).
[871]Jacobus Digges[DZ], _m._ Philippa, filia Johannis Engeham
de Berham, armig. | de Chart, uxor 2ᵈᵃ.
|
Leonard Diggs, _m._ Sara, filia <Thomae> Wilford, de
de Wotton. | Hartridge in parochia de Cranbroke.
|
+-------------+---------------+---------------+-------------+
| | | |
Maria, Thomas Digges, _m._ Anna, filia Anna, uxor Sara, uxor
uxor ... filius et haeres | Warhami Willelmi ... Martyn.
Barber. Leonardi. | St. Leger, Digges de
| militis. Newington.
+---------------+-------+---------+
| | |
Jacobus[872] Leonardus Dudlius Digges, de _m._ Maria, minima
Digges, de Digges, Chilham, miles: modo | filia et cohaeres
Bech, Armiger. filius (1619) superstes, | Thomae Kemp de
secundus. legatus ad | Olney, militis.
Imperatorem Russiae. |
+-----------------------+-------------+--------+-------+----------+
| | | | |
Thomas Diggs, primus Johannes, Dudlius, filius Anna. Elizabetha.
filius, armiger. filius 2dus. 3tius.
[873]Memorandum this visitation[874] was in anno 1619 by John Philpot.
They[875] were, for severall generations, of Barham in Kent. John, the
sonne of Roger Digges of Mildenhall (which Roger is the first in this
genealogie), vixit tempore Henrici III; and writt then Dig.--Memorandum
here are 14 generations or descents to the last line: quod N. B.
* * * * *
Mr. Leonard Digges translated Claudian _de raptu Proserpinae_ into
English, 4to, 1617 and 1628.
[876]Leonard Digges, esquire, of Wotton[EA] in Kent--he wrote a thin
folio called _Pantometria_, printed 15.. At the end he discourses of
regular solids, and I have heard the learned Dr. John Pell say it is
donne admirably well. In the preface he speakes of cutting glasses in
such a particular manner that he could discerne pieces of money a mile
off; and this he saies he setts downe the rather because severall are
yet living that have seen him doe it.
... Prognostication[EB] everlasting, 4to, <Lond.> 15<64>.
(A 4to) '_Tectonicon_, briefly shewing the exact measuring and speedy
reckoning all manner of land, squares, timber, stone, steeples,
pillars, globes, etc., for declaring the perfect making and large
use of the carpenter's ruler, containing a quadrant geometricall,
comprehending also the rare use of the square, and in the end a little
treatise opening the composition and appliancie of an instrument called
The Profitable Staffe, with other things pleasant and necessarie, most
condusible for surveyors, landmeaters, joyners, carpenters, and masons:
published by Leonard Digges, gentleman, 1556.'
'L. D. to the Reader--Although many have put forth sufficient and
certain rules to measure all manner of superficies, etc., yet in that
the art of numbring hath been required, yea, chiefly those rules hid
and as it were locked up in strange tongues, they doe profit or have
furthered very little, for the most part, yea, nothing at all, the
landmeater, carpenter, mason, wanting the aforesayd. For their sakes I
am here provoked not to hide but to open the talent I have recieved,
yea, to publish in this our tongue very shortly if God give life a
volumne containing the flowers of the sciences mathematicall largely
applied to our outward practise profitably pleasant to all manner men.
Here mine advice shall be to those artificers, that will profit in this
or any of my bookes ☞ now published, or that hereafter shall be, first
confusedly to read them through, then with more judgement, read at the
third reading wittily to practise. So, few things shall be unknowne.
Note, oft diligent reading joyned with ingenious practise causeth
profitable labour. Thus most hartely farewell, loving reader, to whom I
wish myselfe present to further thy desire and practise in these.'
The method that carpenters etc. used before this booke was published
was very erronious, as he declares.
[877]☞ See in the beginning of <Thomas> Digges' _Stratio<ti>cos_, and
also towards the later end, concerning him and his father. I remember
the sonne sayes there that he was muster-master to the States of
Holland: and see more concerning his father (who was an esquire of
Chilham Castle in Kent) in the preface to his _Pantometria_.--It is an
ancient family in Kent. Vide his _Ala seu scala Mathematices_ etc.
[878]A prognostication everlasting, once again published by Leonard
Digges, gentleman, in the yeare of our Lord 1564;--
in 4to, dedicated to Sir Edward Fines, knight of the garter, lord
Clinton and Saye, etc. His first impression was in 1553--'not onely
your lordship's tasck move<d> of a prognostication seemed then to make
that argument fittest, but also the manifest imperfections and manifold
errors yearly committed did crave the ayd of some that were both
willing and able to performe the truthe in like matters.'
_Notes._
[DZ] In MS. Aubr. 8, fol. 73ᵛ, Aubrey gives in trick the coat:--'gules,
on a cross argent five eagles displayed sable [Digges]'; on fol. 72ᵛ,
75ᵛ, he gives the same coat, with the motto
IN ARDUA VIRTUS;
on fol. 11, he gives the coat and motto, but adds that there is a
crescent 'in medio scuti.'
[EA] 'Wotton' is substituted for '... Castle,' to which a marginal
note was added, 'I think 'tis Chilham Castle.' In MS. Aubr. 8, fol.
11, Aubrey wrote:--'... Digges, esq., of Chilham Castle, Kent--vide
prefaces of his _Pantometrie_ and _Ala seu Scala Mathematices_, etc.
His son makes mention of his life in his _Stratioticos_.'
[EB] A pencil note on fol. 73 gives the title, with the press mark
in the 1674 _Catal. libr. impress. Bibl. Bodl._, viz.--'A perpetual
prognostication for weather: C. 2. 13. Art.'
=Thomas Digges= (15..-1595).
[879]Mr. Thomas Digges:--he wrote a booke in 4to, entituled--
'_Stratioticos_, compendiously teaching the science of nombres as well
in fractions as integers, and so much of the rules and aequations
algebraicall and art of nombers cossicall as are requisite for the
profession of a soldier; together with the modern militarie discipline,
offices, lawes and orders in every well-governed camp and armie
inviolably to be observed.'
First published by him, 1579, and dedicated 'unto the right honourable
Robert, earle of Leicester.' The second edition, 1590.
He was muster-master generall of all her majestie's forces in the Low
Countries, as appeares in page 237.
At the end of this booke (the last paragraph) speaking of 'engins and
inventions not usual to be thought on and had in readinesse.'--
'Of these and many mo important mattars militare, I shall have occasion
at large to dilate in my treatise of great artillerie and pyrotechnie,
☞ whose publication I have for divers due respects hitherto differred.'
He was the onely sonne of the learned Leonard Digges, esqr, of whom he
speakes in the preface to his _Stratioticos_.
Pliny, Nat. Hist. lib. vii. cap. 51;--'Una familia Curionum in qua
tres continua serie Oratores extiterunt.' In _this_ family have been
four learned men in an uninterrupted descent--scilicet, two eminent
mathematicians (Leonard and Thomas), Sir Dudley Digges, Master of the
Rolles, and his sonne Dudley, fellow of Allsoules College, Oxon.
[880]Alae seu scalae mathematicae, quibus visibilium remotissima
coelorum theatra conscendi et planetarum omnium itinera novis et
inauditis methodis explorari, tum hujus portentosi syderis (in
Cassiopea) in mundi boreali plaga insolito fulgore coruscantis
distantia et magnitudo immensa situsque protinus tremendus indagari
Deique stupendum ostentum terricolis expositum cognosci liquidissime
possit.
Thoma Diggesio, Cantiensi, stemmatis generosi, autore, Lond. 1573.
Dedicated
'Ad Guliel. Cecilium, praeclariss. ordinis equitem auratum, baronem
Burghleium, summumque Angliae Thesaurarium,' etc.