DIGGES, Sir Dudley (1583-1639), of Philip Lane, London and Chilham Castle, Kent

Family and Education

b. May 1583, C142/251/97. 1st s. of Thomas Digges† of London and Wingham, Kent and Anne, da. of Sir Warham St. Leger of Leeds Castle, Kent. Vis. Kent (Harl. Soc. xliii), 65. educ. Univ. Coll. Oxf. 1600, BA 1610; Al. Ox. household of Abp. Whitgift by 1602; HMC Hatfield, xii. 141. travelled abroad (France) 1604; CSP Dom. 1603-10, p. 91. G. Inn 1618 and 1631. GI Admiss. m. aft.1607, Mary (d.1631), da. and coh. of Sir Thomas Kempe of Olantigh, Wye, Kent, 8s. (2 d.v.p.) 3da. C142/309/181; Vis. Kent, 65; F.H. Kemp, Kemp and Kempe Fams. 35-6; W.L. Spiers, ‘Note-Bk. and Acct. Bk. of Nicholas Stone’, Walpole Soc. vii. 86; IGI; C142/603/88. suc. fa. 1595; C142/251/97. Kntd. 29 Apr. 1607. Shaw, Knights of Eng. ii. 142. d. 18 Mar. 1639. C142/603/88. sig. Dudly Digges.

Offices Held

Commr. sewers, Kent and Suss. 1609–d., C181/2, f. 88; 181/5, f. 98. Kent 1620 – 25, 1631, C181/3, ff. 3v, 157v; 181/4, f. 75. Suss. 1630, C181/4, f. 37v. piracy, Cinque ports 1616, 1625, 1629, 15 Mar. 1639–d.; C181/2, f. 246v; 181/3, f. 175v, 247v; 181/4, f. 48. j.p. Kent 1616 – 26, 1628–d., C231/4, ff. 29, 261; SP16/405, f. 34; Som. RO, DD/PH219/66. capt. militia ft. by 1621, HMC Finch, i. 42. commr. subsidy 1621 – 22, 1624, C212/22/20–1, 23. dep. lt. by 1623 – at least26, ?1628-at least 1636, CSP Dom. 1619–23, p. 614; 1635–6, p. 165; Arch. Cant. lxxxii. 141; P. Clark, Eng. Prov. Soc. 345. commr. inquiry into profits of Wye Coll., Kent 1623; C181/3, f. 83v. collector, Privy Seal loan, Kent 1626, APC, 1626, p. 168. commr. Forced Loan 1626–7, Harl. 6846, f. 37; C193/12/2, f. 26v. recusants’ lands 1627, CSP Dom. 1627–8, p. 449. oyer and terminer, Home circ. 1631–d., C181/4, f. 72v; 181/5, f. 97v. London and Mdx. 1636. C181/5, ff. 57, 58v.

Cttee. Virg. Co. 1609, A. Brown, Genesis of US, i. 212. E.I. Co. 1611, T.K. Rabb, Enterprise and Empire, 280. N.W. Passage Co. 1612; CSP Col. E.I. 1513–1616, p. 240. member, Muscovy Co. 1620. Rabb, 280.

Member, High Commission, Canterbury prov. 1613-at least 1633; R.G. Usher, Rise and Fall of High Commission, 349. gent. of Privy Chamber from 1618; T. Rymer, Foedera, vii. pt. 3, p. 173; CD 1628, ii. 115. commr. transportation of ordnance 1619, CD 1621, vii. 416. trade 1621 – 22, 1625, APC, 1621–3, pp. 80, 208; Rymer, viii. pt. 1, p. 59. Irish inquiries 1622; Ibid. 421. PC [I] from 1622; V. Treadwell, Buckingham and Ire. 1616–28, p. 206. commr. exacted fees 1622, APC, 1621–3, p. 325. better plantation of Virg. 1631; Rymer, viii. pt. 3, p. 192. master in Chancery 1631-at least 1635; E. Foss, Judges of Eng. vi. 305; C181/4, f. 198v. master of the Rolls 1636–d. G.E. Aylmer, King’s Servants, 72; CSP Dom. 1635–6, p. 622.