Dudley Digges (writer) facts for kids

Oxforde as it now lyeth: fortified by his Ma(jes)ties forces, an. 1644

Dudley Digges (1613–1643) was an English writer who supported the King during the English Civil War. People who supported the King were called Royalists. He wrote many important papers defending King Charles I.

His Life

Dudley Digges was born in Chilham, Kent, in 1613. He was the third son of Sir Dudley Digges, who was also a famous person. His mother was Mary, the daughter of Sir Thomas Kempe.

Dudley started studying at University College, Oxford, in 1629. He earned his first degree (BA) in 1632 and a master's degree (MA) in 1635. He then became a "fellow" at All Souls College, Oxford in 1632 or 1633. A fellow is like a senior member or teacher at the college. In 1641, he also began studying law at Gray's Inn.

In September 1642, during the English Civil War, Dudley helped organize ways to protect Oxford. Oxford was a very important city for the King's forces. Sadly, he died in Oxford on 1 October 1643 from a serious illness that was common at the time. He was buried at All Souls College. Dudley was a very smart person who loved to study. He left over a thousand books to his college.

His Writings

Dudley Digges is best known for his writings that supported the King. He was a strong Royalist, and all his main works defended King Charles I. He wrote poems for the University of Oxford that were published in collections like Musarum Oxoniensium (1633) and Flos Britannicis versis (1637). He also wrote a poem about a very cold winter in 1634.

Here are some of his other important works:

• Nova Corpora Regularia (1634): This book explained some mathematical discoveries made by his grandfather, Thomas Digges, around 1574.
• An Answer to a Printed Book intituled Observations upon some of His Majestie's late Answers and Expresses (1642): This was a response to a book that criticized the King.
• A Review of the Observations upon some of His Majestie's late Answers and Expresses (1643): Another book defending the King's actions.
• The Unlawfulnesse of Subjects taking up arms against their Soveraigne in what case soever (1643): This book argued that people should never fight against their ruler, no matter what. This idea was very popular among those who supported the King, and the book was printed many times.

See also

• Diggs baronets

Images for kids

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  Aerial view of University College, Oxford, around 1690.

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  Bird's-eye view of All Souls College, Oxford, looking North (1675).