John Digby (MP)
Encyclopedia
John Digby was an English politician who sat in the House of Commons
from 1640 to 1642. He fought on the Royalist side in the English Civil War
and died as a priest at a convent in France.
Digby was born in London, the son of John Digby, 1st Earl of Bristol
and his wife Beatrix Walcot, daughter of Charles Walcot of Walcot Shropshire. He matriculated at Magdalen College, Oxford
on 12 May 1634, aged 16.
In November 1640, Digby was elected Member of Parliament
for Milborne Port
in the Long Parliament
. In 1641 after his brother George Digby
was accelerated to the House of Lords
, John perched himself on a ladder at the door of the chamber which the speaker, William Lenthall
took as an act of disrespect and insubordination and told him to take his place, and not to sit upon the ladder as if he were going to be hanged. Another MP Richard King
complained that the Speaker had transgressed his duty in using so disgraceful a speech to so noble a gentleman and after some turmoil obtained a conditional apology.
During the civil war Digby supported the King and was disabled on 5 August 1642. He was a general of horse under Ralph, Lord Hopton
.
In 1660, Digby "a most holy devout person" became a priest at a convent of English Benedictines at Pontoise
which was built that year. In March 1666 members of the community including Digby planned a visit to England. It was noted that "Mr Digby was a severe man to himself, and fasted Lent most strictly and having a great weakness in his head by the many wounds he had received in the wars, was subject to pains in his head in those wounds; and fasting this Lent with nothing but a mess of peas porridge and bread, being a corpulant man became weak of his head by it. And some day or two before the designed journy, in the night fell into an apoplex, was annealed and died the next day." The convent at Pontoise contained his tomb which was inscribed "Hic jacet umbra, et pulvis, et nihil."
House of Commons of England
The House of Commons of England was the lower house of the Parliament of England from its development in the 14th century to the union of England and Scotland in 1707, when it was replaced by the House of Commons of Great Britain...
from 1640 to 1642. He fought on the Royalist side in the English Civil War
English Civil War
The English Civil War was a series of armed conflicts and political machinations between Parliamentarians and Royalists...
and died as a priest at a convent in France.
Digby was born in London, the son of John Digby, 1st Earl of Bristol
John Digby, 1st Earl of Bristol
John Digby, 1st Earl of Bristol , was an English diplomat and a moderate royalist during the English Civil War.- Early career :...
and his wife Beatrix Walcot, daughter of Charles Walcot of Walcot Shropshire. He matriculated at Magdalen College, Oxford
Magdalen College, Oxford
Magdalen College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England. As of 2006 the college had an estimated financial endowment of £153 million. Magdalen is currently top of the Norrington Table after over half of its 2010 finalists received first-class degrees, a record...
on 12 May 1634, aged 16.
In November 1640, Digby was elected Member of Parliament
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
for Milborne Port
Milborne Port (UK Parliament constituency)
Milborne Port is a former parliamentary borough located in Somerset. It elected two members to the unreformed House of Commons between 1298 and 1307 and again from 1628, but was disenfranchised in the Reform Act 1832 as a rotten borough.- MPs 1640–1832 :...
in the Long Parliament
Long Parliament
The Long Parliament was made on 3 November 1640, following the Bishops' Wars. It received its name from the fact that through an Act of Parliament, it could only be dissolved with the agreement of the members, and those members did not agree to its dissolution until after the English Civil War and...
. In 1641 after his brother George Digby
George Digby, 2nd Earl of Bristol
George Digby, 2nd Earl of Bristol was an English politician who sat in the House of Commons from 1640 until 1641 when he was raised to the House of Lords...
was accelerated to the House of Lords
House of Lords
The House of Lords is the upper house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Like the House of Commons, it meets in the Palace of Westminster....
, John perched himself on a ladder at the door of the chamber which the speaker, William Lenthall
William Lenthall
William Lenthall was an English politician of the Civil War period. He served as Speaker of the House of Commons.-Early life:...
took as an act of disrespect and insubordination and told him to take his place, and not to sit upon the ladder as if he were going to be hanged. Another MP Richard King
Richard King (MP)
Richard King was an English lawyer and politician who sat in the House of Commons between 1640 and 1643. He supported the Royalist side in the English Civil War.King was elected recorder of Melcombe Regis on 4 February 1628....
complained that the Speaker had transgressed his duty in using so disgraceful a speech to so noble a gentleman and after some turmoil obtained a conditional apology.
During the civil war Digby supported the King and was disabled on 5 August 1642. He was a general of horse under Ralph, Lord Hopton
Ralph Hopton, 1st Baron Hopton
Ralph Hopton, 1st Baron Hopton was a Royalist commander in the English Civil War.-Life:Hopton was the son of Robert Hopton of Witham Somerset. He was apparently educated at Lincoln College, Oxford and served in the army of Frederick V, Elector Palatine in the early campaigns of the Thirty...
.
In 1660, Digby "a most holy devout person" became a priest at a convent of English Benedictines at Pontoise
Pontoise
Pontoise is a commune in the northwestern suburbs of Paris, France. It is located from the centre of Paris, in the "new town" of Cergy-Pontoise.-Administration:...
which was built that year. In March 1666 members of the community including Digby planned a visit to England. It was noted that "Mr Digby was a severe man to himself, and fasted Lent most strictly and having a great weakness in his head by the many wounds he had received in the wars, was subject to pains in his head in those wounds; and fasting this Lent with nothing but a mess of peas porridge and bread, being a corpulant man became weak of his head by it. And some day or two before the designed journy, in the night fell into an apoplex, was annealed and died the next day." The convent at Pontoise contained his tomb which was inscribed "Hic jacet umbra, et pulvis, et nihil."