Kenelm Henry Digby
Encyclopedia
This article is about Kenelm Digby, the Anglo-Irish writer. For other people with the same name, see Kenelm Digby (disambiguation)
Kenelm Henry Digby (c1800-1880) was an Anglo-Irish writer born at Clonfert
in Ireland
, though he certainly did not regard himself as Irish. His reputation rests chiefly on his earliest publication, The Broad-Stone of Honour
, or Rules for the Gentlemen of England (1822), which contains an exhaustive survey of medieval customs. The work was subsequently enlarged and issued (1828-29) in four volumes entitled: Godefridus, Tancredus, Morus and Orlandus. Digby's exposure to Walter Scott
's Ivanhoe
novels as a youth encouraged him to romanticize the Middle Ages. Broad-Stone contributed to the Young England
movement’s feudalist ideology and influenced many of Digby's Cambridge contemporaries. The book inculcated readers with ideas of chivalry and staunch Catholicism and stressed the importance of the heart’s knowledge over intellectual learning by presenting historical figures as role models. Digby's revival of medieval principles helped young men of his day construct their idea of what being a "gentleman" means.
In 1812, when Digby was 15, his father died, and he moved to England to attend Petersham High School near London. From 1816–1819, he went to Trinity College, Cambridge
, where some members of the university advocated reform and even republicanism; Digby, however, favoured a strong monarchy, the Church, and chivalry. While at university he read Tennyson
and Hallam
; his close friends there were George Darby, Julius Hare, William Whewell
, and Adam Sedgwick
.
The Middle Ages were a constant interest throughout Digby's time at university. Edward Fitzgerald, who had seen him there but did not know him, wrote later that he was a big, cheerful man who looked like a knight. Digby tried to practice chivalry in his own life; while at Cambridge, he and his best friend Darby held mock tournaments astride ponies, carrying wooden hop-poles. Once, Digby sneaked into the King’s College chapel and held vigil there until morning, like a squire the night before he was knighted. Another time, Digby rescued a young woman from an unsavoury character on the road and escorted her back to her home like an honourable knight-errant.
In summer, Digby traveled all over Europe sketching old castles and writing. Ehrenbreitstein
, a massive mediaeval fortress in Germany, gave him the title The Broad-Stone of Honour
. He published the book in a single volume in 1822, and the beliefs he explored while writing it seem to have contributed to his conversion to Catholicism in 1825. After that, he rewrote and expanded the one volume into four, published in 1828-29: Godfridus, containing a general introduction (named after Godfrey of Boulogne, a Crusade hero); Tancredus, discussing chivalry’s discipline and applauding Christianity (for Tancred of Hauteville
, another Crusade hero); Morus, bashing the Reformation as the death of chivalry and religion (after Sir Thomas More); and Orlandus, which detailed Digby’s idea of chivalric behaviour (after Ariosto’s Orlando Furioso
).
Kenelm Digby (disambiguation)
Kenelm Digby may refer to:*Kenelm Digby , English MP and High Sheriff*Sir Kenelm Digby , English courtier, diplomat, natural philosopher, Roman Catholic intellectual and Blackloist....
Kenelm Henry Digby (c1800-1880) was an Anglo-Irish writer born at Clonfert
Clonfert
Clonfert is a small village in east County Galway, Ireland. It is half way between Ballinasloe and Portumna.Clonfert Cathedral is situated in the village, which is the see of the Diocese of Clonfert.-See also:* List of towns and villages in Ireland...
in Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
, though he certainly did not regard himself as Irish. His reputation rests chiefly on his earliest publication, The Broad-Stone of Honour
The Broad-Stone of Honour
The Broad Stone of Honour, or Rules for the Gentlemen of England, is a book written by Kenelm Henry Digby and published first in 1822 by F. C. & J. Rivington of London. Then the work was subdivided into its constituent parts and published as Godefridus , Tancredus , Morus and Orlandus...
, or Rules for the Gentlemen of England (1822), which contains an exhaustive survey of medieval customs. The work was subsequently enlarged and issued (1828-29) in four volumes entitled: Godefridus, Tancredus, Morus and Orlandus. Digby's exposure to Walter Scott
Walter Scott
Sir Walter Scott, 1st Baronet was a Scottish historical novelist, playwright, and poet, popular throughout much of the world during his time....
's Ivanhoe
Ivanhoe
Ivanhoe is a historical fiction novel by Sir Walter Scott in 1819, and set in 12th-century England. Ivanhoe is sometimes credited for increasing interest in Romanticism and Medievalism; John Henry Newman claimed Scott "had first turned men's minds in the direction of the middle ages," while...
novels as a youth encouraged him to romanticize the Middle Ages. Broad-Stone contributed to the Young England
Young England
Young England was a Victorian era political group. The group was born on the playing fields of Cambridge and Eton. For the most part, its unofficial membership was confined to a splinter group of Tory aristocrats who had attended public school together, among them George Smythe, Lord John...
movement’s feudalist ideology and influenced many of Digby's Cambridge contemporaries. The book inculcated readers with ideas of chivalry and staunch Catholicism and stressed the importance of the heart’s knowledge over intellectual learning by presenting historical figures as role models. Digby's revival of medieval principles helped young men of his day construct their idea of what being a "gentleman" means.
In 1812, when Digby was 15, his father died, and he moved to England to attend Petersham High School near London. From 1816–1819, he went to Trinity College, Cambridge
Trinity College, Cambridge
Trinity College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge. Trinity has more members than any other college in Cambridge or Oxford, with around 700 undergraduates, 430 graduates, and over 170 Fellows...
, where some members of the university advocated reform and even republicanism; Digby, however, favoured a strong monarchy, the Church, and chivalry. While at university he read Tennyson
Alfred Tennyson, 1st Baron Tennyson
Alfred Tennyson, 1st Baron Tennyson, FRS was Poet Laureate of the United Kingdom during much of Queen Victoria's reign and remains one of the most popular poets in the English language....
and Hallam
Hallam
-Places:* Hallamshire, an area in South Yorkshire, England; the source of the name for:** Hallam F.C. - a non-league football club in Sheffield.** Hallam FM, a radio station based in Sheffield.** Royal Hallamshire Hospital...
; his close friends there were George Darby, Julius Hare, William Whewell
William Whewell
William Whewell was an English polymath, scientist, Anglican priest, philosopher, theologian, and historian of science. He was Master of Trinity College, Cambridge.-Life and career:Whewell was born in Lancaster...
, and Adam Sedgwick
Adam Sedgwick
Adam Sedgwick was one of the founders of modern geology. He proposed the Devonian period of the geological timescale...
.
The Middle Ages were a constant interest throughout Digby's time at university. Edward Fitzgerald, who had seen him there but did not know him, wrote later that he was a big, cheerful man who looked like a knight. Digby tried to practice chivalry in his own life; while at Cambridge, he and his best friend Darby held mock tournaments astride ponies, carrying wooden hop-poles. Once, Digby sneaked into the King’s College chapel and held vigil there until morning, like a squire the night before he was knighted. Another time, Digby rescued a young woman from an unsavoury character on the road and escorted her back to her home like an honourable knight-errant.
In summer, Digby traveled all over Europe sketching old castles and writing. Ehrenbreitstein
Ehrenbreitstein
Ehrenbreitstein may refer to:, a district of Koblenz* Ehrenbreitstein Fortress * Ehrenbreitstein , the hill on which the fortress stands on the east bank of the Rhine...
, a massive mediaeval fortress in Germany, gave him the title The Broad-Stone of Honour
The Broad-Stone of Honour
The Broad Stone of Honour, or Rules for the Gentlemen of England, is a book written by Kenelm Henry Digby and published first in 1822 by F. C. & J. Rivington of London. Then the work was subdivided into its constituent parts and published as Godefridus , Tancredus , Morus and Orlandus...
. He published the book in a single volume in 1822, and the beliefs he explored while writing it seem to have contributed to his conversion to Catholicism in 1825. After that, he rewrote and expanded the one volume into four, published in 1828-29: Godfridus, containing a general introduction (named after Godfrey of Boulogne, a Crusade hero); Tancredus, discussing chivalry’s discipline and applauding Christianity (for Tancred of Hauteville
Tancred of Hauteville
Tancred of Hauteville was an 11th-century Norman petty lord about whom little is known. His historical importance comes entirely from the accomplishments of his sons and later descendants...
, another Crusade hero); Morus, bashing the Reformation as the death of chivalry and religion (after Sir Thomas More); and Orlandus, which detailed Digby’s idea of chivalric behaviour (after Ariosto’s Orlando Furioso
Orlando Furioso
Orlando Furioso is an Italian epic poem by Ludovico Ariosto which has exerted a wide influence on later culture. The earliest version appeared in 1516, although the poem was not published in its complete form until 1532...
).