Digges, Dudley, Sir (1583 -1639)
Probably the stamp either of Sir Dudley Digges (1583 1639), of Digges Court, Barham in Kent, the diplomat and judge, or his younger brother, Leonard, the poet and translator (1588 1635). They were the sons of Thomas Digges (d.1595), the Cambridge mathematician, and Abbe de St Leger. The absence of any mark of cadency points to the elder brother. He was educated at University College, Oxford, where he was entered as a Gentleman Commoner in 1598, and took his B.A. in 1601, and at the Inns of Court. He was knighted by James I soon after his accession, and was Member of Parliament for Tewkesbury 1604 1611. He was appointed Ambassador to the Czar of Russia in 1618, and, with Sir Maurice Abbot, Ambassador to Holland in 1620. He served as Member of Parliament for Tewkesbury again in 1621 and 1626, and for Kent in 1628. He was sent to the Tower for impeaching George Villiers, Duke of Buckingham, but was released a few days later, and became Master of the Rolls in 1636. He married Mary, daughter and coheir of Thomas Kemp of Chilham in Kent.