Digby, George, 2nd earl of Bristol
Digby, George, 2nd earl of Bristol (1612–77). Digby was a leading opponent of Strafford but changed sides during his impeachment. He fought at Edgehill and was appointed secretary of state by the king in 1643. He was a hard-liner, insisting on a dictated peace. Clarendon thought him ingratiating, but part of his appeal to Charles I was an unquenchable optimism: even after Marston Moor in 1644 he wrote that ‘His Majesty's affairs are in the best posture that they have been at any time since these unhappy wars.’ He took over command in the north from Rupert in 1645, too late to demonstrate whether he had real military talent. Clarendon disliked him and described him as handsome, vain, and unstable: Digby reciprocated the dislike and spent much time after the Restoration in pursuing a vendetta against Clarendon.
J. A. Cannon
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George Digby 2d earl of Bristol
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George Digby 2d earl of Bristol