After his father"s death in 1595, his mother married Thomas Russell of Alderminster, who was named by William Shakespeare as one of the two overseers of his will. Leonard Digges matriculated at University College, Oxford in 1603, the year of his mother"s remarriage, and graduated Bachelor in 1606.
This was followed by a period of study abroad. The book was a copy of Rimas by Lope de Vega (published in 1613). lieutenant still survives, in the library of Balliol College.
Digges"s inscription reads:
Will Baker: Knowinge
that Mr Mab: was to
sende you this Booke
of sonets, wch with Spaniards
here is accounted of their
lope de Vega as in Englande
wee sholde of or: Will
Shakespeare.
I colde not
but insert thus much to
you, that if you like
him not, you muste neuer
neuer reade Spanishe Poet
Leo:Digges
Anthony a Wood said of Leonard Digges that he "was esteemed by those who knew him in University.coll. a great master of the English language, a perfect understander of the French and Spanish, a good poet, and no mean orator." Wood says also that "upon his supplication made to the venerable convocation" of University College Oxford, Digges was made Master of Arts in 1626, "in consideration that he had spent many years in good letters in transmarine universities." He lived in the College from then until his death in 1635, and was buried in the College chapel (no longer standing).
