He fought on the Royalist side in the English Civil War and died as a priest at a convent in France.
[3] 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.
[2] In 1660, Digby "a most holy devout person" became a priest at a convent of English Benedictines at Pontoise which was built that year.
"[5] The convent at Pontoise contained his tomb which was inscribed "Hic jacet umbra, et pulvis, et nihil.