her frequently and behaving on one occasion with a discreditable freedom, which she resented, he was secretly married to her early in 1625. Digby attributed this dénouement to astrological influence. Their first child (Kenelm) was born in October 1625. Digby's devotion to his wife was thoroughly sincere, and she proved herself worthy of it. An elaborate justification of his conduct in pardoning her prenuptial indiscretions occupies the greater part of his ‘Private Memoirs.’ Aubrey says that she was at one time the mistress of Richard, earl of Dorset, son of the lord treasurer, by whom she had several children; that the earl allowed her 500l. a year, which Digby insisted on his paying her after her marriage, and that the earl dined once a year with her when she was Lady Digby. Sir Harris Nicolas disputed the statement on the ground that Richard, (third) earl of Dorset, died in 1624, and consequently could not have met his alleged mistress after her marriage, which took place in the following year. But Mr. G. F. Warner has proved that Sir Edward Sackville, brother of the third earl and his successor in the earldom, was in all probability Venetia Stanley's lover; he was friendly with Digby both before and after the marriage (Poems from Digby's Papers, Roxb. Club).
At court Digby was occasionally employed by his kinsman, now Earl of Bristol, in negotiations between him and the king. Buckingham was at deadly enmity with Bristol, and Sir Kenelm had little chance of preferment while the favourite lived. But his happy married life reconciled him to exclusion from public employment. He made the acquaintance of many men of letters and rising statesmen, including Ben Jonson and Edward Hyde (afterwards Earl of Clarendon). The latter describes him at the time as exceptionally handsome, with ‘a winning voice,’ ‘a flowing courtesy and civility, and such a volubility of language as surprised and delighted.’ About 1627 Bristol strongly advised Digby ‘to employ himself on some generous action.’ Digby resolved upon a privateering expedition in the Mediterranean with the final object of seizing the French ships usually anchored in the Venetian harbour of Scanderoon. The plans were laid before James I while Buckingham was in the Isle of Ré. James promised a commission under the great seal. But Buckingham's secretary, Edward Nicholas, protested that such a commission infringed the jurisdiction of his master, the lord high admiral. Heath, attorney-general, suggested that the omission of a clause vesting power to execute martial law in Digby would meet the objection. Lord-keeper Coventry argued for other alterations, and finally a royal license was issued merely authorising Digby to undertake the voyage ‘for the increase of his knowledge.’ Before Digby departed Buckingham returned, and on 13 Dec. 1627 Digby took out letters of marque from him. Reduced to the position of a private adventurer, Digby sailed from Deal on 22 Dec. Two ships, the Eagle of 400 tons, under Captain Milborne, and the George and Elizabeth of 250 tons, under Captain Sir Edward Stradling, formed the expedition. At the time of his departure Digby's second son, John, was born, and Digby left instructions with his wife to make their marriage public.
On 18 Jan. 1627–8 Digby arrived off Gibraltar. He captured several Flemish and Spanish ships in the neighbourhood after some sharp fighting. But his men sickened, and from 15 Feb. to 27 March he anchored off Algiers, where he was hospitably received, and afterwards claimed to have made arrangements for future friendly dealings between Algerine and English ships. On 30 March he seized a rich Dutch vessel near Majorca. Off Sicily in April a terrible storm threatened his ships and prizes. After visiting Zante, Digby arrived at Scanderoon on 10 June, and on 11 June gave battle to the French and Venetian ships in the harbour. Three hours' fierce fighting gave Digby the victory. The news of the engagement was received in England with great enthusiasm. ‘I do not remember,’ wrote Howell, ‘to have read or heard that those huge galeazzoes of St. Mark were beaten afore.’ The English vice-consul at Scanderoon complained, however, that Digby's presence in the Levant jeopardised the position of English merchants at Aleppo and elsewhere, and Digby was entreated to depart. On his return he spent some time at Milo, Delos, and Micino, searching for antiquities. He refitted at Zante; was at Gibraltar on 1 Jan. 1628–9; came in sight of England 25 Jan. after a great storm; and landed at Woolwich on 2 Feb. 1628–9.
Digby was well received by the king, but in August 1628 the Venetian ambassador complained of his conduct in the Adriatic, and it was disavowed by the government (Salvetti Corresp. in Hist. MSS. Comm. 11th Rep. pt. i. p. 159). On 23 Oct. 1630 Digby's old tutor Allen made a codicil to his will, bequeathing to Digby his valuable books and manuscripts. Digby consulted Sir Robert Cotton and Laud, and when the library became his property at the end of 1632 soon presented it to the Bodleian Library. Laud was formally thanked (December 1634) by the Oxford convocation for his share in the
