Everard Digby
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Everard Digby | |
 |
|
| Born | May 16, 1578 Stoke Dry, Rutland |
|---|---|
| Died | January 30, 1606 (age 28) |
| Spouse(s) | Yes |
| Parents | Everard Digby Senior |
Sir Everard Digby (May 16, 1578 – January 30, 1606) was one of those involved in the abortive 1605 Gunpowder Plot to assassinate King James I of England and VI of Scotland and Members of the Parliament of England.
A son of Everard Digby Senior of Stoke Dry, Rutland, he came from a Protestant family. In 1596, he married Mary Mulsho, who also was from a strongly Protestant family. However, about 1599, he was introduced to a Jesuit priest, Fr. John Gerard. His friendship with Fr. Gerard was such that they were accustomed to speak of each other as brothers.[1] Digby's wife later expressed the desire to convert to Catholicism, and Digby's own Catholic sympathies apparently began about the same time. Owing to his friendship with Fr. Gerard, both he and his wife were converted to the Catholic Faith.
Digby was one of those who welcomed the new King James to Belvoir Castle and was knighted by him on April 23, 1603. Digby apparently became involved in the Gunpowder Plot only in its later stages. His involvement was thought to be purely of a fiscal nature. Digby was the only plotter to plead guilty,[2] Digby defended his actions on the basis that King James had reneged on his promise to not persecute Catholics. Being found guilty and unremorseful, Digby was executed with all the unpleasantness of the traitor's death of those times.
John Aubrey (1626-1697) relates the following tale of his execution (from Brief Lives, ed. Oliver Lawson Dick):
'Twas his fate to suffer in the Powder-plott. When his heart was pluct out by the Executioner (who, secundam formam, cryed, "Here is the heart of a Traytor!") it is credibly reported he replied, "Thou liest!"
[edit] References
- ^ "Sir Everard Digby". Gunpowder Plot Society. Retrieved on 2007-02-17.
- ^ "Sir Everard Digby". Catholic Encyclopedia. Retrieved on 2007-02-17.
 |
This English biographical article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |
|
||||||||
