Chidiock Tichborne (c. 24 August 1562 - 20 September 1586 / Southampton, England)

It's inconceivable that the poet wrote this on the eve of his execution. He must have known of the terrible death that awaited him the next day: hanging, drawing, and quartering carried out before a mob howling for his blood. No one could put that terrible picture aside long enough to concentrate on composing a poem. It was more likely written sometime during what may have been a long imprisonment leading up to his execution, and it was only afterwards that the story arose that he wrote it on the eve of his death.

very interesting poem on a conclusion of a short life.

Chidiock Tichborne was convicted as a plotter in the Babington Conspiracy, a Catholic plot that aimed to assassinate Queen Elizabeth I and put Mary Queen of Scots on the English throne. Tichborne was executed on September 20th 1586. He wrote the poem on the eve of his execution.