Everard Digby

Everard Digby Poems

Everard Digby Biography

Sir Everard Digby (16 May 1578 – 30 January 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 Sir Everard Digby Senior of Stoke Dry, Rutland and Maria Neale of Keythorpe, Leicestershire, he came from a Protestant family. In 1596, he married Mary Mulsho, who also was from a strongly Protestant family. Together they had two sons, Kenelm Digby and John Digby. 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. Digby's wife later expressed the desire to convert to Catholicism. However, Digby's own Catholic sympathies seemed to begin only while suffering a sickness in London. Owing to his friendship with Fr. Gerard, both he and his wife were converted to the Catholic Faith on separate occasions. Digby was one of those who welcomed the new King James to Belvoir Castle and was knighted by him on 23 April 1603. Digby apparently became involved in the Gunpowder Plot only in its later stages. His involvement was of a fiscal nature, however he was also placed in charge of the Midlands operation. The goal of this plan being to kidnapped Princess Elizabeth, the daughter of King James. Digby was the only surviving plotter to plead guilty.After making his plea, Digby told of his motives, which included, “his friendship and affection for Catesby, whose influence over him was so profound that he was bound to risk his inheritance and his life at the other’s bidding. The second motive was the cause of religion, and for his faith he was glad to risk estate, life, name, memory, posterity, ‘and all worldly and earthly felicity whatsoever.’ His third motive was prompted by the broken promises to Catholics, and had as its object the prevention of tougher laws such as they had reason to fear.” Being found guilty and unremorseful, Digby was executed with all the unpleasantness of the traitor's death of those times.)

The Best Poem Of Everard Digby

Who's That Which Knocks?

Who's that which knocks? Oh stay, my Lord, I come:
I know that call, since first it made me know
My self, which makes me now with joy to run,
Lest he be gone that can my duty show.
Iesu my Lord, I know thee by the Cross
Thou offer'st me, but not unto my loss.

Come in, my Lord, whose presence most I crave,
And shew thy will unto my longing mind.
From punishments of sin thy Servant save,
Though he hath been to thy deserts unkind.
Iesu forgive, and strengthen so my mind,
That rooted vertues thou in me maist find.

Stay still, my Lord, else will they fade away,
As Marigold that mourns for absent Sun:
Thou know'st thou plantest in a barren clay,
That choaks in Winter all that up is come.
I do not fear thy Summers wished heat,
My tears shall water where thy shine doth threat.

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