Everard Digby

From Freepedia

Sir Everard Digby (May 16 1578 - January 30 1606) was one of those inculpated in the abortive 1605 Gunpowder Plot to assassinate James I of England and Members of Parliament. Knighted by James on the way to his accession to the throne, Digby became involved in the plot only late in the day, and his involvement was thought to be purely of a fiscal nature. Nevertheless he was tried and 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!