Ambrose Rookwood and Sir Everard Digby

Two lesser-known gunpowder plotters held at the Tower of London

Date: 30 January 2019

Author: Dr Charles Farris

On 31 January 1606, four of the conspirators in the infamous Gunpowder Plot were taken from the Tower of London to be executed at Old Palace Yard in Westminster. Two of the plotters, Ambrose Rookwood and Sir Everard Digby, are less-often heard about, perhaps partly because they were not included in the famous engraving of 1605. Charles Farris tells us more.

However, these men left their marks on the Tower when they scratched their names into the walls of their cells. These can still be seen today: Rockwood's is off the visitor route in the Martin Tower, in the north-east corner of the Tower, while Digby's signature can be found in the Broad Arrow Tower, also on the East Battlements.

In fact, prisoner graffiti was rather common at the Tower of London and visitors to the Beauchamp Tower today can see not just signatures but prayers, poems, and even coats of arms.

Engraved signatures of the names Ambrose Rookwood and Everard Digby on a stone wall. — *Image: The Signatures of Ambrose Rookwood and Everard Digby © Historic Royal Palaces*

In fact, prisoner graffiti was rather common at the Tower of London and visitors to the Beauchamp Tower today can see not just signatures but prayers, poems, and even coats of arms.

A black and white illustration showing eight of the plotters in discussion. The caption reads “Guy Fawkes and the conspirators. (From a Contemporary Print). — *Image: The Gunpowder Plot Conspirators, by Crispijn de Passe the Elder, c.1605 © National Portrait Gallery, London*

Ambrose Rookwood

Ambrose Rookwood (c. 1578-1606) was the son of Robert Rookwood of Stanningfield, Suffolk and his second wife Dorothea. Rookwood was from a long line of staunch Catholics and was indicted for recusancy (religious non-conformity) in February 1605.

Rookwood was probably recruited by the plotters principally due to his wealth and his impressive stables. He was certainly a fine horseman, and boasted after his capture that he had ridden 30 miles on one horse in two hours.

Rookwood was caught during the plotters' famed last stand at Holbeach House, during which he was burnt in the face by exploding gunpowder and shot through the right arm. After imprisonment at the Tower, Rookwood was tried and condemned to be executed. He was hanged, drawn and quartered in Old Palace Yard on this day in 1606.

However, dissent clearly stayed in the blood: Rookwood's namesake grandson (1664-1696) was implicated in the conspiracy to assassinate William III and was executed for treason on 29 April 1696.

A sepia-toned engraving of a portrait with a man in Stuart period clothing and the name 'Sir Kenelm Digby' written underneath. — *Image: Ambrose Rookwood by unknown artist. © National Portrait Gallery, London*

Sir Everard Digby

Everard Digby (c.1578-1606) was the son of Everard Digby of Stoke Dry, Rutland and his wife Maria. Initially Digby showed every indication of being a good royalist, despite converting to Catholicism. He held office in the household of Queen Elizabeth I and was knighted by James I at Belvoir Castle in 1603.

However, he was courted by Robert Catesby and thus became involved in the Gunpowder Plot, providing the enterprise with much-needed finances. After the failure of the plot, Digby was arrested near Halesowen and imprisoned at the Tower of London.

At first, Digby denied involvement in the conspiracy but, on being presented with the testimonies of Guy Fawkes and Thomas Winter, he admitted prior knowledge.

At his trial Digby carried himself with great flair and poise, and sought mercy for his family and for himself a gentleman's death by the axe. The latter was denied, and he was hanged, drawn, and quartered at St Paul's churchyard on 30 January 1635.

A sepia-toned engraving of a portrait with a man in Stuart period clothing and the name 'Sir Everard Digby' written underneath. — Image: *Sir* *Everard Digby by unknown artist. © National Portrait Gallery, London*

His family found some mercy and kept their lands. Indeed, Digby's sons went on to demonstrate considerable loyalty to the crown, perhaps in recognition of this mercy. His eldest son Sir Kenelm Digby (1603-65), a notable scientist, served as chancellor to Queen Henrietta Maria in 1644, a position he kept after the restoration of Charles II in 1660.

His younger son John Digby (1605-1645), rose to the rank of major general in the royalist armies of Charles I in the Civil War and died fighting for the King in 1645.

Charles Farris
Public Historian for the History of the Monarchy
Historic Royal Palaces