<P> In 1583, Tichborne and his father, Peter, were arrested and questioned concerning the use of "popish relics", religious objects Tichborne had brought back from a visit he had made abroad without informing the authorities of an intention to travel . Though released without charge, records suggest that this was not the last time they were to be questioned by the authorities over their religion . In June 1586 accusations of "popish practices" were laid against his family . </P> <P> In June 1586, Tichborne agreed to take part in the Babington Plot to murder Queen Elizabeth and replace her with the Catholic Mary, Queen of Scots, who was next in line to the throne . The plot was foiled by Sir Francis Walsingham, Elizabeth's spymaster, using double agents, most notably Robert Poley who was later witness to the murder of Christopher Marlowe, and though most of the conspirators fled, Tichborne had an injured leg and was forced to remain in London . On 14 August he was arrested and he was later tried and sentenced to death in Westminster Hall . </P> <P> While in custody in the Tower of London on 19 September (the eve of his execution), Tichborne wrote to his wife Agnes . The letter contained three stanzas of poetry that is his best known piece of work, Tichborne's Elegy, also known by its first line My Prime of Youth is but a Frost of Cares . The poem is a dark look at a life cut short and is a favourite of many scholars to this day . Two other poems are known by him, To His Friend and The Housedove . </P> <P> On 20 September 1586, Tichborne was executed with Anthony Babington, John Ballard, and four other conspirators . They were eviscerated, hanged, drawn and quartered, the mandatory punishment for treason, in St Giles Field . However, when Elizabeth was informed that these gruesome executions were arousing sympathy for the condemned, she ordered that the remaining seven conspirators were to be hanged until' quite dead' before being eviscerated . </P>

My prime of youth is but a frost of cares summary