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2005 was the 400th anniversary of the Gunpowder Plot, one of
the most notorious plots in history. On Tuesday 5th November 1605 Guy
Fawkes was discovered in the cellars below the Houses of Parliament with
a watch, a slow match, touch paper and a dark lantern. It became known
as the Gunpowder plot and was part of a Catholic revolutionary plan to
overthrow King James I of England and VI of Scotland.
The country was in turmoil after more than 50 years of Elizabethan
protestant rule. A little over two years before a number of Catholics
had been involved in what came to be known as the Main Plot and the Bye
Plot to rid England of its Protestant king.
Fundamentally the Gunpowder Plot was a desperate but failed attempt by a
group of provincial English Catholic extremists to kill King James I of
England, his family, and most of the Protestant aristocracy in one go.
They would achieve this by blowing up the Houses of Parliament during
the State Opening. The conspirators had then planned to abduct the royal
children, not present in parliament, and then incite a revolt in the
Midlands.
There were 13 men involved in the Gunpowder plot of 1605. Robert Catesby
was the ringleader. His servant Thomas Bates assisted him. Among the
rest were brothers Thomas and Robert Wintour, Christopher Wright, Thomas
Percy, John Grant, Ambrose Rokewood, Sir Everard Digby, Francis Tresham
and of course Guy Fawkes.
Born in York on 13th April 1570 to a Protestant family Guy Fawkes
converted to Catholicism when he was 16. He spent time in the army and
as a mercenary and became an expert on explosives. He became involved in
the Gunpowder plot when Hugh Owen introduced him to Robert Catesby. They
needed his knowledge of explosives to set up a huge blast that would
kill not only the King but also most of the Protestant Parliament.
The conspirators managed to rent a cellar directly under the House of
Lords. Over the course of a few months Guy Fawkes filled this until by
March 1605 there were 2 ½ tonnes of gunpowder in 36 barrels belonging to
John Whynniard that were hidden under piles of bric-a-brac and behind
stacks winter fuel.
If the Gunpowder plot had succeeded then the resulting explosion would
have destroyed many of the buildings around the Old Palace of
Westminster. The windows of buildings in about a half-mile radius would
have been blown out and many people would have been killed.
The problem with the Gunpowder plot was that a large number of people
had to know about it. Of course the more people that know the greater
the chance of discovery. Some of the conspirators were also concerned
about their friends who would be in Parliament for the State Opening.
One of them, perhaps Francis Tresham, wrote a letter to Lord Monteagle,
a prominent Catholic, to warn him not to attend Parliament.
Although worried by the possibility of betrayal, they decided that they
would still go ahead with their plan after Guy Fawkes inspected the
cellar but found that nothing had been touched. Meanwhile, however,
Monteagle had shown the letter to Robert Cecil, the Secretary of State.
From this point on the Gunpowder plot was doomed. Early in the morning
of 5th November a party of armed men discovered Fawkes posing as a Mr
John Johnson. In his possession he had a watch, slow matches and
touchpaper. A more thorough search revealed the barrels of gunpowder and
Fawkes was arrested for stating that it had been his purpose to destroy
the King and the Parliament.
Guy Fawkes was later questioned again, this time under torture. The
Gunpowder plot was uncovered. The planned revolt in the Midlands also
failed, and came to an end at Holbeach House, where there was a dramatic
shoot out ending with the death of Catesby, and capture of several
principal conspirators.
After nominal trial, at which the sentences had already been
predetermined, Fawkes, Wintour, and a number of others implicated in the
conspiracy were taken to Old Palace Yard in Westminster, where they were
hanged, drawn and quartered.
According to research by modern historians the gunpowder was taken to
the Tower of London magazine. It would have been reissued or sold for
recycling if in good condition. However, it was discovered to be
"decayed". That is, it rendered harmless due to having separated into
its component chemical parts, as happens with gunpowder when left to sit
for too long.
If Guy Fawkes had managed to ignite the gunpowder, during the State
opening, it would only have resulted in a damp splutter.
People in general knew very little of the circumstances surrounding the
Gunpowder plot. All they knew was that their king had been saved from a
terrible death. On the night of 5th November 1605 bonfires were set
alight to celebrate the King’s safety. The fireworks of course represent
the explosion that would have ensued if the plan had been successful.
Later effigies of Guy Fawkes were added to the bonfires until the
traditional events that we now know as Bonfire Night appeared.
This article may be reproduced in full providing the following link is
included:
Lesley Pinkett lives and works in East Devon. Find out more about this
beautiful area by visiting
http://www.east-devon-guide.com.
Squabbling
siblings? Chores not getting done? The Better Behavior Wheel
can help! This unique parenting tool will give you well behaved kids and a stress
free environment. Download instantly and get the
