5th November 1605
(read time: 2 mins.)
On 5 November 1605, Guy Fawkes was found lurking in the cellars under the House of Lords, with 36 barrels of gunpowder for company. The Gunpowder Plot had been foiled.
In England, the 5th of November is marked by a display of national eccentricity that would baffle any rational observer. We build the largest bonfire local fire regulations will permit, crown it with the effigy of a medieval chap called Guy Fawkes and set the whole thing alight while unleashing fireworks in all directions.
And it’s all to celebrate one of the greatest failures in English history.
On 5 November 1605, the Gunpowder Plot was foiled. Thirteen would-be regicides plotted to blow up the House of Lords during the State Opening of Parliament.
Their intention was to kill King James I and as many of the Protestant aristocracy as they could. As Catholics, their freedom to worship had been severely curtailed since Henry VIII’s Act of Supremacy in 1534.
The conspirators had planted 36 barrels of gunpowder in the cellars under the House of Lords. Due to a tip-off, in the early hours of the morning the authorities searched the cellars. They found an odd-looking chap lurking in the shadows.
The suspicious figure was wearing a cloak, hat, riding boots and spurs. Close to him were the 36 barrels of gunpowder, some slow matches, touchwood and, I assume, an escape plan. He gave his name as John Johnson.
The following day while being tortured, Johnson decided that “I was just browsing” wouldn’t cut it, and revealed himself to be Guy Fawkes. He also revealed the names of his fellow conspirators.
Robert Catesby, Thomas Percy and the Wright brothers died in a shootout three days later on 8 November 1605. Guy Fawkes and seven of the plotters were tried the following January and sentenced to be hanged, drawn and quartered.
As for Francis Tresham, the last of the conspirators, he died in the Tower of London under mysterious circumstances before he could face trial… but I’ll save that tale for another day.
Thank you for joining me. Have a great week!
Steve
HOST & CHIEF STORY HUNTER
ATTRIBUTIONS
Gunpowder plotters: British Library, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons.
Guy Fawkes is caught in the cellars of the House of Lords: From An island story, a child’s history of England.
,_title_page_-_BL.jpg){kind=link}
CC0: https://creativecommons.org/public-domain/cc0/