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The Stuarts

The document discusses the historical event of the Gunpowder Plot, where a group of Catholic nobles, led by Robert Catesby, attempted to blow up the King and Parliament on November 5, 1605. Guy Fawkes, one of the conspirators, was arrested with gunpowder and matches, and under torture, he revealed the names of his co-conspirators, leading to their execution for High Treason. The event is commemorated annually in Britain with fireworks and bonfires, symbolizing the explosives that were never used.

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3 views

The Stuarts

The document discusses the historical event of the Gunpowder Plot, where a group of Catholic nobles, led by Robert Catesby, attempted to blow up the King and Parliament on November 5, 1605. Guy Fawkes, one of the conspirators, was arrested with gunpowder and matches, and under torture, he revealed the names of his co-conspirators, leading to their execution for High Treason. The event is commemorated annually in Britain with fireworks and bonfires, symbolizing the explosives that were never used.

Uploaded by

marta.riquelme
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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THE STUARTS

GUY FAWKES
Remember, Remember, the 5th of November, Gunpowder, Treason and
Plot!

Fireworks can be seen all over France every July 14th as the nation
celebrates Bastille Day. Across the USA some ten days earlier on the
4th July, Americans celebrate their Independence Day. In Britain the
words of a children’s nursery rhyme “Remember, Remember the 5th
of November, Gunpowder, Treason and Plot” are chanted as
fireworks fly and bonfires gradually consume a human effigy known
as the ‘Guy’.

A group of Roman Catholic nobles and gentlemen led by Robert Catesby


conspired to essentially end Protestant rule with perhaps the biggest ‘bang’ in history. Their plan was to blow up
the King, Queen, church leaders, assorted nobles and both Houses of Parliament with 36 barrels of gunpowder
strategically placed in the cellars beneath the Palace of Westminster.

The plot was apparently revealed when the Catholic Lord Monteagle was sent a message warning
him to stay away from Parliament as he would be in danger, the letter being presented to Robert
Cecil, James I’s Chief Minister. Some historians believe that Cecil had known about the plot for
some time and had allowed the plot to ‘thicken’ to both ensure that all the conspirators were
caught and to promote Catholic hatred throughout the country.

And what about Fawkes? Guy Fawkes was born in Yorkshire in 1570. A convert to the Catholic
faith, Fawkes had been a soldier who had spent several years fighting in Italy. It was during this
period that he adopted the name Guido (Italian for Guy) perhaps to impress the ladies! What we
do know is that Guido was arrested in the early hours of the morning of November 5th 1605, in a
cellar under the House of Lords, next to the 36 kegs of gunpowder, with a box of matches in his
pocket and a guilty expression on his face!

Arrest of Guy Fawkes

Under torture Guy Fawkes identified the names of his co-conspirators. Many of these were the
relations of a Catholic gentleman, Thomas Percy. Catesby and three others were killed by soldiers
while attempting to escape. The remaining eight were imprisoned in the Tower of London before
being tried and executed for High Treason. They experienced that quaint British method of
execution, first experienced almost 300 years earlier by William ‘Braveheart’ Wallace: they too
were hanged, drawn and quartered*.

Remember, remember, the fifth of November


Gunpowder treason and plot
We see no reason
Why Gunpowder treason
Should ever be forgot….
Fireworks, a major component of most Guy Fawkes Day celebrations, represent the explosives
that were never used by the plotters. Guards perform an annual search of the Parliament building
to check for potential arsonists, although it is more ceremonial than serious. Lewes, in
southeastern England, is the site of a celebration of Guy Fawkes .

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