EASY READ British history
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What was the Gunpowder Plot?
The Gunpowder Plot was a plan to blow up James I, the first Stuart king of England, on 5th November 1605. English Catholics had been persecuted during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I, a Protestant. When James came to the throne in 1603, the Catholics expected the new king to be more tolerant of them. Instead, he had all Catholic priests banished from the country. Thus it was that a group of Catholics decided to plot against the king. One of their number was a man named Guy Fawkes.
Guy Fawkes
Guy became Catholic during his teenage years, even though it was a crime to be a Catholic during Queen Elizabeth I’s reign (1558–1603). In 1592, he joined the army of Catholic Spain. In 1603, Guy (now known by the Italian version of his name “Guido”) even tried to persuade the king of Spain, Philip III, to wage war against England and its Protestant king, James I. Philip turned down his request.
Conspiracy
The following year, 1604 Guy met Thomas Wintour, a fellow English Catholic. Wintour encouraged him to join his group of conspirators in their plot to kill King James. Their plan was masterminded by Robert Catesby, the conspirators’ leader. They were to blow up the House of Lords while King James was present for the Opening of Parliament on 5th November 1605. Following the king’s death, they would replace him with a Catholic: James's daughter, Princess Elizabeth.
The plot is uncovered
The conspirators secretly delivered 36 barrels of gunpowder to the undercroft (cellar) below the Parliament buildings. But the plot was uncovered by Lord Monteagle, who had received an anonymous letter telling him about the plot. He passed the letter to King James. In the early hours of 5th November, Guy was caught in the undercroft while he was guarding the gunpowder. He was arrested and imprisoned in the Tower of London.
Torture and execution
In the Tower, Guy was tortured for two days until he confessed. He also gave away the names of the other conspirators. They were all found guilty of treason and sentenced to death by being hanged, drawn and quartered. On 31st January 1606, Guy was taken to Westminster in London for his execution.
Bonfire night
A tradition of ringing church bells and the lighting of bonfires to mark 5th November started in Britain soon after the discovery of the plot. Setting off fireworks and burning an effigy (a life-sized “puppet”) of Guy Fawkes on a bonfire soon became part of the celebrations.
People still chant the rhyme that recalls the events of 1605:
"Remember, remember the fifth of November,
Gunpowder, treason and plot.
I see no reason why gunpowder treason
Should ever be forgot."
Ready to find out more?
Here are some pages in other parts of Q-files you might like to explore:
Gunpowder Plot
Stuart kings and queens
Consultant: Philip Parker
pics
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