History of Guy Fawkes
The story of the Gunpowder Plot had it’s beginnings in 1603 when King James succeeded Elizabeth 1 to the English throne. Catholics had been persecuted under Elizabeth and many hoped that life would be better under the new king, their hopes were soon dashed when James proved to be just as harsh as Elizabeth. By 1604 many Catholics had reluctantly accepted the treatment they were receiving, however, Robert Catesby, a devout Catholic, had decided enough was enough and took matters into his own hands.
On the 20th May 1604, Catesby had a meeting with Guy Fawkes, Thomas Wintour, Jack Wright and Thomas Percy at the Duck and Drake, in the Strand. It was here that the Gunpowder Plot was conceived and in the months following plans were drawn up to blow up the Houses of Parliament and in the process kill the King and as many Members of Parliament as possible.
As the months passed the whole scheme was proving costly and more recruits were needed, the original five were joined by Robert Keyes, Robert Wintour, John Grant, Kit Wright and Thomas Bates. All were related to the existing plotters with the exception of Bates who was the trusted servant of Catesby.
In March 1605 the group rented a room in the cellars of Parliament, and over the next few months 36 barrels of gunpowder were placed in the room, Fawkes had gained experience and knowledge of explosives while fighting as a soldier in Flanders and was given the task of lighting the fuse when the time came.
To provide further financial support Catesby recruited Francis Tresham, Ambrose Rockwood and Sir Everard Digby, Tresham was Catesby’s cousin through marriage, and was brother-in-law to two Catholic peers, Lords Stourton and Monteagle.
By October of 1605 the final details were being planned, Fawkes would light the fuse and afterwards make his escape to Europe to seek support for the plotters and Digby would lead an uprising and kidnap the King’s daughter, Princess Elizabeth. The date for the
state opening of Parliament was set for 5th November, everything was in order nothing could go wrong.
On October 26 an anonymous letter was delivered to Lord Monteagle warning him not to attend the opening of Parliament, he took the letter to the Earl of Salisbury, first minister to the King, and the decision was made to wait until just before the opening to try and capture those involved.
On 4th November a search was made of Westminster and the cellar with its explosive content was discovered, Salisbury decided to wait until midnight and then search the cellar again, this time Fawkes was caught red handed with matches and fuses ready to carry out his deadly deed.
Of the co-conspirators, Catesby, the Wright brothers and Percy were killed by troops at Holbeche House in Staffordshire and the other eight were captured over the next few weeks. Francis Tresham died in the Tower in December and the trial of the remaining eight conspirators began in January 1606. All were found guilty and sentenced to be hanged, drawn and quartered, they would be hanged until half-dead, upon which their genitals would be cut off and burned in front of them. Still alive, their bowels and heart would be removed, finally they would be decapitated and dismembered. The sentences were carried out on January 30th and 31st 1606.
After the plot was discovered the gunpowder was found to be damp and decayed and would not have caused an explosion, truly this would have been a “damp squib”.
The conspiritors meet their doom.