Guy Fawkes
On 5th November each year, the English celebrate Guy Fawkes Night or Bonfire Night. This is when we light bonfires and have firework displays. But why do we do this? Who was Guy Fawkes?
This is King James I of England (also King James VI of Scotland). He became King in 1603 when Queen Elizabeth I died.
King James I made laws which persecuted Roman Catholics. It was the law to attend Church of England church services and anyone who didn't was fined. Some Catholics held private services in secret but priests who were caught doing this were put to death.
All this persecution made the Catholics very unhappy and angry.
A man called Robert Catesby had a plan. His idea was to kill the King when he attended the State Opening of Parliament by blowing up the House of Lords. He and some friends worked together on the plan but they needed someone who could help them with the explosion. This is where Guido (Guy) Fawkes enters the story.
King James I made laws which persecuted Roman Catholics. It was the law to attend Church of England church services and anyone who didn't was fined. Some Catholics held private services in secret but priests who were caught doing this were put to death.
All this persecution made the Catholics very unhappy and angry.
A man called Robert Catesby had a plan. His idea was to kill the King when he attended the State Opening of Parliament by blowing up the House of Lords. He and some friends worked together on the plan but they needed someone who could help them with the explosion. This is where Guido (Guy) Fawkes enters the story.
Guy Fawkes
Guy Fawkes was recruited for his knowledge of gunpowder. The original plan was to rent a house next to the Houses of Parliament and tunnel underneath. However, the tunnel leaked water and the walls of the Houses of Parliament were too thick to dig through. Then, two things happened; the State Opening of Parliament was postponed and the plotters were able to rent an available cellar room under the Houses of Parliament itself!
The plotters could not believe their luck! They transported 36 barrels of gunpowder into the cellar and Guy Fawkes was left in charge of guarding the cellar room in prparation for the big event.
Meanwhile, King James I had been shown a letter which had been anonymously sent to Lord Monteagle, warning him not to attend Parliament for safety reasons. The King ordered a search to take place the night before the State Opening of Parliament. During the searches, the guards found a man called 'John Johnson' in a cellar room with some wood. On the second search they found the gunpowder and arrested John Johnson, who was taken to the tower of London. John Johnson was tortured for 4 days before finally confessing that he was, in fact, Guido Fawkes, and giving up the details of the plot.
Soldiers were sent to pick up the other plotters who had retreated to the Midlands. Four of them, including Robert Catesby, were shot dead, while the others were taken to the Tower of London. Guy Fawkes and the remaining plotters were put on trial and found guilty of high treason. They were put to death in January 1606.
The plotters could not believe their luck! They transported 36 barrels of gunpowder into the cellar and Guy Fawkes was left in charge of guarding the cellar room in prparation for the big event.
Meanwhile, King James I had been shown a letter which had been anonymously sent to Lord Monteagle, warning him not to attend Parliament for safety reasons. The King ordered a search to take place the night before the State Opening of Parliament. During the searches, the guards found a man called 'John Johnson' in a cellar room with some wood. On the second search they found the gunpowder and arrested John Johnson, who was taken to the tower of London. John Johnson was tortured for 4 days before finally confessing that he was, in fact, Guido Fawkes, and giving up the details of the plot.
Soldiers were sent to pick up the other plotters who had retreated to the Midlands. Four of them, including Robert Catesby, were shot dead, while the others were taken to the Tower of London. Guy Fawkes and the remaining plotters were put on trial and found guilty of high treason. They were put to death in January 1606.
Why not play this gunpowder plot game from the BBC history pages http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/interactive/games/gunpowder/index.shtml