Guy Fawkes And The Gunpowder Plot

Guy Fawkes and the Gunpowder Plot

1603

• James I becomes King of England • Fines Catholics not attending Church of England services and he puts Catholic priests to death.

1604

• Robert Catesby hatches a plan to blow up Parliament on the day it opens.

Guy Fawkes

• The plotters recruit Guido Fawkes, an explosives expert.

The plot is hindered • Rent a house near to Houses of Parliament and start tunnelling. • Water leaks in from the River Thames • Walls of the House of Lords could not be penetrated.

A change of fortune • State Opening of Parliament postponed until 5th November 1605 • Cellar room becomes available for rent.

The plan takes shape • 36 barrels of gunpowder moved to the cellar and hidden behind firewood. • Guy Fawkes left in charge of guarding it.

Who sent the warning? • Lord Monteagle, an MP – and cousin of Francis Tresham – receives a letter, warning him to not attend the State Opening of Parliament. • Monteagle shows letter to Robert Cecil who, in turn, shows it to the King.

4th November 1605 • King orders search of the cellars. • ‘John Johnson’ found with pile of wood. • 2nd search - gunpowder is found. • Johnson is arrested and taken to the Tower.

Torture in the Tower • Johnson confesses to being Guy Fawkes. • After four days of torture he confesses to the Plot.

The other plotters • Meanwhile, the other plotters had been hiding in a house in the Midlands. • Soldiers surround the house. • Catesby, Percy & Winter brothers are shot dead. • Remaining plotters taken to the Tower. • Tried, and found guilty of High Treason.

January 1606

• Plotters hanged, drawn and quartered for their crimes (penalty for high treason).