The History of the Gunpowder Plot in 1605

How 400 Years of Fireworks, Bonfires and Guy Fawkes Nights Began

Oct 2, 2009 Jeffrey Baxter

The conspiracy to blow up James I, his court and the Houses of Parliament ended in failure, torture and grisly execution for the would-be Catholic terrorists.

At midnight November 4th 1605, Guy Fawkes was discovered waiting patiently amongst 36 barrels of gunpowder for the signal that James I had entered the Houses of Parliament. Soon after his capture his co-conspirators had fled, only to be hunted down, many killed and the survivors dragged back to London. There they faced the gruesome fate of torture and execution by the terrible and slow method of being hung, drawn and quartered.

So ended the most famous plot in British history. That year an Act of Parliament created the most enduring celebration in Britain not related to the life cycle of Christ.

Remember Remember, the Fifth of November

When Queen Elizabeth I died, English Catholics celebrated on the strength of comments James VI of Scotland had made about the position of Catholics, long oppressed by onerous recusancy laws. These laws imposed heavy fines on Catholics who maintained their faith by not attending their local protestant parish churches.

However on his ascendancy to the throne he proved less tolerant and the Catholic priests who had returned to England were expelled. Two priests who refused to go were hung, drawn and quartered and the hopes for emancipation had been dashed. Desperate hopes for external help had also been fatally wounded by the Peace Treaty signed between Spain and England in August 1604.

The Gunpowder Treason and Conspiracy

Despite the fame of Guy Fawkes the actual leader and main financial backer of the whole plot was Robert Catesby, a wealthy scion of an English gentleman. He had pulled the first five conspirators together as they secured a lease on a house adjacent to the House of Lords. By February 1605 the tunnel had been dug and the gunpowder stored ready to inflict terrible damage.

Ironically one of the men, Thomas Percy, was made one of the kings bodyguard (a gentlemen pensioner) . This interconnectedness with establishment figures including many 'quiet' Catholics and relations gave the plotters the advantage of accurate intelligence. But this also allowed information to circulate and flow the other way as they hesitated about the likely deaths of people they knew and who were ostensibly Catholics as well. This created leaks and confusion and hesitation.

Hung, Drawn and Quartered

While they were waiting for Parliament to reconvene others joined the plot, all of whom were related to the original gang. They secured more premises and built up more coal and gunpowder but rumours were already circulating. A letter exposing some elements of the plot found its way into the hands of the authorities on October 26.

Consequently searches were made of the complex nest of buildings that was the Palace of Westminster and Guy Fawkes was caught red-handed. The other conspirators fled, seeking refuge in safe houses and nearly blew themselves up with gunpowder they had with them, blinding John Grant. They were hunted down by 200 soldiers and beseiged. Robert Catesby was shot but managed to crawl back into the house to die, clutching a picture of the virgin Mary.

The others were captured and tortured and executed by the usual hung, drawn and quartered method. Their heads were displayed on pikes in the traditional fate for traitors. An Act of Parliament was passed to hold an annual thanksgiving with sermons and church bells rung.

400 Years of Celebrations, Fireworks and Bonfires

Thus began the annual celebration commonly known as Guy Fawkes night, the details of the plot half remembered and with ever shifting meaning. It was only later that the other famous elements of the celebrations were added. Burning an effigy (initially of just the Pope) started in the late 17th century. The 'guy' appeared in the 18th century and fireworks were introduced in the late 19th century. There is no sign that the annual event is losing it's appeal even if no-one is totally sure what they are celebrating.

Source: Cannadine, David Ed., Gunpowder Plots: A Celebration of 400 Years of Bonfire Nights, 2005, Allen Lane, ISBN 0-713-99886-5

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Guy Fawkes