Guy Fawkes

Waipukurau Press, Volume XXIV, Issue 129, 5 November 1930, Page 3

Guy Fawkes

AND THE GUNPOWDER PLOT

ANNIVERSARY TO-DAY

To-day marks the 325th anniversary of the now famed Gunpowder Plot, the chief figure of which w’as Guy Fawkes, an English conspirator. Fawkes was born at York on April 16th, 1570, and served for some years in the Spanish armies in Flanders, from 1593 onwards. The circumstances of his implication in the plot were briefly as follows. In 1604 a small group of Roman Catholic zealots, formed a plot (prompted both by political and religious reasons) for the overthrow of the Government by blowing up the King (James I.), ministers, and parliament, all together; to capture James’ son Charles, proclaim him King and establish a Catholic Government. The secret was imparted to a few, Catesby (the leader), Percy, Digby, Rookwood and Tresham, and was for a long time well kept. The plot was to be carried into effect on the day of the assemblage of parliament in February, 1605. However, the meeting was adjourned till November sth and the plotters had to wait accordingly. The plotters first tried to dig a mine, from an adjacent house, through the foundations of the House of Lords. For this purpose they hired a cellar on the ground floor, underneath the House of Lords. Two tons of gunpowder in barrel’s were then installed and piled up in readiness, complete with powder trains and primitive fuses. One of the conspirators, Tresham. however, became badly frightened, and appalled at the enormity of the undertaking, sent a letter of warning to a cousin. Lord Monteagle, who was a member of the House of Lords. This cousin passed the letter on to the Government, and the alarm was raised. As a result of this warning, the barrels of gunpowder were discovered, and the plans of the plotters laid bare. The arrest of Guy Fawkes and the other conspirators followed, and they were either killed fighting, in resisting capture, or were executed. A full confession was extorted under torture from Fawkes, who, with the surviving conspirators, was executed, January 31st, 1606. Now, the anniversary of the discovery of the Gunpowder Plot is celebrated practically throughout the British Empire, by the burning of an effigy of Guy Fawkes on a bonfire, accompanied by the “setting-off” of a variety of fireworks. Guy Fawkes is remembered, but why, he is, is a debatable point; for Fawkes played only a minor part, and is remembered, whereas Catesby, the leader, is forgotten. The sth of November is popularly known as “Guy Fawkes Day,” and the effigies which are carried about by enterprising youngsters, as a means of earning revenue, are known as “Guys.” In such a manner, has the memory of one of the boldest plots against the Crown of England been handed down to posterity.