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The Gunpowder Plot ~ 1605

The Catholic Problem

During Elizabeth I's reign. Acts of increasing severity were passed against English Roman Catholics, aimed mainly at their political activities. The rising of the Northern Earls, the Papal Bull of excommunication deposing Elizabeth, the Ridolfi Plot, and the constant threat of Philip II's Catholic crusade, had forced the hand of a tolerant Queen, and her government felt compelled to take more stringent measures.

With the accession of James I in 1603 the Catholics fared no better. Hopes that he would revoke the penal laws were dashed when fines for not attending church continued to be levied. A conspiracy was therefore hatched to capture the King and to force his intervention. Given timely warning, by other Catholics, he gratefully withdrew the fines almost completely. Consequently, the numbers of those attending the Church of England began to drop, and a few months later an alarmed James ordered the collection of fines to recommence. Catholic indignation was further aroused by a government proclamation banishing priests, and it was then that Robert Catesby divulged his nefarious Gunpowder Plot to his cousin Thomas Winter.

The Conspirators

Catesby was a staunch Roman Catholic, whose father. Sir William Catesby, had suffered fines and imprisonment for refusing to conform to the Church of England. Filled with resentment. Robert Catesby constantly conspired against the Crown, supporting the Earl of Essex in his ineffective revolt against Elizabeth in 1601 and in 1602 sending secret agents to Spain to encourage a Spanish invasion. Although he too suffered imprisonment on a number of occasions, Catesby's zeal remained unbroken. He was an able man. a born leader, of great personal courage verging on the foolhardy, with a power to influence and inspire others.

The idea of blowing up the Houses of Parliament first came to Catesby in May 1603. By killing the royal family. Privy Councillors and Members of Parliament as they attended the ceremonial opening, he believed that the Catholics would rise up to take over the government of England, perhaps putting either Prince Charles or Princess Mary on the throne. James' temporary lenience towards Roman Catholics prompted Catesby to abandon his plan until January 1604, when the religious policy changed once again.
Having confided in his cousin Winter. Catesby chose two friends, Thomas Percy and John Wright, to join the conspiracy. However, it was decided that their faces and their political inclinations were too well known, and a fifth man was needed, who had military experience of explosives and who was little known. The man they picked was Guy Fawkes, a Yorkshireman who had been converted to Catholicism and whose religious enthusiasm had impelled him to join the Spanish army in the Netherlands. Fawkes' reputation for valour and determination lured Winter to the Netherlands to enlist his support.

The Plot Proceeds

In May 1604, the plotters rented part of Vyniard House, which was joined to the Houses of Parliament. Fawkes played the part of John Johnson.'. Servant to one Thomas Percy, a Gentleman Pensioner to his Majestie, and a near Kinsman to the Earl of Northumberland', arousing no suspicion when seen around the Parliament buildings.

By December, the conspirators felt safe enough to begin a tunnel from Percy's cellar to the House of Lords, while Fawkes kept watch. They were still digging by March the following year, when it was discovered that the cellar next door reached under the Palace of Westminster. The plotters instantly abandoned their tunnel, and secured the lease of the adjoining cellar, making it accessible by a passage from their own. Then it was up to the expert Fawkes to plant the explosives. At sundry Times very privately (he) conveyed a great Quantity of Powder, and therewith filled two Hogsheads, and some 32 small Barrels: all which he had cunningly covered with great Store of Billets and Faggots." Fawkes had also very cunningly placed iron bars on the barrels to increase the force of the explosion.

The project was now well under way, and the conspirators agreed to separate until the opening of Parliament, which was to be in October, but was later postponed until November. Catesby planned a great hunting party in Warwickshire, to be held at the same time. He invited many of the Catholic gentry, presumably to be at hand when the great Catholic uprising took place.

A Warning is Given

Meanwhile, money and equipment were needed if Catesby's plans were to succeed; more sympathisers were recruited, and by November the conspirators numbered thirteen. Among these was Francis Tresham. a rich gentleman whose money and influence would have been of use in the planned insurrection. Another was a Jesuit. Henry Garnett, the full extent of whose involvement is uncertain, but it seems that he assured Catesby that the killing of innocent people was lawful when promoting the Catholic cause. It was with some considerable shock, therefore, that Tresham learnt that Catesby had no intention of warning Catholics in Parliament of the forthcoming explosion. His brother-in-law was William Parker, fourth Baron Montcagle, who had been converted to Catholicism on his marriage and now sat in the House of Lords. Tresham felt compelled to save his kinsman.

At about six o'clock on (6th October, eight days before Parliament should have opened Lord Monteagle received a mysterious letter from an unknown hand. "Retire yourself into your country" it read '. . . for though there be no appearance of any stir, yet I say they shall receive a terrible blow this parliament, and yet they shall not see who hurts them'. Hoping perhaps that the conspirators would be warned, Monteagle let his servant read the note before taking it to the King's Chief Minister, Robert Cecil, Earl of Salisbury, who was dining with various Privy Councillors, including the Earls of Suffolk, Worcester and Northampton. They agreed to show it to the King a few-days before the opening of Parliament: James declared that 'that should be done which might prevent all Danger or nothing at all.
Discovery and Retribution

Monteagle and Suffolk thoroughly searched the buildings on Monday 4th November, but found nothing suspicious, except that the housekeeper kept a larger store of faggots and coal than he was likely to need. Further enquiry revealed that it all belonged to Thomas Percy. Returning to Cecil with their information, they decided that Sir Thomas Knevett "should under a Pretext for searching for stollen and imbezelled Goods both in that Place and other Houses thereabouts, remove all that Wood, and so to see the plaine Ground under it'. It was about midnight when Knevell, unnoticed, reached Percy's cellar. A light was shining, and on the threshold stood Guy Fawkes: he had been caught red-handed.

News of his arrest spread quickly, and the other conspirators fled from London. Fawkes carried himself "without anv Fear or Perturbation, protesting his constant Resolution to have performed it that Day, whatsoever had come of it; principally for the Institution of the Roman Religion, . . . Suffering gruesome tortures, including a terrible racking, he refused to name his accomplices. Eventually he was tricked into a confession when the authorities under Cecil pretended that Percy had been captured. Fawkes was tried before a special commission on 27th January 1606; he was found guilty and executed opposite the Houses of Parliament.

On 8th November, Holbeche House in Staffordshire was 'fired by the Sherrif. . . Catesby was slain, Percy sore hurt, Graunte and Wright burned in their Faces with Gunpowder'. Tresham died in prison, and the rest of the conspirators were tried and executed.

It has been suggested that Cecil connived in the plot to advance his position, but this is not generally believed. However, the Gunpowder Plot revived the old popular fear of Catholicism, and did much to increase James' popularity. In January 1606. Parliament passed an act declaring 5th November a day of public thanksgiving: it is still remembered and celebrated in the United Kingdom to this very day.

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About the Author:>

Ken Austin has lived in France for 15 years, is a webmaster and a writer of stories. He and his wife, Linda, run a holiday rentals business in the Dordogne region.

www.leslavandes.com

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