The Gunpowder Plot

Remember, remember
the 5th of November,
gunpowder treason and plot.

We know no reason
why gunpowder treason
should ever be forgot!

In 1605 a group of 13 men decided to attack King James I of England (1566–1625) and his government. They wanted to remove James from power because they were Roman Catholics and the king and the government were not kind to them and their religion.

The leader of the group was a man called Robert Catesby (1573–1606). It was his idea to kill the king and queen and government by blowing them up using gunpowder. One of the other members of his group was a man called Guy Fawkes (1570–1606).

Robert Catesby and his gang decided to blow up the king at the Houses of Parliament in London. The plan was to do it on 5 November 1605. They chose this day because it was the state opening of Parliament. Every member of the government would be there, including the king and queen and their son, Prince Charles (who became King Charles I).

The gang rented a cellar underneath the Houses of Parliament. Guy Fawkes gradually moved in 36 barrels of gunpowder and hid them in the cellar. That is enough gunpowder to make a huge explosion and kill hundreds of people. Many of the people would have been innocent Londoners who had come to see the King.

But the explosion never happened and nobody was killed.

Soldiers caught Guy Fawkes in the cellar the night before the explosion was due to take place. The soldiers found all the gunpowder and all the things he needed for setting light to it.

Guy Fawkes was arrested and taken to the Tower of London. After three days of torture, he told his captors the names of his fellow plotters. They were all arrested for treason – plotting against the king and the country – and were placed in prison in the Tower.

The whole gang was executed on 30 and 31 January 1606. Hundreds of people came to watch. Afterwards the conspirators’ heads were cut off and displayed on poles throughout London. This was done to warn others what would happen to them if they plotted against the king.

Ever since then, we remember what might have happened by lighting bonfires, setting off explosive fireworks and burning figures of poor old Guy Fawkes.

Hannah Gould
February 2004

In the Museum . . .

See objects from the time of the Gunpowder Plot in the Tudor and Early Stuart galleries. The copperplate map shows what London looked like at the time of the Gunpowder Plot.

On the internet, visit . . .

BBC History website

BBC History Gunpowder Plot Game

Gunpowder Plot Society

House of Commons: Gunpowder Plot

Borrow these books from your local library . . .

Fraser, Antonia, The Gunpowder Plot (1996)
Nicholls, Mark, Investigating the Gunpowder Plot (1991)

Other places to visit . . .
The medieval Houses of Parliament burnt down in 1834, but you can see bits of the building at the Sir John Soane’s Museum in London (find out more at www.soane.org)

A letter sent to Lord Monteagle warning him not to go to Parliament on 5 November 1605 is in the National Archives (find out more at www.nationalarchives.gov.uk)

Guy Fawkes’ signed confession is also in the National Archives.