Guy Fawkes and other Catholic conspirators hatched a plan to blow up the English Parliament in 1605 due to King James I fining and executing Catholics, known as the Gunpowder Plot. The plotters rented a house near Parliament and began tunneling, but were delayed by flooding. They instead stored 36 barrels of gunpowder in the cellar. Guy Fawkes was left in charge but was discovered and arrested on November 4th, 1605 after which he confessed under torture that he was involved in the plot. The other plotters were killed or captured and were later tried and executed for high treason in 1606.

1. Guy Fawkes and the
Gunpowder Plot

2. 1603
• James I becomes King of England
• Fines Catholics not attending
Church of England services and he
puts Catholic priests to death.

3. 1604
• Robert Catesby
hatches a plan to
blow up Parliament
on the day it opens.

4. Guy Fawkes
• The plotters recruit Guido Fawkes,
an explosives expert.

5. 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.

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

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

8. 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.

9. 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.

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

11. 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.

12. January 1606
• Plotters hanged, drawn and quartered
for their crimes.