Guy Fawkes was a Roman Catholic soldier in England in the early 1600s who was unhappy with the Protestant monarchy. He joined a plot led by Robert Catesby to blow up the House of Lords during the State Opening of Parliament using 36 barrels of gunpowder, with the aim of assassinating King James I and replacing him with a Catholic head of state. The plot was discovered after an anonymous letter warned Lord Monteagle not to attend Parliament that day. Guy Fawkes was found in the cellar under the House of Lords with the gunpowder and arrested. He and the other conspirators were tried, convicted of treason, and executed.

1. Guy Fawkes and The Gunpowder Plot

2. The life of Guy Fawkes He was born on the 13 th of April 1570 in England. He lived in York in England His mother and father were opposed to the Church of England which was an offence. Guy Fawkes was a Roman Catholic

3. His occupation Guy Fawkes was a soldier His first job was a footman for Anthony Browne 1 st Viscount Montagu, but Browne did not like him and fired him. Browne was involved in the Ridolfi Plot, a plot to assassinate Queen Elizabeth I of England and replace her with Queen Mary I of Scotland

4. His occupation contd. There were many Wars of Religion in Europe at the time trying to decide on the French Throne. Protestant England supported Navarra while Catholic England supported The Catholic League (French, The Pope and Philip II of Spain) Guy Fawkes spent 10 years fighting for the Spanish Catholics and was nicknamed Guido and was an expert in explosives.

5. The Gunpowder Plot The Gunpowder Plot took place in 1605 The plot was overseen by Robert Catesby from May 1604 Catesby wanted England to become Catholic instead of Protestant. They wanted to assassinate King James

6. The Gunpowder Plot contd. Guy Fawkes was in charge of explosives and filled a room under the House of Lords with 36 barrels of gunpowder. Parliament had been closed before this due to the Great Plague in London and the gunpowder was due to go off on the night of reopening.

7. Discovery of the Plot Some of the conspirators behind the plot had been worried about some of the Catholics that would be present in parliament on the night of the explosion. An anonymous letter was sent to one of them warning them not to attend parliament on this night. On 26 th October 1605, Lord Monteagle read a letter saying; My Lord, out of the love I bear to some of your friends, I have a care of your preservation. Therefore I would advise you, as you tender your life, to devise some excuse, to shift your attendance at this parliament; for God and man have concurred to punish the wickedness of this time And think not slightly of this advertisement but retire yourself into your country where you may expect the event in safety, 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. This counsel is not to be contemned, because it may do you good, and can do you no harm, for the danger is past as soon as you have burned the letter: and I hope God will give you the grace to make good use of it, to whose holy protection I commend you. He gave the note to the Secretary of State.

8. Discovery contd. The conspirators knew that the secret was out but still decided to carry on with the plot. The King, however, had ordered an underground search of the Houses of Parliament on the 5 th November. Guy Fawkes was found leaving the cellar with the gunpowder in it and was arrested. He was interrogated under torture in the Tower of London.

9. Trial and execution When the conspirators heard about Guy Fawkes being captured, they fled to Worcestershire but many were captured The rest staged a revolt in the Midlands where Catesby and Percy were shot dead and the rest were captured. All of the conspirators were tried on 27 th January 1606 and all pleaded ‘Not Guilty’. Four of the plotters were executed on 30 th January . The rest were taken to the Old Palace Yard to be executed on 31 st January.

10. Execution All of the conspirators were to be hanged, drawn and quartered. This means you are hanged until almost dead, disembowelled whilst still alive and having your body parts burnt in front of you, and then the body is cut into four parts and then you are beheaded. However, Guy Fawkes cheated. When he was almost dead, he jumped and hanged himself so he could avoid being alive for the rest of his punishment.

11. Celebration In January 1606, Parliament passed an Act of Thanksgiving stating that the 5 th of November each year was to be remembered It is also called Bonfire Night and in a lot of places in the UK there will be bonfires and fireworks. In the past, effigies of Guy Fawkes were made and then burnt on the bonfires.

12. So... Remember remember the fifth of November Gunpowder, treason and plot. I see no reason why gunpowder, treason Should ever be forgot...