Guy Fawkes and the Gunpowder Plot

1603

• James I becomes King of England

• Fines Catholics not attending Church of England services and he puts Catholic priests to death.

1604

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

Guy Fawkes

• The plotters recruit Guido Fawkes, an explosives expert.

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.

A change of fortune

• State Opening of Parliament postponed until 5th November 1605

• Cellar room becomes available for rent.

The plan takes shape

• 36 barrels of gunpowder moved to the cellar and hidden behind firewood.

• Guy Fawkes left in charge of guarding it.

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.

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.

Torture in the Tower

• Johnson confesses to being Guy Fawkes.

• After four days of torture he confesses to the Plot.

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.

January 1606

• Plotters hanged, drawn and quartered for their crimes.