Guy Fawkes

Image:fawkes.gif

Guido (Guy) Fawkes (April 13, 1570 - January 31, 1606), wasmember ofgroupCatholic conspirators who endeavouredblow upHousesParliament England 1605. The plot was uncovered andbarrels gunpowder defused before any damage was done.

Fawkes was bornStonegateYork where he attended St Peter's school. He servedmany years assoldier gaining considerable expertiseexplosives. In 1593 he enlisted inarmyArchduke AlbertAustria inNetherlands, fighting againstProtestant United Provinces inEighty Years' War. In 1596 he helped capture Calais.

Tablecontents

1 Gunpowder Plot
2 Trial
3 Aftermath
4 Popularity
5 See also
6 External Links

Gunpowder Plot

The Gunpowder Plot was concoctedMay1604 Robert Catesby, Thomas Percy, John WrightRobert Wintour. In March 1605,conspirators rentedcellar beneath Parliament through Thomas Percy; Fawkes assistedfillingroomgunpowder which was concealed beneath bric-a-brac. The 36 barrels incellars Westminster Hall contained an estimated 2500 kilosgunpowder. The explosion could have reducedOld PalaceWestminster andAbbeyrubble. On November 5th, Fawkes was arrested incellar; on his person werewatch, slow matchestouchpaper.

Fawkes was brought intoking's bedchamber, whereministers had hastily assembled, at one o'clock inmorning. He maintained an attitudecool defiance, making no secrethis intentions, replied toking, who asked why he would kill him, thatpope had excommunicated him, that dangerous diseases requiredesperate remedy, adding fiercely toScottish courtiers who surrounded him that onehis objects wasblow backScots into Scotland. Fawkes was interrogated under torture. Since torture was forbidden except byexpress instruction ofmonarch orPrivy Council, King James I inletterNovember 6 stated: "The gentler tortoursto be first used unto him, et sic per gradus ad maiora tenditur [and thus by increase toworst],so God speed your goode worke". On November 7, Fawkes confessed allrevealednameshis co-conspirators. His signature after torturestrikingly shaky.

Trial

A nominal trial then ensued on January 27, 1606 at whichsentences had already been predetermined. On January 31, Fawkes, Wintour, andnumberothers implicated inconspiracy were takenOld Palace YardWestminster. Therewere hanged, drawnquartered.

Aftermath

Accordinghistorian Antonia Fraser,gunpowder was taken toTowerLondonwould have been reissued ifgood condition, or otherwise soldrecycling. Howeversample ofgunpowder may have survived --March 2002 workers atBritish Library, investigating archivesJohn Evelyn, foundbox containing various samplesgunpowderseveral notes: "Gunpowder 1605 inpaper inscribed by John Evelyn. Powderwhich that villain Faux would have blown upparliament." and "Gunpowder. Large packagesupposedbe Guy Fawkes' gunpowder.""But there was none left! WEH 1952".

In England, Guy Fawkes Night (often referredas bonfire night)on November 5th,is celebratedbonfiresfireworks, (many people do this onclosest Friday or Saturday night). Sometimes, an effigyGuy Fawkes (a "guy")burnt onfire. In previous centuries, an effigy ofPope might also be burnt. Children sometimes set upguy instreets indays beforehandask for"penny forguy".

Remember, remember,fifthNovember,

Gunpowder, treasonplot.

I see no reason why Gunpowder treason

Should ever be forgot.

-- traditional verse

Popularity

Guy Fawkes appears in2002 List"100 Great Britons" (sponsored byBBCvotedbypublic), alongside such other greats as David Beckham, Aleister Crowley, Winston Churchill Johnny Rotten.

In an interesting examplesemantic progression, Guy Fawkes has become immortalised by one ofmost common words inEnglish language, particularlyAmerican spoken English. The burning on 5 Novemberan effigyFawkes, known as"guy," led touse ofword "guy" astermgeneral reference forman, as"some guy calledyou." In20th century, underinfluenceAmerican popular culture, "guy" gradually replaced "fellow," "bloke," "chap"other such words throughoutEnglish-speaking world.