Gunpowder Plot

The Gunpowder Plot of 1605 was a desperate but failed attempt by a group of provincial English Catholic extremists to kill King James I of England, his family, and most of the Protestant aristocracy in one fell swoop by blowing up the Houses of Parliament during the State Opening. The conspirators had then planned to abduct the royal children, not present in parliament, and then incite a revolt in the Midlands.

The interrogation

Fawkes was brought into the king's bedchamber at one o'clock in the morning, where the ministers had hastily assembled. He maintained an attitude of defiance, making no secret of his intentions. When the king asked why he would kill him, Fawkes replied that the pope had excommunicated him, that dangerous diseases require a desperate remedy. He also expressed to the Scottish courtiers who surrounded him that one of his objects was to blow the Scots back into Scotland.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Later in the morning, before noon, he was again interrogated. He was questioned on the nature of his accomplices, the involvement of Thomas Percy, what letters he had received from overseas, and whether he had spoken with Hugh Owen.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

He was taken to the Tower of London and there interrogated under torture. Torture was forbidden except by the express instruction of the monarch or the Privy Council, In a letter of November 6, King James I stated:

Related Topics:
Tower of London - Torture - Privy Council - November 6 - King James I

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

:"The gentler tortours are to be first used unto him, et sic per gradus ad maiora tenditur , and so God speed your goode worke".

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Fawkes initially resisted torture, but verbally confessed on November 8. He revealed the names of his co-conspirators, and recounted the full details of the plot on November 9. On November 10 he made a signed confession, although his signature was written in a trembling state, having been under torture on the rack.

Related Topics:
November 8 - November 9 - November 10 - The rack

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~