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 raid

During the preparation, several of the conspirators had been concerned about fellow Catholics who would be present on the appointed day, and inevitably killed. One conspirator, possibly Francis Tresham, wrote a letter of warning to Lord Monteagle, a prominent Catholic. Lord Monteagle received it on Saturday, October 26. The other conspirators learned of the letter the following day, but resolved to go ahead with their plan, especially after Fawkes inspected the cellar and found nothing had been touched. Meanwhile, however, Monteagle had shown the letter to Robert Cecil, the Secretary of State.

Related Topics:
October 26 - Robert Cecil - Secretary of State

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The tip-off led to a search of the vaults beneath the House of Lords, including the cellar, during the early morning of the 5th of November. Thomas Knyvet, a Justice of the Peace, and a party of armed men, discovered Fawkes posing as a Mr John Johnson. He was discovered possessing a watch, slow matches and touchpaper. When the barrels of gunpowder were discovered after a search of the area, Fawkes was arrested. Fawkes did not deny his intentions during the arrest, stating that it had been his purpose to destroy the King and the Parliament.

Related Topics:
Thomas Knyvet - Justice of the Peace

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