“The Gunpowder Plot”
A talk by Richard Thomas - April 2017
On 18 April 2017, Richard Thomas gave a fascinating talk on the seeds of discontent that led to the Gunpowder Plot of 1605. I certainly had not realised, or perhaps had long ago forgotten, that the principal objective of the conspirators – led by Robert Catesby and immortalised by Guy Fawkes – was the re-introduction of the Catholic religion to the nation, which had been outlawed by Henry VIII when he broke with Rome in the sixteenth century in order to divorce Catherine of Aragon and marry Anne Boleyn.
The conspirators of the plot (13 in all with one of them as young as 24 years) laid a careful plan to blow up the House of Lords (over which James VI of Scotland - who became James I of England when Elizabeth I died without issue - would be presiding), kill his wife and declare his daughter “Queen Elizabeth” to rule over the nation, having returned it to the Protestant faith. Unfortunately for the conspirators, the plot was exposed by a tip-off and a search of the Parliament buildings on the evening of 4th November 1605 revealed the devastating nature of their intent. Guy Fawkes was arrested and taken to the Tower of London where he was tortured to persuade him to reveal the names of his co-conspirators.
His fellow miscreants had already fled, and a merry chase ensued as they rode North via Dunstable, Little Brickhill, Stony Stratford, Towcester and Daventry. With a possé hot on their heels, they planned to ride westward thereafter, to re-group and garner support for their cause. But after an exhaustive 23 days’ chase around the country, they were eventually cornered by their pursuers. A skirmish ensued and the conspirators were all either arrested or died of their injuries.
Interestingly enough, some historians have since argued that the Gunpowder Plot was merely a story put about (presumably by supporters of James I in the early seventeenth century) to discredit the Catholic Church. But we shall never know.
In any event, it was a fascinating tale, recounted with enthusiasm by Richard and enlivened further by interesting slides and skilful presentation.
Thank you to Colin for finding yet another interesting speaker.
Janet Cato
April 2017
The conspirators of the plot (13 in all with one of them as young as 24 years) laid a careful plan to blow up the House of Lords (over which James VI of Scotland - who became James I of England when Elizabeth I died without issue - would be presiding), kill his wife and declare his daughter “Queen Elizabeth” to rule over the nation, having returned it to the Protestant faith. Unfortunately for the conspirators, the plot was exposed by a tip-off and a search of the Parliament buildings on the evening of 4th November 1605 revealed the devastating nature of their intent. Guy Fawkes was arrested and taken to the Tower of London where he was tortured to persuade him to reveal the names of his co-conspirators.
His fellow miscreants had already fled, and a merry chase ensued as they rode North via Dunstable, Little Brickhill, Stony Stratford, Towcester and Daventry. With a possé hot on their heels, they planned to ride westward thereafter, to re-group and garner support for their cause. But after an exhaustive 23 days’ chase around the country, they were eventually cornered by their pursuers. A skirmish ensued and the conspirators were all either arrested or died of their injuries.
Interestingly enough, some historians have since argued that the Gunpowder Plot was merely a story put about (presumably by supporters of James I in the early seventeenth century) to discredit the Catholic Church. But we shall never know.
In any event, it was a fascinating tale, recounted with enthusiasm by Richard and enlivened further by interesting slides and skilful presentation.
Thank you to Colin for finding yet another interesting speaker.
Janet Cato
April 2017