Today marks an official holiday in Limey land, and an odd one at that. I mean who in their right mind turns an attempt to murder the entire government into a holiday?
The 5th of November marks the “Gunpowder Plot” of 1605, a failed conspiracy by a group of provincial English Catholics to assassinate the Protestant King James I of England and VI of Scotland and replace him with a Catholic head of state.
The conspirators, led by Robert Catesby, planned on blowing up the Parliament building on the opening day of the meeting, 5 November 1604. Guy Fawkes smuggled 36 barrels of gun powder into the undercroft of an adjacent building that was actually under the Parliament chambers.
On 4 November, Fawkes was found near the Parliament building and arrested. He had several lengths of slow match, a type of fuse, tinder and other fire-making equipment on him at the time. Fawkes was tortured but kept silent until 8 November, however questioning of one of the suspected plotters servants soon uncovered the rest of the conspirators.
All of the plotters were executed. They were all hung, drawn and quartered.
Since then the 5th of November has been celebrated in Great Britain, at first with anti-Catholic violence, but now with bonfires and fireworks.
Remember, remember, the 5th of November,
Gunpowder, treason and plot.
I see no reason
Why gunpowder treason
Should ever be forgot.
Guy Fawkes, Guy Fawkes, ’twas his intent
To blow up the King and the Parliament
Three score barrels of powder below
Poor old England to overthrow
By God’s providence he was catch’d
With a dark lantern and burning match
Holler boys, holler boys, let the bells ring
Holler boys, holler boys
God save the King!
I’d also note the real Guy Fawkes looked nothing like the mask that bears his name.
