Today is, of course, Guy Fawkes Day. It commemorates an attempt to blow up the House of Lords during the state opening of Parliament on November 5, 1605 by a group of English Catholics, led by Robert Catesby. Catesby is suspected by historians to have embarked on the scheme after hopes of greater religious tolerance under James had faded, leaving many English Catholics disappointed.
One of the conspirators, Guy Fawkes, who had 10 years of military experience fighting in the Spanish Netherlands in the failed suppression of the Dutch Revolt, was given charge of the explosives.
an anonymous letter of warning was sent to William Parker, 4th Baron Monteagle, a Catholic member of Parliament, who immediately showed it to the authorities. During a search of the House of Lords on the evening of 4 November, Fawkes was discovered guarding 36 barrels of gunpowder—enough to reduce the House of Lords to rubble—and arrested.
At their trial on 27 January 1606, eight of the surviving conspirators, including Fawkes, were convicted and sentenced to be hanged, drawn and quartered.
Engraving of eight of the thirteen conspirators, by Crispijn van de Passe.
There was an election…
Thanks, Debra
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Some great photos of Presidents here…https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ln9-36kXFe8
