Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-01-28
THE GUY FAWKES PLOT.
The Infamous Conspiracy to Blow Up
the House Of Lords Recalled.


The Infamous Conspiracy to Blow Up
the House of Lords Recalled.
The explosions of Saturday recall the
infamous ''gunpOwder plot of 1905, for
which Guy Fawkes was executed in Lon
don, Jan. 80, 1906. The event has already
been a memorable one IN the history of
England, and Nov. ., the day of the dis
closure, was set apart as day of thanks
giving, and is religiOusly observed in
England. The historical features of the
affair may be told briefly. Guy Fawkes
was an adventurer, who, at the time the
plot of blowing up the House of Parlia-
ment, and thus destroying the King,
Lords and Commons, was conceived, was
serving in the Spanish army in the Meth
erlands.
Upon the accession of James l. the Sc
we're penal laws of Elizabeth against the
ROmanists were again put into execution,
contrary to the expectations Of the fol-
lowers of that faith. The plot was con-
ceived by Robert Catesby, a Roman
Catholic of an ancient family. who
vowed vengeance against the English
rulers for the severity of the penal laws.
GUY Fawkes was the fourth person ad-
mitted into the conspiracy. He with the
others took the oath of secrecy, and the
sacrament was administered by a Jesuit
priest. Among the other cOnspiratOrs
was Thomas Winter, who selected Fawkes
TO visit Spain and solicit the Intervention
Of the King in behalf of the English
Catholics. Fawkes returned to England
in 1904. having been unsuccessful in his
mission. Shortly afterwards ThOs. Percy,
another one Of the cOnspiratOrs,
rented house adjoining the one
ars nj
BILE, and Fawkes, who was unknown
in London, took possession of it under the
assumed name of johnson. Parliament
adjourned until Feb. Z , 1903, and on Dec.
IL following the cOnspiratOrs held a secret
meeting in the house. The work of eX-
cavating a mine was begun, and seven
men were engaged in this labor until
Christmas eve. They never appeared in
the upper part of the house, where
Fawkes kept a constant watch. When
Parliament reassembled the work was
abandoned, but finally completed between
February and May following. About this
time Fawkes hired vault beneath the
House of Lords, which had been vacated
bv a dealer in coal. At night thirty-siX
barrels of gunpOwder were carried into
the vault and covered with faggOts.
The cOnspiratOrs then adjourned to hold
a consultation. A number of wealthy
men were taken into the plot, among
whom were Sir EveTard Digby, Ambrose
RockwoOd and Francis Tresham- Par
lament was TO meet again on Nov. ., and
Fawkes was appointed to 1re the mlne
with a slow match. Some Of the new men
who had been admitted into the conspir-
acy desired to save their Catholic friends
in the two Houses. Lord MOnteagle'
Roman Catholic peer, received an ah0ny-
nous note cautfoning against attending
the meeting Of Parliament. The matter
was laid before King James, and at mld.
night, Nov. 4. a search was made OF
neighbOring houses and cellars, which re-
suited in the capture of Guy Fawkes as
he was coming from the cellar. Matches
and tOrchwOOd were found in his pockets
Although put to torture, he refused to
disclose the names Of his cOnfederates. A
meeting Of the cOnspiratOrs was convened
and in the excitement that followed they
were all either killed or captured. Guy
Fawkes and eight others were tried, after
which they were drawn, hanged and quar-
tered.