The Irish standard., 1894-01-27
.GUNPOWDER PLOT
The Diabolical Scheme OF Old Time
Anarchists to Blow Up King
and Parliament.
TIE INFAMOUS GUY FAWKES.
The Chief Conspirator Was e. Ma
tive of York and Came Of
Protestant Parentage.

tive of York and Came of
Protestant Parentage.
The story OF the "gunpowder plot
forms one Of the most romantic features
Of English history, and at the same time
typifes the era Of brutality and cruelty
that governed the affairs Of nations when
the freedom of popular suffrage was
still an iridescent dream. r
With the accession of James I. 10 the
English throne it was anticipated by
many of the Catholic prelates that some
thing would be done to mitigate the ex-
listing oppressive laws against reousants
OF their faith, the prospective king hav-
ing 70 declared hiuself. Contrary to
what had been promised and naturally
expected the persecution was rather in
creased than leBsened with the new rule
Although their action created feelings OF
bitter Disappointment and entnnent
among the Catholics no rebellious MEAS
nres were INDUCED in by them as body.
The widespread dissatisfaction, however,
gave few disappointed political adven-
turers opportunity TO enlist certain
amount OF sympathy in a move, then un-
al aned, toeecure redress for their w;ongs
Many schemes wore formulated to bring
the reign Of the king to q termination
and advice sought Of :oreign powers, but
for awhile with no active results.
1t remained for the fertile brain OF
Robert Oateboy, a strong hater, OF Pro
tes&antisu, to conceive the diabolical
idea Of blowing mp the parliament build
ing with gunpowder at time when the
h,ng and his ministers should be present.
This arch-conspirator worked up bis plan
and conided it t., other rebelllous spirits,
eventually enlisting the aid and sym
pathies OF many of the highest dignitaries
OF the period, notably amongst which
were Christopher Wright, Thomas VIM
ter, Sir Everard Digby, Francis Tresham,
and Thomas Percy, the latter being s.
pensioner of the king at the Time The
conspirators were bound by most ter-
rible oath to keep the secret until death.
This was in the year 1904, and one year
previous to the time chosen for execu-
ton Of the plan.
Guy Fawkes, the central figure Of the
great plot, was the agent secured to carry
out the details of the scheme and the
one selected to do the final act OF firing
the powder. He was military adven-
turer of but little note at the time, but
with reputation for great personal
courage and the cunning essential 10
yiuainous deeds. He was native Of
York and came of Protestant parentage.
The plotters set to work by securing a
vacant house adjoining the parliament
buildings and commencing to tunnel
from the cellar to the basement of the
government house. Before the work was
half finished the prospect was abandoned,
as a vault directly under the House of
Lords was obtainable, being then to let.
Guy Fawkes, disguised as a merchant,
quickly succeeded in leasing this under-
ground chamber for the ostensible pur-
pose Of using it to store merchandise. A
few weeks later the barrels of gunpowder
that had been accumulated and kept in
hiding at house in Lambert were sur
ssptitiously moved to this vault under
shadow of night. In order to avert sns
pieion, should anyone enter the premises,
Fawkes covered the deadly pile with
stoues and old lumber. Everything was
in readiness several weeks before the
time chosen for action, and the final ar
engagements were then perfected with care
and precision,
On the 9Th day OF November when
parliament was to next convene the Rend-
ish plot was to be contaminated. Fawkee
was to secrete himself in the vault, fire
the train that would eventually start the
powder, and then make his way to the
river with all haste, where q special
craft would be in readiness to con-
vey him to friends of the conspiracy
in Flanders. The rest 81 the plotters
were to make their way to the interior,
where their presence would Be the pre-
arranged signal for an armed uprising.
The plans wore all perfect enough and
we'll laid, but something like the hand Of
Providenoe frustrated the scheme. It
has never been generally known Just
how the plot wss discovered, bnt the
leak appears TO havs started ia the CON
ecisDtious scruples of one orI more of the
consplrators to tho md. inmate and
Wholesale nature u the contempt lated
slsughtsr. ord Aonteagle, Qhtholic,
reosivst from Gome MI u .onzcs .
III d, ,il y Isas