Guy Fawkes
Guy Fawkes | |
---|---|
High treason | |
Criminal penalty | Hanged, drawn and quartered |
Role | Explosives |
Enlisted | 20 May 1604 |
Date apprehended | 5 November 1605 |
Guy Fawkes (/fɔːks/; 13 April 1570 – 31 January 1606),[a] also known as Guido Fawkes while fighting for the Spanish, was a member of a group of provincial English Catholics involved in the failed Gunpowder Plot of 1605. He was born and educated in York; his father died when Fawkes was eight years old, after which his mother married a recusant Catholic.
Fawkes converted to Catholicism and left for mainland Europe, where he fought for Catholic Spain in the
Fawkes was sentenced to be hanged, drawn and quartered. However, at his execution on 31 January, he died when his neck was broken as he was hanged, with some sources claiming that he deliberately jumped to make this happen; he thus avoided the agony of his sentence. He became synonymous with the Gunpowder Plot, the failure of which has been commemorated in the UK as Guy Fawkes Night since 5 November 1605, when his effigy is traditionally burned on a bonfire, commonly accompanied by fireworks.
Early life
Childhood
Guy Fawkes was born in 1570 in
The date of Fawkes's birth is unknown, but he was baptised in the church of St Michael le Belfrey, York on 16 April. As the customary gap between birth and baptism was three days, he was probably born about 13 April.[5] In 1568, Edith had given birth to a daughter named Anne, but the child died aged about seven weeks, in November that year. She bore two more children after Guy: Anne (b. 1572), and Elizabeth (b. 1575). Both were married, in 1599 and 1594 respectively.[6][7]
In 1579, when Guy was eight years old, his father died. His mother remarried several years later, to the Catholic Dionis Baynbrigge (or Denis Bainbridge) of
After leaving school Fawkes entered the service of Anthony Browne, 1st Viscount Montagu. The Viscount took a dislike to Fawkes and after a short time dismissed him; he was subsequently employed by Anthony-Maria Browne, 2nd Viscount Montagu, who succeeded his grandfather at the age of 18.[11] At least one source claims that Fawkes married and had a son, but no known contemporary accounts confirm this.[12][d]
Military career
In October 1591 Fawkes sold the estate in
Gunpowder Plot
In 1604 Fawkes became involved with a small group of English Catholics, led by
The first meeting of the five central conspirators took place on Sunday 20 May 1604, at an inn called the Duck and Drake, in the fashionable Strand district of London.[f] Catesby had already proposed at an earlier meeting with Thomas Wintour and John Wright to kill the King and his government by blowing up "the Parliament House with gunpowder". Wintour, who at first objected to the plan, was convinced by Catesby to travel to the continent to seek help. Wintour met with the Constable of Castile, the exiled Welsh spy Hugh Owen,[18] and Sir William Stanley, who said that Catesby would receive no support from Spain. Owen did, however, introduce Wintour to Fawkes, who had by then been away from England for many years, and thus was largely unknown in the country. Wintour and Fawkes were contemporaries; each was militant, and had first-hand experience of the unwillingness of the Spaniards to help. Wintour told Fawkes of their plan to "doe some whatt in Ingland if the pece with Spaine healped us nott",[3] and thus in April 1604 the two men returned to England.[17] Wintour's news did not surprise Catesby; despite positive noises from the Spanish authorities, he feared that "the deeds would nott answere".[g]
One of the conspirators,
The plotters purchased the lease to the room, which also belonged to John Whynniard. Unused and filthy, it was considered an ideal hiding place for the gunpowder the plotters planned to store.[24] According to Fawkes, 20 barrels of gunpowder were brought in at first, followed by 16 more on 20 July.[25] On 28 July however, the ever-present threat of the plague delayed the opening of Parliament until Tuesday, 5 November.[26]
Overseas
In an attempt to gain foreign support, in May 1605 Fawkes travelled overseas and informed Hugh Owen of the plotters' plan.[27] At some point during this trip his name made its way into the files of Robert Cecil, 1st Earl of Salisbury, who employed a network of spies across Europe. One of these spies, Captain William Turner, may have been responsible. Although the information he provided to Salisbury usually amounted to no more than a vague pattern of invasion reports, and included nothing which regarded the Gunpowder Plot, on 21 April he told how Fawkes was to be brought by Tesimond to England. Fawkes was a well-known Flemish mercenary, and would be introduced to "Mr Catesby" and "honourable friends of the nobility and others who would have arms and horses in readiness".[28] Turner's report did not, however, mention Fawkes's pseudonym in England, John Johnson, and did not reach Cecil until late in November, well after the plot had been discovered.[3][29]
It is uncertain when Fawkes returned to England, but he was back in London by late August 1605, when he and Wintour discovered that the gunpowder stored in the undercroft had decayed. More gunpowder was brought into the room, along with firewood to conceal it.[30] Fawkes's final role in the plot was settled during a series of meetings in October. He was to light the fuse and then escape across the Thames. Simultaneously, a revolt in the Midlands would help to ensure the capture of Princess Elizabeth. Acts of regicide were frowned upon, and Fawkes would therefore head to the continent, where he would explain to the Catholic powers his holy duty to kill the King and his retinue.[31]
Discovery
A few of the conspirators were concerned about fellow Catholics who would be present at Parliament during the opening.[32] On the evening of 26 October, Lord Monteagle received an anonymous letter warning him to stay away, and to "retyre youre self into yowre contee whence yow maye expect the event in safti for ... they shall receyve a terrible blowe this parleament".[33] Despite quickly becoming aware of the letter – informed by one of Monteagle's servants – the conspirators resolved to continue with their plans, as it appeared that it "was clearly thought to be a hoax".[34] Fawkes checked the undercroft on 30 October, and reported that nothing had been disturbed.[35] Monteagle's suspicions had been aroused, however, and the letter was shown to King James. The King ordered Sir Thomas Knyvet to conduct a search of the cellars underneath Parliament, which he did in the early hours of 5 November. Fawkes had taken up his station late on the previous night, armed with a slow match and a watch given to him by Percy "becaus he should knowe howe the time went away".[3] He was found leaving the cellar, shortly after midnight, and arrested. Inside, the barrels of gunpowder were discovered hidden under piles of firewood and coal.[36]
Torture
Fawkes gave his name as John Johnson and was first interrogated by members of the King's Privy chamber, where he remained defiant.[37] When asked by one of the lords what he was doing in possession of so much gunpowder, Fawkes answered that his intention was "to blow you Scotch beggars back to your native mountains."[38] He identified himself as a 36-year-old Catholic from Netherdale in Yorkshire, and gave his father's name as Thomas and his mother's as Edith Jackson. Wounds on his body noted by his questioners he explained as the effects of pleurisy. Fawkes admitted his intention to blow up the House of Lords, and expressed regret at his failure to do so. His steadfast manner earned him the admiration of King James, who described Fawkes as possessing "a Roman resolution".[39]
James's admiration did not, however, prevent him from ordering on 6 November that "John Johnson" be tortured, to reveal the names of his co-conspirators.[40] He directed that the torture be light at first, referring to the use of manacles, but more severe if necessary, authorising the use of the rack: "the gentler Tortures are to be first used unto him et sic per gradus ad ima tenditur [and so by degrees proceeding to the worst]".[37][41] Fawkes was transferred to the Tower of London. The King composed a list of questions to be put to "Johnson", such as "as to what he is, For I can never yet hear of any man that knows him", "When and where he learned to speak French?", and "If he was a Papist, who brought him up in it?"[42] The room in which Fawkes was interrogated subsequently became known as the Guy Fawkes Room.[43]
Sir William Waad, Lieutenant of the Tower, supervised the torture and obtained Fawkes's confession.[37] He searched his prisoner, and found a letter addressed to Guy Fawkes. To Waad's surprise, "Johnson" remained silent, revealing nothing about the plot or its authors.[44] On the night of 6 November he spoke with Waad, who reported to Salisbury "He [Johnson] told us that since he undertook this action he did every day pray to God he might perform that which might be for the advancement of the Catholic Faith and saving his own soul". According to Waad, Fawkes managed to rest through the night, despite his being warned that he would be interrogated until "I had gotton the inwards secret of his thoughts and all his complices".[45] His composure was broken at some point during the following day.[46]
The observer Sir Edward Hoby remarked "Since Johnson's being in the Tower, he beginneth to speak English". Fawkes revealed his true identity on 7 November, and told his interrogators that there were five people involved in the plot to kill the King. He began to reveal their names on 8 November, and told how they intended to place Princess Elizabeth on the throne. His third confession, on 9 November, implicated Francis Tresham. Following the Ridolfi plot of 1571, prisoners were made to dictate their confessions, before copying and signing them, if they still could.[47] Although it is uncertain if he was tortured on the rack, Fawkes's scrawled signature suggests the suffering he endured at the hands of his interrogators.[48]
Trial and execution
The trial of eight of the plotters began on Monday 27 January 1606. Fawkes shared the barge from the Tower to Westminster Hall with seven of his co-conspirators.[h] They were kept in the Star Chamber before being taken to Westminster Hall, where they were displayed on a purpose-built scaffold. The King and his close family, watching in secret, were among the spectators as the Lords Commissioners read out the list of charges. Fawkes was identified as Guido Fawkes, "otherwise called Guido Johnson". He pleaded not guilty, despite his apparent acceptance of guilt from the moment he was captured.[50]
The jury found all the defendants guilty, and the
On 31 January 1606, Fawkes and three others – Thomas Wintour, Ambrose Rookwood, and Robert Keyes – were dragged from the Tower on wattled hurdles to the Old Palace Yard at Westminster, opposite the building they had attempted to destroy.[54] His fellow plotters were then hanged and quartered. Fawkes was the last to stand on the scaffold. He asked for forgiveness of the King and state, while keeping up his "crosses and idle ceremonies" (Catholic practices). Weakened by torture and aided by the hangman, Fawkes began to climb the ladder to the noose, but either through jumping to his death or climbing too high so the rope was incorrectly set, he managed to avoid the agony of the latter part of his execution by breaking his neck.[37][55][56] His lifeless body was nevertheless quartered[57] and, as was the custom,[58] his body parts were then distributed to "the four corners of the kingdom", to be displayed as a warning to other would-be traitors.[59]
Legacy
On 5 November 1605, Londoners were encouraged to celebrate the King's escape from assassination by lighting bonfires, provided that "this testemonye of joy be carefull done without any danger or disorder".[3] An Act of Parliament designated each 5 November as a day of thanksgiving for "the joyful day of deliverance", and remained in force until 1859.[60] Fawkes was one of 13 conspirators, but he is the individual most associated with the plot.[61]
In Britain, 5 November has variously been called
James Sharpe, professor of history at the University of York, has described how Guy Fawkes came to be toasted as "the last man to enter Parliament with honest intentions".
References
Footnotes
- ^ Dates in this article before 14 September 1752 are given in the Julian calendar. The beginning of the year is treated as 1 January even though it began in England on 25 March.
- ^ According to one source, he may have been Registrar of the Exchequer Court of the Archbishop.[1]
- ^ Fawkes's mother's maiden name is alternatively given as Edith Blake,[2] or Edith Jackson.[3]
- ^ Although the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography claims 1592, multiple alternative sources give 1591 as the date. Peter Beal, A Dictionary of English Manuscript Terminology, 1450 to 2000, includes a signed indenture of the sale of the estate dated 14 October 1591. (pp. 198–199)
- ^ Also present were fellow conspirators John Wright, Thomas Percy, and Thomas Wintour (with whom he was already acquainted).[17]
- ^ Philip III made peace with England in August 1604.[19]
- ^ The eighth, Thomas Bates, was considered inferior by virtue of his status, and was held instead at Gatehouse Prison.[49]
Citations
- ^ Haynes 2005, pp. 28–29
- ^ Guy Fawkes, The Gunpowder Plot Society, archived from the original on 18 March 2010, retrieved 19 May 2010
- ^ doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/9230 (subscription or UK public library membershiprequired)
- ^ "Fawkes, Guy" in The Dictionary of National Biography, Leslie Stephen, ed., Oxford University Press, London (1921–1922).
- ^ a b c Fraser 2005, p. 84
- ^ a b Sharpe 2005, p. 48
- ^ Fraser 2005, p. 86 (note)
- ^ Sharpe 2005, p. 49
- ^ a b Herber, David (April 1998), "The Marriage of Guy Fawkes and Maria Pulleyn", The Gunpowder Plot Society Newsletter, The Gunpowder Plot Society, archived from the original on 17 June 2011, retrieved 16 February 2010
- ^ Fraser 2005, pp. 84–85
- ^ Fraser 2005, pp. 85–86
- ^ a b Fraser 2005, p. 86
- ^ Fraser 2005, p. 89
- ^ Fraser 2005, pp. 87–90
- ^ Northcote Parkinson 1976, p. 46
- ^ Fraser 2005, pp. 140–142
- ^ a b Fraser 2005, pp. 117–119
- ^ Fraser 2005, p. 87
- doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/4883 (subscription or UK public library membershiprequired)
- ^ Fraser 2005, pp. 122–123
- doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/29767 (subscription or UK public library membershiprequired)
- ^ Fraser 2005, pp. 133–134
- ^ Haynes 2005, pp. 55–59
- ^ Fraser 2005, pp. 144–145
- ^ Fraser 2005, pp. 146–147
- ^ Fraser 2005, pp. 159–162
- ^ Bengsten 2005, p. 50
- ^ Fraser 2005, p. 150
- ^ Fraser 2005, pp. 148–150
- ^ Fraser 2005, p. 170
- ^ Fraser 2005, pp. 178–179
- ^ Northcote Parkinson 1976, pp. 62–63
- ^ Northcote Parkinson 1976, pp. 68–69
- ^ Northcote Parkinson 1976, p. 72
- ^ Fraser 2005, p. 189
- ^ Northcote Parkinson 1976, p. 73
- ^ a b c d Northcote Parkinson 1976, pp. 91–92
- ^ Cobbett 1857, p. 229.
- ^ Fraser 2005, pp. 208–209
- ^ Fraser 2005, p. 211
- ^ Fraser 2005, p. 215
- ^ Fraser 2005, p. 212
- ^ Younghusband 2008, p. 46
- ^ Bengsten 2005, p. 58
- ^ Bengsten 2005, p. 59
- ^ Fraser 2005, pp. 216–217
- ^ Bengsten 2005, p. 60
- ^ Fraser 2005, pp. 215–216, 228–229
- ^ Fraser 2005, p. 263
- ^ Fraser 2005, pp. 263–266
- ^ Fraser 2005, p. 273
- ^ Fraser 2005, pp. 266–269
- ^ Fraser 2005, pp. 269–271
- ^ Haynes 2005, pp. 115–116
- ^ Fraser 2005, p. 283
- ^ Sharpe 2005, pp. 76–77
- ^ Allen 1973, p. 37
- ^ Thompson 2008, p. 102
- ^ Guy Fawkes, York Museums Trust, archived from the original on 14 April 2010, retrieved 16 May 2010
- ^ a b c House of Commons Information Office (September 2006), The Gunpowder Plot (PDF), archived from the original (PDF) on 15 February 2005, retrieved 15 February 2011
- ^ Fraser 2005, p. 349
- ^ Fox & Woolf 2002, p. 269
- ^ Fraser 2005, pp. 351–352
- ^ Fraser 2005, p. 356
- ^ "Lewes bonfire night: Thousands attend annual event", BBC News, 5 November 2022, retrieved 5 November 2022
- ISBN 0-87779-603-3, entry "guy"
- ^ Sharpe 2005, p. 6
- ^ Harrison Ainsworth, William (1841), Guy Fawkes; or, The Gunpowder Treason, Nottingham Society
- ^ Sharpe 2005, p. 128
- ^ Call, Lewis (July 2008), "A is for Anarchy, V is for Vendetta: Images of Guy Fawkes and the Creation of Postmodern Anarchism", Anarchist Studies, 16 (2): 154
- ISBN 978-1-108-41654-2.
- ^ "What do Catholics do on Guy Fawkes night? | Notes and Queries". theguardian.co.uk. Archived from the original on 6 July 2023. Retrieved 6 July 2023.
Bibliography
- Allen, Kenneth (1973), The Story of Gunpowder, Wayland, ISBN 978-0-85340-188-9
- Bengsten, Fiona (2005), Sir William Waad, Lieutenant of the Tower, and the Gunpowder Plot (illustrated ed.), Trafford Publishing, ISBN 1-4120-5541-5
- Cobbett, William (1857), A History of the Protestant Reformation in England and Ireland, Simpkin, Marshall and Company
- Fox, Adam; ISBN 0-7190-5747-7
- ISBN 0-7538-1401-3
- Haynes, Alan (2005) [1994], The Gunpowder Plot: Faith in Rebellion, Hayes and Sutton, ISBN 0-7509-4215-0
- ISBN 0-297-77224-4
- Sharpe, J. A. (2005), Remember, Remember: A Cultural History of Guy Fawkes Day (illustrated ed.), Harvard University Press, ISBN 0-674-01935-0
- Thompson, Irene (2008), The A to Z of Punishment and Torture: From Amputations to Zero Tolerance, Book Guild Publishing, ISBN 978-1-84624-203-8
- Younghusband, George (2008), A Short History of the Tower of London, Boucher Press, ISBN 978-1-4437-0485-4