Sunday, December 10, 2006

5th of November

Despite constantly hearing the haunting lyrics to the infamous poem repeating in my head:

Remember, remember, the 5th of November
The Gunpowder Treason and plot;
I know of no reason why Gunpowder Treason
Should ever be forgot.


I somehow managed to forget to post an article on November 5th coincidentally enough about the history of the 5th of November.

Dating back to 1605, the 5th of November is the story of Roman Catholic Guy Fawkes, or Guido Fawkes, and his failed Gunpowder Plot to assassinate the Protestant King James I of England also known as King James VI of Scotland. Fawkes also intended to kill members of both English Houses of Parliament, the House of Lords and House of Commons, because the King was addressing both Houses.

Caught red-handed in a daring early-morning raid on November 5th, 1605, in a cellar rented to John Johnson, the fictional alter ego of Guy Fawkes, with a watch, slow matches, and touchpaper in his possession. And with 1800 pounds or 36 barrels of gunpowder hidden in it beneath the House of Lords, Guy Fawkes was sentenced to be hanged, drawn, and quartered for the high crime of treason.