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The Vegas Voice 11-20

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November 5, 1605

By: John Beilun / Time Traveler

While squatting in an undercroft beneath

the House of Lords, a soldier-of-fortune

toyed with a match. By his feet lay a slow fuse that

protruded from a pile of coal that hid 36 barrels of gunpowder.

The man checked his timepiece. It was a little past midnight just as

the King’s guard entered.

Unable to explain his presence, the intruder was arrested. Upon

discovery of the explosive casks, he was immediately dragged to the

Tower of London for inquisition.

England had been in turmoil for seventy years. Ever since Henry VIII

evicted the Catholic Church in 1534, thousands of its clergy had been

murdered, papal estates, churches and cathedrals confiscated, and

unreformed believers persecuted. Conditions did not improve during

his daughter Elizabeth’s 47 year reign.

After James I became King in 1603, many Catholics expected better

treatment. However, they were disappointed when he proved to be even

harsher on the Papists than his predecessor.

This precipitated in what came to be known as “The Gunpowder

Plot.” Over a dozen Catholics orchestrated a scheme to blow up the

King and all the members of Parliament when James came to address

them on the opening day of their next session – November 5, 1605.

The conspirators had, in fact, amassed enough gunpowder that

had it exploded it would have reduced Parliament to rubble, killing

the King and all else

within 100 meters and

shattering every window of

Westminster Abbey.

When the plot was foiled,

James was so relieved that

he immediately designated

November 5th as a time

of thanksgiving for that

“joyful day of deliverance.”

Although the man was

only a minor participant

among the thirteen

confirmed conspirators,

this day of celebration has

come to be known as “Guy Fawkes Day.” In typical English tonguein-cheek,

such “honor” goes to that soldier-of-fortune captured in

the cellar of the House of Lords and subsequently tortured, drawn,

quartered and beheaded.

As the centuries have gone by, Fawkes has somehow evolved from

the terrorist that he was (think of 20 th Century Belfast) to a hero of the

downtrodden (ala Robin Hood).

Among other things, political wags commonly refer to him as “the

only man ever to enter Parliament with honest intentions,” and songs

and poems have been written in his honor.

50

November 2020

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