Remember, Remember the 5th of November: The Gunpowder Treason and Plot…
Thanks to one of Hollywood’s many “blessings” showered upon the the world, most people know about The Gunpowder Plot in 1600’s England and associate it with Fawkes and the infamous mask as seen in the film, V For Vendetta.
However…
I believe what most people aren’t aware of is that The Gunpowder Plot was an attempt by papists, Jesuits—Catholics to destroy Protestant England in one well coordinated strike, rendering the nation incapacitated.
It’s easy in modern times, as we are beat over the head with the information about Muslim baddies, to forget that Protestants were persecuted heavily throughout history by Rome and her endless reach across the world. Dedicated and merciless papists have an unmeasurable amount of blood on their hands. These days it seems as though many people want to sweep history(many areas) under the rug and blend Catholicism with the Protestant Church as if to say that there’s no difference whatsoever in the religions. “The important thing is that we believe in Jesus”. I guess if you wish to compromise the teachings of Christ, you could say the same about Mormonism, or the Mohammedans as well.
Anyway, staying on point…
The plot involved many men; Catholics, several of whom were prominent Jesuits: Henry Garnet, Catesby, Tesmond, Thomas Wright, Thomas Percy(close relation to the earl of Northumberland), Sir Edward Digby, John Grant, Esq; Francis Tresham, Esq; Robert Keyes, Thomas Bates, and of course, Guido Fawkes.
Most of these men were of birth and fortune. All were supportive of the previous attempt by Spain to overthrow the government in order to restore England to the Roman Catholic religion. Catesby had even disclosed to close friends designs to assassinate the King, obviously eventually giving heed to broader treason and a plan to exact vengeance through one fatal blow against all enemies at once.
The men were very tight knit and took an oath amongst themselves not only to secrecy but to commitment. None were to back out of the plan without the consent of the rest of the group. While performing the labor required for the plot, all men resolved that they were to die in battle than be taken alive, thus keeping weaponry close by. In their minds, there was no doubt. This was happening.
The details about the plot were meticulous and they were very much calculating in their methods. After the planned executions, they had planned to enlist France, Spain, and other powers in assisting the transition including the goal of crowning princess Elizebeth as Queen.
The single point that sticks out to me and very much brings it into current times is the fact that this treasonous fun bunch had planned to spread disinformation abroad exclaiming that it was the puritans that were the perpetrators of such an inhuman and murderous act. Such lies and treachery takes place even today.
Some things never change…
With everything prepared, and no conscience seemingly present to press any brakes, November 5th was to be a day never forgotten. Again, allow me to remind you that this was a meticulous and deviously thought out plan requiring precise timing and placing. The gunpowder was lying in wait inside of a mine that was ran under the hall of parliament. In one swift act, the king, the royal family, lords, commons, and all the other enemies of the catholic religion would be destroyed.
Again, with all things in place and all prepared, the 5th was quickly approaching. Yet, as if with divine intervention, it was laid on one of the conspirators a desire to save one William Parker, Lord Monteagle. Thus, the following letter was written:
My Lord,
Out of the love I bear to some of your friends, I have a care for your preservation; therefore I advise you, as you tender your life, to devise you some excuse to shift off your attendance at this parliament; for God and man have concurred to punish the wickedness of this time: and think not slightly of this advertisement, but retire yourself into the country, where you may expect the event with safety, for though there be no appearance of any stir, yet I say they shall receive a terrible blow, this parliament, and yet they shall not see who hurts them. This counsel is not to be contemned because it may do you good, and can do you no harm; for the danger is past so soon (or as quickly) as you burn this letter; and I hope God will give you the grace to make good use of it, to whose holy protection I commend you.
While at first, it seems that much thought wasn’t given to the letter, or at least it was not known by Lord Monteagle what to make of it. Yet, not disregarding it, it eventually was the very thing that saved a kingdom and English Christendom.
Jumping ahead a bit, I have to assume that it was the fact that Fawkes was the perpetrator caught “red handed” coming out of the underground(mine adjoining) cellar with a tinderbox and matches that became the reason why he is most associated with the plot and eventually had an action figure made of his likeness.
…a mask, I meant mask.
In the end, on January 27th 1606, eight men were tried and convicted. All were executed; just as traitors were back when treason was treason.
I found myself wanting to write this with intentions of pointing out the religious implications and reasonings behind this historical moment lest it be forgotten and simply relegated to Hollywood fiction and romanticism, like so many events in our history.
So if you decide to “remember, remember the 5th of November”, don’t do it because Hollywood told you to while subverting you with sodomite propaganda. Do it in honor of the King of Kings; in remembrance of a day that God, through providence, preserved a king, a people, and a future.