Guy Fawkes and Co-Conspirators Executed

On this day, the Catholic revolutionary Guy Fawkes, having been found guilty of high treason, was put to death in the Old Palace Yard at Westminster. Thanks to a tip-off, Fawkes had been caught red-handed in the basement of the House of Lords armed with matches and numerous barrels of gunpowder and was consequently accused of attempting to kill King James by blowing up the House of Lords during the opening ceremony of Parliament on 5th November. On subsequent torture, Fawkes revealed the names of his co-conspirators and all eight were sentenced to be hanged, drawn and quartered. To this day, every 5th November, the British people light bonfires and burn effigies of Guy Fawkes to commemorate the failure of the conspiracy.

Author: Tony

Born and raised in Malaysia between Kuala Lumpur and Singapore. Educated at Wycliffe College in Stonehouse, Gloucestershire, England. Living in the foothills of Mount Etna since 1982 and teaching English at Catania University since 1987. View all posts by Tony