The Gunpowder Plot

Authors Avatar

The Gunpowder Plot

When Queen Elizabeth I died in 1603, some English Catholics had hoped that her successor James I would be more understanding of their religion. However, James I did not turn out to be any better that Elizabeth did. This led the 13 conspirators and the famous Gunpowder Plot.

The leader of the group was Robert Catesby. He felt that violence was necessary in making James I realized and be more tolerant with their religion. They plotted to blow up the Houses of Parliament. By doing this, they would kill the King and members of parliament who were against Catholics. Today they would be known as extremists or terrorists.

Robert Catesby, the leader of the group first recruited his close friends and relatives: Thomas Wintour, Jack Wright and Thomas Percy. Before long the group grew to also have Guy Fawkes. They thought that Guy would be a useful companion in their group as Guy Fawkes was said to have fought in Netherlands and Spain as a mercenary. He earned the nickname Guido and sometimes signed as it.

Join now!

He too was willing to act on the troubles that the Catholics in England beared. His colleagues quickly learned to trust him, and later gave him the job of acquiring 36 barrels of gunpowder. Once he had acquired it, he was to store it in the rented space of the cellar beneath the House of Lords. Soon others joined the group, such as Robert Wintour, Christopher Wright, Robert Keyes and Thomas Bates. Later on more people joined: John Grant, Ambrose Rookwood, Francis Tresham and Everard Digby. These were the 13 conspirators in the Gunpowder Plot.

The Conspirators would ...

This is a preview of the whole essay