Fawkes was described as a well tempered, cheerful man. He was devoted to his religion and detested unnecessary battles. He was a faithful friend, reliable, noble and virtuous.
Fawkes's appearance by now was most impressive. He was a tall, powerfully built man, with thick reddish-brown hair, flowing moustache, and a bushy reddish-brown beard.
He had also apparently adopted the name Guido in place of Guy. His extraordinary fortitude, and his "considerable fame among soldiers", perhaps acquired through his services under Colonel Bostock at the Battle of Nieuport in 1600 when it is believed he was wounded, brought him to the attention of Sir William Stanley in charge of the English regiment in Flanders.
On the 16 of February 1603 Fawkes was granted leave for Spain on behalf of Stanley. Here he renewed his acquaintance with Christopher Wright and they both set about finding support for a Spanish invasion of England as soon as Elizabeth I died. This failed.
Upon return from this mission, Fawkes was informed in Brussels that Thomas Winter had been asking for him, Sir Stanley present Fawkes to him.
Between Easter and May, Fawkes was invited by Robert Catesby to accompany Thomas Winter to Bergen in order to meet with the Constable of Castile, Juan De Velasco, who was on his way to the court of King James I to discuss a treaty between Spain and England.
In May 1604, Guy Fawkes met with Robert Catesby, Thomas Percy, John Wright and Thomas Winter at an inn called the ‘Duck and Drake’ in London, and agreed under oath along with Percy to join the other three in the gunpowder conspiracy. The performing of mass then sanctified this oath.
Fawkes assumed the identity of John Johnson, a servant of Percy. Around the end of September, Fawkes was asked to begin preparations for work on the mine, but these plans were delayed as the Commissioners of the Union between England and Scotland were meeting in the same house.
Eventually the work started on the mine in early December but it proved slow and difficult for the men who were unused to such physical labours, but gradually more and more people got involved.
