Guy Fawkes Day

When we first came to England we were hit with an unsuspecting tradition, Guy Fawkes Day. Having never heard of such a holiday it instantly captivated me. I did a little research and wrote my own story on Guy Fawkes and how he came to be one of Britain's biggest names.

It was the night of November 4th, he had come down to the cellar to claim his mutinous postion. Tomorrow was the day that all their plans would be carried forth. He glanced over at the 36 barrels of gunpowder he had acquired in Flanders and he began to feel the excitement increase. All the years of hostile treatment they had suffered, all the years his fellow Catholics have been tortured and discriminated while under Protestant rule, were coming to an end. He looked down at what he carried in his hands; his slow matches and touchwood. He gave a slight laugh as he realized the power he held in his hands. Tomorrow Parliament would sit and there they would meet their much fated doom.

As the night wore on, he glanced down at his watch, it was just after midnight; November 5th. Suddenly he heard footsteps. He reached for the lit torch just as Sir Thomas Knyvett, a Westminster magistrate and his men entered the cellar. Surprised by the intrusion, he searched quickly in his mind to devise a way out of the situation he was just now placed in. Sir Thomas Knyvett had his men search the cellar, it was then that they discovered hidden by the piles of billets and faggots the barrels of gunpowder. They then grabbed him and on his person found the slow matches and touchwood. They were left with no doubt of his intentions and arrested him there on the spot. Unable to fully comprehend his fate he ran towards the barrels intending to throw his torch and blow up himself, the house of parliament and all. His cause was too great, his heart to fully devoted to its purpose to give up now. Just as he was about to let the torch loose a man came from behind and snatched the torch from his hand. His heart was deepening with sadness and fear but he quickly resolved to never give in.

The following morning he was taken to the King’s bedchamber where the Privy Council was to assemble. It was there he remained defiant. He was now fully aware of his fate; he was to die a martyr. When the King questioned, how any man could commit such a treason, he answered in a way that could best describe his allegiance to his church, he maliciously replied, “a dangerous disease required a desperate remedy.”

After 3 months of torture and confinement, his body weak with affliction and sickness he was scarce able to go up the ladder. He made no infamous speech for he knew his martyrdom was to be his great discourse. And on Friday, January 31, 1606, Guy Fawkes along with 3 other conspirators were hanged, drawn and quartered in the very place where their great demolition was supposed to have occured.

Little did Guy Fawkes know that centuries later his name would still cause a stir amongst the British people. A national holiday would surround his actions and a celebration of his capture would be ignited throughout this great nation. Every year on November 5th, bonfires are lit in most villages and fireworks are displayed. For the first couple of weeks in November distant thunderings caused by the fireworks are heard as a reminder of what could have been. Whether it was Divine Intervention or an ill-devised plan the outcome was still the same, and Guy Fawkes will continue to go down in history as the man who never got to release the power of his gunpowder but his message was heard loud and clear.

"Remember, remember, the 5th of November
The Gunpowder Treason and plot ;
I know of no reason why Gunpowder Treason
Should ever be forgot."