Programme 2: Guy Fawkes: Gunpowder Plot

Programme Outline

A man is seen preparing to light a fuse in a dark cellar filled with barrels. The narrator explains that someone is planning to kill the King by blowing him sky high. Guy Fawkes is his name. When he was born, all subjects of Queen Elizabeth I had to belong to her Protestant church. Guy Fawkes’ family belonged to the Catholic church with the Pope as its head. It was very dangerous to be a Catholic at that time. When Guy Fawkes grew up he went to fight for Spain, the most powerful Catholic country in Europe. He became an explosives expert. Meanwhile, James VI of Scotland and I of England had succeeded Elizabeth. He too was anti-Catholic. A group of powerful Catholics in England plotted to blow up the King as he opened Parliament. They asked Guy Fawkes to do the deed. However, a letter of warning was sent to a prominent Catholic Member of Parliament, who informed the King. Guy Fawkes was arrested and, under torture, revealed the names of his co-conspirators. He was hanged as a traitor.