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Gunpowder: Gunpowder Plot
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The seeds of discontent at the treatment of Catholics in England, which ultimately led to the failed Gunpowder Plot of 1605, were first sown in the late 1520s during the reign of Henry VIII. Henry had been declared Defender of the Faith by the pope and had written tracts against Protestantism. However, dissatisfied with the Pope's refusal to grant him a divorce from his first wife Catherine of Aragon, Henry broke away from the See of Rome, extinguished all papal power in England, and executed his investiture as the head of the Church of England. This was followed by the methodical Dissolution of the Monasteries, under the supervision of Thomas Cromwell, which aided the English war chest and was instrumental in eroding the English power of the Catholic Church. Henry's Church of England was initially not Protestant, but remained closer to his traditional belief of Catholicism.
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I[R]onically, the Gunpowder Plot had little effect on seventeenth-century England. Most English Catholics wanted to be left alone, not to change society. They were content to pay the fines assessed by the penal codes, stay out of politics altogether, and try to carry on with their daily lives as best they could. They were not surprised when the Gunpowder Plot failed, and many of them were probably glad that it had not disrupted their lives and turned their countrymen even more vigorously against them. James I’s attitude toward Catholics was unchanged by the Plot; he knew several members of the government were secretly Catholic and took no action against them. Since he saw himself as a moderate, he actually became more tolerant toward Catholics later in his reign, trying to avoid religious persecution while maintaining a Protestant country.
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The Gunpowder plot has it all. Heroes, villains, outlaws on the run, dramatic shoot outs, betrayal, treason, torture and death. This year sees the 400th anniversary of the plot and all over Warwickshire many towns and villages are planning a series of amazing events and activities.
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To mark the 400th year of the Gunpowder Plot, the 24 Hour Museum has launched www.gunpowderplot.parliament.uk in partnership with the Parliamentary Archives. The new site explores this fascinating event together with the collections and archives that tell its story.
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The Gunpowder Plot was commemorated for years after the plot by special sermons and other public acts such as the ringing of church bells. It added to an increasingly full calendar of Protestant celebrations that contributed to the national and religious life of seventeenth century England. [11] Through various permutations this has evolved into the bonfire night that occurs today.
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The Gunpowder Plot was planned for 5 November, and its failure is still marked in Britain today with fireworks and bonfires. Catholic zealot Guy Fawkes and his conspirators wanted to kill the Protestant King and destroy the parliament that had persecuted Catholics for half a century.
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