Remember, remember the 5th of November!

On the 5th November 1605 a plot to blow up parliament was discovered. Guy Fawkes, Robert Catesby, Thomas Percy and four others were involved in a Catholic attempt to kill the King. Or was it?

A drawing of the plotters. It was painted after the events by a man who very probably never met them. Look how suspicious they have been made to look.

This event that we celebrate every year with bonfires and fireworks is one of the most disputed episode in history.

Read on for both sides of the story.

THE GUNPOWDER PLOT: A CATHOLIC PLOT.

In this view the plot was a serious attempt to kill King James I and replace him with a Catholic King or Queen. Many Catholics had become upset with changes that James had made. At first he had been tolerant of Catholics but he soon changed. Some believe it was because his wife had threatened to let his homosexuality out. He responded by fining 5,000 people for being Catholics and he expelled priests from the country. Many Catholics began to feel angry.

Look at the evidence that the plot was serious.

SOURCE A

"You swear by the blesses trinity, and by the sacrament you propose now to receive, never to disclose directly or indirectly, by word or by circumstance, the matter that shall be proposed to you to keep secret, nor desist from the execution thereon until the rest shall give you leave".

This is the oath that the plotters took. It shows that they were very determined and it was a serious and planned operation.

SOURCE B

This drawing shows God watching and stopping the plot. Guy Fawkes is caught as part of God's will. Remember that such arguments were very strong at this time.

SOURCE C

This letter to Lord Monteagle was used as evidence against the plotters. Moneagle was a Catholic. Tresham, one of the plotters was his cousin. The letter says that he needs to get away from London before the plot takes place. Some say this was a forgery and was sent by Lord Salisbury to make sure the plot was known. You can copy and paste it to make it bigger t actually read if you want.

THE GUNPOWDER PLOT: A GOVERNMENT TRAP TO MAKE CATHOLICS LOOK BAD.

Some people believe that if you actually look at the evidence there are so many problems and things that just don't add up the idea that it was a real plot is just nonsense.

SOURCE A

Gunpowder was 8s 2d (41 pence) a lb (a pound in weight is is about .5 kg). They used 36 barrels costing £200. You had to have license to buy it and the government would have known something was going on. By today's prices it would be £13,000. Was the plot allowed to go on by the King's spies?

SOURCE B

The plotters rented the house they originally wanted to use from Lord Salisbury- one of the Kings agents!

SOURCE C

The confession signature of Guido Fawkes. It is shown below his normal one. The King had insisted on torture to gain a confession. How reliable is it?

To let you get some idea of the plot and how the plotters operated look at the points below.

* The plotters were all known to the authorities. Winter and Percy were actually paid by the government as double-agents!

* They had visited Spain to get the Spanish King to help them. He had refused and was not quiet about their plans.

* They were incredibly badly organised. For example:-

a) They tried the first tunnel under the Thames and wondered why it kept filling with water.

b) They didn't notice anything suspicious when the date of opening parliament was changed to the 4th November 'The King's Day'. It was normally the end of October.

c) They could have escaped while Fawkes was being questioned but they all went to hide in the house of Robert Catesby!

d) They tried to dry their gunpowder over the open fire!

It's up to you. Was the plot a serious threat or was it exaggerated to show the King how dangerous Catholics were and force him to bring in new laws against them?