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Ambroseguy80 · 56-60, M
ArishMell · 70-79, M
@Ambroseguy80 Or celebrating the failure.
It was in the 17C at a time of considerable sectarian strife in England: the conspirators were several aristocrats of Catholic faith or sympathies.
Had they succeeded the death-toll could have been huge, but they gave themselves away by warning a politician friend to avoid Parliament that day. Suspicious and worried though not knowing what was really intended, he tipped off the authorities and a search caught one of the gang - Guido Ffawkes - preparing the charges in a rented cellar.
Ffawkes was tortured until he confessed and named the others, then all were tried and executed by the horrifying process of hanging, drawing and quartering.
A strange thing to celebrate: an attempted terrorist bombing that would have killed very many people, but ended with the perpetrators being executed in a particularly horrible way.
It was in the 17C at a time of considerable sectarian strife in England: the conspirators were several aristocrats of Catholic faith or sympathies.
Had they succeeded the death-toll could have been huge, but they gave themselves away by warning a politician friend to avoid Parliament that day. Suspicious and worried though not knowing what was really intended, he tipped off the authorities and a search caught one of the gang - Guido Ffawkes - preparing the charges in a rented cellar.
Ffawkes was tortured until he confessed and named the others, then all were tried and executed by the horrifying process of hanging, drawing and quartering.
A strange thing to celebrate: an attempted terrorist bombing that would have killed very many people, but ended with the perpetrators being executed in a particularly horrible way.
Ambroseguy80 · 56-60, M
@ArishMell appreciate the history. Thank you. 😌
ArishMell · 70-79, M
@Ambroseguy80 A pleasure!
The mid-16 to early 17C was a dangerous time to be a Catholic here, thanks partly to the aftermath of the 16C Henry V111's break with Rome.
Until fairly recently the November 5th celebrations, often called "Bonfire Night", were marked not only by fireworks but also by bonfires commonly with an effigy of Ffawkes on top. Now though the fires have largely changed from private ones in back gardens to big communal events, and I think most without effigies.
I live in a seaside resort, and the Council put on a public Bonfire Night, with a huge fire on the broad beach, and a big firework display launched from a barge moored a short distance off-shore.
The mid-16 to early 17C was a dangerous time to be a Catholic here, thanks partly to the aftermath of the 16C Henry V111's break with Rome.
Until fairly recently the November 5th celebrations, often called "Bonfire Night", were marked not only by fireworks but also by bonfires commonly with an effigy of Ffawkes on top. Now though the fires have largely changed from private ones in back gardens to big communal events, and I think most without effigies.
I live in a seaside resort, and the Council put on a public Bonfire Night, with a huge fire on the broad beach, and a big firework display launched from a barge moored a short distance off-shore.