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PLOTTING AGAINST THE QUEEN

29

GUNPOWDER PLOT

When Elizabeth died in 1603, she

was succeeded by the Protestant

king of Scotland, James VI, who

became James I of England.

A group of English Catholics,

led by Robert Catesby and

Guy Fawkes, planned to

overthrow the new monarchy

on November 5, 1605. Their aim

was to blow up the House of

Lords during the state opening

of parliament, with James in

attendance. The security of the

plotters was poor, however, and

an anonymous letter alerted

the authorities to the plan. In a

search of the House of Lords

on the evening of November 4,

Fawkes was discovered guarding

thirty-six barrels of gunpowder.

He was arrested, as were most of

the other conspirators during the

succeeding days. At their trial for

treason, they were found guilty

and sentenced to be hanged,

drawn, and quartered. To this

day, the foiling of the plot

is celebrated each year on

November 5 in the United

Kingdom with

a bonfire on

which they

burn an

effigy called

“the Guy.”

Right: In recent years,

“Guy Fawkes” masks

have been adopted by

members of the protest

group

Anonymous

.

DELAYING THE SPANISH ATTACK

The conclusion of the Babington plot did not remove the danger to

Elizabeth’s position, as the Spanish king, Philip II, had decided to invade

England. Walsingham dispatched Anthony Standen—alias Pompeo

Pellegrino—to Madrid, where he enlisted the help of the Florentine

ambassador at Philip’s court. Another source of intelligence was

Sir Stephen Powle, who operated throughout Europe gathering

information on Spanish intentions. By 1587, their intelligence provided

Walsingham with detailed knowledge of the great fleet, or Armada,

being prepared for the invasion of England.

Using his influence on the Continent, Walsingham was secretly

able to delay the bank loans needed by Philip to finance the invasion.

When the Armada finally sailed from Spain in 1588, the English were

better prepared to withstand the assault, which famously ended in

total disaster for Spain.