'''Guy Fawkes''' was born on April 13, 1570 in Stonegate, York. He was an English soldier who had fought as a mercenary for the Spanish and part of the [[Roman Catholic]] [[terrorist]] group who tried to carry out the [[Gunpowder Plot]] on November 5, 1605. The plot was to assassinate King James I of [[England]] and the whole of [[Protestantism|protestant]] [[Parliament]] by blowing up the Palace of Westminster during the opening session of Parliament. This would have created a power vacuum, supposedly allowing the Catholic Church to seize power. A more likely reason for the plot is that it was an effort by Catholics to try and fight back against the strong anti-Catholic movement in the British government in the period of time around the Protestant Revolution. Fawkes was caught before he could put this plan into action. He was interrogated through [[torture]]. Torture was normally forbidden but James I permitted it with the words: "if he will not other wayes confesse, the gentler tortours are to be first usid unto him ''et sic per gradus ad ima tenditur'' [and so on step by step to the most severe] and so god spede youre goode worke."<ref>http://www.francesfarmersrevenge.com/stuff/archive/torture/london.htm</ref> Fawkes was ultimately put to death along with his co-conspirators for treason and attempted murder. He died on January 31, 1606, by being hung, drawn and quartered. | '''Guy Fawkes''' was born on April 13, 1570 in Stonegate, York. He was an English soldier who had fought as a mercenary for the Spanish and part of the [[Roman Catholic]] [[terrorist]] group who tried to carry out the [[Gunpowder Plot]] on November 5, 1605. The plot was to assassinate King James I of [[England]] and the whole of [[Protestantism|protestant]] [[Parliament]] by blowing up the Palace of Westminster during the opening session of Parliament. This would have created a power vacuum, supposedly allowing the Catholic Church to seize power. A more likely reason for the plot is that it was an effort by Catholics to try and fight back against the strong anti-Catholic movement in the British government in the period of time around the Protestant Revolution. Fawkes was caught before he could put this plan into action. He was interrogated through [[torture]]. Torture was normally forbidden but James I permitted it with the words: "if he will not other wayes confesse, the gentler tortours are to be first usid unto him ''et sic per gradus ad ima tenditur'' [and so on step by step to the most severe] and so god spede youre goode worke."<ref>http://www.francesfarmersrevenge.com/stuff/archive/torture/london.htm</ref> Fawkes was ultimately put to death along with his co-conspirators for treason and attempted murder. He died on January 31, 1606, by being hung, drawn and quartered. |