| | The '''Gunpowder Plot''' of 1605 was the plan by a group of militant Roman Catholics to murder the Protestant King James I of England (James VI of Scotland) and the political leaders of England by blowing up the [[Palace of Westminster]] in [[London ]]- which housed the English parliament - while James was attending the State Opening of Parliament. The plotters, led by Robert Catesby, had rented a house next door to the Palace of Westminster, and, through its cellar, broke into the cellars of the Palace. They were able to place large quantities of [[gunpowder]] in barrels in the cellars, supervised by one [[Guy Fawkes]], from [[York]], who had served as an artillery officer with the (Catholic) Spanish armies in the [[Netherlands]]. However, one of the plotters tipped off a relation who was due to attend the Opening of Parliament and a search of the Palace and its cellars was ordered. Fawkes was caught red-handed; most of the plotters fled but were either captured or killed in a fight with pursuing forces loyal to the crown. Fawkes and other captured plotters were hanged, drawn and quartered. | | The '''Gunpowder Plot''' of 1605 was the plan by a group of militant Roman Catholics to murder the Protestant King James I of England (James VI of Scotland) and the political leaders of England by blowing up the [[Palace of Westminster]] in [[London ]]- which housed the English parliament - while James was attending the State Opening of Parliament. The plotters, led by Robert Catesby, had rented a house next door to the Palace of Westminster, and, through its cellar, broke into the cellars of the Palace. They were able to place large quantities of [[gunpowder]] in barrels in the cellars, supervised by one [[Guy Fawkes]], from [[York]], who had served as an artillery officer with the (Catholic) Spanish armies in the [[Netherlands]]. However, one of the plotters tipped off a relation who was due to attend the Opening of Parliament and a search of the Palace and its cellars was ordered. Fawkes was caught red-handed; most of the plotters fled but were either captured or killed in a fight with pursuing forces loyal to the crown. Fawkes and other captured plotters were hanged, drawn and quartered. |