Tales of The Plot Trivia Quiz

Answer: He had embraced Protestantism rather than Catholicism.

When James I became king of England after the death of Elizabeth I, there were some who believed that he would return England to the Catholic Church. Wasn't his mother, Mary, Queen of Scots, Catholic? And didn't the Protestant Elizabeth have her killed? James, however, had been brought up as a Scottish Presbyterian, and apparently approved of the situation in England that provided for the monarch to be the Supreme Governor of the Church of England. Before he became king, James had claimed that he would not "persecute any that will be quiet and give an outward obedience to the law", and appeared to have preferred exile of dissidents rather than execution.

The Gunpowder Plot was an attempt by Catholics in England to replace James I with his daughter, Elizabeth, who they believed could be manipulated to become a Catholic monarch.

Answer: Blow up the House of Lords

The conspirators planned to blow up the House of Lords on November 5, 1605. They hoped to not only assassinate the king, but to also kill several members of his family, as well as members of his Privy Council and Parliament. Many other important people, such as judges from the court systems, bishops of the Church of England, and members from the House of Commons would also attend the meeting.

There would be much disarray after the explosion and deaths of so many high-ranking politicians and churchmen, that they believed it would be simple to install Princess Elizabeth, one of the king's daughters, as Queen.

Answer: State Opening of Parliament

The State Opening of Parliament is an important annual event in England. The ceremony is said to be very historic and ostentatious, dating back to the late fourteenth century. It was a time when the monarch, along with members of his household, would go to Westminster Abbey for a church service; then they would be joined by the members of Parliament in a walk to the Palace of Westminster.

Although changes have been made to the ceremony over time, historians say that the modern State Opening of Parliament still contains some of the same elements of the first ones. James I was known to make a rather long speech from his throne called a King's Speech; interestingly, the modern ceremony also includes a walk through the cellars of the Palace of Westminster in hopes of foiling another Gunpowder Plot.

Answer: Bye Plot

Known by a variety of names, such as Watson's Plot or the Catholic Plot, the Bye Plot was devised by Puritans and Catholics in 1603, just weeks after James VI of Scotland left to travel south to become King of England. While both groups wanted a more religiously tolerant policy in place, Catholics were also upset over having to pay fines for not attending services at the Church of England.

The assassination was to take place in June on St John Baptist's Day, although the plan was revealed to the government before it could be enacted.

In the end, James I issued a decree that all Catholic clergy had to leave England; some of the conspirators were put to death, while others were pardoned. It was called the Bye Plot because it was a plan that was considered to be not as important as a larger plot that was called the Main Plot.

Answer: An anonymous letter sent to a member of Parliament led to the discovery of the plot.

Apparently the wives of the conspirators, who had no concrete knowledge of the plan, were becoming more and more concerned about their husband's activities, and the conspirators themselves were concerned for the safety of their friends who would be in attendance at the events and perhaps be injured or killed in the explosion. One of the conspirators, Francis Tresham, had a brother-in-law, Lord Monteagle, whose safety caused concern.

He received an anonymous letter, whose author is debated to this day, which stated, "And think not slightly of this advertisement, but retire yourself into your country where you may expect the event in safety. For though there be no appearance of any stir, yet I say they shall receive a terrible blow this Parliament; and yet they shall not see who hurts them". Rather than heeding the letter's advice, Lord Monteagle revealed its contents.

The letter made its way to the king, who believed that it hinted at some type of explosion, and an investigation was quickly made.

Answer: False

One of the aspects of the Gunpowder Plot that is perplexing is how the conspirators managed to move so much gunpowder without being caught. Altogether, thirty-six barrels were found under bundles of sticks and coal. A large pile of firewood was also found, along with touchwood and slow matches.

Modern historians believe that this cache of materials would have caused considerable damage if the plot had not been discovered; according to an article in "New Scientist" the explosion would have "devastated London".

The article estimated that "within a radius of about 40 metres, everything would have been razed to the ground. Within 110 metres, buildings would have been at least partially destroyed. And some windows would have been blown out even as far as 900 metres away".

Answer: The plot was widespread and even involved one of the king's servant.

Elizabeth I was probably somewhere kicking herself as she had the opportunity in 1601 to do away with Robert Catesby, the leader, and some of the other conspirators. They had participated in the Earl of Essex's rebellion, which attempted to overthrow Her government; Catesby was wounded and captured, but released after paying a hefty fine for his part in the rebellion.

Not only had Catesby planned to kill James I, but he also hoped that the explosion would spark a revolt in the Midlands and lead to the kidnapping of Princess Elizabeth.

When the plot was discovered by the government, many of the conspirators fled London. Some were killed in the battle that followed; eight eventually were tried for treason, sentenced to hang, and were drawn and quartered.

Answer: False

Robert Catesby, the leader of the plot, had apparently tried to enlist the support of King Philip III of Spain for his plan in 1603. In fact, Catesby had said that he would have an army of 3,000 ready to fight with Spain upon their invasion of England.

While Philip was said to be sympathetic, he really didn't want anything to do with the group. Another conspirator, Thomas Wintour, had been appointed emissary to Spain, and, again, was unsuccessful in gaining Spain's assistance with the plot. Apparently it wasn't kept as a secret, as even the pope, Pope Clement VIII, advised against the use of violence in order to bring about the planned change in English politics and religion.

Answer: Guy Fawkes

Guy Fawkes had been recruited by the group for a number of reasons. Most of all, he was the right religion and had gained experience with explosives during his service time in the Netherlands. He had fought in the Eighty Years' War on the side of Spain against the Dutch, and had been recommended for a promotion to captain.

In fact, he had even traveled to Spain in 1603 in an attempt to elicit the Spanish king's help with the situation in England. Fawkes was the conspirator who was to set off the explosion; on November 4 he was found by the King's investigators near the large pile of wood in the undercroft of the building.

He told them that he was a servant, and was allowed to leave. Later that day, when the investigators returned, they found Fawkes near the gunpowder and a "search of his person revealed a pocket watch, several slow matches and touchwood".

He was arrested and taken to the King on November 5. To his credit, Fawkes was tortured for two days before he confessed and named his fellow conspirators.

Answer: Bonfire Night

Parliament passed the Observance of 5th November Act 1605, also known as the Thanksgiving Act, in January 1606. Also called Guy Fawkes Night, the celebration of the failure of the plot included religious services, the ringing of church bells, and, of course, a bonfire with fireworks. To this day, effigies of Guy Fawkes are made to burn at the fire.

The discovery of the Gunpowder Plot initially brought more restrictions upon Roman Catholics in England; in 1859, however, the Observance of 5th November Act 1605 law was repealed by the Anniversary Days Observance Act, and there was more leniency and toleration toward Catholics.

The 1859 act was repealed in 1875.