Remember, Remember ... Trivia Quiz

Answer: James I

James I of England, James VI of Scotland (usually written as James I/VI) was the son of Mary Queen of Scots and Lord Darnley. James acceded to the throne of England on the death of Elizabeth in 1603 as a result of the Treaty of Berwick. The document was signed by James and Elizabeth in 1586 as a treaty of mutual protection against invasion.

Answer: Princess Elizabeth

As well as blowing up Parliament the plotters intended to kidnap James' daughter, Princess Elizabeth, from Coombe Abbey, Warwickshire, and install her as a puppet queen, Elizabeth II. She had been born in Scotland (and named in honour of Queen Elizabeth in an attempt to flatter the queen) in 1596 before her father became King of England and Scotland.

Her mother was Anne of Denmark. Charles, who later became Charles I was her younger brother and Frederick of Denmark was their cousin.

Answer: False

One of the main reasons cited for the plot was King James' intolerance to those English Catholics who refused to acknowledge his precedence over the Pope as head of the Church in England. Early in his reign he had rescinded a tax on those Catholics who adhered to that policy. He reintroduced it a few years later due to pressure from Parliament.

Answer: 1604

Originally planned for 1604, the plot was postponed until the following year because Parliament was suspended due to the plague. The State Opening of Parliament had been rescheduled for early in 1605, but was once again delayed until later in the year. This gave the conspirators the opportunity to place the kegs of powder underneath the House of Lords.

Answer: Robert Catesby

Catesby was a devout Roman Catholic born in 1573. Four years before the plot he was involved in a scheme, along with the Earl of Essex, to remove Elizabeth I from the throne. Because he only had a minor part in this earlier plot he was not executed. Once everything was in place for this second plot he and several others fled to the Midlands, only to be found three days later.

He died during a 'shoot out' when the house he was staying at was stormed by constables.

Answer: Flanders

Guy Fawkes was born in York on April 13th 1570. At the age of 21 he inherited his father's estate and rented it out. Not too long afterwards he sold it and opted for a military life. He joined an army raised by Sir William Stanley to fight against Protestantism in Europe.

It was during this period that he gained considerable expertise in explosives. It was this knowledge that led him to be recruited into the conspiracy to blow up Parliament. He was in Flanders fighting against the Dutch rebellion over Spanish rule.

Answer: Westminster Hall

Westminster Hall had been the main location for major trials for several hundred years. Although the Old Bailey existed at the time of the plot it was used mainly for criminal cases within London's city walls and not for crimes such as treason.
The three highest courts in England were moved to the Royal Courts of Justice in 1882. At the time of the plot trials tended to last for just a single day and the one involving the plotters was no different.

Answer: 0

Only Fawkes was found in the cellar with the gunpowder. He was quite prepared to blow himself up if necessary. The search had been prompted by a letter sent to Lord Monteagle warning him not to attend the opening of Parliament. Monteagle showed the letter to the Earl of Salisbury who decided to wait until the last minute before acting.

The cellars were searched twice, the second one finding Fawkes and 36 barrels of powder. To this day a search is still made on the evening before Parliament is opened by the monarch.

Answer: John Johnson

Fawkes assumed the name when he was installed as caretaker in a rented house used by the conspirators. When arrested he stuck to the name and only revealed his true identity and the names of his fellow plotters after being tortured for several days. Wintour, Tresham and Percy were all fellow members of the plot.

Answer: Becoming doctors

Following the trial and gruesome execution of the plotters, stringent anti- Catholic laws were passed. At least one of those laws, the ban on voting in both local and national elections, remained in force until 1829.
Eight of the plotters stood trial. Robert Catesby was already dead and Francis Tresham died from an illness whilst being held in the Tower of London. All were sentenced to death by being hanged, drawn and quartered. This involved hanging until almost dead then having their genitals cut off and burned in front of them. Still alive their hearts and bowels were then removed. Finally they were decapitated and dismembered and the remains left for the birds.
Only Fawkes cheated the executioner. He jumped from the scaffold wearing the noose and broke his neck, killing himself before the mutilation could take place. His corpse still suffered the same fate as the others.