Most people, at least those born or raised in Britain, will be aware of the basics of November 5th – Guy Fawkes attempted to blow up Parliament, and this is commemorated every year with bonfires and fireworks.
However, if asked, there’s probably very few that know the name Robert Catesby. Catesby was the leader of the group of Catholic conspirators who plotted to kill the King and top officials during the opening of Parliament. This was a response to the way Catholics were treated in England at the time, during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. With James I rose to the throne, despite his being Protestant, many English Catholics thought they would be granted freedom to practice their religion in peace, that an end would be put to the heavy persecution of Catholics.
When the freedom didn’t come, Robert Catesby started plotting. The plan was to smuggle barrels filled with gunpowder into a cellar underneath the House of Lords. A house nearby was rented out, taken advantage of by the group. Everything was set, but an anonymous letter was sent to William Parker warning him to avoid the House of Lords, a letter which would be the end of the whole plan. Worried by the letter, it was made public, and a search of Westminster Palace carried out in the early hours of November 5th. Guy Fawkes, the explosive expert the group had left behind to light the fuse, was caught in the cellar and promptly arrested. After being tortured in the Tower of London following his arrest, Guy Fawkes eventually gave up the names of the rest of the group, including Robert Catesby.
History @ Aber 