http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/b/ba/Fawkes_portrait.jpg/180px-Fawkes_portrait.jpg

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guy_Fawkes

Guy Fawkes (April 13, 1570–January 31, 1606) was an English soldier and a member of a group of Roman Catholic conspirators who attempted to carry out the so-called Gunpowder Plot in 1605. The plot was an attempt to assassinate King James I of England (James VI of Scotland) and the members of both houses of the Parliament of England. To do this, the House of Lords was to be blown up during the formal opening session of the 1605 Parliament -- in which the members of both the House of Lords and the House of Commons were jointly assembled. Guy Fawkes was in large part responsible for the later stages of the plan's execution. His activities were detected, however, before the plan's completion. Following a severe interrogation involving the use of torture, Fawkes and his co-conspirators were executed for treason and attempted murder. Guy Fawkes is remembered with Guy Fawkes Night on November 5. It was said that Fawkes was "the only man to ever enter parliament with good intentions".

Hmm blowing politicians away... good intentions... one might agree. But not all politicians are evil... mostly.

I just love that fact that we now have a "holiday" that celebrates the fact people tried to blow up our houses of parliment :)

hugs

lilnymph

IIRC, one of my very distant relatives was hung for involvement in the Gunpowder Plot, in the form of providing refuge to some of the central figures. Our history of being "difficult" goes back almost 1000 years.

I just love that fact that we now have a "holiday" that celebrates the fact people tried to blow up our houses of parliment :)

hugs

lilnymph
I thought it was to celibrate his capture and execution. I guess in England even the lowest rouge is celibrated. Remember that Robin Hood was actually a Nobleman-bandit who killed the local Sheriff and lived by plunder until he was caught and hanged (an ending not given in the Errol Flynn version).

And lets not forget Dick Turpin.

I wonder what Dogberry has to say about this.:hmm:

Further proof the Brits are way cooler than the Americans.

Further proof the Brits are way cooler than the Americans.

At the time, any americans would be brits....

Remember that Robin Hood was actually a Nobleman-bandit who killed the local Sheriff and lived by plunder until he was caught and hanged (an ending not given in the Errol Flynn version).




You're joking....right?
There is NO proof that he actually ever existed. Maybe, maybe not.:confused: :confused:

From what I understand (which is admittedly far from comprehensive), his acts were religiously motivated. Not much different than a muslim terrorist, no?

Very different.Catholics were presecuted at the time.
It is not an offence punishable by death to be a Muslim.They are not forced to make the choice between recanting their faith and being executed.

There is a huge difference between Guy Fawkes and extremist Muslim lunatics.

They choose to live here,while hating everything about us and our society.England has always been a Christian country. Even the 'home grown' Muslim terrorists responsible for July 7th last year can only trace their roots here back a few generations at most.They are relative newcomers who want to change us to an Islamic state,unlike the people involved in the Gunpowder Plot who suffered religious persecution when a change of monarch meant a change of the acceptable version of Christianity.

Fawkes didnt hate our society and way of life and everything it stood for. Had England been Catholic at the time he'd have been quite happy...IMHO.

I stand corrected. Like I said, I don't claim to know the whole story, and didn't know about the persecution of catholics. After about 5 minutes of research, I do now. :p

Very different.Catholics were presecuted at the time.
It is not an offence punishable by death to be a Muslim.They are not forced to make the choice between recanting their faith and being executed.

There is a huge difference between Guy Fawkes and extremist Muslim lunatics.

They choose to live here,while hating everything about us and our society.England has always been a Christian country. Even the 'home grown' Muslim terrorists responsible for July 7th last year can only trace their roots here back a few generations at most.They are relative newcomers who want to change us to an Islamic state,unlike the people involved in the Gunpowder Plot who suffered religious persecution when a change of monarch meant a change of the acceptable version of Christianity.

Fawkes didnt hate our society and way of life and everything it stood for. Had England been Catholic at the time he'd have been quite happy...IMHO.
Good point. But I do wonder, if the Catholics did take charge again would they be as tolerant to the Protestants? It seems that Catholic rulers tended to be elitists while most Protestant monarchs such as William III were enlightened and supported more enlightened policies. This is a generalization of course. BUt I do know that James II was not a likable person.

JAMES II (r. 1685-88)

Born in 1633 and named after his grandfather James I, James II grew up in exile after the Civil War (he served in the armies of Louis XIV) and, after his brother's restoration, commanded the Royal Navy from 1660 to 1673.

James converted to Catholicism in 1669. Despite his conversion, James II succeeded to the throne peacefully at the age of 51.

His position was a strong one - there were standing armies of nearly 20,000 men in his kingdoms and he had a revenue of around £2 million.

Within days of his succession, James announced the summoning of Parliament in May but he sounded a warning note: 'the best way to engage me to meet you often is always to use me well'.

A rebellion led by Charles's illegitimate son, the Duke of Monmouth, was easily crushed after the battle of Sedgemoor in 1685, and savage punishments were imposed by the infamous Lord Chief Justice, Judge Jeffreys, at the 'Bloody Assizes'.

James's reaction to the Monmouth rebellion was to plan the increase of the standing army and the appointment of loyal and experienced Roman Catholic officers.

This, together with James's attempts to give civic equality to Roman Catholic and Protestant dissenters, led to conflict with Parliament, as it was seen as James showing favouritism towards Roman Catholics.

Fear of Catholicism was widespread (in 1685, Louis XIV revoked the Edict of Nantes which gave protection to French Protestants), and the possibility of a standing army led by Roman Catholic officers produced protest in Parliament. As a result, James prorogued Parliament in 1685 and ruled without it.

James attempted to promote the Roman Catholic cause by dismissing judges and Lord Lieutenants who refused to support the withdrawal of laws penalising religious dissidents, appointing Catholics to important academic posts, and to senior military and political positions. Within three years, the majority of James's subjects had been alienated.

In 1687 James issued the Declaration of Indulgence aiming at religious toleration; seven bishops who asked James to reconsider were charged with seditious libel, but later acquitted to popular Anglican acclaim.

When his second (Roman Catholic) wife, Mary of Modena, gave birth on 10 June 1688 to a son (James Stuart, later known as the 'Old Pretender' and father of Charles Edward Stuart, 'Bonnie Prince Charlie'), it seemed that a Roman Catholic dynasty would be established.

William of Orange, Protestant husband of James's elder daughter, Mary (by James's first and Protestant wife, Anne Hyde), was therefore welcomed when he invaded on 5 November 1688.

The Army and the Navy (disaffected despite James's investment in them) deserted to William, and James fled to France.

James's attempt to regain the throne by taking a French army to Ireland failed - he was defeated at the Battle of the Boyne in 1690.

James spent the rest of his life in exile in France, dying there in 1701.

Genes are passed down and also the preachings of those before them, so this fellow was in a no-win situation!

What information do you pass down to your children? unless you are blinded by love? Why is it that women seem, allways to be at the root cause of trouble?

Is it that women posess the power to change a mans mind through his gonads?

This answer is as silly as you want it to be!

I miss Guy Fawkes Day. *sigh* It's almost as cool as Hallowe'en! :D

It's better than Hallowe'en.:nice: :nice: :nice: :nice: :nice:

Ummm...:D :D :D :D