Getting Caught

Before the 5th November someone found out about the plot. A member of the government who would have been in the House of Lords on the 5th November received a letter warning him not to go to the opening of Parliament.

It is not totally known who sent this letter as it was anonymous. Some historians believe it came from the brother in law of one of the plotters.

This letter was shared with others and the King was warned about the threat. The plotters weren’t arrested straight away and wouldn’t have know their plan had been ruined. 

The plotters would have thought everything was going to plan. But instead on the 4th November the cellar underneath the House of Lords was searched.

Guy Fawkes was found in the cellar next to the 36 barrels of gunpowder. He was arrested and taken to the Tower of London.

Guy Fawkes was forced to tell all about the plot and the other plotters and confess to trying to kill the King, a very serious crime called treason. The other plotters were tracked down, some more easily than others. All the plotters either died trying to fight being arrested or were killed as punishment for their crime.

On the 5th November 1605 bonfires were lit to celebrate the Kings survival. Lighting bonfires dated back to ancient times when it was used as a way of sharing news over long distances. If you saw a bonfire being lit you would find out the reason why and then light your own bonfire to spread the news further.