|
Guy Fawkes & the
Gunpowder Plot
Words of "Remember
Remember" refer to Guy
Fawkes with origins in 17th
century English history. On
the 5th November 1605 Guy
Fawkes was caught in the
cellars of the Houses of
Parliament with several
dozen barrels of gunpowder.
Guy Fawkes was subsequently
tried as a traitor with his
co-conspirators for plotting
against the government. He
was tried by Judge Popham
who came to London
specifically for the trial
from his country manor
Littlecote House in
Hungerford, Gloucestershire.
Fawkes was sentenced to
death and the form of the
execution was one of the
most horrendous ever
practised (hung, drawn and
quartered) which reflected
the serious nature of the
crime of treason.
The Tradition begins...
The following year in
1606 it became an annual
custom for the King and
Parliament to commission a
sermon to commemorate the
event. Lancelot Andrews
delivered the first of many
Gunpowder Plot Sermons. This
practice, together with the
nursery rhyme and quote, ensured that
this crime would never be
forgotten! Hence the words
to the quote
"Remember, remember the 5th
of November"
The quote and poem is sometimes
referred to as 'Please to
remember the fifth of
November'. It serves as a
warning to each new
generation that treason will
never be forgotten. In
England the 5th of November
is still commemorated each
year with fireworks and
bonfires culminating with
the burning of effigies of
Guy Fawkes (the guy) and
people chanting the quote of
"Remember remember the 5th
of November". The
'guys' are made by children
by filling old clothes with
crumpled newspapers to look
like a man. Tradition allows
British children to display
their 'guys' to passers-by
and asking for " A penny for
the guy". |
