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Article: THE FALL GUY; Had the Gunpowder Plot succeeded, the entire course of British history would have been forever altered. 400 years on, we celebrate the death of conspirator Guy Fawkes. But did the authorities manipulate the assassination attempt to generate anti-Catholic feeling?
- Article from:
- Daily Mail (London)
- Article date:
- November 1, 2003
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2003 Solo Syndication Limited. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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Byline: ALLAN MASSIE
SATURDAY ESSAY
BARRELS were stacked up to the ceiling of the stone cellar and the group of men eyed them anxiously, knowing that each one contained gunpowder - an amazing 10,000lb of high explosive.
If things went as planned, they would trigger the greatest explosion ever seen - and kill a king.
In the late evening of November 4, 1605, the group had assembled in the cellar directly beneath the House of Lords. They were young, idealistic, tough and (as they saw it) true lovers of their country.
They were also devoted to the Roman Catholic faith, whose adherents had been persecuted with increasing severity ...