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Who Were the Plotters? Perilous Plots There were many men involved in the , all with different roles. The Gunpowder Plot In 1603, was a Protestant country was a devout Catholic when King James I became king. Many and the leader of the Catholics hoped the new king would adopt group of plotters. He recruited the other Catholicism in England but James I quickly joined the plotters late, men. Some of these rejected this. Some Catholics wished to in October 1605. He was Robert Catesby’s were his friends. bring down the throne and a number of cousin and he was asked to provide people plotted to kill the king by blowing money for the plot. Historians believe he up the Houses of Parliament. They may have been the writer of a famous is probably the best known believed this would return England to the letter that warned government officials of of the plotters as he was found in the Catholic faith. the plot, though he always denied it. basement of the Houses

of Parliament before the Sir planned plot, guarding was a close friend of the gunpowder. He was Robert Catesby’s and captured and taken to became part of the the , plot when he rented where he confessed all. , a

manor house in Other plotters included . Here, Thomas Wintour, John he gathered supplies Wright and Thomas Percy, though there and people in were several more. support of the plot.

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Historical Sources Local Places Viewpoints Anything from the past can be a historical source that helps us to learn about it. Plotters Sources can include buildings, first person Most of the plotters were either killed accounts, written documents, photos and straight away or soon after the plot had drawings, artefacts and in fact any object failed. Therefore, there is very little of that provides information to help build a their point of view used to understand picture of the past. Letters, statements what happened. and government documents have been the main historical sources of the Government gunpowder plot. John Sparry is a local Almost all of the accounts and documents historian who has studied these in detail of that time were from the government so and he has even made use of the Many of the plotters took shelter at the descriptions are very one-sided. contemporary engraving of the plotters Holbeche House when the plot failed. below to understand the event. They were caught here, where they were Historians agree that the true story is still either captured or killed. really unknown.

Glossary Coughton Court Gunpowder: an explosive powder that Sir Everard Digby rented Coughton Court. was used in guns. Weapons and horses were stored here ready for the uprising. People waited here Catholic: belonging to the Catholic for the plot to take place then realised church.

that it had failed. Protestant: Christian but not Catholic.

Houses of Parliament: building in London where the government works.

Plotters: the people involved in plotting to kill the king.