Remember, Remember the 5th of November!

Remember remember the fifth of November
Gunpowder, treason and plot.
I see no reason why gunpowder, treason
Should ever be forgot!

The girls thoroughly enjoyed a night out in the Bught at Bonfire Night with a truly magnificent fire work display! I had no tripod and had to resort to resting the camera on the buggy to try and get some decent shots despite the long exposures.

On the 5th November 1605 Guy Fawkes (B 13 April 1570 - D 31 January 1606), a member of the Gunpowder Plot, was arrested in the cellars of the Houses of Parliament whilst guarding numerous barrels of gunpowder. They had planned to assassinate the Protestant King James I of England (James VI of Scotland) and restore a Catholic monarch to the throne. The King allowed the people to celebrate his survival by lighting bonfires.

Guy Fawkes and his co-conspirators were tried as traitors for plotting against the King and Government. He was sentenced to death by the most horrendous form of execution practised to show the gravity of his crimes ~ he was hung, drawn and quartered.

In January 1606, a few days before Guy and his friends were executed, Parliament passed the Observance of 5th November Act 1605, known as the "Thanksgiving Act", in recognition of the king's apparent deliverance by divine intervention.

Nowadays it is just Bonfire Night to our kids, though the schools still teach about Guy Fawkes. Charis loves the story and will yet again for months now insist that I tell it over and over again! (I do worry about that child!)

As a side note Guy Fawkes was baptised in the church of St. Michael le Belfrey in York on 16 April 1570. I've been there with my folks and Mum and I attended a service there ~ it is in the shadow of York Minster. I have to say that the presence of God was stronger in St Michael le Belfrey than when we were in the Minster but perhaps the size intimidated us.