Irritable Bowel Syndrome Message Boards | You got it OK.....BUT....

did you get it all. Well, yeah, most of it (while I was fast asleep in bed - I wish I was in the same time zone as all of you, I always have to catch up in the morning!!).

Anyway, Yep BONFIRE NIGHT is traditionally a celebration of the capture and killing of Guy Fawkes, who threatened Parliament, the Monarchy and the glory of England as it was!!! Hence bonfires, fireworks and burning effigies of Guy Fawkes himself (yes, it is rather sick and twisted!). BUT.....

A bit more mindless info: WHO REALLY DUNNIT? IT WAS A SET-UP AND POOR GUY FAWKES WAS THE SCAPEGOAT....

Rumour has it that Guy Fawkes (who certainly did try to blow up the Houses of Parliament) genuinely thought he was doing it to help the Catholic cause in England. The saying goes that Guy Fawkes was the only man EVER to enter parliament with HONEST intentions!!!

Chinagirl was right - the leader of the GUNPOWDER PLOT was Robert Catesby. Guy F was fighting as a soldier for the Spanish army when the plot was dreamed up and was smuggled back into England to help because he was an explosives expert.

Guy Fawkes was caught at least 12 hours before Parliament were due to meet the king - but mysteriously the King's men had been 'tipped' off. The king was never in any danger...hmmmm.....

Rumour has it that the ultimate plotter was King James himself (shock horror!). When he first arrived in England he wasn't very popular - so he cooked up a plot to set up an attempt (failed, of course!) on his own life, and unite his people in support of him and against his enemies -(the Catholics)- perfect.

Guy Fawkes was never burned on a bonfire!! Burning was only used to punish crimes against the Church. As Guy was guilty of treason he was 'hung, drawn and quartered' (know what that is? Ew Ew Eeeewwww!) (after being tortured for several days already). Luckily Guy F was not sooooo stupid and jumped at the hanging stage so his neck broke and he never had to suffer the agony of being drawn and quartered. YUKKKKKKKKY

Oh, the rest of the plotters fled up north. Some bright spark decided to dry out some damp gunpowder in front of the fire - BANG! The few that were left after that BANG were also hung, drawn and quartered. Poor souls!

OK that's the end of my little history lesson, except.....

Remember, remember the 5th of November,
Gunpowder, treason and plot.
Was Guy Fawkes a devil,
the Stuarts all saints?
Are we glad that they stopped him....or not?!

Shells

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