Autumn celebrations start with a scare and end with a bang. The crazy world of all hallows eve runs effortlessly into Bonfire Night as Britain ‘remembers remembers’ the thwarted plot to blow Westminster on the opening of Parliament on 5th November 1604. Smoky nights; smoking gunpowder; smoky s’mores; Smoking Bishops – intrigued?
The Gunpowder Plot was a failed attempt to assassinate King James I of England during the Opening of Parliament in November 1605.
Robert Catesby led the group of conspirators in a devilish plan to kill the Protestant King James and establish Catholic rule in England. Catesby intended to kidnap James’s nine-year-old daughter, Princess Elizabeth, and install her as a ‘Puppet Queen‘.
Why was she referred to as ‘The Puppet Queen’? See below.
Guy Fawkes was recruited to the team as their ‘powder man’, an explosives expert with the same political ambitions.
It was a cunning plan (worthy of Baldrick in Blackadder – see what Blackadder said to such plans below).
But, it was undone.
On a tip off, the dungeons below Parliament were searched and Guy Fawkes was discovered with fuses, matches and 36 barrels of gunpowder – smoking like marshmallows on an open fire.
Thwarted, celebrated and remembered.
An Act of Parliament, passed in the months following the plot, ensured that the failure of the Gunpowder Plot would be marked every year. Churches attendance on 5 November was made compulsory under the terms of the act, and congregations had to give thanks for the failure of the conspirators.
Only one place in England does not celebrate.
St. Peters school in York is the only place in England that does not celebrate bonfire night as a show of respect for their former pupil, Guy Fawkes.
NEXT WEEK:
Find out why Guy Fawkes was not hung, drawn and quartered with the other conspirators.
What do you think of when you think of Bonfire Night?
Hot dogs, jacket potatoes, warming soup and stews perhaps – or swirling smoke, crackling fireworks and the underfoot crunch of Autumn leaves. Autumn is a season of distinctions – colour, smells and hearty warming family food.
Make your Hotdogs and Burgers the best they’ve ever been…
Transform the mere ordinary into something extraordinary. Take them down the BBQ route with naturally sweet & smoky flavours or with hot & spicy twists.
With taste buds so varied and palates so much more sophisticated, make sure you’ve a good collection of natural Stokes flavours to hand:
BBQ Sauces – for smoky depth and subtle heat.
Real Tomato Ketchup and its Bloody Mary, Chilli, Chipotle variations for thick tomato sauces and Catherine-wheel of natural flavours.
Habanero HOT Chilli Sauce – with its Hot, fermented Habanero chillies, balanced intense depth and subtle fruity finish.
TIP: Add our Chilli Jam to your favourite Pumpkin Soup recipe for extra warmth.
Remember, a pumpkin is not just for Halloween.
Yes, it scares the ghouls & ghosts but it tastes so good too. Make it spicy with Chilli Jam; HOT with Habanero HOT Sauce; sweet & smoky with BBQ Sauce – make it amazing.
Andy (a true Food Lover and our Resident Chef) has created this hearty stew of chicken, pumpkin, chorizo which is aromatic with fresh herbs.
Watch it unfold (above) or click HERE for the full recipe.
Remember
Remember, remember the Fifth of November,
The Gunpowder Treason and Plot,
I know of no reason
Why the Gunpowder Treason
Should ever be forgot.
The Puppet Queen
The puppet queen in the Gunpowder Plot was Princess Elizabeth, the nine-year-old daughter of King James I and Anne of Denmark.
The plotters intended to kidnap her from Coombe Abbey, near Coventry, and install her as a Catholic monarch.
Even at the tender age of 9 years old, the plotters chose Elizabeth because she was already used to attending formal functions and could fulfil a ceremonial role.
No mobile phones at the table for Elizabeth.
Modern Bonfire Night celebrations:
We still celebrate today with fireworks and bonfires, have evolved out of this tradition of remembering the failed plot of 5 November.
Some celebrations still include effigies or ‘guys’ being tossed onto the bonfire.
Still Searching.
As we know, The Gunpowder Plot was a failed attempt to assassinate King James I of England during the Opening of Parliament in November 1605.
Another tradition as a result of the failed Gunpowder Plot is the ceremonial search of the Houses of Parliament.
Before a State Opening of Parliament, the Yeomen of the Guard search the cellars of Westminster for explosives.
It was a cunning plan (worthy of Baldrick in Blackadder).
To which Blackadder would say:
“Baldrick, you wouldn’t recognise a cunning plan if it painted itself purple and danced naked on top of a harpsichord singing ‘Cunning plans are here again’…”
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