The Gunpowder Plot: A Near Miss for the King James Bible
"Remember, remember the fifth of November. Gunpowder, Treason and Plot. I see no reason why Gunpowder Treason Should ever be forgot."
This verse commemorates the infamous Gunpowder Plot of 1605, a failed attempt by Guy Fawkes and his co-conspirators to overthrow King James due to his anti-Roman Catholic laws. Their plan? To blow up the King and the House of Lords.
The Discovery of the Plot
In the early hours of November 5th, 1605, magistrates discovered Guy Fawkes guarding 36 barrels of gunpowder beneath parliament. Under duress, Fawkes eventually revealed his co-conspirators, leading to their capture and execution.
The Impact on the King James Bible
In 1604, King James had authorized the translation of the Bible into English. Had the Gunpowder Plot succeeded, the now-renowned King James Version may never have come to fruition.
The Legacy of Guy Fawkes
Over 400 years later, Guy Fawkes remains a figure of intrigue. His name has evolved into the colloquial term "guy", and he is arguably the most famous 'fall guy', having been found alone when the plot was uncovered.
Guy Fawkes in Popular Culture
The film "V for Vendetta" pays homage to Guy Fawkes, using the 5th of November as a central theme in its narrative of liberation from an oppressive government.
What are your thoughts on this historical event? Share your comments below, and don't forget to share this post with others who might find it interesting!
well there you go......I just learned something new!
ReplyDeletePenelope
Penelope,
ReplyDeleteI really only recently put two and two together on this. I knew the KJV was authorized in 1611 and Guy Fawkes was after King James. i did a little research, and found out Guy could have sabotaged the KJV!
God Bless!
It's funny though that Guy Fawkes is now celebrated as a "smaller government" hero, when he was nothing of the sort. He would have the protestant theocracy replaced by that of a Roman Catholic one.
ReplyDeleteBut hey, the movie was awesome. I love the 1812 overture and I love explosions. Put the two together, and I'm sold.
Aaron, i used to think of him as a "smaller gov hero" only because of the hype of the movie. This serves to illustrate how media shapes our presuppositions.
ReplyDeleteTHE MOVIE IS AWESOME!