person to enter parliament with honest intentions": however November 5th celebrates not Guy Fawkes but his demise. On the 400th anniversary of the attempt to destroy monarchy and government, PIERS MOSTYN considers the contemporary relevance of '"the Gunpowder Plot". The plotters' aim was to blow up parliament. Over several months they assembled 36 barrels of gunpowder under TIne House Lords with the goal of causing a phenomenal explosion in which the king and the state's entire leadersnip would have died, Parliament obliterated and buildings within 100 yards collapsed.
Fawkes is said to have been willing to blow himself up in the process. If so, he was a "failed suicide bomber" in modern media parlance. But, although caught redhanded at the scene, he was only one of 13 people.
They were likely rumbled due to dissent among those drawn into their circle. All 13 were killed - one group going down fighting after accidentally blowing themselves up while holed up in a
house. The rest. including Fawkes, were convicted, and then hung, drawn and quartered - a revolting spectacle involving castration while the prisoner was still alive and the public display of bodyparts for birds to pick at.
The year 1605 was not simply the vear of the botched plot. It lay at the CONCILIT centre OT prolonged process of international reorganisation stretching from the l6th century well into the 18th.
Spain had emerged as a superpower during the 16th century conquering parts of the American continent. During this time, England used the Reformation and the break WITN Roman Catholicism to forge new alliances and a new ideology of state-building that challenged Spain and its allies.
The traditional image of the stable development of governmental institutions in the Elizabethan period falsifies history. Religion was a terrain of bitter struggle for at least two centuries - exemplified by the swinging pendulum between Catholic and Protestant monarchs and battles over ACCESSIO Scots and Irish
It was also in this period that England engaged in its brutal suppression of the Scots and Irish, eventually incorporating the entire British Isles within 00m0a1
In England Catholicism was outlawed, its churches sacked, its priests driven underground or executed with tens of thousands more suffering horrific deaths under torture or by being burnt alive.
In 1570 a Papal Bull excommunicated Queen A contemporary woodcut of the plotters - their hopes of an uprising of Catholics came to noght Elizabeth and effectively lent divine justification to Catholics thinking of overthrowing the monarchy. However most Catholics were loyal to the Crown -contrary to the populist mythology that they were traitors.
There were deep divisions among the nobility. Many Protestants had a distaste for repression and JP's could not always be relied upon to carry out the witchWith the death of Elizabeth I the new century offered hope but also anxiety. The expectation that King James I would herald a JUCW era ot tolerance was dashed. This was the context in which the gunpowder plot emerged.
Guy Fawkes was raised COLeSL IL DuL ConverLed He left England at 21 to join Spain's Army of Flanders - a kind of brigade" made up of 62,000 volunteers trom o countries fighting Dutch Protestant rebels.
There he acquired expertise explosives, Was regarded a devout Christian soldier and met the others involved in what became the gunpowder plot. In contemporary terms he might be described as a "jihadist" who brought the war home.
The plot was hatched in the Duck and Drake, London pub turned Catholic safe house, while a TIM IN NECE.M. 1AC08L-1 priest was saying mass. Though unfounded, the government tried to use this to prove the involvement of the church and in particular Jesuit priests. The actual conspiracy lay more among the noble clans than organised religion. There was little basis for the hope of Charismatic leader Catesby that in the confusion that would follow the blast there would be a general uprising of underground Catholics. After the debacle, a major show trial was held prosecuted by Attorney General Sir Edward Coke- implying the involvement of the Jesuits, Spain and Hapsburg Low countries. He called it a crime "beyond all examples, whether in fact or fiction". Perpetual commemoration An act of parliament provided for the perpetual commemoration of the failed plot with compulsory attendances at thanksgiving services tor all citizens. For nearly years November 5th was an organised propaganda ceremony LO celebrate divine provi dence and the strong state as well as denounce Catholicism. It was later linked to the defeat of the accession of William of Orange (who landed on English soil on the 5th of November). A There is no evidence that the plotters were organised by a foreign power ... they were a small, isolated group of terrorists. slew of anti-catholic measures and civil liberties restrictions followed.
"Nonetheless", wryly comments Professor James Sharpe of York Universityl, "James and his ministers showed more restraint than many modern regimes faced with similar problems". It wasn't so much restraint as the international balance of forces. King James could not have treated Spain and France as Bush and Blair did Afghanistan and Iraq. The Armada might have been deteated, but in recent decades the Spanish had been successful militarily.
Until the 19th century no effigies of Fawkes were burnt, only of the Pope -someumes alongside the devil. The reason for the change was that anti-Catholicism had begun to wane, with the government having to grant catholic emancipation quell the rebellion in
Also, with the growth of empire and global military supremacy it was no longer necessary.
An official revisionist view took hold - which blamed the repression and sectarianism of the period for the plot rather than the plotters. A 19th Century history book said about the conspirators, "they would maintain that their intention was innocent before God. lost most of their property -all had suffered on account of their religion. The king had broken the promise of toleration and the malice of their enemies daily aggravated their burdens.
"No means of liberation was left but that which they naa adoptea.
"Their only object was to re leve themse ves ano Thei brethren from the cruelty of the persecutors, restore a worship which they believed to be the true worship of Christ; and for this they risked and for this they were ready to sacrifice, their fortunes and lives".
Such views today might fall foul of the proposed prohibition on "glorifying terrorism".
By the end of the century
thought, foundation, that the plot had been a set-up to justify anti-Catholic repression -not tar trom the conspiracy theory that the White House had a hand in 9/11.
The 5th November ceremonies eventually evolved into communitv events and their character largely declined - with a few exceptions, such as the "No Popery" banner and effigies of the pope still carried today by the Cliffe Bonfire Society at Lewes.
There is no evidence that the plotters were organised by a foreign power or were part of a wider treasonous "Catholic conspiracy". They were a small, isolated group of terrorists who nonetheless symbolised much broader disaffection.
However, the state exaggerated their role, their connections and the threat represented and used this as an ideological tool to justify repression and to rally for a frenzy against the "foreign threat" and in support of the nation state and imperial expansion.
The culture of repression was instrumental in triggering the plot and was entirely counterproductive, contributing even to the development of the unwarranted myth of Fawkes and his comrades as anti-heroes. The parallels with today's "war on terror" are instructive. • Remember, Remember the Fifth of November, James Sharpe (Profile Books 2005) £15.99
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Friday November 18 Cambridge Keep our NHS Public with John Lister, David Howarth MP, Steve Sweeney., 8pm Friends Meeting House, Jesus Lane. Saturday November 19 Oxford DEMONSTRATION Stop the Cuts: Stop the Privatisation Assemble noon Bonn Square, Oxford town centre Called by the KEEP OUR NHS PUBLIC campaign and backed by Oxfordshire UNISON health branch and Oxford & District TUC www.keepournhspublic.org.uk Monday November 21 London What's The Future for The Unions? Bishopsgate Institute, Bishopsgate, 6.30 (opposite Liverpool Street Station) Speakers: George Galloway, Ken Loach, Mark Serwotka, Jerry Hicks - Sacked convenor of Rolls Royce Bristol organised by If you like what you've read or you want to find out more about Socialist Resistance, get in touch with us by ringing 020 8800 7460, Or email [email protected] EDITORS: Terry Conway, John Lister, Liam MacUaid. EDITORIAL BOARD : Mandy Baker, Julia Brandreth, Paul Brown, John Bulaitis, Andrew Burgin, Kathy Lowe, Pauline Roland, Piers Mostyn, Karen O'Toole. DESIGN: John Lister SPONSORED BY: International Socialist Group, Socialist Solidarity Network and individuals including Patrick Baker, Andrew Burgin, Brenda and Brian Bushell, Mathew Caygill, Duncan Chapple, Julian Coppens, Frances Curran, Norma Dowd, Andy Gibbons, Jamie Gough, Catriona Grant, Marcus Greville, Patrick Hall, Rick Hatcher, Wayne Holmes, Nick Lidgett, Frank McMahon, Lesley Mahmood, Alan McCoombes, Martin Milne, Piers Mostyn, Liz Peretz, Sue Phillips, Surykant Raithatha, Norman Traub, Rick Simon, Colin Smith, Murray Smith, Sarah Taversham, Doug Thorpe, Tony Traub, Tessa van Gelderen, Bill Walton, Roger Welch. Published by SOCIALIST RESISTANCE, PO Box 1109, London N4 2UU. Printed by Web Press International, London E15. Tuesday November 22 Edinburgh RAHUL MAHAJAN, author and anti-war activist from Texas, US, speaks on Full Spectrum Dominance: U.S. Power in Iraq and Beyond The Roxy Art House (Formerly Lady Glenorchy's Church) Roxburgh Place (off Drummond Street) Edinburgh EH8 London Campaign against Climate Change public meeting, Friends House, Euston Rd 7pm with Phil Thornhill (CACC), Susie Wylie (Respect/NUS Exec), Mark Linus (author) Thursday November 24 Bristol Eyewitness from Iraq — one year after Fallujah with Rahul Mahajan (United for Peace and Justice, US), Eric Herring (coauthor of Irag in Fragments: The Occupation and its Legacy). 7.30pm Malcolm X Centre, 141 City Rd London Greater London Region UNISON Rally to Defend Local Government Pension Scheme 6:30pm Hamilton House (NUT Headquarters), Mabeldon Place WC1 Wandsworth 'Keep our NHS Public' PUBLIC MEETING 7.30pm at Balham Library, Ramsden Road, SW12 (Just next to Somerfields) Speakers include: Dr JOHN LISTER London Health Emergency and Keep Our NHS Public Saturday November 26 London Voices from occupied Iraq Iraq Occupation Focus teach-in, University of London Union. With speakers from Iraqi General Union of Oil Employees, Iraq human rights and women's Membership Standing Order form YOUR BANK DETAILS: Bank Name Address Your account details: Sort Code Account Name Account Number Please pay the sum of (write in words and numbers) On the day of And on the same date every month thereafter. unless cancelled or amended by me in writing. To the account of Ray Smith rights activists, eye-witnesses to destruction of Fallujah. Tuesday November 29 Edinburgh Bashabi Fraser launches her new book A Meeting of Two Minds: Geddes Tagore Letters 7.00pm, Bangalore Tandoori Restaurant (Opposite Kings Theatre) 53 Home Street Weds 30 November Epsom Keep Epsom's Hospitals in the Public meeting 7.30pm The Phoenix Club, 9 Depot Road, Epsom KT17 4RJ Speakers include GEOFF MARTIN, London Health Emergency KEVIN O'BRIEN, UNISON Branch Send us a donation every month - through
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Wednesday December 7 Preston An illustrated talk of a remarkable journey of discovery when 34 Respect members and supporters from Preston were invited to visit Palestine last year. 7pm, Thornbury Centre, Leeds Old Road BD3 Saturday December 10 International Peace Conference Royal Horticultural Hall, Central London Monday 12 December 2005 Menwith Hill Women's Peace Camp Action For more information contact: 01943 468593 [email protected] Saturday January 28 Defy Section 9 Working conference. 11 am to 5pm, Methodist Central Hall, Oldham Street, Manchester. Organised by National Coalition of Anti-Deportation Campaigns: www.ncadc.org.uk. Saturday February 18 2006 Unite Against Fascism national conference, Congress House, Great Russell Street, London. April 6-9 2006 Athens European Social forum. www.fse-esf.org for updates. Co-operative Bank, 78-80 Cheapside London EC3V Please return to RESISTANCE c/o PO Box 1109, London N4 2UU Minimum by per month - Socialis Resistance is
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The next issue of Socialist Resistance will be produced on December 29-30 and distributed the following week. The deadline for feature articles and for letters (which are welcome on any topic, up to 400 words) will be Monday December 19. Diary items reviews and local news are also welcome. The editorial team wishes all readers a happy new year.